USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 40
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Mr. Johnson was married in 1860 to Miss Juliet A. Trigg, who was born in Boonville, Aug. 5, 1838, and is a daughter of the late Dr. William H. Trigg, an extended review of whose life appears in this history. The children born to William M. and Juliet Johnson were as follows: Sallie, died in infancy ; Mary L., William Morris, and Wilbur T.
Mary L. is the wife of Lawson Price, an extensive farmer and land owner of Jefferson City, who is also engaged in the real estate and loan business. Mr. and Mrs. Price have one child, Juliet Price.
W. Morris Johnson resides in Boonville and is traveling salesman for a wholesale shoe company of St. Louis. He married Miss Byrd Fiery of Martinsburg, W. Va.
Wilbur T. Johnson and his brother, W. Morris Johnson, were en- gaged with their father in the shoe business in Boonville until the busi- ness was disposed of in 1907. For the past eight years. Wilbur T. John- son has been a traveling salesman for the Johannes Brothers Shoe Con1- pany of St. Louis. On Oct. 26, 1892, he married Miss Rhoda E. Stephens, who was born and reared in Boonville, and is a daughter of the late Col.
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Joseph L. Stephens, a member of the old Stephens family of Cooper County, and who was a widely known attorney. To Wilbur T. and Rhoda E. Johnson have been born the following children: Wilbur T .. Jr., and Martha S. Johnson.
Wilbur T. Johnson, Jr., is aged 25 years. He is a lieutenant in the National Army, stationed at Camp Dix, N. J. Lieutenant Johnson en- listed in February, 1918, studied military science at the Officers' Train- ing School, and is now with the 13th Battalion, 153d Depot Brigade.
Martha S. Johnson is a student in Lindenwood College, St. Charles, Mo.
William M. Johnson was a lifelong Democrat, but never sought political preferment. He was devoted to his business, his family, his home city and his church. He was a stanch Presbyterian who took a great interest in religious matters and was a liberal supporter of the church. From 1862 until his death he was an elder of the Boonville Presbyterian Church. While of a retiring, modest nature he was pos- sessed of a lovable disposition which endeared him to a large circle of friends who still revere his memory as that of an upright, God-fearing gentleman who was ever ready and willing to extend a helping hand to the needy and deserving.
William R. Miller, druggist and proprietor of the oldest drug store in Boonville, is one of the youngest of the successful business men of Boon- ville. The Roeschel Drug Store, which Mr. Miller owns and operates, was established by Dr. Ernest Roeschel in 1858 and was later conducted and owned by his son, the late William Roeschel. After Mr. Roeschel's re- tirement from business, the store was purchased by Mr. Miller on March 1, 1915.
Mr. Miller was born in Boonville, Sept. 11, 1887. His father, Joseph W. Miller, was also born in Boonville, April 23, 1853, and was a son of Joseph W. Miller, a native of Germany, who fled from his native land on account of being concerned in the revolution against the Kaiser in 1848 and he located in Boonville. The grandfather was enrolled as a mem- ber of the Missouri State Guards during the Civil War and saw active service in Cooper County and vicinity. Joseph W. Miller, the father, fol- lowed the trade of wagon maker in Boonville until his retirement in 1915. He married Catherine Berster, who was born in 1862 and departed this life in 1900, leaving three sons and two daughters, as follows: Robert, in the employ of the Railway Express Company, St. Louis, Mo .; William R., of this review; Florence Miller, a public school teacher in Oklahoma ; Clarence, assisting his brother in the drug store, and Mary, bookkeeper
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in the Miller Drug Store. Joseph W. Miller was again married to Eliza- beth Kline, who bore him one son: Joseph W.
After receiving his schooling in the public, parochial and high schools of Boonville, William R. Miller studied for two years in the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and was graduated in 1910. He had previously been employed in the Roeschel Drug Store in 1904 and until taking up his college studies. In 1915 he purchased the business and is making a splen- did success of the business. Oct. 3, 1907, he was married to Miss Marie Oswald, a daughter of Frank Oswald, a well known farmer and stockman residing in Boonville. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one child, Margaret Cath- erine, born Oct. 18, 1918.
Mr. Miller is a member of St. Peter and Paul's Catholic church and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, holding the position of Chancellor of the local lodge. He is a fine type of business man, courteous, obliging and progressive.
