USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 47
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Matt Cleary attended the Concord district school and the parochial schools of Boonville. He began his own career when he became of age but embarked as a live stock trader when he was but 16 years old. He accumulated 300 acres of ground of which Mr. Cleary sold 80 acres in 1917 and is now owner of 220 acres of good land located six miles south of Boonville. During his career he has handled a great amount of live stock and formerly supplied the local meat markets when the dealers con- ducted their own abattoirs. He is now raising and feeding from one and a half to two carloads of hogs each year.
Mr. Cleary has been twiee married. His first marriage took place in Jan., 1890, to Christina Oswald, who died Jan. 14, 1891, leaving one ehild, Laura, who married Barney Youngkamp and died at Manhattan, Kan .. July 4, 1912, leaving one child, Virginia May Youngkamp.
Mr. Cleary's second marriage occurred May 2, 1900, to Miss Julia Darby, born Nov. 1, 1868 in Geneseo, New York, a daughter of Patrick Darby and Ellen Coleman Darby, who came to Cooper County and settled near Billingsville, Mo., in 1869. Soon after Mrs. Darby's death in 1899, Patrick Darby left the farm and located in Boonville, where he died Jan .. 1917. Seven children were born to Patrick and Ellen Darby, viz: John. Nelson, Mo .; James, Shreveport, La .; Mrs. Matthew Cleary; Edward, a merchant, Boonville, Mo .; Eugene, engaged in the implement business. Boonville, Mo .; Edward died at the age of four years; Mrs. Mary Gart- hofner, Boonville.
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Cleary have three living children, viz: Ger- trude, attending the Catholic Seminary at Marshall, Mo .; Edith, also a
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student at Marshall, Mo .; Louise, attending the Boonville schools; one child died in infancy.
The democratic party has always had the steadfast allegiance of Matt Cleary and he has always been somewhat interested in civic and political matters. He filled the position of street commissioner of Boon- ville from 1912 to 1914 at the time the street paving system was placed under way and at times had as high as 50 men in his charge working on the city improvements. He and Mrs. Cleary are members of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic church. Mr. Cleary is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America.
John E. Walterscheid, retail liquor dealer, Boonville, Mo., was born in Moniteau County, Mo., Dec. 3, 1864. He is a son of Peter and Caro- lina (Baker) Walterscheid. Peter Walterscheid, his father, was born near Killan, Germany, and came to this country when a boy, settling on a farm in Moniteau County, where he died in about 1870. His wife, Caro- line Baker Walterscheid, was born near Dayton, Ohio, in 1840, and died in 1914. She was a daughter of pioneer parents in Moniteau County, who were natives of Germany. Twelve children were born to Peter and Caroline (Baker) Walterscheid, eleven of whom were reared: Catherine, deceased ; Peter, lives at Tipton, Mo .; Mrs. Louisa Strickfadden, lives at Prairie Home, Mo .; John E., subject of this sketch; Joseph, lives at St. Louis, Mo .; William, a farmer in Clarks Fork township; Frank, a farmer in Moniteau County, Mo .; Mrs. Emma Imhoff, Walters, Okla .; Charles, a resident of Pilot Grove, Mo .; Mrs. Mary Scheid, Prairie Home, Mo .; Mrs. Rosa Imhoff, Moniteau County, Mo .; Edward, lives in Kansas. The last five children were born of a second marriage of Mrs. Walterscheid to Joseph Sweitzer.
John E. Walterscheid was reared in Moniteau and Cooper Counties and learned the blacksmith trade in his youth. He plied his trade, at Prairie Home and California, Mo. In 1898 he established a hardware business at Prairie Home, Mo., and a short time later he engaged in the saloon business at California.
Mr. Walterscheid came to Boonville in 1903 and established his pres- ent business. He was married in 1890 to Louisa Imhoff of Moniteau County, a daughter of Michael Imhoff. Five children have been born of this union: Herman J., Peter, Paul, Lulu, and Gertrude.
Herman J. Walterscheid was born in 1892, enlisted in the National Army in Sert., 1917, and was stationed at Governor's Island, De-
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partment of Manhattan, as departmental clerk. He received his honor- able discharge on May 8, 1919.
Peter Walterscheid was born in 1893, and is employed at Hannibal, Mo. He enlisted in May, 1917, and was trained at Fort Riley, and Camp Funston, was first sergeant, entered the Officers' Training School and was honorably discharged from the service in Dec., 1918.
