USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 42
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Mrs. Elizabeth Ellen Drennen .- The Drennen dairy farm of 112 acres, situated near Boonville, Mo., was purchased by Mrs. E. E. Drennen in 1905 and is operated by the lady and her sons. Ten cows are milked and the milk is sold to Boonville restaurants. For the past 30 years the Drennen family have been engaged in the dairying industry and the
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family rented land for 16 years prior to purchasing the present Drennen home place.
George Washington Drennen husband of Mrs. E. E. Drennen, was born in Kentucky, Dec. 6, 1843, and is a son of Robert and Martha (Lee) Drennen of that state. Mr. Drennen served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War and fought in a Kentucky regiment.
George Washington Drennen and Elizabeth Ellen McDowell, were married on March 6, 1867. In October of 1870, they loaded their effects on wagons and moved to Indiana. After a year's residence in that state they came to Benton County, Mo., accompanied by two of Mrs. Drennen's brothers, James P. and Alfred Clark McDowell. After a residence of about 12 years in Benton County, the Drennens came to Cooper County, and here settled.
The children born to G. W. and Elizabeth E. Drennen are: Homer, born in Kentucky, lives at Blackwater, Mo .; Eltie Hugh, deceased; Vern- anda C., a farmer in Boonville township; George W., merchant at Prairie Lick; Blanche, deceased; Leonard Austin, born in 1879; Maurice, a hard- ware merchant, St. Louis, Mo .; James E., born 1886.
Mrs. E. E. Drennen was born in Nicholas County, Ky., Dec. 16, 1849, and is a daughter of James Perry and Elizabeth (House) McDowell, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Her father was of Scotch descent and her mother of German ancestry. James P. McDowell was a son of Matthew McDowell, who was a son of Ephraim McDowell, whose father, Ephraim McDowell (I) was a native of Scotland, emigrated to America and became owner of part of an island in New York harbor. Ephraim (II) was killed by Indians in Alabama. Matthew McDowell returned to New York from the South after the death of his father, to look after the family estate. He had previously settled in Kentucky. His death oc- curred at Elizabethtown, N. J. Mrs. Drennen's mother was a daughter of Richard House, a son of German parents.
Mrs. Drennen has reared several orphan children. In Kentucky she took Elizabeth Keim into her home for several months. After the death of her own daughter she took Lulu Keouw, a girl 12 years old, whom she reared for five years. She next reared her niece, Ione McDowell, 12 years old, whom she mothered for 12 years. An orphan boy, Charles B. Head, aged nine years, she reared to young manhood. Mrs. Drennen took from the Orphans Home, Minnie Smallwood, aged 10 years and kept her for nine years. Her last charge was a little boy, taken from a nursery at St. Louis, adopting him, William Henry Drennen, now aged six years.
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Mrs. Drennen is a member of the Baptist Church and all of her chil- dren worship at this church.
Edward L. Bauman county collector of Cooper County, is a native of Boonville, and is a capable and thoroughly efficient county official. He was born Oct. 27, 1870, and is a son of August Bauman, a native of Switzerland who came to America with his parents, John and Mary Bau- man, in 1844. The Baumans first settled in southwestern Missouri in the town of Sarcoxie. After a few years residence in Sarcoxie they came to Boonville in the early fifties. John Bauman was by trade, a weaver and followed this trade in Boonville for a number of years.
August Bauman was born in 1836 and attained young manhood in Boonville. He learned the trade of wagon maker and wheelwright and established himself in business at Franklin, Mo., where he operated a shop for 39 years while making his home in Boonville. He married Mar- garet Stuckhart who was born at Memphis, Tenn., in 1845, and was a daughter of Swiss parents. To August and Margaret Bauman were born seven children: William, a resident of Oregon; August, lives at Chanute, Kan .; Edward, of this review; Carl, of Caldwell, Kan .; Oliver resides in Kansas City, Mo .; Miss Frances Beckett lives at Boonville ; Mrs. Gertrude Murray resides in Jefferson City, Mo .; August Bauman was born in 1836 and met with an accidental death in 1915. A fall from a ladder caused concussion of the brain and death ensued as a result.
Edward Bauman was educated in the public and high school of his native city. After farming for one year he learned the trade of harness maker and for nineteen years he worked at this trade, spending 23 years in all at his trade. For five years he was in the employ of H. T. Hudson and for a considerable period he was manager for Dauwalter and Son of Boonville.
