USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 67
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Charles Christian Cook .- Hard work and keeping everlastingly at the task at hand until it was accomplished has placed Charles C. Cook, of Clarks Fork township, in a position of independence as a successful farmer and stockman. Mr. Cook is owner of 115 acres of good land, and is one of the young men who have been befriended and assisted in getting a start in an agricultural career by Charles C. Bell, of Boonville. Mr. Cook's farm is improved with a handsome and imposing residence of 10 rooms, modern in every respect, and was erected in 1915 and 1916. The house is fitted with a basement of four rooms underneath the entire structure, and is built for comfort as well as appearance. Charles C. Cook was born in Boonville, June 1, 1869, and is a son of Adam and Cath- erine (Bell) Cook the latter of whom was a sister of Charles C. Bell, of Boonville, and was born in 1845 and died in 1897.
Adam Cook was born in Germany in 1846 and departed this life in '1876. He came to Boonville when a young man and plied his trade of blacksmith until the outbreak of the Civil War. He served in the Union Army, and was among the first volunteers to offer their services to the Union under General Siegel. He fought in the battle of Wilsons Creek during his first three months' service. He then re-enlisted for three years and served under General Grant. He participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and fought at the battles of Fort Pillow and the Seven Days' Battle of the Wilderness. He was with Sherman's command on the famous march from Atlanta to the sea. He served, in all, three years and three months, and after receiving his honorable discharge he returned to St. Louis and hired himself out as a substitute for a rich merchant and served until the close of the war.
Mr. Cook married upon returning from the war and was father of two children: Charles C., of this review, and J. W. Cook, somewhere in
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C. C. COOK AND FAMILY
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the West. He plied his trade of blacksmith at Boonville and Bunceton, then went to Kansas and homesteaded a tract of land, built a home for his family, and died there. His family was left in poor circumstances, and stayed with Henry Bell until Charles C. Bell came, found them, and took mother and children back to Boonville. For one and a half years, Charles C. Cook lived in the home of John E. Elliot. He was employed by Julius Hosp and H. Fredmeyer for about seven and a half years. In 1890, with the assistance of his uncle, Charles C. Bell, he purchased his farm.
In 1892, Mr. Cook was married to Sarah C. Stegner, who was born July 6, 1870, in Cooper County, and is a daughter of Nicholas Stegner, concerning whose biography the reader is referred to the sketch of Marion Stegner. Five children have been born to Charles C. and Sarah C. Cook, as follows: Louis C., Minnie Mabel, Mary Ellen, Nellie Frances, and Charles C .. Jr. Mary Ellen Cook was married June 3, 1918, to Ernest Walters, a farmer and stock dealer, living west of Boonville.
Mr. Cook is a republican. He is a member and a deacon of the Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, and is affiliated with Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, Lodge No. 3701.
Henry Mersey, a leading farmer and stockman of Prairie Home town- ship, is a Cooper County citizen of real worth. He was born in Germany, Aug. 21, 1854, a son of Henry Mersey, and was one of the following chil- dren born to his parents: Mrs. Maggie Middlecamp, deceased; Mrs. Mary Grapherhouse, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Beckerman; and Henry, the sub- ject of this sketch.
Henry Mersey left his native land when he was about 18 years of age, in 1872, and immigrated to America. He first settled in St. Louis, where he remained about two years, and in 1874 came to Boonville, Cooper County, where for a few years he sought employment as a farm laborer. Here he worked for $14.00 per month. He was industrious and frugal and saved his earnings, and it was not long until he was able to invest in a farm and make the initial payment. He purchased the place where he now resides, 10 miles southeast of Boonville, on the Jefferson City road, in 1893. This was formerly the J. S. Johnston farm, and con- sists of 174 acres of well improved farm land.
Feb. 28, 1881, Henry Mersey was united in marriage with Miss Cath- erine Wehmeyer, daughter of Peter and Helena (Fiedler) Wehmeyer. The father was a Civil War veteran, having served in the Union Army for three years during that great conflict. He was a native of Germany, born
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at Westphalia, May 6, 1834, and came to America when he was about 20 years of age, in 1854. He located in Cooper County, and settler on the place in 1864 which is now owned by Robert Byler. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising for many years, and attained a very satis- factory degree of success. He died Feb. 20, 1913, at the age of 78 years. His wife departed this life June 19, 1899, at the age of 65 years, and their remains are interred in Clarks Fork Cemetery. She was born at Bayem, Germany, March 13, 1835, and was married May 15, 1859. They were the parents of the following children: Catherine, born Feb. 23, 1860, wife of Henry Mersey, the subject of this sketch; Sophia, wife of Henry Honerbrink, Saline township, born Feb. 21, 1862; Miss Maggie Wehmeyer, Clarks Fork township, born April 30, 1866; Minnie, born Aug. 16, 1870, wife of J. P. Heath, Prarie Home township; Caroline, born Aug. 17, 1872, wife of Albert Adair, Clarks Fork township; Lena L., born Sept. 25. 1881, wife of Herman Rethemeyer.
