USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 70
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117
Mr. Smith has in his possession a family heirloom which is highly
713
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
prized by him. It is an old rocking chair which was made nearly 100 years ago, and was the property of his grandfather, Jeremiah Smith.
The Smith family are among the best citizens of Cooper County, and Robert Boone Smith is a progressive and public spirited man who has had a successful career, and stands ever ready to co-operate with any commendable public enterprise.
George W. Carl, proprietor of "Woodland Farm," an excellent piece of property on both sides of the Rankin Mill road, three miles southeast of Boonville, in Boonville township, where he has resided since 1911, is a native son of Missouri and has resided in this State all his life. He was born on a farm in Warren County, Dec. 3, 1849, son of George and Anna (Phillip) Carl, the former an Alsatian and the latter born in Switzerland, who were married in Missouri and whose last days were spent here.
The senior George Carl was born Nov. 12, 1812, and left his native Alsace and in the thirties came to Missouri, and for three years worked on a farm in Gasconade County to pay his board and repay the man who had paid for his passage to this country. The next year he worked for a small pair of steers, cut wood on Rush Island for a little money and afterward traded his steers for 40 acres of land in Gasconade County, which land he later sold for $50. In 1847 he bought a tract of 80 acres in Warren County and on that place, in the spring of 1849, established his home and reared his children. To this tract he gradually added until he had 200 acres, which in time he sold for $1,500 and with this purchase money secured an equity in a farm of 100 acres in Franklin County for $6,500, and seven years later had the place paid for. He died here Nov. 20, 1880, and is buried at Etla. His widow died March 19, 1912, and she is buried at Independence, Mo. She was born Feb. 1, 1828 ,and came to this country with her parents in 1844, the family settling in Gasconade County, where on March 7, 1849, she married George Carl. To that union were born 13 children: George W., subject of this sketch; John Jacob, born March 6, 1851; Joseph, born March 15, 1852, died Sept. 17, 1854; Margaret, born May 2, 1853; Rosa, born Oct. 29, 1855; Robert, born Feb. 14, 1856; Anna, born Sept. 9, 1857; Henry, born Feb. 5, 1859; Ferdinand, born Dec. 26, 1861; Mary, born Oct. 25. 1862; August, born July 10, 1864; Julia, born March 2, 1866, died Sept. 7, 1867; and Wilhelmina, born March 21, 1869.
George W. Carl was rearcd on the farm in Warren County and re- ceived his schooling in a little log school house. He remained with his father until he was 21 years of age. For six years he worked in a saw and
714
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
grist-mill. For seven years thereafter he made his home in Osage County, where he bought a small farm, selling that farm, he returned to Franklin County, where he bought 85 acres and remained there for 23 years. In 1911, he came to Cooper County and took possession of "Wood- land Farm" of 205 acres, which he had bought in 1910, and where he has since made his home. Besides this farm, he still owns his farm in Frank- lin County, a place which he had brought up to a high state of cultivation. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Carl raises live stock and raises Red Polled cattle. An ample supply of water is obtained from a drilled well, 105 feet in depth, a gas engine being utilized for pumping purposes.
