History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 72

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

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John H. Windsor .- A strong character, a sturdy and upright citizen who was universally respected and admired throughout this section of Missouri, was the late John H. Windsor, extensive farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township. He was born on the Mt. Vernon estate in Fair- fax County, Va., Sept. 4, 1832. He was a son of Horace Simeon Windsor, of Virginia, who settled in Cooper County in 1838.

Thomas Windsor, the predecessor of the Windsors in Cooper County, was born in England, May 14, 1714. He was born near Old Sarum Castle. In early manhood he immigrated to America and settled on a large farm in Fairfax County, Va., where he operated a large plantation. He mar- ried Sarah Warden, who bore him a large family of children: John, Thomas, Sarah, Elizabeth, George, William, Libbie, Jemima, Millie, Sam- son, Mary and Richard.

Richard Windsor was born March 15, 1778. He married Elizabeth Numan who bore him the following children: Numan, Catherine, Pris- cilla, James, Elizabeth, James, Richard S., Mary Ann, Loftin, and Horace Simeon. The last named married Anne Matilda Allison and at his death left her a large state. He came to Cooper County in 1838 and became

John Hr. Windsor

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

owner of a large tract of land south of Boonville. Returning to Virginia, he brought his family, movable belongings and a number of slaves on the return trip and settled in this county. He farmed on an extensive scale after the manner of the Virginia planters. Horace Simeon Windsor died in Boonville. His only child was John H. Windsor of this review, who became one of the most successful farmers and stockmen in Missouri dur- ing his lifetime. He received from his father a tract of 320 acres upon which he settled. Mr. Windsor accumulated a total of 1,200 acres of land which is noted for its splendid improvements. He raised all the feed for his cattle and hogs and when asked the secret of his success in feed- ing live stock, he would reply, "I have never lost anything by feeding as the Lord gave me the corn and the Lord gave me the cattle". At his death he left his heirs a large estate, comprising 1,700 acres of land located chiefly in Clarks Fork township.

When a young man he married Eleanor Zollinger, who was born at Hagerstown, in 1835 and died in 1890. She was a daughter of George Zollinger, a pioneer of Cooper County, who migrated from his native state of Maryland in about 1844 and settled southeast of Boonville near the Clarks Fork store. He entered land, accumulated 400 acres which was tilled by the slaves which he brought with him from Maryland. To John H. and Eleanor Windsor were born children as follows: Horace George, one of the most successful farmers in Cooper County, and an extensive corn grower and stockman who is owner of over 600 acres of land ; Walter B. Windsor, owner of 500 acres of land south of Boonville, and success- fully engaged in raising cattle, sheep and hogs; John L. Windsor died in 1882; Alma, wife of E. H. Harris, Jr., cashier of the Third National Bank of Sedalia, Mo .; Eugene A. Windsor; and Dr. Norman Windsor, a successful physician who for 20 years has been located in St. Louis.

The late John H. Windsor found time to take an interest in civic and religious matters aside from the management of his extensive farming interests and he was a man universally respected and admired through- out the country. He was an elder of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and served for many years as superintendent of the Sunday school of his church.

Warren E. Carpenter, a progressive young farmer of Prairie Home township, owner of "Meadow Brook Farm", is a native son of Cooper County and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in the Clarks Fork township near Pisgah, Feb. 28, 1886, son of George A. and Mary McCune (McCulloch) Carpenter, the latter was a daughter of Col.

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

Robert Allen McCulloch, an officer of General Forrest's cavalry in the Confederate service during the Civil War and who, as well as George A. Carpenter's grandfather, Samuel Carpenter, was a '49er, both were grand- fathers and great grandfathers of Warren E. Carpenter, having been among that courageous band which faced the practically unknown dangers of the plains and the mountains in the days when the California gold fields were attracting the attention of the world.

"Meadow Brook Farm", now the property of Warren E. Carpenter was originally entered by William Tyre, Dec. 16, 1833, and the govern- ment patent granting his claim bears date of Oct. 1, 1835. Samuel Car- penter and his wife Lucy, grandparents of Warren E., bought the farm Feb. 10, 1865, from John F. Smith and later transferred it to their son, M. P. Carpenter, who sold it to Francis M. Davis, who in time sold it to Louis Erhardt. who sold it to George A. Carpenter, who on Jan. 5, 1909, transferred the old homestead of 320 acres to his sons Warren and Homer, the present owners. Distinctively ornamental features of the place are several noble pine trees standing in the dooryard, which were planted by Samuel Carpenter, and a noble elm which was set out by William Henry Carpenter, an uncle of the present owners.