To Henry and Catherine (Wehmeyer) Mersey have been born the following children: George, farmer and stockman, Prairie Home town- ship; Herman J., a carpenter, Pilot Grove; Fred L., Boonville; Elmer E., who served in the United States Army during the World War, having been a member of the 10th Infantry, 69th Division, and was at Camp Funston when the war closed; William H., who enlisted in the United States Army, Sept. 19, 1917, and became a member of Company I, 138th Infantry, 35th Division, went to France in May, 1918, and saw much active service with his division, having been on the firing line for seventy- two consecutive days, and was discharged from the service May 12, 1919, at Camp Funston; Julius J., enlisted in United States Navy during the World War in May, 1918, and served until Feb., 1919, when he received his honorable discharge on account of the close of the war, and is now residing at home with his parents; Robert L., and Maggie, also residing at home with their parents.
Herman J. was born Sept. 15, 1883; married Grace Swanson. George Mersey was born Jan. 18, 1882; married Emma Ohlendorf, and has one child, Ruth Irene. Elmer E. was born Dec. 24, 1890; married Myrtle Ramsey. Fred L. was born Oct. 12, 1885. William H. was born April 12, 1893 ; married Eula McFarland. Henrietta was born July 28, and died Aug. 2, 1895. Julius was born July 31, 1896. Robert was born April 19, 1899. Margaret Elizabeth was born Jan. 6, 1888.
Mr. Mersey is one of Cooper County's most valued and highly re- spected citizens, and the Mersey family stand high in the community.
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Mr. Mersey has been identified with Cooper County for over 47 years, and has proven himself to be a worthy citizen and has reared a family which is not only a credit to Cooper County, but to the State and Nation. Mr. and Mrs. Mersey and the children are members of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church of Clarks Fork.
Amos B. Gentry .- The Gentry family has been prominently identi- fied with the settlement of Missouri, and members of this family were among the pioneers of Howard County, which perhaps was the first set- tlement of the Gentrys in this State. Later members of this family set- tled in other counties in this section of the State, including Cooper.
Amos B. Gentry was born in Howard County, Jan. 29, 1844. He is a son of Claybourne S. and Nancy (Detherage) Gentry, both natives of Kentucky, and very early settlers in Howard County. However, after spending a few years in Howard County, they came to Cooper County in 1859, where both parents spent the remainder of their lives. They were natives of Madison County, Ky., and C. S. Gentry was prominent in the early day affairs of Cooper County. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 42 years. He died in 1899 at the age of 80 years, and his re- mains are interred in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. His wife preceded him in death many years, she having passed away in 1857 in Howard County, and her remains are buried in the Detherage family cemetery.
Amos B. Gentry received his education mostly in private schools, and was reared to manhood in Howard and Cooper Counties. In 1874 he pur- chased his present place, which is located nine miles southeast of Boon- ville, in Clarks Fork township. The farm is known as "Cedar Grove Farm," is of 116.44 acres, and is one of the well kept and valuable farms of this section of Cooper County. The place is well improved and the farm residence is a substantial and well preserved building, which was built over 60 years ago.
January 5, 1869, Amos B. Gentry was united in marriage at Bunce- ton, with Miss Susan M. Woodson, a daughter of George and Louisa (Shackelford) Woodson. both natives of Kentucky, and pioneer settlers in Cooper County. They are both now deceased, the mother having died Feb. 8, 1867, and the father survived her a number of years and died at Bunceton. To Mr. and Mrs. Gentry have been born five children, as fol- lows: Louisa, resides at home with her parents; Capt. Herschel, a sur- geon in United States Army, was stationed at Camp Grant, Ill., having volunteered his services in Oct., 1918, and received a commission as cap- tain, discharged in May, 1919, and is now practicing surgery at Carthage,
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Mo .; Osie, married J. E. Moss and resides in Boone county ; Archie L., resides on the home place; and Nannie L., also resides at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Gentry have three grandchildren, Margaret G. Moss; Catherine May Moss; and Roy Woodson Moss.
