History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 33

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

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May 8, 1861, Jacob F. Gmelich and Miss Doris Mueller were united in marriage. Mrs. Doris (Mueller) Gmelich was born in Germany, Sept. 27, 1842, and is a daughter of Carl and Johanna (Bishop) Mueller, who emigrated from Germany and settled in Illinois, later locating at Collins- ville, Ill. When 14 years of age, the future Mrs. Gmelich came to Amer- ica, accompanied by three sisters and a brother: Mrs. Minna Mueller, East St. Louis, Ill .; Mrs. Eliza Raybock, widow of a Union veteran, Col- linsville, Ill .; and Mrs. Christina Schappino, St. Jacobs, Ill .; Emil Mueller died in St. Louis. Two brothers were already in America, namely: Ern- est Mueller, died later in California, at the age of 94 years; and August, died in St. Louis in 1898; Mrs. Annistina Schmidt lives in California; Mrs. Carola Witte, Aberdeen, S. D.

No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gmelich, but they have had an adopted child, a daughter of Emil Mueller whom they adopted at the age of one and a half year, Louise, wife of Max E. Schmidt, proprietor of the Gmelich & Schmidt Jewelry Store. The wedded life of Jacob and Doris Gmelich was a very happy and prosperous one. During their earlier years, when trials and vicissitudes often came upon them they stood side by side and bore their hardships with fortitude and with a bright and optimistic outlook into the future. The Gmelich store was frequently raided and stripped by the Confederates during the Civil War, and one of the interesting relics which is preserved as indicating customs of raiders during the Civil War is a receipt signed by the rebel commander

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for a bunch of watches taken by force from the Gmelich store and which reads: "Taken by Force of Arms-a Batch of Watches."

During the eighties, Mr and Mrs. Gmelich made a tour of Europe and remained for six months. May 8, 1911, their fiftieth or golden wed- ding anniversary was celebrated in Jefferson City, Mo., in the governor's mansion. A dinner was served and the celebration was a notable one in the history of the State Capital, hundreds of people attending from all parts of the State. Two days later the golden wedding was again cele- brated at the Schmidt residence in Boonville, many relatives and friends taking part.

During the early seventies, Mr. Gmelich served as a member of the Missouri State Legislature. At the time of his election to the position of lieutenant governor, the vote was so close that Gmelich's margin was but 75 votes over Painter, his opponent. Painter instituted a contest and it was found that Mr. Gmelich's majority was 275 votes. His attor- ner at that time was the present Senator Spencer of Missouri: A hand- some silver loving cup was presented to Mr. Gmelich by the Senate of the 45th General Assembly of Missouri, over which he presided at the close of the session of 1909, as a token of their esteem for him. A hand- somely engraved golden loving cup, presented by relatives on the occasion of the golden wedding anniversary, and highly prized by Mrs. Gmelich, bears the inscription, "1861-1911."

Mr. Gmelich was a member of the Evangelical Church, and lived an upright and Christian life. He was liberal to a fault, loved his home city, was charitably inclined and supported all worthy enterprises with a free purse and an influential voice. He was prominent in the affairs of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was patriarch of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, and frequently attended the sessions of the Grand Lodge of America. Aug. 22, 1880, he received a commission as colonel of the First Regiment of Missouri, Patriarchs Militant. He served for one year as grand master of the Missouri Odd Fellows. His life was worth while; he left memories of a man who did his duty by himself, his family, his home city and county, and his country which had given him the opportu- nity to make of himself what he was.

Charles A. Sombart .- The Sombart family have been one of the most prominent and substantial families in Boonville for over 80 years. Members of this old pioneer family have been closely identified with the commercial and industrial history of Cooper County since the first advent of the ancestor of Charles A. Sombart into Cooper County in 1837. They have been industrial developers, and men of progress and initiative, and

desSombach

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have used their capital for the betterment and advancement of their home city. Charles A. Sombart, retired miller, of Boonville, is a worthy de- scendent of excellent ancestors, and has been a builder and developer of the most progressive type. He was born in Boonville, Nov. 22, 1856.