Reared on the farm, Warren E. Carpenter received his schooling in the local schools and has devoted his attention to farming. He and his brother Homer became joint owners of the old Samuel Carpenter home- stead and which they have since greatly improved. The place is well adapted to stock raising. "Meadow Brook Farm" is admirably located on the Prairie Home-Bunceton road, has a substantial two-story nine- room house, which was rebuilt by W. E. Carpenter, a good tenent house, an ample stock barn, machine shed and other buildings and an excellent water supply, the water being pumped from a deep well by a gas engine which also furnishes power for small machinery used about the place. A tractor which pulls eight fourteen-inch plows and is capable of turning over 25 acres a day is a valuable adjunct to the operation of the place.

Jan. 10, 1907, Warren E. Carpenter was married to Ola Myrtle McDonald, who also was born in this county, daughter of John and Sarah (Savage) McDonald, formerly of Clarks Fork, both deceased, their daugh- ter Ola having been reared in the household of Judge George W. Morris, and to this union five children have been born, Mary Matilda, George Emil, Bessie Virginia. Ada Lucille and Warren E., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Pisgah Baptist Church and take an interested part in church work as well as in general social and cultural activities.

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

R. S. Rankin was born at Woodville Mills, Cooper County, Dec. 13, 1849, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (MacFarland) Rankin, both natives of Virginia. William Rankin was born near Winchester, Va., in 1806. He came to Cooper County in 1838 and settled at Boonville. In 1840 he built the Woodville Mill and operated it for a number of years. This mill was originally a water-power mill, but steam power was added in 1854. The old mill continued to do service until 1893, when it was torn down and the present mill erected on the site of the old one by S. L. and R. S. Rankin. S. L. Rankin died in 1914, age 69 years.

R. S. Rankin has been engaged in the milling business nearly all his life. He was married in 1873 to Miss Marie L. Duncan, a daughter of George W. and Mary Duncan, of Clarks Fork township. They are both now deceased. Mrs. Rankin died Nov. 5, 1890.

The Rankin family is one of the old pioneer families of Cooper County, having been identified with this section of the state for over 80 years.

William H. Carpenter, one of the substantial farmers of Prairie Home township and the owner of "Oakland", a fine farm, is a member of one of Cooper County's pioneer families. He was born on the Henry Reavis farm in Clarks Fork township on Sept. 4, 1857, son of Samuel Carpenter, born in 1835, who was a son of Samuel Carpenter, who came from Ken- tucky with his family to this county and here spent the remainder of his life. During the days of the gold rush to California in 1849 he went to the gold fields. He died on the Carpenter homestead and is buried there, as is his son Samuel and the latter's wife. The younger Samuel Carpenter, who became one of the large landowners in this section, died May 17, 1907. His wife, who before her marriage was Lucy Catherine Dooley, died in 1899. They were the parents of four living children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born, the others being George A. Carpenter, a farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township; M. P. Carpenter, an inventor, Chicago, and Mrs. Ella Taylor, Holden, Mo.

William H. Carpenter has followed farming all his life. He completed his schooling in Slaughter College, Prairie Home and after his marriage settled on the place where he is now living, which he has developed into one of the best farms in that neighborhood. He has 160 acres and his son, S. Alvin Carpenter, has an adjoining farm of 120 acres; they carry on their operations in close cooperation. In addition to his general farm- ing Mr. Carpenter has for many years also given considerable attention to the raising of live stock.

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

May 6, 1886, William H. Carpenter was united in marriage to Letitia Belle Harris, a daughter of Judge A. T. Harris, of Prairie Home, and to this union one child has been born, S. Alvin Carpenter, born on April 3, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Baptist Church at Prairie Home. He is an independent democrat.

Eugene A. Windsor .- In writing the history of the families of Cooper County, the biographer is impressed with the fact that the early pioneers of this county were from the older states of Virginia and Kentucky. They were people of substance, perseverance and standing, and many of them were of the better class from these older states. These traits have endured in their descendants to this day and the sons and grandsons of these early Virginia pioneers are the leaders in this county and the state of Missouri in the business and professional walks of life. Eugene A. Windsor, successful real estate and farm loan dealer of Boonville, is a descendant of one of the earliest of the Cooper County pioneers. Mr. Windsor was born on the Windsor homestead, six miles south of Boon- · ville, Jan. 4, 1870. He is a son of the late John H. Windsor and is a grandson of Horace Simeon Windsor who settled in this county in 1838.