The Gentrys originally came from Virginia to Kentucky, and for many years have been conspicuous in the affairs of Kentucky and Mis- souri. They are of English descent. Amos B. Gentry was a soldier in the Civil War, having enlisted in Madison County, Ky., and after serving three months, was taken prisoner and later paroled. He is a democrat. and a member of the Christian Church.
George E. Bowmer, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township, is a native of Missouri, and is a descendent of some of the early pioneer families of this State. He was born in Howard County, Nov. 7, 1864, and is a son of James Mahan and Luranier Ruth (Wilcoxen) Bowmer. James M. Bowmer was born in Howard County, Feb. 29, 1832. He was a son of Peter Bowmer, a native of Fauquier County, Va., and came to Missouri in 1816. He lived in Missouri at a time when Indian uprisings were frequent, and on occasions was forced to take refuge with the other settlers in forts for defense against the attacks of hostile Indians. He was one of the very early settlers of Howard County. He married Catherine Mahan, whose father, Patrick Mahan, was one of the very early settlers of Cooper County, and lived in Lebanon township. He operated a sawmill near Pilot Grove in the early days. He built the first bridge across the Petit Saline Creek. This bridge was five miles south of Boonville.
James Mahan Bowmer enlisted for service in the Mexican War, and when he reached St. Louis peace was declared. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served under General Price, in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. He was taken prisoner in Arkansas and was held a prisoner of war by the Federals at St. Louis until the war closed. In 1869 he removed to California with his family, and after residing in that State for eight years, he returned to Howard County, where he was engaged in farming until 1884, when he removed to Cooper County. He died here July 24, 1906.
George E. Bowmer was educated in the public schools of Howard County, and in the public schools of the State of California. He came to Cooper County with his father in 1884, and they bought a farm together, which they later sold; and in 1898, George E. bought his present farm of
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GEORGE E. BOWMER AND FAMILY
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144 acres, in Clarks Fork township, where he has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising. This is one of the best grain and stock farms in this part of Cooper County. The place is well improved, with a good farm residence, barns and other buildings, which are kept in excellent condition and present a good appearance.
Mr. Bowmer was married March 26, 1891, to Miss Lizzie McArthur. She was born Feb. 3, 1867, and left an orphan at a very early age. She was reared by N. A. Gilbreath, of Prairie Home township. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowmer were born the following children: James R., born July 12, 1892; Newton W., born Nov. 26, 1894; William E., born Nov. 19, 1897; Helen Louisa, born Jan. 31, 1903; Susan Catherine and Mary Margaret, twins, born Aug. 19, 1909.
James R., the eldest son, served in the U. S. Navy during the World War. He volunteered Dec. 13, 1917, and was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and from there was sent to Camp Logan, Ill., for rifle practice for two months. He was then returned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and while there volunteered for overseas service. He was then sent to Newport, and embarked for France, May 26, 1918, landing at Brest, June 8; from there he was sent to Bordeaux, France, by rail, and was stationed at Pawillac, France. Durings his service in France he was a member of a motorcycle squad, which operated as dis- patch bearers. He returned to New York, Dec. 13, 1918, and was sta- tioned at Pelham Park until March 26, 1919, and from there was sent to the armed general barracks at Brooklyn, N. Y., and two days later trans- ferred to Bay Ridge, N. Y., where he was discharged, April 7, 1919.
Newton W. Bowmer entered the army July 26, 1918, and was sent to Camp Funston, where he was trained. He was a member of the Medi- cal Detachment of the 29th Field Artillery, 10th Division, and at this writing is stationed at Ft. D. A. Russell, Wy.
Mrs. Lizzie (McArthur) Bowman died Jan. 6, 1918, and her remains are buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery.
George E. Bowmer is one of Cooper County's substantial citizens, and the Bowmer family rank high in the community. Mr. Bowmer is a demo- crat. He and his family worship at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America Lodge of Boonville.
William Fricke, a well-known and successful farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township, is a descendant of one of Cooper County's
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pioneer families. Mr. Fricke was born Jan. 31, 1886, and is a son of Wil- liam and Minnie (Keorp) Fricke. The father was born in Clarks Fork township, and spent his entire life in Cooper County. He died in Decem- ber, 1900. The mother is a native of Missouri, having been born in Moniteau County in 1850. She now resides with her son William, the subject of this sketch. William and Minnie (Keorpe) Frick were the par- ents of the following children: Dora, married John Lohse; Emma, mar- ried William Smith; and William, the subject of this sketch.