May 19, 1880, George W. Carl was united in marriage with Amelia Witthar, who was born in Franklin County, Jan. 28, 1859, daughter of Henry and Mary (Juedemann) Witthar, natives of Holland, whose last days were spent in Missouri, to which State the former had come with his parents when about 12 years of age, and the latter, with her parents when about 14. They were married in Franklin County, where they made their home for years, later moving to Independence, where they spent their last days and where they are buried. Mrs. Carl is the fourth born of the seven children born to her parents, the others being the following: Henry Witthar, Independence; Fred, Independence; Chris, Kansas City; Mrs. Louis Carl, Independence ; Mrs. Lottie Borgemann, Buckner ; and Mrs. Catherine Drewel, Buckner. To George W. and Amelia (Witthar) Carl seven children have been born: Minnie, wife of Ernest Berkmeier, Inde- pendence; Delia, wife of Ernest Wattenburg, Independence; Anna, at home; Rosa, wife of William Twiehaus, Independence; Dora, wife of Wil- liem Loesing, of Clarks Fork township; Edwin Carl, who served with the American Expeditionary Force in France during the World War, and Emil, at home. Edwin Carl enlisted for service in the World War Oct. 2, 1917, and after a period of intensive training, sailed in the spring of 1918 for overseas service, a member of Company D, 110th Ammunition Train, 35th Division, and with that command participated in some of the hottest fighting which preceded the armistice, including battle of the Argonne Forest. Following the armistice the command to which he was attached was made a part of the Army of Occupation. He was discharged May 5, 1919, and is now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Carl have six grandchildren: George Berkmeier, Freda and Carl Wattenburg; Dorothy Twiehaus and Delphie and Wilbur Loesing. The Carls are members of the Evangelical Church at Boonville.
Aaron T. Hockenberry, one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of Clarks Fork township and owner of a fine farm of 585 acres in that
715
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
township, is a native of Pennsylvania, but has been a resident of Cooper County for more than 50 years, living for nearly 45 years on his present farm. He was born in Butler County, Pa., April 21, 1853, son of John and Matilda (McCandless) Hockenberry, both also born in Pennsylvania, and who spent their last days there. John Hockenberry was a son of Joseph Hockenberry, also a native of Butler County, who was a son of John Hockenberry, a native of Maryland and a soldier of the War of 1812, whose father, John Hockenberry, also a native of Maryland, was a sol- dier of the Revolutionary War, and who lived to be 104 years of age. The Hockenberries in this country were founded by a family of Covenanters which came from County Down, Ireland, in Colonial days. Mr. Hocken- berry's mother, Matilda McCandless, was a daughter of John McCandless, a native of Pennsylvania and a soldier in the War of 1812, whose father, William McCandless, was a native of North Ireland, of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and whose mother was a native of England.
Reared on a farm in his native county, Aaron T. Hockenberry re- ceived his schooling in the local schools, and remained at home until he was 18 years of age, when, in 1868, he came to Missouri with the family of his uncle, Oliver Pizer, and for 20 years made his home with Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Weight in this county. After his marriage in 1892, Mr. Hock- enberry has since continued to reside there. In 1878 Mr. Hockenberry bought from J. Richard Davis 90 acres of his present tract of 585 acres and to this he gradually added until he became to be one of the leading farmers of Cooper County. This farm lies on the Clarks Fork-Moniteau township line, and all the substantial improvements now marking the place as one of the best farm plants in that section of Cooper County have been made by Mr. Hockenberry. In addition to his general farming, he is engaged in the raising of live stock, feeding all his cattle and hogs, and ships about five carloads of hogs and cattle annually. During the current year (1919) he has 115 acres in wheat. There are two sets of improvements on the place.
June 9, 1892, Aaron T. Hockenberry was united in marriage, in Bates County , to Fannie Pope, who was born in DeKalb County, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Word) Pope, both members of pioncer families. Henry Pope was a native of Kentucky who came to Missouri with his parents, Henry Pope and wife, the family first settling in Cooper County and then going to DeKalb County. The senior Henry Pope, who was a native of Tennessee, was a school teacher and after coming here was en- gaged in teaching at Round Hill in Kelly township. His granddaughter, Mrs. Hockenberry has an old rollbook of the pupils attending his school
716
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
at that place, for the term beginning Sept. 1, 1856, which is an interest- ing souvenir of pioneer days, carrying the names of some whose great- grandchildren are the school children of this generation. The junior Henry Pope died in 1893, at the age of 49 years, and is buried in Pisgah Church yard. He and his wife had two daughters, Mrs. Hockenberry having a sister, Anna, wife of R. E. Neale, of Bunceton. Mr. and Mrs. Hockenberry have a son, Weight Pope Hockenberry, who attended high school at Bunceton and at California, afterward taking a course in the Business College at Sedalia and a two-year course in agriculture at the Missouri State University, and is now a valued assistant to his father.