Eugene A. Windsor was educated in the old Cooper Institute and the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute After farming for some years he engaged in banking in the Pilot Grove Bank for a year. He has followed the real estate business for the past 25 years and has been and is one of the most successful dealers in farm lands in central Missouri. Mr. Windsor has handled thousands of acres of farm lands and is owner of 700 acres of land located near Boonville, Choteau Springs, and Prairie Lick in this county. His offices are located in what was formerly known as the Wind- sor Building in Boonville.

Mr. Windsor is owner of the Choteau Springs Resort, ten miles south- west of Boonville, which he purchased in 1900. This resort consists of 40 acres of picturesque ground and is noted for its springs which yield a medicinal water. The place is equipped with a hotel, baths, swimming pool and several cottages for summer dwellers and is an inviting spot in which to spend a part or all of the summer season. Choteau Springs has an interesting history. Mr. Windsor's holdings are a part of a grant of 30,000 "arpens" of land or 26,250 acres which was made to Pierre Cho- teau by the Spanish King in 1799 when this entire territory belonged to the Spaniards. Later, trouble was made in getting the title to the land ratified by the American Congress and Congressman William H. Ashley rode to Washington, had the title perfected and purchased the land of

EUGENE A. WINDSOR

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

Choteau. Mr. Ashley discovered the medicinal springs and named the locality after its former grantee, Pierre Choteau. The original land grant was made Nov. 28, 1799 and the deed conveys all of the tract from the Governor of Upper Louisiana, Charles DeHault DeLassus to Pierre Cho- teau. The scenery around the springs is beautiful and inviting and hun- dreds of people visit the Springs each year for the benefit of the baths and the medicinal waters.

March 20, 1907, Mr. Windsor and Miss Gertrude Hudson were united in marriage. This marriage has been blessed with two children: Eugene A. Windsor, Jr., aged nine years ; and Horace Hudson Windsor, aged seven years.

Mrs. Gertrude (Hudson) Windsor is a daughter of the late H. T. Hudson, formerly a prominent and well known merchant of Boonville, who was founder of the firm of H. T. Hudson & Co. Mr. Hudson was born in Miami, Saline County, Mo., in 1849, was there reared to manhood, mar- ried Lina A. Meyers who was born in 1845 and died in 1900. H. T. and Lina Hudson were parents of six children: Hallie, wife of Doctor Dunlap, Dallas, Texas; Elizabeth, wife of Richard H. Keith, Kansas City, Mo .; Mrs. Gertrude Windsor, of this review; Taylor, Los Angeles, Cal .; Mrs. Alice McGee, Los Angeles, Cal .; Hargrave, a member of the Bell Coal Company, Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Hudson died in Los Angeles, April 20, 1916.

Mr. Windsor is a stockholder in the Commercial Bank and is one of the enterprising and successful citizens of Boonville and Cooper County. His handsome residence at the southwest corner of Chestnut and Fourth streets is an ornament to the city. He is a democrat and takes a com- mendable interest in political affairs. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church and is liberal in his support of the church and all worthy enterprises. No call upon his purse for a worthy project to advance the interests of his home city goes unheeded, but he is always found in the forefront of good movements. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is affiliated with the Commandery, is a Shriner and a member of Aarat Temple of Kansas City. having attained the York Rite in Masonry. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias. To know Eugene A. Windsor is to have a sincere regard for him and to admire his qualities.

Herman H. Fahrenbrink, a well known and progressive farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on the old Clawson place four miles northeast of the place where

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

he now resides Feb. 9, 1876. A son of Henry and Magdalena (Schnack) Fahrenbrink. A more extensive history of the Fahrenbrink family is given in connection with the sketch of C. W. Fahrenbrink, which appears in this volume.

Herman H. Fahrenbrink was reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, and received his education in the Jefferson school district and the parochial school at Lone Elm. He also attended the high school at Bunceton for a time. He has made farming and stock raising his life occupation, and has met with more than ordinary success in this field of endeavor. Mr. Fahrenbrink owns one of the valuable and attractive farms of the county, it being a part of his father's old home place. He owns 170 acres of well improved land, which is located in Clarks Fork township, about six miles northeast of Bunceton. The Fahrenbrink home is a neat six room residence, and was built in 1903. It is modern through- out and lighted with acetylene gas. There are two barns on the place and other ample farm buildings. Mr. Fahrenbrink in addition to general farming, is extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs and he also raises large numbers of pure bred brown leghorn chickens.