The history of the Sombart family begins with William Sombart, who was born in Burg by Harrtingen on the Ruhr, Prussia, Sept. 22, 1796. He came of a good family and was well educated in his native land. He studied at the University of Berlin and became a skilled engineer. During the German War he volunteered in the army and fought under Marshall Blucher in the battle of Ligney, June 16, 1815. When 22 years of age he was given the office of inspector of roads in Olpe, and later had charge of the roads in Gielenkirchen by Achen. Illness, caused by , hard- ships endured during his war service, necessitated his retirement from the service on a pension. He married Julia Westhoff, the daughter of a minister, and after his marriage théy resided at Bonn. In 1837 he immigrated to America, and after a stay of some months in St. Louis, he came to Cooper County and located on a farm near Billingsville, where, on account of having independent means of his own, he took life easy and lived comfortably. He retired from the farm in old age and located in . Boonville, where he died at the ripe old age of 82 years. His wife died Aug. 7, 1872. They reared a family of seven children.

His son, Charles William Sombart, father of Charles A Sombart, of this review, was born in Olpe, Province of Westphalia, Prussia, May 2, 1820. He first attended school in Germany and completed his education in Cooper County. He was reared on his father's farm, and in 1849, he and his brother, Julius, became inoculated with the prevailing "gold fever," and made the overland trip to Californa, where they remained until 1852. They engaged in mining and trading, and were very suc- cessful, laying the foundation of their future large fortunes. Upon their return to Boonville, in 1852, the brothers engaged in the milling business under the firm name of C. W. & J. Sombart. They commenced with a small, old-fashioned mill, a short distance below the Sombart mill in Boonville, but a few years later acquired the present Sombart Milling Co. property. They soon built up an extensve milling business and by addi- tions and improvements to their property created one of the most valu- able and best known milling properties in central Missouri. In 1879 the concern was reorganized and became the Sombart Milling and Mercantile Company, C. W. Sombart, president.

· Aside from his milling business, Judge Sombart dealt largely in the

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purchase and sale of real estate, and became the owner of much fine property in Boonville. He was interested in the "Star" line of Missouri River steamers. Jan. 6, 1852, he was married to Mrs. Catherine Thro, formerly Catherine Robinrith, born in Alsace, and coming from there to St. Charles County, Mo. She died May 10, 1885. The following children were born to this marriage: William Alexander, Kate, Charles Augustus, of this review; Fannie, Frank Siegel, Robert Nathaniel, and Henry Edward. All of these are deceased excepting W. Alexander, a resident of Boonville; Charles A .; and Robert N., who resides in St. Louis. Judge Sombart was married the second time to Mrs. Sophie Hain, widow of the late George Hain, of Boonville. Judge Sombart departed this life in June, 1898. He was prominent in the affairs of the republican party, but was never ambitious for political preferment. He served the people in various capacities, such as a member of the Board of Education, and judge of the County Court. He held the latter office for four years and ably served the people of Cooper County during that time. Judge Som- bart was a director in the old Central National Bank, and the Commercial Bank of Boonville.

Charles A. Sombart, of this review, was reared in Boonville, and studied at the private school conducted by Prof. Allison, one of the found- ers of Kemper Military School at Boonville. When the Sombart Milling Company was incorporated in 1876, he became a member of the organiza- tion with his brother, William Alexander, and a cousin. After the death of Judge Sombart, he and a brother, Henry E. Sombart, bought control of the milling company and conducted the business successfully until 1909, when Charles A. Sombart became sole owner of the business, as a family corporation. Dec. 25, 1918, he sold the mill to a corporation and retired from active business, having been a miller from 1876 to 1896, and been engaged in the business for 42 years. Mr. Sombart has well earned his retirement. He has, like his father before him, always taken a commendable interest in local enterprises and invested his working capital so as to benefit his home city. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Bank and the Citizens Trust Company of Boonville, and is financially interested in the Boonville National Bank. For some time he was president of the Farmers Bank, and was president of the Citizens Trust Company until its amalgamation. He is largely interested in Boonville real estate, and has always been a worker for the best interests of Boonville, its growth and advancement.

In 1905, Mr. Sombart erected the Hotel Frederick, an imposing, mod-

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ern structure, costing over $40,000. This investment was mainly for the purpose of providing Boonville with a modern hostelry, and has never paid him an adequate return on the investment. Mr. Sombart erected this building at a time when there was a crying need for a modern hotel in Boonville, and others were loath to place money in a venture which did not promise an adequate financial return.

Mr. Sombart has one of the most beautiful residence properties in Boonville, which he erected. Mr. Sombart also built the block at the southwest corner of High and Main Streets. He was married Feb. 2, 1887, to Mary Frances Brechwald, of Galesburg, Ill., a daughter of Charles Brechwald. Mrs. Mary Frances Sombart died Nov. 17, 1917, at the age of 57 years. Three children were born to this marriage, two of whom are living: Helen Frances and Frederick Charles, at home in Boonville. Frederick C. is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and Knights of Pythias. Mr. Sombart is a republican, but has never had aspiration for office or political matters to any great extent. His children are members of the Episcopalian Church, and he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.