Philip Davis, who lived on the farm where William Davis now lives, in the vicinity of the Davis school house, in Kelly township, was acci- dentally killed by being thrown from a horse, the accident being caused by the horse starting from fright at the sudden whirring of the wings of a prairie chicken, which rose immediately in front of it while the rider was cantering across the prairie in quest of game. Philip Davis was a man of unusual activity and was a famous hunter in his day, apparently satisfied only when out hunting or exploring some new part of the unset- tled portion of the West. So noticeably true was this that the neighbors jokingly called his wife "the Widow Davis," because her husband often was absent for so much of the time. He would organize a crew to go West in search of fortune and adventure, and in this way had crossed the plains and had frequently been in skirmishes with hostile Indians. The accident by which he came to his death occurred at a point about a quar- ter of a mile from the Clarks Fork and Moniteau township line, near the present residence of Mr. Hockenberry. Philip Davis was the father of George and Porter Davis, the grandfather of Mrs. Dr. Williams, of Ver- sailles, the great-grandfather of Dr. Porter Williams and the great-great- grandfather of Mrs. Rod Williams.
James M. Hurt, an honored pioneer of Cooper County, is a native of Clarks Fork township, a member of a highly respected family, one of the first families of Missouri. Mr. Hurt was born April 10, 1853, a son of William and Catherine (Robertson) Hurt, natives of Cooper County.
William Hurt was born in Cooper County in 1817, at old Cole's Fort, a son of Col. Clayton and Mary (Dillard) Hurt. Col. Clayton Hurt was a native of Virginia. He was born Jan. 15, 1790, in Bedford County, Va. In 1814, he was farried to Mary Dillard, a daughter of James Dillard, of Kentucky, and in 1815 they came to Missouri and settled in Boonville
717
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
township, Cooper County. They resided at Fort Cole for a short time, after coming to Missouri, and there William Hurt was born. William Hurt was united in marriage with Catherine Robertson, Sept. 6, 1837. Catherine (Robertson) Hurt was a daughter of Capt. Andrew Robertson, one of the earliest settlers of Cooper County. William and Catherine Hurt were the parents of the following children: W. A .; Mrs. Mary C. McFarland, of Clarks Fork township; James M., the subject of this sketch; Jenkins D., Beniga, and Mrs. Nancy E. Davis, who are deceased.
James M. Hurt was educated in private schools, as he was of school age when the Civil War war raging. Since attaining maturity, he has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was given a farm of 100 acres of land by his father, when he, the son, had attained the age of 22 years. To this tract of land, James M. Hurt has added 125 acres of land, and he now has one of the best country places in the county. His land is well watered and is located 71% miles southeast of Boonville. There are two good barns and a comfortable residence on the place, which has been improved by Mr. Hurt since he acquired the ownership. He raises cattle, horses and mules.
Nov. 25, 1874, James M. Hurt was married to Adaline Rogers, a daughter of Dr. Benjamin and Harriet (McDonald) Rogers, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Saline township, Cooper County, both of whom are now deceased. The remains of both parents of Mrs. Hurt are interred in the cemetery at New Salem Church. Dr. Rogers came from the South to Missouri in the early fifties, and opened his office in Saline township at his home. Adaline (Rogers) Hurt was reared and educated in Saline township. She is one of six children born to her parents, as follows: Mrs. Ann Johnston, deceased; Mrs. James M. Hurt. the wife of the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Lucy Williams, deceased ; Mrs. Jeff Stone, deceased : Mrs. Hattie Parson, of Colorado Springs, Colo .; and Benjamin F., Jr. To Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have been born three chil- dren: Jessie, the wife of Hubert Brubaker, of Madison, Wis .: William J., a farmer of Clarks Fork township; and Grace, the wife of S. S. Hickam. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt are very proud of their two grandchildren: Lois Hickam and Adaline Brubaker.