Paul Walterscheid, aged 24 years, is a mechanical draughtsman, in the employ of the C., B. & Q. R. R., Hannibal, Mo. Lulu, aged 22 years, and Gertrude, aged 15 years, are at home. Mr. Walterscheid is an inde- pendent voter.
'Charles Lewis Eager, properietor of "Elmwood Farm", is a native of Cooper County. During his boyhood, in war times, there were many stirring scenes in and about Gooch's Mill, incidents due to the irrepress- ible clash of sectional feeling, and he has many interesting stories to tell of that period, stories of tragedies that thrilled the neighborhood and created lasting impressions in his memory. Mr. Eager was born May 5, 1850, son of Lewis and Cynthia A. (Gooch) Eager, the former of whom was connected with the mill that had been established by his father-in-law and was afterward proprietor of the mill and long one of the most influen- tial citizens in that part of Cooper County.
Lewis Eager was a native of Virginia, born in Louisa County, May 1, 1809, and came to Cooper County in pioneer days. Here he married Cynthia A. Gooch, daughter of William D. Gooch, the pioneer miller. She was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1814, and was about ten years of age when her father, William D. Gooch, moved with his family from Virginia into Ohio. About five years later, about 1830 Mr. Gooch left Ohio and with his family came to Missouri, locating in this county and crecting in Saline township the mill which bore his name and around which gathered the settlement which was the nucleus of the present thriv- ing town of Gooch's Mill. Originally, this mill derived its motive power from the watercourse along which it was built, but after the death of Mr. Gooch his son-in-law, Lewis Eager, who was a millwright, who became proprietor of the mill, installed a steam plant and for years afterward operated the mill. He died in 1881 and is buried at Gooch's Mill. His wife had long preceded him to the grave, her death having occurred in 1859, and she also is buried at Gooch's Mill. Lewis Eager and his wife were the parents of four children: John William Eager, deceased ; Mary Louisa, deceased ; Tyre Harris Eager, Muskogee, Okla .; and Charles L.
In addition to his milling operations Lewis Eager also was the owner of a good farm and his youngest son, Charles Lewis Eager, was from the
MRS. CHARLES 1 .. EAGER
CHARLES L. EAGER
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days of his boyhood interested in the work of the farm. Upon complet- ing his schooling he gave his undivided attention to farming and has ever pursued that vocation and in time became the owner of his present fine place, "Elmwood", a mile east of the old mill site. His house is of modern construction, equipped with an acetylene gas plant, and he has two good barns and other buildings in keeping with the same. Of late years Mr. Eager has been living more or less "retired" from the active manage- ment of the farm, the operation of which is being carried on by his young- est son, Paul Raymond Eager.
In 1876 Charles Lewis Eager was united in marriage to Rebecca Shepherd, a daughter of Levi and Joanna (Campbell) Shepherd, of Saline township. Levi Shepherd was born in the vicinity of Independence, Mo., and became a well-to-do farmer of Cooper County. He and his wife spent their last days in Saline township and are buried at Gooch's Mill. To Charles L. and Rebecca (Shepherd) Eager five children have been born, namely: Anna Lee, wife of Fred Keifer, of Saline township; Lewis Vir- gil, a graduate of Kemper Military School .and a Free Mason, who died at the age of 26 years; Ethel, wife of Joseph T. Hickam, of Saline town- ship; Clarence Levi, of that same township, and Paul Raymond on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Eager have 11 grandchildren, namely: Herbert, Charles Shelby, Eunice Ethel, Ruth Janc, Helen Marie, Emma Lorine and Aubrey Wayne Hickam; Anna Lewis and Charles Frederick Keiffer, and Hazel Louise and Powell Milton Eager.
Mr. Eager is a democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Prairie Home, Mo.
William G. Pendleton .- The name of Pendleton has long been an honored and respected one in Cooper County. The history of the family in Cooper County begins with the advent of the late Dr. George T. Pendle- ton in 1855. The law firm of W. G. and G. T. Pendleton of Boonville is one of the best known and efficient legal firms in the county and central Missouri, William G. Pendleton, the senior member of the firm having been engaged in the practice of law in this county since 1878, and during that time has filled positions of honor, trust and usefulness in the city of Boon- ville. He was born Jan. 6, 1854, in Oldham County, Kentucky.