Charles J. Walden, editor and publisher of the "Weekly Advertiser", Boonville, Mo., is a native Missourian, and one of the "old timers" in newspaperdom in this section. He was born in Carroll County, Oct. 27, 1844, and is a son of James M. Walden, a native of Indiana. His father went overland to California, and died there in 1851. His mother brought her family to Howard County in 1852, and in 1855 Charles was appren- ticed to learn the printer's trade. He worked in the office of the "Howard County Banner" for four years and then studied for one year at Central College, Fayette.

In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Confederate Army under Gen. J. B. Clark and for six months served with the Richmond Grays. His last service was in the Trans-Mississippi department under command of Gen. Joseph O. Shelby. April 13, 1865, he stacked arms with many of his comrades at Shreveport, La. Upon his return home he found things in such an unsettled state that he went to Illinois. After remaining there for about one year he returned to Missouri and settled at Glasgow in 1867.

In 1872, Mr. Walden purchased the "Weekly Advertiser" at Fayette. In 1895 he was editor of the Nevada, Mo., "Daily Mail" for one year. In 1896 Mr. Walden took charge of the "Sedalia Daily Sentinel" and pub- lished this paper for three years; was appointed beer inspector by Gov-

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ernor Stephens in 1898 and served two years. In 1890 he went to Bruns- wick and was engaged in newspaper work in that city until the construc- tion work began on the St. Louis World's Fair buildings. He then re- ceived the appointment as chief of the Labor Bureau in connection with the Exposition and remained in that capacity until the close of the Louisi- ana Exposition. In April, 1905, he purchased the "Weekly Advertiser" at Boonville, and took charge of the newspaper in May of that same year. The "Advertiser" is a newsy, well edited and well printed newspaper which has a large circulation in Cooper County.

Mr. Walden is the father of seven children as follow: Wilbur L., a linotype operator, employed on the "Globe Democrat", St. Louis, Mo. ; Jem- mie M., wife of J. G. Jones, general manager of the Hamilton Commercial College, New York City; Jessie B., wife of William M. Patterson, a bank cashier, Monroe City, Mo .; Fred H., an advertising man employed on the "Globe Democrat" staff; Homer, located in Jersey City, N. J .; Charles, buyer for a feed commission house of St. Louis, Mo .; whose headquarters are at Farmington, Mo .; Spahr, a druggist, St. Louis, Mo.

Mr. Walden is a democrat in politics and the policy of the "Adver- tiser" is democratic. His family are worshipers at the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South. He is a Mason and a member of the Knight Temp- lars.

Mr. Walden served as postmaster of Fayette, Mo., for four years and six months under the administration of Grover Cleveland.

Col. Thomas Alexander Johnston .- When one thinks of the Kemper Military School of Boonville, it is only natural to think also of Col. T. A. Johnston, the commandant and head of this famous institution. The pres- tige, strength and popularity of this school throughout the Middle West is due to the executive and organizing ability of Colonel Johnston. Pri- marily founded in 1844 as a school of higher learning for young men, its popularity as a school for training young men both physically and men- tally has been enhanced from year to year. . The school has had its greatest growth since the year 1872, when Col. Johnston, a former stu- dent of the school, having graduated from the State University, became assistant principal, succeeding to the superintendency in 1881. In Col. Johnston are combined the attributes of a splendid teacher, a strict dis- ciplinarian, an excellent business man and financier-a combination rarely found among scholarly men, or among those who have devoted their lives to teaching. Col. Johnston was born an educator, became a business . man, and developed a talent as an organizer which is unsurpassed by men

COL. T. A. JOHNSTON

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of his class. One has but to look at the group of splendid buildings, cost- ing many thousands of dollars, which have been erected on the Kemper Military School grounds during his regime as superintendent of the school, see with pleasure the fine appearing young men who have had training and instruction in the halls of Kemper, to realize that this school is an institution of which any Cooper County citizen can rightly boast. Kem- per Military School is distinctly a Boonville institution, its builder is a native son of Cooper County, and a descendent of one of the older Cooper County pioneers, who has spent practically all of his life in the county of his birth. Col. Thomas A. Johnston was born on a farm in Cooper County, 11 miles south of Boonville, Nov. 13, 1848. He is a son of John Benoni Johnston, and a grandson of Alexander Johnston, who settled in Cooper County in 1817, when this section of Missouri was largely an unpeopled wilderness. The family is of Southern origin, and its mem- bers were among prominent families of Tennessee and the Carolinas.