William Fricke was reared and educated in Cooper County. He at- tended the Jefferson School in Clarks Fork township, and the German school at Clarks Fork. He has been engaged in farming and stock rais- ing all his life on the place where he now resides, and is regarded as one of Cooper County's successful agriculturists. Mr. Fricke's father died. leaving the young man with practically all the responsibilies of conduct- ing the home farm when he was only 15 years of age. Thus Mr. Fricke has been a practical farmer since early boyhood. His farm consists of 160 acres, located 13 miles south of Boonville, and the place bears testi- mony of the skill and efficiency of Mr. Fricke as a modern farmer. He has recently rebuilt the residence, and has constructed other ample farm buildings, including a metal barn 32x42 feet. He is extensively engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Hereford cattle.
Oct. 4, 1911, William Fricke was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Lohse, a daughter of Fred and Anna Lohse, pioneer settlers of Cooper County. The mother is now deceased and the father resides in Clarks Fork township. To Mr. and Mrs. Fricke have been born two children, as follows: Norbert, born Nov. 3, 1913, and Lucille, born March 19, 1919.
Mr. and Mrs. Fricke are members of the Lutheran Evangelical Church at Clarks Fork. While Mr. Fricke does not take an active part in political affairs, he supports the policies and principles of the republican party. He is well known in Cooper County as one of its reliable and pro- gressive citizens, and the Fricke family is highly esteemed.
Charles W. Schubert, proprietor of the "Cool Spring Farm," which is one of the interesting places of Clarks Fork township, is a native son of this county. He was born near Billingsville, Jan. 14, 1874, a son of C. A. and Wilhelmina (Langkop) Schubert. C. A. Schubert was born in Gelenau, Saxony, Germany, Dec., 1830, and died March 26, 1900, and emi- grated to America when he was a boy. He was an early settler in Cooper
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County. During the Civil War he served in the Union Army, and re- ceived a gunshot wound in the arm at the battle of Boonville. After the close of the war, he returned to the peaceful pursuits of agricultural life in Cooper County and here spent the remainder of his life. His remains now rest in the Clarks Fork Cemetery. His widow still survives him and resides in Prairie Home. She was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1840. They were the parents of the following children: Henry, Prairie Home township; Mrs. Minnie Langlotz, Boonville; Anna, died in infancy; and Charles W., the subject of this sketch.
Charles W. Schubert received his education in the public schools of Cooper County, having attended school at the Washington School district. He has made farming and stock raising the principal pursuit of his life, and has met with more than ordinary success. He owns 143 acres of some of Cooper County's best land, where his father settled in 1879. Mr. Schubert has made many improvements and keeps his place well up to the standard of modern farm homes. On June 5, 1917, he met with considerable loss in the way of the destruction of many of his farm build- ings by a tornado. However, he soon rebuilt and repaired the damage, and to-day there remains no evidence of nature's great destruction on the Schubert place.
Mr. Schubert was united in marriage, June 22, 1902, with Miss Mary Muntzel, daughter of Daniel and Wilhelmina (Kaune) Muntzel, the for- mer now residing in Clarks Fork township, and the latter died Jan. 26, 1912, and her remains are buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Clarks Fork. Mrs. Schubert is one of the following children born to her parents: August, who resides on the home place; Herman P., Clarks Fork town- ship; William, on the home place; John, Boonville; Mrs. Sophia Prigge, St. Louis, Mo .; Mrs. Lavina Meyer, died at the age of 20 years in Cali- fornia, Mo .; and Mary, married Charles W. Schubert, the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Schubert have been born two children, as fol- lows: Lillian, died in 1915, at the age of 12 years, and Aurelius, born April 27, 1906.
The Schubert homestead is one of the historic places of Cooper County, and its story is interwoven with many interesting incidents of the early days in this section. A portion of what is now the Schubert residence was built prior to the Civil War, and Christ Fricke, who owned the place during the stirring days of that conflict, was taken from his home at night and hanged by bushwhackers in the vicinity of his home.
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A man who worked for him was also murdered about the same time. Christ Fricke's widow married Charles Brandes, and now resides near Lone Elm, Mo.
The Schubert place is also noted for the great number of Indian relics found upon its soil. Arrow heads have been found in abundance, and two well-preserved tomahawks have been found here, one of which Mrs. Schubert has in her possession, and values very highly as a relic of the Red Men's handicraft.