Dr. George T. Pendleton was born in Jefferson County, Ky., Dec. 2, 1824, and died in Cooper County, Mo., Jan. 25, 1883. George T. Pendle- ton was reared and educated in his native county and began the study of medicine after having secured the groundwork of an academic preparation. He studied at the Louisville Medical College and graduated from this
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institution. He was married on May 1, 1851, to Miss Catherine A. Ma- gruder. In 1855 or 1856 he removed to Missouri and located near Pilot Grove, Cooper County, where for nearly 30 years he practiced his pro- fession successfully and honorably. While practicing medicine he fol- lowed the custom of his day and lived on his farm, the cultivation of which he directed. Dr. Pendleton was a man greatly beloved and re- spected in the community and his passing was marked with deep regret and sorrow from the hundreds of people to whom he had ministered in time of sickness and trouble. Naturally gifted, well educated, the pass- ing years only ripened his intellect and capabilities and he became one of the leading physicians of Central Missouri.
Dr. Pendleton was father of the following children: Dr. Thomas O. Pendleton, a physician of Pilot Grove, Mo .; William G. Pendleton, of this review; Elizabeth A., wife of Prof. Charles R. Forster, a member of the faculty of Macon College, Macon, Ga .; Catherine H., wife of S. C. Stites, Pilot Grove, Mo .; Stapleton C., a railway official, Denver, Colo .; Susan R., living at Pilot Grove; George T., an attorney, member of the law firm, Boonville, Mo .; Eleanor C., wife of R. M. Embry, an attorney, California, Mo.
The mother of the foregoing children was born in Oldham County, Ky., in 1833, and died at Pilot Grove, Mo., Oct. 20, 1909. She was a daughter of Owen Magruder, of Kentucky, who was a descendant of the McGregors of Scotland.
William G. Pendleton of this review, was educated in the common schools of Cooper County and the Law School of Louisville, Ky. He was admitted to practice in 1878 and for the past 41 years he has held a high place among the legal fraternity of Cooper County and Central Mis- souri, as a practitioner endowed with a profound knowledge of the law, and keen legal acumen.
Mr. Pendleton was married Dec. 27, 1888 to Miss Marriet E. Mckenzie, a native of New York, and a daughter of George and Jennie Mckenzie who were natives of Inverness, Scotland, first settled in New York and from that state came to Cooper County, Mo., in 1878. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie died in this county, the latter having departed this life in Boon- ville, in March, 1897.
Mr. Pendleton was originally a democrat but became a republican in 1896, because of the fact that he could not acquiesce in the "free silver" plank in the democratic platform in that year. For eight years he served as county chairman of the Republican Central Committee, and has attended the State Convention of his party as delegate. From 1902 to 1912, he
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filled the office of mayor of Boonville. During his term as mayor the city waterworks were acquired by the municipality, the improvement of the city's streets was placed under way, much public work was under- taken and the streets of the city were extensively paved. His admin- istration was one of the best the city has ever had.
Herman August Schmidt, former police judge, and prominent citizen of Boonville, and now engaged in farming, on his fine farm of 182 acres on the Lamine River bottoms in Blackwater township, is a native son of Cooper County. The Schmidt farm is a very productive one which pro- duced 39 bushels of wheat to the acre during the season of 1918. Judge Schmidt was born Oct. 19, 1861, on a pioneer farm eight miles east of Boonville, in Saline township.
His father, Herman Schmidt, was born in Germany in 1821 and died Jan. 4, 1880. He immigrated to America in 1837, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Schmidt, who settled on the old Schmidt home- stead. Four generations of Schmidts have lived upon the farm, where the father of Judge Schmidt died and upon which he was reared to ma- turity. Only six small acres of the Schmidt land was cleared of forests in 1836 and the first home of the family was a small log cabin. Herman Schmidt was reared on this farm and married Theresa Spieler, who was born in Germany in 1830 and died Dec. 29, 1905. She came to America in 1845 with her parents, Andrew Spieler and wife. The following children were born to Herman and Theresa Schmidt: Mrs. Ida Hoberecht, Cali- fornia, Mo .; Mrs. Emma Hasenbach, Boonville; Herman August, of this review; Otto, living on the old home place of the family, whose son, Oscar, aged 19 years, is of the fourth generation of Schmidts who have lived on the homestead.
Herman August Schmidt was educated in the common schools. His father died when he was 18 years of age and he remained at home unti 38 years old and then came to Boonville in 1899. In 1898 he was ap- pointed to the post of receiver of the United States Land Office by Presi- dent William McKinley. In 1902 he was re-appointed by President Roose- velt, and served for eight years in this capacity. In 1910 he was elected police judge and was re-elected to this position in 1912. Mr. Schmidt has served as deputy assessor and as deputy sheriff of Cooper County.