James M. Hurt and Mrs. Hurt are worthy and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. They are highly regarded in their com- munity, and they are numbered among the best families of the county.
James Franklin Carpenter, proprietor of "Lone Cedar Farm," in Clarks Fork township, one of the leading farmers of that section, was
718
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
born on a farm in Clarks Fork township, Jan. 21, 1875, son of Gabriel and Sarah Catherine (Harris) Carpenter, the former born in that township and both spent their last days there.
Gabriel Carpenter was born Oct. 15, 1837, son of Samuel Carpenter and wife, Pennsylvanians, who were among the pioneers of Clarks Fork township. The farm on which Samuel Carpenter settled upon coming here is now owned by the Reavis estate, and the grave of that pioneer is on the H. J. Reavis farm. Gabriel Carpenter grew to manhood on that farm and became a farmer and stockman on the farm now owned by G. W. Morris, to which place he moved in 1866 and where he made his home the rest of his life. He died April 6, 1914. His widow died March 5, 1915, and both are buried at Pisgah. They were the parents of five children, of whom James F. was the third, the others being George H. Carpenter, a farmer of Clarks Fork township; Julia Ann, widow of George T. Talia- ferro, Clarks Fork township; Mrs. E. L. Allison, Kansas City, and Andrew M., deceased.
James F. Carpenter grew to manhood on the farm on which he was born, receiving his schooling at Prairie Home Institute and at Wentworth Military School, completing his schooling when 18 years of age, after which he engaged in farming. He has made many substantial improve- ments, including the erection of a new eight-room house, a barn, garage, tool shed and the like, his farm plant now being admirably equipped. The farm, an almost level tract of 118 acres, takes its name from the fact that in the front yard there is a single cedar tree which was planted there by Gabriel Carpenter about the year 1884. "Lone Cedar Farm" is situ- ated five and one-half miles east of Bunceton and is well adapted to stock raising, to which phase of farming Mr. Carpenter gives considerable at- tention, particularly to the raising of Jersey cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Carpenter is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World at Bunceton and with the Modern Woodmen of America at Pisgah. He and his family are members of the Christian Church.
Nov. 18, 1896, James F. Carpenter was united in marriage with Ger- trude Hayes, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have been born, Gabriel William, Catherine Lourinda and How- ard Tilden. Mrs. Carpenter is a daughter of William A. and Lourinda (Miller) Hayes, the latter of whom lives at Bunceton. William A. Hayes died in 1898 and is buried in Concord Cemetery. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, those besides Mrs. Carpenter being George
719
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
T. Hayes, of Boonville ; Mrs. Bessie Doyle, deceased; Mrs. Della Watson, of Livingston, Mont .; Mrs. Mary Hinton, of Chelsea, Okla .; Mrs. Lora Davis, of Kansas; and Mildred, resides with her mother. Samuel Car- penter, the pioneer, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, crossed the ' plains in 1848 and spent some time prospecting in the West. Unlike so many who set out on an adventurous trip, he profited quite heavily from the trip. He was a great lover of the chase and the experience appealed to him doubly on this account, for he combined his business enterprises with hunting along the way and in this way found real pleasure 'in what to so many who ventured West in those days was but an arduous and toilsome trip. Samuel Carpenter especially liked to hunt the buffalo and often engaged in that sport in the early days, in company with Johnson Reavis.
Peter W. Loesing, one of the energetic and progressive young farmers of Clarks Fork township, who is assisting in the operation of "Alfalfa Val- ley Farm," owned by his father-in-law, William F. Schmalfeldt. He was born on a farm near Bunceton in 1894, son of August and Louisa (Falter) Loesing.