The Johnston family is also one of the oldest in America. The his- tory of the family in America begins with Gavin Johnston, a native of North Ireland, who came to America prior to the Revolution and settled in Pennsylvania where he was killed by Indians while plowing in his fields. His family or descendents moved to North Carolina and settled in the vicinity of Waxhaw. Alexander Johnston, great-grandfather of Col. T. A. Johnston, was a soldier in the American Army of Independence, and fought at the Battle of "The Cowpens." After the close of the Revo- lution, Alexander removed to Tennessee, and settled in the vicinity of McMinnville, where he reared his family. His wife, prior to her mar- riage, was Margaret Barnett, a daughter of Robert Barnett, an officer in the American Army, who served in the Revolution. Alexander Johnston was father of four sons, Gavin, Robert B., James, and Alexander, who migrated to Cooper County, Mo., in 1817. He had one daughter, Mary.

Alexander Johnston, grandfather of Thomas A. Johnston, settled in the New Salem neighborhood, just north of New Salem Church, and en- tered Government land. He developed a farm and there spent the re- mainder of his days. He was born July 16, 1787, and died Feb. 2. 1839. He married Rachel Thaxton, who died shortly after the birth of John Benoni Johnston, father of Col. T. A Johnston. After her death he mar- ried Mary Hammond, born March 7, 1795; died Sept. 22, 1863; married Dec. 6, 1813. To this marriage were born: Rachel Dillard, Nancy McFad- den, Margaret Barnett, Finis Ewing, Sarah Jenkins, Robert Morrow, Harbert Hammonds, Martha Ann, Mary Jane.

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John Benoni Johnston was born Aug. 30, 1812, and died Feb. 6, 1888. He entered land adjoining his father's home place, and spent his life as a farmer. He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Ann Rob- inson, who was born May 21, 1818, and died Dec. 19, 1844. The date of this marriage was Dec. 17, 1835. There were five children born to this marriage: Mary Margaret, born Jan. 9, 1837, and died May 22, 1911. She became the wife of Shelton Parsons, Aug. 12, 1873, and at her death left a daughter, Maggie May. The other children were: Rachel Jane, Sarah Ann, Susan Ellen, and Elizabeth Robinson.

Rachel Jane Johnston was born Dec. 22, 1838, married Robert Willis March 26, 1868, and is mother of a son, William Benoni Johnston, of Boonville. Sarah Ann Johnston was born June 29, 1840, and died Sept. 21, 1909. She married Manson B. Simmons Feb. 28, 1866, and bore him seven children, four of whom are living: William Henry, Ella, Bettie Johnston, and John Kelly Simmons. Susan Ellen Johnston was born Jan. 4, 1842, and died Jan. 26, 1917. Elizabeth Robinson Johnston, the fifth child, died in infancy. The second marriage of John Benoni Johnston was on June 1, 1846, with Miss Margaret Harris, who was born Jan. 21, 1821, and departed this life Aug. 4, 1912. The children born of this marriage are: Robert Barnett, Thomas Alexander, William Franklin. Elizabeth, George Washington, and James Ewing. Robert Barnett John- ston was born March 6, 1847, spent his life as an agriculturist in Cooper County, and died March 23, 1908. William Franklin Johnston was born Feb. 21, 1857, and resides in Warrensburg, Mo. Elizabeth was born April 2, 1853, and is the wife of William A. Hurt, a farmer near Boon- ville. George Washington Johnston was born Aug. 22, 1856, and died in New Mexico, Feb. 4, 1904. James Ewing Johnston was born Feb. 1, 1859. He is an electrical engineer in Denver, Colo.

The Johnstons were adherents of William the Conqueror, and the ancestors of the Johnstons in America received a grant of land on the southern border of Scotland for their fealty to the king, the seat of the family being known as Johnstown on the River Annan in Annandale, Scotland. They took a prominent part in the border warfare between the Scottish people and England, and were given the task of guarding the border until the pacification of the centuries old warfare which cul- minated in the union of Scotland and England under one crown. The direct ancestor of Col T. A. Johnston, then, with hundreds of others who sought freedom from persecution, moved to the north of Ireland.