March 31, 1912, H. H. Fahrenbrink was united in marriage with Miss Magdalena Loesing, a daughter of August and Louise (Falter) Loesing, both natives of Missouri. Mrs. Loesing died in 1914, and her remains are buried at Lone Elm. August Loesing now resides in Clarks Fork township. To August and Louise (Falter) Loesing were born the fol- lowing children: Fred lives in Oklahoma; William, Clarks Fork town- ship; George Henry, who served in the United States army during the World War, now resides at home in Clarks Fork township; Peter, Clarks Fork township; Julius, Christine, Lizzie and Emily all residing at home. To Mr. and Mrs. Fahrenbrink have been born four children: Helen Louise, born Feb. 20, 1917, and three died in infancy.

Mr. Fahrenbrink is a member of the Farmers Elevator Co., of Bunce- ton, and is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Cooper County. He and Mrs. Fahrenbrink are members of the Lone Elm Evan- gelical Lutheran Church.

S. Alvin Carpenter, proprietor of "The Maples", a well kept farm of 120 acres in Prairie Home township, was born in that township and is one of the substantial young farmers of the county. He was born April 3, 1889, son of William H. and Letitia Belle (Harris) Carpenter, the latter a daughter of Judge T. A. Harris, of Prairie Home. William H. Carpenter is a son of Samuel Carpenter, who was a son of Samuel Carpenter, a Ken-

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

tuckian, who settled in Clarks Fork township, in pioneer days and became one of the leading men in that community. William H. Carpenter and his wife are living on the farm adjoining that of their son Alvin and father and son carry on their farming operations in close cooperation.

Reared on the farm, S. Alvin Carpenter completed his schooling in Clarksburg College and in William Jewell College and upon his return from college resumed his place on the farm, assisting his father and so con- tinued until in 1914, when he bought the place of 120 acres adjoining that of his father, buying the place from Robert Heinen. Since taking posses- sion of that farm Mr. Carpenter has made numerous substantial improve- ments, these including the remodeling of the farm house, the erection of a new barn 48x50 feet, a large water tank of tile and concrete, a wash house and engine house and other buildings. Mr. Carpenter is pursuing modern methods in his farming and included in the mechanical equip- ment of his farm plant is a high-power tractor. He raises some cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and Buff Orpington chickens. "The Maples" is delight- fully situated and Mr. Carpenter and his family have a very pleasant home.

July 10, 1913, S. Alvin Carpenter was married to Edna Hale, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have been born, Claud Elliott and Dorsey Earl Juanita. Mrs. Carpenter was born in Clark's Fork township, a daughter of Thomas F. and Sallie (Carey) Hale, who are now living in California. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Prairie Home Baptist Church.

Henry P. McPhatridge, a well known farmer of Prairie Home town- ship, residing at "Edgewood Farm", is a Virginian, but has been a resi- dent of Cooper County for nearly forty years. He was born in Virginia March 29. 1853. a son of Alfred and Mary M. (Latham) MePhatridge, both born in Virginia. Alfred McPhatridge died in Tennessee and his widow came to this county and here spent her last days, she being 83 years of age at the time of her death. She is buried in the family burial plot on "Woodland Farm" in this county. Alfred MePhatridge and his wife had three children, of whom Henry P. is the youngest, the others being Mrs. William H. Ellis, of Prairie Home, and Napoleon, who is now living in Arkansas.

Reared in Virginia, Henry P. McPhatridge completed his schooling in a private school there. In 1881 he came to Missouri and located in Prairie Home township, which has ever since been his home. After his marriage, four or five years after coming here, he settled on his present

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

place and has since resided there. "Edgewood Farm" is a part of the Ellis estate and consists of 110 acres of well improved land. The house stands at the edge of a fine wood of natural trees, one of the most pic- turesque spots in that neighborhood.

March 10, 1886, that Henry P. McPhatridge was married to Minnie L. Ellis, who is a member of one of the pioneer families of Cooper County, who have been represented here since the early days of this section of Missouri. She is a daughter of William H. and Ann M. Ellis, the former of whom died in 1886, aged 65 years, and the latter in 1897, at the age of 69 years. Both are buried in the Ellis cemetery. William H. Ellis and wife were the parents of four children: William H. Ellis, Jr., Prairie Home ; Mrs. McPhatridge; Collin E., died in Kansas City, and Anna Gray, died in 1894. Mrs. McPhatridge is a member of the Baptist Church.