Richard Loftin Windsor, a prominent farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township, has been identified with the development of Cooper County for over 50 years. He was born in this county at Boonville, Nov. 23, 1848, and is a son of Loftin and Louisa (Smith) Windsor, both natives of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Va. The Windsor family came to Boon- ville in 1848, and for a number of years Loftin Windsor, the father of the subject of this sketch, conducted what was known as a "boat store", furnishing supplies to boats which were navigating on the river at that time. In 1850 Loftin Windsor made the trip across the plains and over the mountains to California. He took with him a drove of cows from Missouri to California, which he sold after reaching there, receiving from $80.00 to $100.00 per head. He had paid from $8.00 to $10.00 per head. After remaining in California about two years he returned to Cooper County, and located on the farm where the subject of this sketch now lives. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death in 1889. His wife departed this life in 1855 and their re- mains are interred in Walnut Grove cemetery, Boonville, Mo. She was born in Alexandria, Va. To Loftin and Louisa Windsor were born four sons and a daughter: Mrs. Cora Runkle, deceased; R. L. of this re- view; Walter, who died in Monterey County, Calif .; Lill, deceased in 1885; Eugene, died in infancy.
Richard Loftin . Windsor was reared in Cooper County, and received his education in the public schools. He has made farming and stock rais- ing his life's occupation, and is the owner of one of the fine farms of
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R. L. WINDSOR AND FAMILY
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this county. The place is well improved, with good farm buildings in- cluding an eight room residence which was built in 1885. An old log cabin stands on the Windsor farm, which is suggestive of Macauley's epi- gram: "To make the past present; to bring the present near". This old relic of bygone days was built in 1855.
R. L. Windsor was united in marriage March 26, 1879, with Miss Cornelia Moore, a daughter of Charles and Martha Moore, pioneer settlers of Cooper County, of English descent. They are both now deceased. Mrs. Windsor is one of the following children born to her parents: G. Hutch, a farmer at Speed, Mo .; R. L., Boonville, Mo .; Gilliss, Kansas City, Mo .; Cornelia ,the wife of R. L. Windsor the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Florence Eller, Fayette, Mo., and Mrs. Gertrude Curtin, Porto, Okla. To Mr. and Mrs. Windsor have been born the following children: Martha, married William Vieth, Lone Elm, Mo .; Charles, a railroad man, St. Louis, Mo .; Holman, died at the age of one year and 11 months; Gilliss, an electrician, Boonville; Edward, now serving in United States army ; Henry resides on the home place; Corinne, resides at home and Richard, who served as sergeant of Company B, 140th Infantry, 35th Division, United States army. He volunteered in March, 1917, and went to France with his command in May, 1918. He participated in the principal battles during the closing months of the World War, and won to his everlasting credit a brilliant military record.
R. L. Windsor has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for 45 years. He is a Democrat, and has taken a keen interest in political affairs and at one time was a candidate for county judge. The Windsor family are members of the Baptist Church, and for many years have been prominent in Cooper County.
Richard Norman Windsor, a veteran of the World War, and one of Cooper County's progressive young men, is a native son of this county. He was born May 19, 1898 and is a son of Richard Loftin Windsor, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Richard Norman Windsor was reared on his father's farm in Clarks Fork township, and educated in the public schools of Cooper County. He graduated from the Boonville High School in the class of 1916. When the United States entered the World War he was in the employ of Brownfield & Hurt at Boonville.
March 26, 1917, he enlisted in Company B, 3rd Missouri Infantry. His first service was guarding the railroad bridge at Boonville. Aug. 15, 1917, he was transferred from Boonville to Kansas City, Mo., where he was on duty until Oct. 9, 1917. He was then sent to Ft. Sill, Okla., where
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he was trained for over-sea service. Here the 6th and 3rd Missouri Infantry were consolidated into the 140th Infantry, and Mr. Windsor became a member of that organization. In April, 1918, he was trans- ferred with his command to Camp Mill, Long Island, and from there em- barked for over-sea, April 25, 1918, landing at Liverpool, England, May 7, 1918. Here he spent three weeks at a hospital, and on June 1, 1918, landed at Havre, France, where he joined his regiment in a three day hike near Moncho. From there he was sent with the 140th Infantry as a a member of the 3rd battallion to Alsace, and went into the trenches at Thann, after which his command rested for a few days at Saluxurex. Later, on July 15th, he was sent to the Balmain sector and was relieved from that sector Sept. 1, 1918. His command was then sent on to the St. Mihiel drive, and acted as reserve from Sept. 12th to Sept. 18th. They were sent on the Argonne Forest drive, and went over the top in this great battle on Sept. 26th and continued in action there until Oct. 2d. They then were sent back to Petit Maritz, about eight kilometers from Barleduc and shortly afterwards was returned to the line of action about three kilometers from the city of Verdun. Shortly after this Mr. Windsor was sent to the officers training school at LaValboreen, about 18 miles from Lyons, France. He remained there until Dec. 20th, when he was sent to LeMans, France, where he remained until Feb. 2, 1919, when he was sent to Brest. On Feb. 11, 1919, he left Brest for the United States, arriving at Newport News, Va., Feb. 28th and on March 7th, left there for Camp Taylor near Louisville, Ky. Here he received his honorable discharge March 17, 1919 and returned to his home in Cooper County.