It is worthy of mention that John Bauman, grandfather of Ed Bau- man, was a freighter for a number of years, freighting from Boonville to the southwest. This was in the old days when Boonville was the shipping center for a large section of territory and the highways leading south from the city were filled all day long with great wagon trains loaded with provisions and material for the settlers of the southwestern country.
Mr. Bauman is a republican. He was elected county collector in 1914 and was re-elected to the office in 1918. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is popular with Cooper County people, managing the affairs of his office with justice and regard for the best interests of Cooper County.
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John E. Walz .- The jewelry store owned and operated by J. E. Walz, a leading citizen of Boonville, was established in 1894. It is one of the neatest, best stocked and well equipped jewelry establishments in Central Missouri and during the 25 years of its existence in Boonville, the Walz store has enjoyed a steady and ever increasing patron age. J. E. Walz was born in Booneville, Nov. 3, 1864.
Nicholas Walz, his father was born in Zornheim, Germany, July 29, 1838 and died in April, 1892. He was a son of Philip Walz who emigrated from Germany in 1846 and located in Chicago, Ill., where Nicholas Walz was reared to young manhood. When 19 years of age he came to Boon- ville, his father, Philip Walz, having preceded him to this city. Nicholas Walz was first employed for two years at Mendota, Ill., prior to coming to Boonville as a clerk in a general store. He first began business with his brother-in-law, Mr. Brenheisen, and in three years time he purchased the business which he conducted for many years with success. Mr. Walz did an extensive business and operated the largest grocery store in Cen- tral Missouri. For a number of years he transacted the largest volume of business of any store in this section of Missouri and he became widely and favorably known. He continued in business until 1884 and he then retired.
Nicholas Walz was prominent in the civic affairs of Boonville and he served three terms as a member of the city council. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a member of the Boon- ville Turner Society. He was married to Julia Brenneisen, a daughter of Reinhart Brenheisen a native of Germany who emigrated from his native land in 1845 and became one of the pioneer merchants of Boonville. Mrs. Julia Walz was born in 1839 and died on April 18, 1914. Five sons and three daughters were born to this marriage: Leopold C., St. Louis, Mo .; John E., subject of this review; Herman G., New York City; Louise, at home in Boonville; Charles A., born May 19, 1872, assistant to J. E. Walz in the Walz. Jewelry Store; Julia, at home; Mrs. Laura, wife of W. Ernest Sombart, Boonville; Henry G., St. Louis, Mo.
J. E. Walz of this review, was educated in the public and high schools of his native city and began learning the trade of watchmaker and jeweler in 1880 with the firm of Hannacke and Kauffman. He remained with this firm for four years and the following ten years were spent with the firm of Gmelich and Huber in Boonville. He then established his present thriving business.
Mr. Walz is a republican. He is a director of the Boonville Com-
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mercial Club and is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Walz is a progressive and enterprising citizen who has been unusually active in promoting local enterprises for the benefit of his home city. He is the "Father of the White Way" on the main street of Boon- ville which was established in 1912. Mr. Walz originated the plan for a white way, pushed the project, solicited the contributions, secured suffici- ent funds to place eight standards, induced the Sombarts who then owned the lighting company, to donate the current, and when the electric light company was sold, the contract for free current was carried on by the new company. He has been twice tendered the nomination for mayor of the city by the republican party but has declined each time, having no ambition or preference for political honors.
· Dr. Charles Swap, dentist, Boonville, Mo., has been engaged in the practice of his profession for the past 35 years. He was born April 23, 1865, on the steamboat "Cora Kinney" while his parents were making the trip up the Missouri River from Jefferson City to St. Joseph, enroute to Iowa. His parents were Dr. Franklin Swap and Mary E. (Mitchell) Swap.
