History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 90

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

USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Cooper County, Missouri > Part 90

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).

Oct. 12, 1897, John L. Spillers was married to Pauline Starke, who

904

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

was born in this county, a daughter of Judge Starke. Mr. and Mrs. Spill- ers have two children, Guy E., who is now a student in the Missouri State Normal School, and Agnes E., who is a member of the junior class of the Otterville High School. During the last registration in 1918 under the selective service law Mr. Spillers and his son, both of whom were eligible for service, registered together, this being the only such instance of father and son registering in Otterville, and they properly regarded it as quite a momentous occasion in their lives. In the Spillers family there is care- fully preserved a photograph of four living generations in the male line, the value of the picture being further enhanced by the fact that each of the persons thus pictured was the first born son in his respective genera- tion. This picture was taken of course during the childhood of Mr. Spill- er's son Guy, his father and his grandfather then both being alive, and represents William Spillers, the pioneer, Henry T. Spillers, John L. Spill- ers and Guy E. Spillers, a photograph certainly worthy of preservation as a most interesting memorial for future generations of the family.

Ernest L. Hite, president of the Farmers Club in his home district, is one of the best known and most progressive young farmers in that sec- tion of the county. He was born on a farm in Page County, Va., July 15, 1880, son of Isaac M. and Mary A. (Gander) Hite, both born in that county and the latter of whom is living with her son, Edward W. Hite, in Leb- anon township.

Isaac M. Hite was born in 1835 and grew to manhood in Virginia, where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He at once enlisted in the Confederate army, serving four years, and for quite a period of this time serving as the personal body guard of Gen. Robert E. Lee. After the war he settled down in his home county, married and continued to reside there until in 1885, when he came with his family to Missouri and located on a farm in Lebanon township, this county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died Sept., 1898. Mr. Hite was a substantial citizen and at the time of his death was the owner of 300 acres of land in this county. To Isaac M. Hite and wife five children were born. Of these the subject of this sketch was the last born; the first born died in infancy and the others are as follows: Edward W., a substantial farmer of Lebanon township; Ella, wife of Charles C. Murray, Washington, D. C., and Dr. Henry Ashby Hite, a physician and surgeon now practicing at Greenridge, Mo.

Ernest L. Hite was but five years of age when he came to this county with his parents in 1885 and he grew to manhood on the home farm in

ERNEST L. HITE AND FAMILY

905

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

Lebanon township, attending the schools of that district. During the winter of 1898-99 he attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg and the following winter attended the State University at Columbia, where he served as a private in the cadet corps for five months. In 1904, he established his home on the farm on which he is now living. Mr. Hite has 230 acres which he has improved. Early in the present year (1919) he helped to organize the Farmers Club in his home district and upon the organization of the same was elected president. Mr. Hite is a demo- crat and for the past two years has been president of school district No. 64. In addition to his farm he owns a good piece of business property in Pleasant Green.

Dec. 28, 1904, Ernest L. Hite was married to Frances Connell, who was born in Saline County, and to this union two children have been born, Cecil C. and Earl Lee. Mrs. Hite is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Smith) Connell. the latter of whom also was born in Howard County. The late Joseph Connell was born in Page County, Va., but had long been a resident of Missouri, a substantial cattle feeder in Saline County. He and his wife were the parents of 12 children.

Judge Joseph Minter, vice-president of the Bank of Otterville, former judge of Cooper County now living at Otterville, was born in Harrison County, Va., June 22, 1844. He is a son of Jacob and Clarecy (Neely) Minter, both members of Colonial families and Revolutionary stock. Jacob Minter was born in Fairfax County in 1800 and died in 1868. His grand- father, Jacob Minter, was a Hollander who had been in this country but two years when the Revolutionary War broke out. He organized a com- pany to fight in defense of the cause of the colonists and served through- out the war as captain of that company. Clarecy (Neely) Minter, mother of Judge Minter, was born in 1803 and died in 1871. Her father, John Neely, also was a soldier of the Revolution, serving as a lieutenant. Dur- ing the war he was captured by Indians in the service of the British and for four years was held as a prisoner of war. At his death he was buried with military honors. Jacob and Clarecy (Neely) Minter were the par- ents of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom Judge Minter is now the sole survivor.