Mr. Windsor served on four different battle fronts while in the service, and saw much severe fighting. His company entered the engage- ment at Argonne Forest with 194 men and came out of the battle six days later with only 17.
Francis Marion Smith, clerk of the Circuit Court of Cooper County, is one of the most popular officials who ever held official position in Cooper County and is a very capable court officer. Mr. Smith was born in Char- itan County, Mo., March 25, 1863. He is a son of Jacob and Barbara (Smith) Smith.
Jacob Smith was born in Germany, June 10, 1818, and died on March 30, 1901. When he was 21 years old he fled from his native land to escape military service in the Prussian army and came to America. He located in Glasgow, Mo., and followed his trade of miller for a few years. He then located in Chariton County, where he developed a fine farm and lived
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there for 55 years. During the Mexican War he enlisted and served in the famous regiment raised and commanded by Colonel Doniphan. Mr. Smith was married in Glasgow to Barbara Smith, who was born in 1832 and died in 1908. She resided for 57 years upon the farm which she and her husband improved in Chariton County. Jacob and Barbara Smith were parents of eleven children: Mrs. Barbara Ann Kelly, Boonville, Mo .; Jacob Benjamin and John Otto, deceased; Peter Theodore, a real estate man at Burns, Wyo .; Joseph Anthony, employed in the Commercial Bank of Boonville ; Francis M., of this review; Catherine Rosella, deceased; Marie Regina Dempsey, wife of a Kansas City attorney; Mrs. Otilla Ewald, Great Bend, Kan .; Mrs. Isabella Magdalena Grantges, Sumner, Mo .; Vic- tor W., a successful ranchman of Wyoming.
After attending the district school in his home neighborhood in Charitan County, F. M. Smith attended the State Normal School at War- rensburg, Mo. While a student there he taught penmanship and in this manner assisted in paying his expenses while pursuing his course. For a number of years he was a salseman and was also engaged in the mer- cantile business. He followed the real estate business at Des Moines, Iowa, and has always been a hustler. Mr. Smith located in Boonville for the first time in 1879 but since that time he spent some years away from Cooper County. His first official position was that of deputy county col- lector in 1885. His next position was that of deputy clerk of the Circuit Court and he was elected to this position in the fall of 1918.
On November 21, 1906, Francis M. Smith and Miss Anna Jegglin were united in marriage. Mrs. Anna Smith was born and reared in Boon- ville and is a daughter of John M. Jegglin of this city.
The republican party has always had the allegiance of Mr. Smith and he stands high in its councils. He is a member of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic church and is à painstaking, conscientious public official to whom the art of making and retaining friends is second nature. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout Cooper County and Central Mis- souri and is a genial, whole souled gentleman.
Jacob Deck .- The meat market conducted by Jacob Deck is one of the best established and well conducted business concerns of Boonville and has been in continuous operation by its proprietor since 1892. Jacob Deck was born in Alsace-Lorraine, July 24, 1860, and came to America with his father in the spring of 1869. John and Anna Marie Deck, his parents, were of French origin. The mother died in her native land and John Deck located in Kansas City after coming to this country and for
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awhile worked as a laborer in the city. He later engaged in farming in Douglas County, Kansas, and died in Eudora, within eight miles of the city of Lawrence, Kansas.