August Loesing was born in St. Louis County, Mo., in 1861, and has been a resident of Cooper County since young manhood. It was here that he married Louisa Falter, who was born in Monroe County, Ill., in 1863, and who had come to this county with her parents. After their marriage, he and his wife established their home on a farm in this county and their children were reared here. Mrs. Louisa Loesing died in Feb., 1916, and is buried in the Lone Elm Cemetery. August Loesing and his wife were the parents of 12 children, as follows: Lena, wife of H. H. Fahrenbrink, Bunceton; Fred, Bunceton; William, of Clarks Fork township; Bruno, same township; Christina, housekeeper for her father; George Henry, who recently returned home from service in the United States Army; Peter W .; Minnie, died at the age of two years; Julius, at home; Eliza- beth, at home; Edgar, died in infancy ; and Emily, resides with her sister, Mys. Fahrenbrink. George Henry Loesing, the soldier son, enlisted Oct. 21, 1918, and was sent to Camp Bowie (Texas) for training. There he was attached to the 23rd Regiment, United States Infantry. He was dis- charged March 28, 1919, after which he returned home.
Peter W. Loesing was reared on the home farm and received his schooling at Lone Elm and at Glendale. From the days of his boyhood he has given his attention to farming and after his marriage in the fall of of the community.
720
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
1918, he put in his lot with that of his father-in-law, William F. Schmal- feldt, at "Alfalfa Valley Farm," Clarks Fork township, and has since been engaged in the operations of that extensive farm, he and his wife making their home on the place.
Sept. 10, 1918, Peter W. Loesing was united in marriage with Emma C. Schmalfeldt, who was born in this county March 25, 1898, daughter of William F. and Anna (Brandes) Schmalfeldt, both natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Loesing are members of the Lutheran Church at Clarks Fork and take part in church work as well as the general social activities of the community.
P. Lee Debo .- The Debo Farmstead, in Boonville township, consist- ing of 177 acres, is a well kept and productive tract of land. Mr. Debo erected a large, modern residence of cement blocks in 1909. This home contains 10 rooms and has every convenience for the comfort of the family. He erected the first silo ever built in Cooper County in 1910. Mr. Debo is a breeder of Black Angus cattle and has been specializing in this famous breed of live stock since 1915. He now has a herd of 30 head, nearly all of which are pure-bred stock. Mr. Debo does not handle this breed of cattle for show purposes or for fanciers, but simply raises the Angus cattle to satisfy his own fancy and desire for a good, pure breed of cattle on his farm.
P. Lee Debo was born June 6, 1864, in Bedford County, Va., and is a son of R. P. Debo and Mary Jane (Hepstonstall) Debo, both of whom were members of old Virginia families. The family came to Howard County in 1870 and five years later the parents came to Cooper County and made their home with the subject of this review. Reed P. Debo, his father, was born Jan. 19, 1832, and died April 21, 1912. Mary, his mother, was born Oct. 18, 1840, and died July 23, 1888. Reed P. Debo served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He enlisted from Bedford, Va., and served for four years in a Virginia regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, while fighting with Gen. Lee's invading army and was taken prisoner by the Federals.
Reed P. and Mary Debo were parents of the following children: P. Lee, of this review; Luther C., a farmer in Boonville township; Grover E., a farmer across the highway from P. L. Debo. For the first 15 years Reed P. Debo lived on a farm two and a half miles east of Boonville on his own place.
When he became of age, P. Lee Debo began farming on his own account, and for 10 years he rented farm land. He then settled on a farm
-
1
-
-
THE P. L. DEBO FAMILY RESIDENCE
721
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
owned by Mrs. Debo, the old George place, and lived there until October, 1906, and then came to their present place.
Jan. 2, 1890, he was married to Miss Alice W. George, who was born Sept. 6, 1870, a daughter of Jacob George, who is one of the old pioneers of Cooper County. Her grandfather, William George, entered the land in 1817, the land patent being signed by President James Monroe on Nov. 15, 1817. The Debo farm was first settled in 1817 by the Chambers family, and is the oldest settled place in the neighborhood. James Cham- bers came to Missouri from North Carolina in 1817, raised a crop and returned to North Carolina and brought back cherry and apple trees, which he planted, establishing the first nursery here. These trees ma- tured and bore fruit until just four years ago, when the last of them disappeared.