Dr. Franklin Swap was born Aug. 19, 1830, at Schenectady, N. Y. and died Sept. 4, 1902. He was a son of William Swap and Belinda Swap, members of an old New York family of Holland Dutch descent. Mrs. Swap died in 1837 and William Swap removed to Crawford County, l'a., where he resided until his death in 1881. A great-uncle of Charles Swap, Jonathan Swap fought in the Revolution. The ancestors of Franklin Swap first settled in New Amsterdam, whence the great grandfather of Charles Swap moved to Schenectady in later years. In his boyhood days Franklin Swap learned the cabinet maker's trade and developed a posi- tive genius as an artisan which stood him in good stead in later years. He was married in 1851 and in 1857 he started to Lawrence, Kansas; did not like the country and removed with his family to Taylor County, Iowa, where he studied dentistry. He began the practice of dentistry about 1860 and was so poor that he was compelled to fashion his own dental instruments. His son, Dr. Charles Swap has a number of these instruments in his possession at this day and they are of fine and beauti- ful workmanship. Prior to this he had made a trip to Kansas in 1857 with the idea of settling there .. He arrived at Lawrence Kansas, when there was but one house on the site of what is now a fair sized city. He returned to Iowa and located in Bedford, where he practiced dentistry
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until he offered his services to the Union when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Union army as a private soldier and rose to the rank of captain. He was first a private in the Second Iowa Cavalry, in 1862 he was commissioned a lieutenant, not long afterward was given a cap- tain's commission. He was appointed provost marshal of Central Mis- souri and had charge of eight counties, his district embracing all of the territory from Jefferson City to Lexington. Dr. Swap was honest and his administration of his important office was marked by fairness, kindness, and absolute honesty. One occasion in particular stands out prominently in his career in which he saved some visitors to the city from annoyance and persecution by some drunken Union soldiers made him warm friends, and one friend in particular who went out of his way to befriend him when he was struggling to gain a foothold in his practice in Boonville and support his family. In Dec., 1865, he again came to Boonville from Iowa and began the practice of his profession. He succeeded and for years was one of the best liked and highly respected citizens of Boonville.
Dr. Franklin Swap was prominent in the public affairs of his adopted city and held many important positions of trust and responsibility. He was city clerk of Boonville for 18 years and served four terms as mayor of Boonville. He was secretary of the Board of Education for many years and identified himself with the cause of education. He was elected to the office of secretary of the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas Railroad during the time this road was being constructed. He was president of the State Dental Association and in many ways was a remarkable man who was fitted by nature for the period and time in which he lived.
Aug. 2, 1851, Dr. Franklin Swap was married to Miss Mary E. Mitchell of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Mary E. Swap was born June 2, 1830 and is one of the oldest of the pioneer women of Boonville. Six children were born to this marriage: Harvey, born in Pennsylvania, died at the age of two years; Frank, born in Pennsylvania in 1854, is an artist and is con- nected with the Tanner Studio in Boonville; Mrs. Ida Gibbons lives at Edgewater, near Denver, Col .; Mrs. Emma Short lives in Boonville; Ettie is deceased; and Dr. Charles Swap of this review.
Dr. Charles Swap studied dentistry in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery from 1884 to 1886. Prior to this time he had studied under his capable and talented father from June, 1881, until he left home to enter the Philadelphia College. Upon his return home he entered his father's office and practiced dentistry with his father until the latter's retirement. Doctor Swap during the many years of his practice, has been very successful and his hours are filled with the work of his calling.
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March 23, 1891, he was married to Miss Jennie North of New Orleans, La., a daughter of Fountain North, owner of "Laurel Valley Plantation," one of the finest southern plantations in the country. Dr. Swap met and wooed his wife when the family came on a visit to Boonville. Two children have blessed this marriage: Charles, born in 1892 is in the employ of the A. P. Munning Manufacturing Co., of N. Y. City, with his headquarters in Chicago of Chicago branch; Edgar, was born in 1915.
Dr. Charles Swap is an independent republican and was a former Roosevelt adherent. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the district, State and National Dental Associations, and has served as president of the District Dental Society.
Dr. Rollie L. Anderson, osteopathic physician, with well appointed and finely equipped offices at 30916 Main street, is one of the popular professional men of Cooper county. Dr. Anderson was born at Pleasant- ville, Marion County, Iowa, May 28, 1881, and is a son of Samuel and Mary Elizabeth (Courtney) Anderson, both natives of Iowa.
Samuel Anderson was the son of John Anderson, a native of Scot- land and was born in 1858. He became a merchant and was successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits at Pleasantville, Iowa, until 1910, when he located in Des Moines, at 1500 Linden street. He married Mary Eliza- beth Courtney, a daughter of John Courtney, the son of Irish parents. To Samuel Horton and Mary Elizabeth Anderson were born three chil- dren: Albert Franklin Anderson is engaged in the real estate business in Minnesota ; George Anderson is deceased; Rollie L. Anderson subject of this review.