In 1870 Judge Minter came to Missouri. He had been engaged in the East in railway construction work and came here to help construct the dyke across the Missouri River at Boonville for the passage of the M. K. & T. railroad. Upon the completion of this job he continued his railway construction work and was for twelve years thus engaged, this

906

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

service taking him into various states. In the meantime, however, he had become so much "taken" with Cooper County that in 1874, he bought a farm near Otterville and after his marriage here two years later estab- lished his home there. On that place, which he continued to improve and which contained 320 acres of fine land, Judge Minter continued farming and stock raising until 1909 when he sold the place, retired from farm life and moved to Otterville, where he since has made his home. For the past 17 years has served as vice-president of the Bank of Otterville. He is a republican and is one of the leaders of that party in Cooper County. In 1906 he was elected county judge from his district and served for four years.

Judge Minter has been twice married. In 1876 he was married to Fannie Ross, who was born in Otterville and who died in June, 1907, with- out issue. In Nov., 1909, the Judge married Belle Starke, who was born in Otterville, daughter of Squire Thomas J. Starke, Judge and Mrs. Minter are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

H. Roger Starke, a well-known live stock buyer at Otterville, is a native son of Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Lebanon town- ship, Oct. 24, 1881, son of the Hon. John D. and Mary A. (Stratton) Starke. The Hon. John D. Starke was for many years one of the leading men in this county. He was the first judge of the eastern district of Cooper County and in Nov., 1882, was elected county collector, an office to which he was re-elected, thus holding it for two terms. In 1886 he was elected to represent this district in the upper house of the Missouri Gen- eral Assembly and rendered conspicuous service in the State Senate. From 1897 to 1901 he occupied the position of warden of the Missouri State Penitentiary at Jefferson City and upon the completion of that term of public service returned to his old home in this county and here spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife were the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last born.

Reared on the home farm in Lebanon township, H. Roger Starke's early residence was divided between that place and Boonville and Jeffer- son City on account of his father's official residence in the cities during his public service, and his schooling was thus somewhat interrupted, be- ing completed by one term in the high school at Jefferson City, a year in Missouri Valley College at Marshall and a year in the Missouri State Normal School. As a young man he continued giving attention to the affairs of the home farm and after his marriage in 1908 he formed a part-

907

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

nership with his father in the live stock business, maintaining his base of operations on the home farm until 1916, when, after his father's death, he moved to Otterville and has since carried on his operations from that point, making his home there. Mr. Starke is a democrat, as was his father, and has long given his attention to local civic affairs, at present serving as a member of the town council and as a member of the school board at Otterville. He owns a good little farm of 80 acres, is a stock- holder in the Bank of Otterville, and has other investments besides his extensive dealings in the live stock market.

Nov. 28, 1908, H. Roger Starke was married to Gladys Lee Huff, who was born at Syracuse, Mo., daughter of J. T. and Bettie Lee (Johnson) Huff, who also were born in this state, and to this union one child has been born, Jennie Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Starke have a pleasant home at Otterville. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) and take their part in church work. Mr. Starke is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

James S. Bane, a well-known and progressive business man of Otter- ville, was born in Lewis County, Mo., Feb. 4, 1864, son of Robert and Martha (Goodwin) Bane. Robert Bane was born in that part of Virginia now comprised in West Virginia and was there married to Martha Good- win, who also was born in that part of Virginia. In the days before the Civil War, he and his wife came to Missouri and settled in Lewis County, but in 1866 they disposed of their interests there and moved to Morgan County, settling on a farm, where Robert Bane died not many years later. His widow survived him until 1901. She was 75 years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of five children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth and all of whom are living, save one who died in infancy.