Mr. Schmidt was married to Miss Laura Hoefer, of Boonville, 2 daughter of Henry and Mary Hoefer, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Mr. Schmidt has always been allied with the Republican party and is prominent in the affairs of his party in Cooper County. In August, 1910,
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he was nominated by his party as their candidate for the office of judge of the Probate Court, but was defeated in the November election by a very narrow margin. He is a member of the Evangelical Church, and for the past 16 years has been a member of the board of trustees of this church. He has served as treasurer of the board for the past year. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World and has been a member of the board of managers of this camp for the past 14 years.
Ernest C. Oerly, proprietor of the "Gooch Pioneer Stock Farm", the old Gooch homestead place at Gooch's Mill, one of the energetic and pro- gressive young farmers and stockmen of Cooper Cunty, was born in this county Feb. 11, 1893, son of John and Elizabeth (Michler) Oerly, the lat- ter born in 1856, is still living on the home place in Prairie Home town- ship. She was born in Switzerland and came to this country with her parents, who settled in this section of Missouri. John Oerly also was of Swiss stock. He was born near Jamestown, Mo., in 1853, son of Ulrich Oerly and wife, whose last days were spent in Cooper County and who are buried in the Pleasant Grove cemetery. Ulrich Ocrly was born in Switzerland and came to this country in young manhood, locating in Moni- teau County and later came to Cooper County and located on a farm in Prairie Home township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1904. His son John also spent his last days there, his death occur- ring in 1912, and is buried in Pleasant Grove cemetery. John and Eliza- beth Oerly were the parents of seven children: W. A. Oerly, of Woold- ridge; Lulu, wife of Thomas Chrisman, Wooldridge; Bertha, married Nicholas H. Blank and died in Sept., 1918, and is buried in Walnut Grove cemetery, Boonville; Oscar Oerly, who was accidentally killed by the dis- charge of a gun at Gooch's Mill in 1907, he then being 21 years old ; Dula, wife of Hagan Hickam, of Boonville, and Grace, wife of Truman Swan- stone, of Saline township and Ernest C.
Reared on the home farm in Prairie Home township, Ernest Oerly received his schooling in the Liberty district school and from the days of his boyhood has been devoted to farming. In 1913, when he was 20 years of age he bought 80 acres of his present farm in Saline township and began farming. In 1917 he bought a tract of 153 acres adjoining and on which stands the substantial old house erected there by his wife's great-grandfather before the Civil War, and has since made his home in that house, the old Gooch home, which in days now long gone was a centre for much of the social activity of the Gooch's Mill neighborhood. There
5
ERNEST C. OERLY AND WIFE
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are five great fireplaces in the old house and in its picturesque setting it affords a very pleasant home for its present owners. Since taking posses- sion of this fine farm of 233 acres and which he very appropriately has named the "Gooch Pioneer Stock Farm", Mr. Oerly has made numerous substantial improvements along the lines of modern development. One of the valuable features of this farm is a great never failing spring, which is said to be one of the best springs in this region of numerous springs.
In 1916 Ernest Oerly was united in marriage with Anna Gray Coch- ran, who was born at Gooch's Mill April 26, 1893, daughter of Dr. O. W. Cochran, of that place. Mr. Oerly is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Gooch's Mill and Mrs. Oerly is a member of the auxiliary order of Daughters of Rebecca there.
During the time of the cyclone which visited this section on the even- ing of June 5, 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Oerly lost their home and had a most thrilling and hazardous experience. They then were living in the house on the other part of their present farm, in the place and both were at home at the time the cyclone came up, that being about 9 o'clock in the evening, with them being Herbert Blank, a nephew of Mr. Oerly. The house was blown away, utterly destroyed. When neighbors searched the scene of devastation Mrs. Oerly was found lying but a few feet from the site of the house and was at first thought to be dead, but signs of life presently were detected and she was tenderly cared for. So great was the shock she had received, however, that it was three weeks before she regained consciousness. Mr. Oerly was blown a distance of 300 yards or more, was rendered insensible by the shock and did not regain conscious- ness for half an hour afterwards. Happily no permanent injury was in- curred either by his wife or himself. Herbert Blank, the lad who was visiting with his uncle and aunt, was picked up by the cyclone and car- ried above the treetops. He was not rendered unconscious and retains the most distinct impressions of his journey through the air and of being lightly deposited again on mother earth uninjured. A big carpet fell upon him as he was lying wondering what was going to happen next. Mr. Oerly's bank book was found at Paris, eight miles away. Nearly all the household silverware was recovered, but of the furniture scarcely a vestige remained. Chickens were completely stripped of their feathers and of Mr. Oerly's live stock four horses and about 25 head of hogs were killed. He also lost his automobile and in other ways suffered a severe loss of property.