Dr. Anderson was educated in the public and high schools of Eldora, Iowa and completed his high school course in 1899. In 1901, R. L. Ander- son went to Minnesota and was engaged in the lumber and general mer- cantile business until he decided to study for his chosen profession. He studied the science of osteopathy at Kirksville, Mo., for four years and graduated from this famous school in 1916.
Soon after receiving his diploma Dr. Anderson located in Boonville ,and outfitted a splendid suite of offices where he cares for a large and ever increasing practice.
Dr. Anderson was married in November, 1903, to Miss Mary An- drews, of Silver Creek, Minn., a daughter of Anthony Andrews.
Dr. Anderson is a republican and is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and has made many warm and steadfast friends during the years which he has spent in Boonville.
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John King was the first citizen of German birth to settle on Lone Elm Prairie in 1853. He became owner of 560 acres of rich prairie land upon which his descendants are now living. Through Mr. King's influence many Germans came from the old country to settle in Cooper County and he would go so far as to travel to New York, meet them and assist them on their way here.
The late John King was born in Hol- stein, Germany, Feb. 15. 1828, and died at his home in Lone Elm, Mo., Nov. 10, 1916. He served as a soldier in the war between Germany and Denmark, and soon afterwards left his native land for a freer life in America. Landing at New Orleans, he made his way to Iowa, and there heard of the opening up of the Kansas territory and of the free and cheap lands to be ob- tained in the new country. He went to St. Louis and boarded a river steamer to Atchison. He stopped off at Boonville, saw several of his coun- trymen who encouraged him to stay. He had just six dollars in cash when he landed at Boonville. His first job was as hostler in a stable attached to the stage route from Boonville to Jimtown, receiving $12 per month. He soon became stage driver and later went to work on a farm near Pisgah at $15 per month for four years. Then his employer, Colonel Pope, made him a partner in the farm and he saved enough money in three years to purchase 180 acres of undeveloped prairie land at Lone Elm at a cost of $15 an acre. He continued to purchase land until he owned 560 acres.
Mr. King was married Jan. 18, 1859 to Miss Sophia Friedmeyer, born Jan. 19, 1838, in Germany. She is a daughter of Bernard and Sophia (Karnes) Friedmeyer, who first settled at St. Louis, Mo., in 1857 and then came to Cooper County. The children born to John and Sophia (Fried- meyer) King are as follows: Minnie, wife of W. H. Twillman, Lone Elm ; Henry, living on the old home place; Mary, deceased, was the first wife of Fred Treiber, left one child, Mrs. Elizabeth Toellner; Mrs. Lucy Treiber, Lone Elm, widow of Fred Treiber, has one child, Amelia; Sophia, wife of Richard Martin, Lone Elm, Clarks Fork township; Ellen, wife of Charles
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Twillman, farmer, near Lone Elm. Mrs. King has 16 grand children and six great grandchildren, all of whom are living in the neighborhood.
John King was one of the builders and always a liberal supporter of the Lone Elm Evangelical Church. He never had a law suit and was never sued. He followed as his course in business and living the golden rule and profited thereby. During the Civil War he served in the Mis- souri State Guards under Capt. Tom George. For 18 years he filled the post of deacon of the Clarks Fork Evangelical Church prior to the building of the Lone Elm Church. John King was a man worth while who left an indelible imprint on the community wherein he spent the greater part of a long and active life.
Dr. Aubrey W. Frost, dentist, Boonville, Mo., is a native son of Cooper County who has risen high in the ranks of his chosen profession, during his more than 13 years of practice. Dr. Frost was born in Boonville, and is a son of Alexander and Lucinda (Post) Frost, natives of New England.
Alexander Frost was born in Glover, Vt., in 1834 and died in April, 1916. He was a member of an old New England family and was the first of a large family of 14 children to die. He was reared in Ver- mont and was a farmer and stockman. He came west to Boonville in the early fifties and started a confectionery store which is still in existence. On the westward trip from the old home region in New England, he was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Mary (Frost) Jones, his sister, and his brother-in-law, Benjamin F. Jones. Mr. Frost assisted in the erection of the old Central National Bank building and later entered the grocery and drygoods business, being a partner of Hiram Koontz during the Civil War. The partners buried their stock of goods so as to save them from the raiding Confederates during the war. In later years he removed to Illinois and lived there six years. He returned to Boonville in 1916 and died a few months later. Mr. Frost brought the first real carriages and the first hearse to Boonville and operated a livery barn for a number of years. He owned the first bus in Boonville and also dealt extensively in mules.