Reared on the home farm in Morgan county, he having been but two years of age when his parents moved there, James S. Bane received his schooling in the district school and in a select school at Otterville. He remained on the home farm until after his marriage in 1886, when he be- gan farming on his own account, renting land for two or three years, when he bought a farm in Morgan County. In 1893 he sold that farm and came to Cooper County and bought a farm of 155 acres in Otterville town- ship, near Otterville. In 1918 he bought the garage at Otterville, which he is now conducting and at the same time engaged in the general sale of automobiles and accessories. Mr. Bane has a well-equipped and up-

908

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

to-date place and is doing well in his new business. He still resides on his farm, although he rents the land. He is a stockholder in and a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Ot- terville and gives his earnest attention to the general business conditions of his home town. He is a democrat, and is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security and he and his family are members of the Pres- byterian Church.

Dec. 1, 1886, James S. Bane was married to Rose L. Smith, a mem- ber of one of Cooper County's old families, and to this union three chil- dren have been born, namely: Loren Ardee, a soldier in the American Army; Irma, wife of Thornton Ware, of Otterville, and Vivien Pearl, wife of Gus Ware, also of Otterville. Loren Ardee Bane, the soldier son, was born on Aug. 30, 1889, and completed his schooling in Otterville College. After his marriage he became engaged in farming in Arkansas and was living there when he was inducted into the National Army and after a period of training, sailed for Europe as a member of Company C, 156th Infantry, 89th Division, with which command he saw much active service and was engaged in some important battles before the armistice. In April, 1919, he was returned to this side with his command and was dis- charged at Louisville, Ky., April 21, 1919, at Camp Taylor. L. A. Bane married Nancy E. Monroe, of Otterville, who died, leaving a son, Loren Edwin, who is now being cared for by his paternal grandparents at Otterville.

Alfred G. Hansberger, one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of Otterville township, was born on a farm in Bowling Green township, Pettis County, June 5, 1864, son of Emanuel and Cordelia (Stephens) Hansberger. Emanuel Hansberger was born in Rockingham County, Va., about 1825, and in 1853 came to Missouri and located near Bunceton. Later he moved to Pettis County, where he settled on a farm and became a sub- stantial farmer. He died in 1888 while in Texas. His widow died at Kan- sas City, Mo., at her daughter's home, Mrs. J. T. Crenshaw, in her 75th year. She was born on the old Stephens home place near Bunceton, a daughter of Judge Lawrence and Margaret (Moore) Stephens. Judge Stephens was a native of Tennessee and was a man of much influence in this community. His wife was a native of North Carolina. Emanuel Hansberger and his wife were the parents of four children: The first born died in infancy; Margaret, widow of J. T. Crenshaw, Kansas City ; Lawrence H. Hansberger, Philadelphia, Pa .; and Alfred G.

Reared on the home farm over in Pettis County, Alfred G. Hans-

909

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

berger received his schooling in the district schools and at Bunceton Academy, and in 1887 left the farm and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Lone Elm, until he sold his store in 1893 and entered upon the life of a traveling salesman, a vocation he followed for nine years, repre- senting the J. A. Lamy Company, of Sedalia, a part of that time and the remainder the Hammond Packing Company, of St. Joseph. In the mean- time he married and in 1903 wisely left "the road" and settled down on the farm owned by his wife in Otterville township and has since made that place his residence. Since taking possession of that place Mr. Hans- berger has made numerous improvements and is contemplating more. He carries on general farming and raises high grade live stock.

Nov. 6, 1901, Alfred G. Hansberger was married to Jennie L. Harlan, who was born in this county, and to this union one child has been born, the little one dying, in infancy. Mrs. Hansberger was born in Otter- ville township, a daughter of George W. and Susan (Streit) Harlan, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia, who became residents of Cooper County in their youth, were married here and here spent their last days. Mrs. Hansberger's father died in 1891 and his widow died in the summer of 1916 at the home of Mrs. A. G. Hansberger, she then being nearly 87 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Hansberger are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South). Mr. Hansberger is a democrat.

James William Walker, one of the well-known and substantial farmers and stockmen of Lebanon township, was born on that farm where he resides, Jan. 9, 1868. He is a son of William W. and Sarah (Boatman) Walker, the former of whom also was born in Lebanon town- ship, in 1829, a son of Samuel and Nancy (Cockrell) Walker, who had come here from Kentucky and established their home on a pioneer farm in Lebanon township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. William W. Walker grew to manhood in that community and after his marriage to Sarah Boatman, also a member of one of the pioneer families of that section, settled on the farm now owned by his son James and there developed an excellent piece of property. He spent his last days on that farm, where he died in 1898, at the age of 70 years. Of the six children born to him and his wife, three are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Lee Walker, of Sedalia, and a sister, Lela W., widow of the late H. L. Tutt, of Pocatello, Idaho.