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William L. Tanner .- Without question or possible rivalry, the Tanner Studio and Art Shop, which was opened by William L. Tanner, in Boon- ville, on Feb. 26, 1919, is the most artistic and completely equipped studio and photographic establishment in Central Missouri. Following a dis- astrous fire, which destroyed the former Tanner Studio in the McCurdy Building, Dec. 23, 1918, it was necessary for Mr. Tanner to find other quarters and to completely equip a new studio and shop. This he pro- ceeded to do and has spared no pains or expense in presenting to the people his present beautiful shop, located in the Gmelich Building, 305 Main Street. The Tanner Studio is the last word in modernity. The nitrogen lighting system, with a battery of eight lights, of strength of 8000 watts, is used and renders reliance on daylight as an adjunct to photography unnecessary. Posing can be accomplished at any hour of the day or night by means of the lighting system which Mr. Tanner has installed. The studio is equipped with the finest model of camera in existence fitted with an automatic adjustment, and which uses films in- stead of plates. Perfectly appointed dressing rooms have been provided for patrons. The studio occupies two floors and the basement of the build- ing. Mr. Tanner's assistants are Mrs. Tanner, who is an expert pho- tographer; Carl Bach, and Frank Swap, the local artist.
Mr. Tanner has been in business in Boonville since 1916. He came to this city from St. Louis, a stranger, unknown and without friends or even acquaintances. On March 23, 1916, he held an opening, something unique in presenting a newly equipped photo study for the inspection of the public. Each lady attending his first opening received an appropriate souvenir of the occasion-a photograph of herself. Fifty-four Boonville ladies availed themselves of this opportunity, and the Tanner Studio was successfully launched in Boonville. Since his initial opening in Boonville, the business has prospered and numbers among its clients the best fam- ilies of Boonville and this section of Missouri. The re-opening of the Tanner Studio and Art Shop on Feb. 26, 1919, was largely attended and was a social event in the city; none called but to admire and comment upon the perfect appointments and the furnishings of the studio, and others have been coming to have high grade work done.
A department of the business or profession which will be cared for at the Tanner Studio is the painting of portraits of those who desire work of this character.
William L. Tanner was born in Illinois, Sept. 24, 1880. He is a son of Louis and Christina (Kraft) Tanner, the former of whom was a native of Switzerland and the latter of Illinois. Louis Tanner left his native
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mountain country and crossed the Atlantic to New Orleans when a boy of 14. During the Civil War he served as munition driver with the Fed- eral forces and had the rank of captain. When 16 years old he was a whip maker. He located in St. Louis with his parents and operated a manufacturing business there. Later the family traded for property at Lost Prairie, near Sparta, Ill., and there made their future home. William L. Tanner is the oldest son of a family of 12 children, five sons and seven daughters, born to his parents. In 1886 the family again moved to St. Louis, where the father died Aug. 4, 1912, at the age of 69 years. Mrs. Tanner makes her home with her son, William L., and is aged 73 years. When 13 years old, William L. Tanner left school and went to work. He was employed in a gents' furnishing store until he attained the age of 19 years. He then took up the study of photography and worked for Gustav Schneidt, a successful photographer who had learned his art in Germany and operated two studios in St. Louis. He was with Mr. Schneidt (his father-in-law) for ten years and in 1911 was in the studio of O. C. Conk- ling for three years. In 1914 he entered the employ of Hyatt's Photo Supply Company as traveling salesman and remained with this concern until he located in Boonville in 1916.
Mr. Tanner was married on June 5, 1905, to Miss Emma Georgiana Schneidt, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., a daughter of the late Gustav Schneidt, who died April 24, 1916. Mrs. Schneidt and her son, George C. Schneidt, are operating the studios in St. Louis. Mrs. Emma Tanner is an expert finisher of photos and has followed the profession since leaving school. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner have a son, William Louis, Jr., born Feb. 2, 1904.
Mr. Tanner is a republican. He is a member of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church and is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the National Union of St. Louis.
William L. Brickner, retired farmer, residing at 411 Center street, Boonville, Mo., is owner of a fine farm of 380 acres on the Santa Fe Trail road, five miles west of Boonville. Mr. Brickner was born Feb. 8, 1860, on a farm four miles west of Boonville and is a son of John M. and Mar- garet Brickner, a sketch of whom appears in this history in connection with that of August Bricker.
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