Jacob Deck was reared in Kansas City and on the farm in Douglas County, Kan. Forty-three years of his life have been spent in the meat market business and prior to locating in Boonville he followed his trade in Kansas City and in Atchison, Kan. He has prospered since coming to Boonville and is regarded as one of the city's substantial citizens. Mr. Deck was married in 1882 to Miss Anna Fessler, who was born and reared in Boonville and is a daughter of John Fessler, who located in this city prior to the Civil War. Eight children have been born to Jacob and Anna Deck, six of whom were reared to maturity as follows: Mrs. Joseph Keithley, Kansas City; William H., druggist, Pilot Grove, Mo .; Mrs. Mar- garet Gilman, of Sedalia, Mo .; Jacob, employed in Swift & Co's office, Kansas City; Raymond is his father's assistant; Herman is attending school.
Mr. Deck and the members of his family worship at the Evangelical church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. Independence in politics and voting has been his rule for many years, but he has not neglected the duties of citizenship and has served as city alderman for six years.
Albert Jaeger, a prosperous retired farmer, whose fine farm of 186.5 acres is located on the Old Trails Road about three and a half miles west of Boonville, has lived upon his present place since 1909. The Jaeger farmı is well improved with a large brick house and other farm buildings in good repair. Mr. Jaeger's two sons are now operating the farm. Albert Jaeger was born in Germany. Nov. 23, 1860. He is a son of August and Matilda (Heider) Jaeger, both of whom were born and reared in Ger- many. Mrs. Jaeger died in 1882, and the father still resides in his native country having attained the great age of 81 years.
Albert Jaeger was not content to lead a mediocre existence in his native country. May 30, 1882 he landed at Boonville with but a few dol- lars in his purse. For one and a half years he was employed as gardener. He then rented land for four years; he met with reverses and had no money; he then went to Bloomington, Ill., and for two years he was employed as laborer there, three months of which were spent in the Illi- nois coal mines. It was only to be expected that his first venture in till- ing the soil would not prove successful inasmuch as he had no knowledge
AALBERT JAEGER AND FAMILY
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of farming, his father having been a merchant in Germany. From Bloom- ington, Mr. Jaeger went to Chicago and was employed there for five years, three years in the packing house of Armour & Company. He returned to Boonville in 1894, worked out for a few months, carefully studied methods of farming and made another try at his desired vocation. He rented a farm again. He saved $375 and made a first payment on 80 acres three miles southwest of Boonville. This time he was successful and he sold this farm at a profit in 1905 and bought 200 acres in the northwest part of Boonville township. About six months ago he sold this farm to his youngest son, and bought his present place in 1910.
Mr. Jaeger was married in 1882 to Miss Ida Schroeder who was born in Germany, June 5, 1858, and is a daughter of Ernest and Lisetta Schroeder, who died when Mrs. Jaeger was an infant. She came to America on the same ship which carried Mr. Jaegers. Six children have been born to this marriage, four of whom survive: Ernest, a farmer three miles west of his father, was married in 1909, to Miss Nora Moehle and has two children, Clara and Margaret; William, born in 1885, resides on a farm, married in 1910, to Bettie, a daughter of Henry Schierholz, and is father of two children, Florence Virginia, and Mildred Martha; Albert was born in 1890 and is assisting his father; Charles was born in 1892, and was married in 1915 to Bertha Mochle, and has one child, Charles; Otto, the youngest, was born in 1894 and died of appendicitis in 1901; and one died in infancy.
Mr. Jaeger is an independent voter. He is a member of the Evangel- ical Church and the Woodmen of the World. It is to Mr. Jaeger's credit that in the space of about 30 years, he should come to a strange land, with no knowledge of farming, suffer reverses because of his lack of knowl- edge and in the end achieve success which places him in the front rank of Cooper County's successful agriculturists.
Harry Ruskin .- The career of Harry Ruskin, successful merchant of Boonville, offers a striking example of what can be accomplished by an immigrant from the old world who comes to this country inspired by a vision of the freedom and the opportunities awaiting a young man endowed with ambition and energy. Mr. Ruskin fled to America from his native Russia to escape military service and to get away from the perse- cution which the Russians were wont to inflict upon people of his racc. Since coming here, a poor boy, in 1903, he has accumulated a comfortable competence and is owner of one of the most thriving business enterprises in Boonville, besides owning considerable property in Sedalia. He is a
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natural business man and a born merchant whose store on the corner of Fifth and Morgan streets is well stocked with groceries, meats, drygoods and has an ever-increasing patronage which taxes the capacity of the many clerks to wait upon.