Reared on the farm on which he was born and on which he is still living, James W. Walker received his schooling in the Otterville schools

910

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

and in Central College at Fayette and upon returning from college, re- sumed his place on the farm, of which in time he became the owner, buy- ing from the other heirs their respective interests. After his marriage in the fall of 1898, he established his home there and has continued to reside on the place. He is one of the progressive farmers of the com- munity. He has long been a stockholder in the Pleasant Green Bank and is a member of the board of directors of the same. He is a democrat.

Oct. 26, 1898, James W. Walker was married to Bessie R. Rissler, who was born on a farm in Clear Creek township, three miles northwest of where she now resides, March 16, 1874, daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Tavenner) Rissler, the latter of whom is living with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Walker. She was born in Loudoun County, Va., Sept. 17, 1832, and is now in her 87th year. William Rissler also was a Virginian, born on June 22, 1820, in Jefferson County, now W. Va., and came to Cooper County in 1873, settling on a farm in Clear Creek township, where he became a large landowner and spent the remainder of his life, one of the substantial and influential members of that community. He died Sept. 13, 1914, being past 94 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South).

Anton Beck, a well-known and substantial farmer and stockman of Otterville township, was born March 3, 1860, in the grand duchy of Baden. His parents, Jacob and Theresa (Swintch) Beck, also were na- tives of Baden and were there married in 1851. March 4, 1882, with five children, they left their native land and came to the United States, and located on a farm in Clear Creek township. Here Mrs. Theresa Beck died on Christmas Day, 1896. She was born in 1828. Her husband died Aug. 28, 1918. He was born on May 9, 1819, thus lacked about nine months of being 100 years of age. To Jacob Beck and wife were born ten children, as follows: Joseph, deceased: Edward, deceased; Renie, deceased; Anton; Emma, wife of H. Young Camp, Clifton City; Anna, deceased; Clara, wife of E. Altermott, Lebanon township; Eugene, de- ceased; Elizabeth, wife of Leo Knedgen, and Rosa, deceased.

Anton Beck came to America with his parents and upon his arrival in Cooper County, he worked as a farm hand, at five dollars a month, and for eight years thereafter, off and on, was engaged in farm labor. In his native land, he had been trained to the trade of stone cutter and he varied his work as a farm laborer by working at that trade, continuing thus engaged at varying periods of time for 12 years after coming here, his work as a stone cutter taking him into nearly all the principal cities of

911

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

Missouri. In 1892, Mr. Beck bought 80 acres in Clear Creek township and after his marriage, two years later, established his home there, im- proving the place and continuing to reside on that farm until 1904, when he bought the farm of 283 acres on which he is now living in Otterville township. He owns a well-improved and valuable farm. For the past nine years he has been serving as overseer of roads in his home district and in that capacity has rendered effective service in behalf of the grow- ing demand for better roads. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church and he is a member of the Catholic Knights of America. My. Dee i; a republican.

Jan. 26, 1894, Anton Beek was united in marriage with Mary Anna Williams, who was born in Moniteau County in 1874, a daughter of David and Josephine (Heater) Williams, natives of Moniteau county, and the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Kansas, and to this union 13 children have been born, namely: Jacob, farming in Otterville town- ship; Emma, wife of Joseph Gramlich, same township; Robert, who is at home assisting her father; Clara, also at home; Lawrence, deceased, and Katherine, Henry, Eugene, Frank, Rosa (deceased), Anton, Jr., Mary Ann and Susan.

Calvin Gehringer, a well-known and progressive farmer of Otterville township, was born in New York State, Nov. 23, 1856. He is a son of Christopher and Lena (Lindenholdt) Gehringer, natives of Germany, who were married in that country and who came to America in 1854 and located in New York State. Some years later they moved to Indiana, locating in Hamilton County, where they remained until 1865, when they came to Missouri and settled on a farm in Pettis County, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mrs. Gehringer dying about 1905 and Mr. Gehringer eight or 10 years ago, he being 75 years of age.