Robert S. Tevis, farmer and stockman, who with his sister, Lillie M. Tevis, is owner of 240 acres of the old Tevis homestead, southwest of Lone Elm, Clarks Fork township, was born Oct. 4, 1875. Mr. Tevis was born on a farm west of Bell Air and came with his parents to the old Tevis homestead in 1895.

The history of the Tevis family in Missouri begins with Jeremiah Tevis, great grandfather of Robert S. Tevis, who came to Cooper County from Kentucky in 1831. His wife was Miss Hixie Lowry, prior to her marriage. Others who came to Cooper County at the same time was William Lowry, a brother of Mrs. Tevis and a sister, Mrs. Gillie, wife of Henry Corum, and another sister, Mrs. Lucy, wife of James Bridges. Jeremiah Tevis settled on the farm north of Bell Air, now owned by George Schlotzhauer. The Corums settled south of Bell Air on land now comprised in the Ravenswood Stock Farm.

Capt. Simeon P. Tevis, grandfather of Robert S. Tevis, settled on the Tevis homestead in 1831. His first visit to Cooper County, Mo., was made in 1823. He worked as a carpenter in this county, returned to Kentucky, married Emily Berkeley of Louisville, and upon his return to this county settled on land which he entered from the government. He had a family of six children: Cassandra, wife of William Allen; Daniel W. B .; Jeremiah, St. Clair County, Mo .; John W .; Nestor C .; one child died in infancy ; Susan died in childhood; and Mrs. Anna McCrosky, de- ceased. Mrs. Emily Tevis died March 19, 1888, at the age of. 76 years.

Capt. Simeon P. Tevis drilled a company of militia which was enrolled during the Mormon trouble in Missouri. His company was called for the purpose of putting down what was called the Mormon insurrection near

NESTOR C. TEVIS

MRS. NESTOR C. TEVIS

ROBERT S. TEVIS

CAPT. SIMEON P. TEVIS

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

Independence in the forties. Captain Tevis was born in 1806 and died in 1893.

Nestor C. Tevis, father of Robert S. Tevis, was born March 25, 1839 and died April 11, 1912. He was married on July 14, 1874 to Julia A. Smith who bore him children as follows: Robert S. of this review; Simeon P., lives in Texas, married Bertie Jeanette Allen and has two children, Charlotte Julia and Anna Elizabeth; Lillie M. Tevis resides with her brother on the homestead. The mother of these children was born in Ala- bana, May 19, 1848 and departed this life Dec. 25, 1918. She was a daughter of William Nelson Smith who met death on the Manassas battle- field. He was a grandson of Governor Page of revolutionary times and was a native of Yorktown, Va. He volunteered in the Florida War in 1836.

Genealogy of the Smith Family in Virginia: (I) Major General Lawrence Smith, of York County, Va., laid out Yorktown, Va. in 1691. He died in 1700. His son (II) Col. Lawrence Smith, justice, sheriff of York County Va., and member of the House of Burgesses in 1683. He died in 1700. His wife was Mildred Reed. Will proved, 1754. Their son, (III) Robert Smith, born 1733, died 1787. His wife was Mary Cal- thorpe. Their son, (IV) Dr. Augustin Smith of York County, Va., edu- cated in Edinburg University, married Alice Page in 1793. She was born in 1775 and was a daughter of Gov. John Page of Virginia. They had six children. His son, (V) William T. N. Smith, born March 18, 1804, in York County, Va., married Elizabeth M. Fugua who was born near Farmville, Prince Edwardsville County, Va., Dec. 2, 1805, died Dec. 18, 1854 in Rogersville, Ala. William T. N. Smith was a direct descendant of a Revolutionary soldier. He was a volunteer in the Florida War of 1836. The soil in which he was buried was probably in other years owned by his ancestors. William T. N. Smith was father of nine chil- dren, the youngest daughter of whom, born near Rogersville, Ala., was married to Nestor C. Tevis at Lexington, Mo., July 14, 1848. William T. N. Smith was killed at the first Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas, July 21, 1861.

In 1686, Ludlow's land was sold to Lawrence Smith. This tract con- tained 1,452 acres in York County on Wamley Creek. The land came into possession of his great grandson, Robert Smith, and afterwards became Templa Farm. The Articles of Surrender of Cornwallis' army to General Washington were signed in the Smith mansion.

The Tevis home place in Cooper County is one of the oldest settled

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

places in this section of Missouri. The old Versailles Trail passed the old Greenhalge and the Tevis places.

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History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 72

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861 Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1464