Mr. Ruskin was born in Russia in Dec. 26, 1884, and emigrated to America when 19 years of age. He landed at Boston, Mass., without. money and without friends and no knowledge of American customs and language. For the first six months he worked at any odd job which came his way in order to get some money. He then came west to St. Joseph, Mo., and obtained employment with Swift & Companys' packing plant. Two years later he located at Sedalia, Mo., and established a grocery and notion business at the corner of Seventh and Engineer streets. Mr. Ruskin built up a splendid trade, accumulated real estate in Sedalia, sold out on account of his wife's health and came to Boonville where he estab- lished his present store in 1915.
Mr. Ruskin was married in March, 1906, to Miss Yetta Chasnoff, a niece of M. Chasnoff, owner of the Chasnoff stores. Five children have been born of this marriage: Roy, Dorothy, Leah, Florence and Samuel.
Harry Ruskin was born and reared in the old Jewish faith. He is affiliated fraternally with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen who has become heart and soul with the plan of a greater Boonville and in advancing the best interests of his adopted city.
Jeff L. Davis .- The Jeff Davis Shoe Co. store, managed by Jeff L. Davis, and established in March, 1906, is a well stocked and conveniently arranged establishment where the best makes of ladies and men's shoes are retailed. This store is the successor to the George Sahm Shoe Store, one of the oldest established business concerns in Boonville. The Jeff L. Davis Company, was incorporated on March 1, 1917, and the store was moved to its present location on the east side of Main street. Jeff L. Davis manager of the shoe business, is a native of Cooper County. He was born on the Davis farm adjoining the city of Boonville on the south.
Daniel Grosvenor Davis, his father, was born in 1842 and died on July 11, 1884. He was born in Randolph County, Mo., a son of Daniel G. Davis, a native of Virginia and a pioneer merchant of Missouri, who be- came very wealthy, dying in 1859. His wife was a Miss Rutherford of Huntsville, Mo. Daniel G. Davis, father of Jeff L. Davis, came to Boon-
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ville when a boy and settled on the Davis farm, where he was reared by an uncle, Henry Davis, a pioneer of Cooper county. He was educated in the Kemper Academy and married Ruth Brereton, of English descent, who was born in 1843 and resides on the home farm. She is a daughter of Benjamin D. Brereton, who came from Ireland in 1846 and made a settle- ment in Cooper County. There were eight children in the Davis family : William G., deceased; Charles Daniel, deceased; Jeff L., subject of this review; Ruth, wife of E. B. Windsor, Pleasant Green, Mo .; Mary Drew, deceased wife of Thomas Reed, left one child, Mary Frances Reid, who makes her home with Mr. Davis; Leslie B., deceased; Mrs. Emma O. Gault, deceased; Daniel G., a dairyman living on the Davis home place.
Jeff L. Davis attended the Boonville Academy and engaged in farm- ing on the home place and in Pettis County, near Clifton City, until 1904. He engaged in business in Boonville in 1906, purchased the stock and good will of the Sahm shoe store and continued the business under the name of Jeff Davis & Co. with the assistance of his wife until March 1, 1917, when he established his present thriving business, incorporating under the name of Jeff Davis Shoe Co. Stockholders, Jeff Davis, Harry Sombart and Kathryn Sahm Davis.
In November of 1905, Mr. Davis was married to Kathryn Sahm, daughter of the late George Sahm, a pioneer shoe man of Boonville.
George Sahm was born in Bavaria, Germany, Aug. 1, 1832, and emi- grated from his native country in 1848 or 1849 when 16 years old. He was employed for three years in the boot and shoemaking business in Sandusky County, Ohio, and there mastered his trade. He then came to Boonville and worked at his trade for three years and then set up a shop for himself in the spring of 1865. He later added a trade stock of boots and shoes and his business grew steadily so that by 1877 he began the manufacture of his own stocks and for the general market on a large scale. In 1876 his son, George W. Sahm became his partner, and in 1880, Henry, his other son, was admitted to the firm. At one time the Sahm store employed over 30 hands and was a flourishing and prosperous con- cern.
Mr. Sahm was married July 8, 1854, to Miss Catherine Dick, a native of Germany. This marriage was blessed with the following children: George W., Mollie, Henry J., Joseph, Julia, Louis and Catherine. Mr. Sahm held various official positions in the city, among them being those of school director and city councilman. He died in 1915.
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Mr. Davis is a Democrat. For the past seven years he has been a member of the City Water Works Board of which he is president. He is a member or rather was reared in the Episcopalian faith. Mr. Davis is a Free Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias.
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