Calvin Gehringer was but a boy when he came to Missouri with his parents and he grew up in Pettis County, becoming engaged there in his young manhood in saw mill work, which he followed until 1879, when he became engaged in farming in the Pleasant Green neighborhood, re- maining here until 1884, when he bought a farm of 200 acres in Pettis County and returned to that county, where he prospered and from time to time bought other land. There he remained until 1911, when he dis- posed of his interests and returned to Cooper County, buying the farm on which he is now living in Otterville township, and has since resided here. Since taking possession of that farm, Mr. Gehringer has made numerous substantial improvements to the place and is contemplating more. In

912

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

addition to his general farming, Mr. Gehringer gives considerable atten- tion to the raising of live stock, with particular reference to pure-bred Duroc Jersey hogs and mules. Mr. Gehringer is a democrat, but has not been a seeker after office.

In 1877, Calvin Gehringer was married to Sarah M. DeWitt, who was born in Springfield, Mo., a daughter of Lafayette DeWitt, and to this union 11 children have been born, namely: Otto, deceased; Dudley, who is now farming in South Dakota ; Lafayette, South Dakota; Zetta, wife of Jabe Potter, Clifton, Mo .; Lulu, wife of Charles Knox, Pettis County ; Theodore, who is farming in this county; Blanche, wife of J. S. Phillips, of Pettis County ; Gertrude, wife of Lewis J. Potter, Sedalia; James, who is at home, assisting in the management of the farm, and Dewey and Matilda, also at home. The Gehringers are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Gehringer have 16 grandchildren.

John M. Stephens, a former teacher and formerly a merchant and postmaster at Bellaire, who has charge of the big Burwood farm in Clear Creek township, is a native Missourian. He was born on a farm in Moni- teau County Jan. 25, 1864, son of Kemp S. and Huldah (Renfrow) Stephens. Kemp S. Stephens was born in Moniteau County, June 7, 1837, son of Thomas Stephens and wife, the latter of whom was a daughter of Joseph Williams, the Missouri pioneer who was driven from this region by the Indians in 1815, but later returned, settled here and lived to be 101 years of age. He was a Tennessean. Thomas Stephens was born near Pemberton Court House, N. C., Sept. 18, 1800, and was not yet 18 years of age when in 1818 he came to Missouri. In 1827 he married and bought a claim in Moniteau County and spent the remainder of his life there. He died in Jan., 1892, aged 92 years. His wife had died many years before. Thomas Stephens got his start here as a young man by splitting rails. When he earned money enough to buy a horse he started out as a horse trader and it was not long until he was one of the best known horse dealers in central Missouri. For 21 years he made annual trips to New Orleans, going and returning horseback, with bunches of horses he had bought for the trade, this trade being chiefly confined to the cotton planters of the South. It was on that farm in Moniteau County that Kemp S. Stephens was reared and after his marriage he continued farming until his retirement from the farm and removal to Boonville, where he died in Oct., 1907. His wife had died many years before, in 1866. She was born in 1837. They were the parents of four children: One died in infancy ; James T. Stephens, now living at Sedalia; Ruth J., married J. W. Kenny and is deceased, and John M.

J. M. STEPHENS

913

HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

John M. Stephens was but two years of age when his mother died and he was reared in the household of his paternal grandfather, Thomas Stephens. There he received all the advantages of schooling and rearing possible to the time and place, completing his schooling in the old Prairie Home College, and for some years, in connection with his farm labors as a young man taught school. He married before he was 21 years of age and after his marriage began farming on his own account and also for some years continued teaching during the winters. During the four years, 1902-1906, Mr. Stephens was engaged in the general merchandise business at Bellaire and during that period also was postmaster. He then resumed his farming operations and in 1916 moved from Boonville town- ship and took over the great Burwood farm of 635 acres in Clear Creek township, owned by Henry R. Walker, of Columbia, taking the same under a ten-year lease, and has since made his home there. Mr. Stephens is a democrat and he and his family are members of the Methodist Church.

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.

History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 90

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