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The early education of Thomas Alexander Johnston was obtained in the district school and Kemper School. After completing his prepara- tory course at the Kemper School he entered the State University at Columbia, and was graduated from this institution in 1872 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and later Master of Arts. He at once became a member of the faculty of the Kemper School, and upon the death of Mr. Kemper, he succeeded him as the principal, receiving a well earned promotion from assistant principal to the superintendency, March 9, 1881.

From the day on which Col. Johnston took charge of the Kemper School there has been steady and consistent progress. Each year has seen an increase in the enrollment of the school, which now totals 510 pupils with a faculty of 28 members. New and more modern buldings have been erected to accommodate the increasing enrollment, and the military training which is given the students is recognized as official by the War Department of the Federal Government. The credit of this great growth is due to the enterprise, ambition, and able management of Col. Johnston, who like a good executive, has surrounded himself with capable assistants, who are also imbued with the desire to enhance and maintain the enviable reputation enjoyed by the Kemper Military School throughout the United States.

June 27, 1877, Thomas Alexander Johnston and Miss Carrie Frances Rea, of Saline County, Mo., were united in marriage. Mrs. Johnston was born near Slater, Mo., and is a daughter of Rev. Peter G. Rea, who was a prominent minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many years. The children born to this marriage are: Bertha, Rea Alexander, Harris Cecil, Alice Ewing. Major Rea Alexander Johnston is assistant superintendent and tactical military officer of the Missouri Training School at Boonville. He married Grace Mosher, of Oneida, Ill., and has one son, William Johnston. Bertha is the wife of Major A. M Hitch, principal of the Kemper Military School. Major and Mrs. Hitch have two children, Charles Johnston and Thomas Kemper Hitch. Harris Cecil Johnston is quartermaster of the Kemper Military School, and has charge of all supplies used. He married Georgia Wooldridge and has two chil- dren, Marjorie and Caroline. Alice Ewing is the wife of Major R. J. Foster, of the United States Army, stationed at Washington, D. C.

Colonel Johnston is a democrat; he is a director of the Commercial Bank of Boonville, and is an elder of the Presbyterian Church of his home city.

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Hon. John Cosgrove .- For 56 years, John Cosgrove, dean of the Cooper County Bar, has successfully practiced law. During his 54 years of residence in Boonville, he has not only been an honored and respected leader of the legal profression in this section of Missouri, but he has been a very useful and progressive citizen, who has always had the vision of a greater and richer Boonville. Mr. Cosgrove has filled various official and honorary positions with both honor and credit to himself and to Cooper County, and his time and talents have been devoted to the upbuild- ing of his home city. He has likewise distinguished himself in the halls of the National Assembly. Despite his advanced age of four score years, Mr. Cosgrove is an erect, upright, commanding figure-a man among men-vigorous and alert, both mentally and physically, and a leader of men.

John Cosgrove was born near Alexandria, Jefferson County, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1838, and is the son of James and Mary (Farrell) Cosgrove, who were parents of nine children.

James Cosgrove, the father, was born June 18, 1797, and died Nov. 6, 1879. He was a son of Henry Cosgrove, a native of Ireland, who immi- grated to America when a youth, later returned to Ireland, finally dying at the home of his son, Dr. Daniel Cosgrove. James Cosgrove married Mary Farrell, born Dec. 25, 1806, and died at Redwood, N. Y., May 6, 1892. James Cosgrove was a farmer all of his days, and while not a wealthy man, was considered as well-to-do.

Reared on his father's farm, John Cosgrove had few of the advan- tages now easily obtained by the youth of the present day. Gifted with ambition to excel and to raise himself to a higher position in life, he at- tended the Redwood High School and prepared himself for the teaching profession. He taught three terms of school after 1859. He became imbued with the Western fever. With four companions he set out for Pike's Peak in 1859 with a hand-cart containing the baggage and provis- ions of the little company from Leavenworth, Kan., the party having come up the Missouri River, and made a brief stop at Boonville. Mr. Cosgrove was so impressed with the beauty of the location of the then thriving town on the Missouri River, and so taken with its possibilities, that he ever bore the city in mind until his later permanent location seemed to fulfill a dream. The boys started out from Leavenworth, pulling their hand-cart, and after 30 days of arduous traveling three of the young fellows cried "enough," and started on the return trip. Young Cosgrove and Helmer, his other companion, however, were made of different mate- rial, and they determined to go the entire distance. Joining another

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History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 33

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861 Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1464