Mr. and Mrs. Schubert are members of the Lutheran Church at Clarks Fork, and are numbered among Cooper County's valued citizens.
Charles D. Shirley .- The progressive farmer of today is not content to till his land in a mediocre, hit-and-miss manner, and is not satisfied to keep any but the best of live stock on his place. Here and there over the county are men of intelligence and foresight who are making a specialty of producing pure-bred live stock and are engaging the business as a com- mercial venture. Charles D. Shirley, of Clarks Fork township, is one of this class. Mr. Shirley is specializing in Angus cattle, and intends to breed this fine variety of cattle. He also keeps pure-bred Shorthorns on the place, and pure-bred Poland China hogs. A flock of 100 head of Shropshire sheep are a paying venture on the farm. The Shirley farm consists of 336 acres, and has been the home of the present proprietor since 1902. During the past 17 years all of Mr. Shirley's time that he could spare from crop production, has been devoted to building improve- ments on the farm. The big barn has been remodeled, fences built, a concrete silo erected, an attractive driveway is in process of building, and the time is coming when the Shirley estate will be one of the finest in the land. Mr. Shirley was born March 2, 1872, on a farm in Clarks Fork township, Cooper County.
William A. J. Shirley, his father, was born on the Shirley homestead in the same township in 1835, and died in 1882. He was a son of Charles Shirley, a native of Virginia, who was an early pioneer in Cooper County, settling on Clarks Fork sometime in the twenties. William A. J. Shirley was married May 3, 1871, to Harriet Malvina Eller, who was born Dec. 24, 1850, on a farm near Boonville, and is a daughter of David and Martha (Oglesby) Eller. David Eller was born in Missouri in 1822, and died in 1864. He was killed by bushwhackers during the Civil War. He was a son of Jacob Eller, who was one of the first pioneers to settle in Cooper County, and was a native of North Carolina. The mother of Mrs. Shirley was born in Virginia in 1828, came to Cooper County with her parents in
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1831, and died here in 1912. Mr. Shirley's mother, Malvina (Eller) Shir- ley, was one of the following children born to David and Martha Eller: Nancy Jane, Bunceton, Mo .; Mrs. Harriet Shirley ; Henry, Susan Elizabeth Kepner, Lucretia Ann Moore, William, Mrs. Mattie Knaus, Mrs. Mollie McFarland.
Mr. and Mrs. Shirley lived on the Shirley home place for a few years, then sold it and moved to the Eller place, finally settling on the homestead of 120 acres in Palestine township. The children born to them are as follows: Charles D., of this review; Florence, wife of Bert Chamberlin; Harry L., living on an adjoining farm; Susan, at home with her mother , and William, managing the home farm.
Charles D. Shirley attended the Stony Point School and also the Con- cord School. After his district school days he studied at Hooper Insti- tute in Clarks Fork township. He has always followed farming. He purchased his first tract of 116 acres in the fall of 1900, and placed all of the needed improvements on the place. He rented his present farm for two years prior to its purchase in 1905. The farm which Mr. Shirley owns is one of the oldest settled places in Cooper County, known as the Oglesby farm. This tract was entered as Government land by his grand- father Oglesby, who gave the farm to Thomas Oglesby, an uncle of Charles D. Shirley, and from whom the present owner purchased it. The original elm tree, from which "Lone Elm Prairie" takes name, stood on this farm.
Mr. Shirley was married in September, 1912, to Miss Grace M. Cham- berlin, born in Cooper County, a daughter of the late Albert M. Chamber- lin, a sketch of whom appears in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Shirley have two children: Harriet Elizabeth, born Sept. 7, 1913; and Charles David, born March 11, 1915.
Mr. Shirley is a democrat, as were his ancestors before him. He is a member of the Baptist Church, the faith of his fathers. He is a mem- ber of the Woodmen of the World, at Speed, Mo.
Luther Clinton Debo, a prominent farmer and stockman of Boonville township, belongs to a pioneer family of Cooper County. He was born in Bedford County. Va., Nov. 9, 1869, a son of Reed Perry and Mary (Hepstonstall) Debo, both natives of Virginia. Reed Perry Debo was born June 19, 1832 and died April 21, 1911. He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, enlisting April 1, 1862 in Company G, 28th Virginia Infantry, which was attached to Pickett's Division. He became 1st Sergeant of his company and participated in many of the important battles which were fought by the army of Virginia under command of
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