Alexander and Lucinda Frost were parents of three children: Louis Eugene Frost, Chicago, Ill .; Frank Arlin, Chicago, Ill .; and Aubrey Ward Frost, subject of this review.
A. W. Frost was educated in the local schools and the high school of Roadhouse, Ill., and followed the trade of carpenter and builder until 1900 in the employ of his uncle, B. F. Jones. He then took up the study of dentistry in 1903. Entering Washington University in that year he (29)
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graduated from the dental department in 1906 and practiced his pro- ression in St. Louis, Mo., until locating in Boonville in the fall of 1915. Dr. Frost has a suite of offices in the Victor Building and enjoys a large and ever increasing practice. He was married in 1905 to Miss Geneva E. Yeager, of Boonville, Mo., a daughter of Frank Yeager. Dr. and Mrs. Frost have one child, Roy Frost, aged 10 years.
Dr. Frost is a republican; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is fraternally affiliated with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias.
Gideon A. Brownfield .- The career of G. A. Brownfield, senior mem- ber of the firm of Brownfield & Meyer, automobile dealers, Boonville, Mo., is that of a self made man who commenced wresting a living from Cooper County soil when 19 years of age, became a land owner, built up a splendid farm, made a success of the live stock shipping business, and then made another success of the automobile business. Mr. Brownfield is not only a first class farmer, a keen and sure judge of live stock, but he is a thor- oughly successful business man.
The Brownfield and Meyer automobile business was established in 1915 at the corner of Morgan and Sixth streets and the business room and repair department of the garage occupies a space 75×92 feet. Five men are employed in the conduct of the business and such substantial and well known makes of automobiles as the Hupmobile, Cadillac, Reo, and the Buick are sold to buyers in this section of Missouri.
Jonas Brownfield, father of G. A. Brownfield, was born in Cooper County, reared here and married Jael K. Collins, who was born in Cooper County in 1819 and died in 1889. To Jonas and Jael Brownfield were born six children: Frank Brownfield, deceased; James Brownfield, a farmer living near Speed, Mo .: Gideon A., of this review; Augustus Brownfield, a farmer living near Blackwater, Mo .; Frances, wife of A. E. Beeson, Sedalia ; Mo .; Nannie, deceased.
G. A. Brownfield was born near Pilot Grove, Mo., Dec. 12, 1860.
The death of James Brownfield in 1862 left the widowed mother to rear her family of children as best she could under adverse circumstances. When nine years of age, Gideon A. Brownfield left the parental roof and began working out for his living. During his first year he received only his board and clothing; the second year he received small wages in addi- tion to his keep. He continued working at farm labor with ever increas- ing wages until 1879, when he rented land and farmed on his own account for the next 15 years until he had saved enough money to make his
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initial investment in a trust of farm land. Purchasing a farm of 140 acres ncar Prairie Lick, Mo., he improved it and made a success of the venture. Mr. Brownfield began the buying and shipping of live stock in 1893 and has become one of the largest live stock dealers and shippers in Cooper County. He handles over 365 car loads of stock yearly and his deals aggregated during the past two years the extremely large total in value of $1,608,123.28. He is without doubt the most extensive live stock dealer in this section of Missouri and has built up a reputation for honesty, square dealing and straightforward business methods which have stood him in good stead among the live stock men of the county. He located in Boonville in 1916. Mr. Brownfield is the principal owner of the auto- mobile business in which he is interested.
G. A. Brownfield was married in 1879 to Miss Anna Hostler, of Pilot Grove, Mo., a daughter of the late Washington Hostler. This marriage was blessed with one son, Earl Brownfield, born in 1883, assisting his father in the automobile business, maried Grace Hull.
G. A. Brownfield is a republican. Mrs. Brownfield is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Dr. John Ambrose Barnett, osteopathic physician, with offices in the Trust Company building, Boonville, Mo., enjoys a lucrative and grow- ing practice which he has built up since coming to Boonville in January, 1913. Doctor Barnett was born in Cicero, Hamilton County, Ind., April 7, 1874, and is a son of William Harrison and Lucy (Boyd) Barnett, the former of whom was a native of Johnson County, Ind., and the latter a native of Kentucky.
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