Mr. and Mrs. Debo have one child: Thelma Louise, born May 10, 1904.
The Georges came to Cooper County during the War of 1812, and were warned by the people that they would have to remain in the forts or go back, inasmuch as it was dangerous for settlers to live upon the land. They went to St. Genevieve, remained during the war, and then came to Cooper County in 1816. Mr. Chambers built a two-room cabin, and established the first nursery in Cooper County. In the years which followed his settlement here, he assisted many people in getting located in Cooper County. Six brothers of the George family settled here. Else- where in this history is a fuller account of the George family.
Mrs. Alice W. (George) Debo is a daughter of Jacob L. George (born May 4, 1831, died March 25, 1897), who was born on a farm just one-half mile south of the Debo place. He was a son of Reuben George, born Feb. 25, 1792, in North Carolina, whose wife was Sarah McFarlan, prior to her marriage, and was born Aug. 8, 1792. Jacob L. George migrated to St. Genevieve County Mo., in 1815, and two years later came to Cooper County with the Chambers family. He had four children: Nancy L, born Jan. 9, 1823; Thomas L., born Jan. 5, 1826; Ellen K., born Sept. 11, 1829; and Jacob George.
Jacob George married Mary E. Chambers (born March 20, 1836, died Oct. 12, 1912), who was a daughter of James and Jane Chambers, who had three children: Mrs. Mary E. George; Louisa Jane, born April 12. 1841; Martha E. Givens, of La Plata, Mo., born March 8, 1844. Mrs. Debo is the only child of her parents.
722
HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY
Mr. Debo is an independent democrat. He and Mrs. Debo are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and are intelligent, progressive people who have many friends in Cooper County
William F. Poertner, one of the progressive young farmers of Clarks Fork township and owner of a well-kept farm, five and one-half miles southeast of Boonville, was born on a farm near Berger, Franklin. County, Dec. 1, 1887, son of Henry and Jennie (Kroeger) Poertner, the latter now residing at Boonville.
Henry Poertner was of European birth, born in 1853, and was 15 years of age when in 1868 he came to the United States and settled in Warren County, Mo .. He married at the age of 28 and bought a farm in Franklin County and improved the place and died there in 1909, aged 56 years. In 1910, his widow came to Cooper County with her family and bought the Steigleder place, on which she made her home until she sold it to Albert Shannon. She is now living in Boonville, where she is very pleasantly situated. To Henry and Jennie (Kroeger) Poertner were born eleven children : Mrs. C. H. Witthar, Kansas City; Mrs. August Wiss- mann, New Haven; Mrs. A. J. Allemann, Boonville; Mrs. A. E. Schepper- claus, Kansas City; Henry, also of Kansas City; William F .; John, died at the age of five years; Otto, who was killed in battle while serving as a soldier in the American Expeditionary Force in France in the World War in the fall of 1918; Ernest, now (spring of 1919) with the American Army in Europe; Anna, died at the age of two years, and Flora, attend- ing college at Nevada, Mo. Otto Poertner, the elder of the two soldier sons of Mrs. Poertner, responded to the call to arms immediately follow- ing this country's declaration of war in April, 1917, and in that same month, as a member of the local company of state guardsmen at Boon- ville, to which he had been attached for some time, was inducted into the Federal service, going with his company to Kansas City and thence to Ft. Sill (Oklahoma), whence, after a period of intensive training, he was sent with his command on overseas service, attached to a machine gun company of the 35th Division, until he met a soldier's death in the battle of the Argonne Forest in France, Sept. 28, 1918, he then being 26 years of age. Ernest Poertner, the second soldier son of this family, was drafted for service in the National Army and the greater part of that time being in active service with the American Expeditionary Force in France, attached to the Third Division of the United States Army, long at the front. While at the front, he was severely gassed and for 21 days
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.