USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 23
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J. W. Penland, one of Henry County's most successful men and a member of a pioneer family of this section of Missouri, is a native of Tennessee. He was born in Cox County, Tennessee, August 23, 1843, a son of Aaron and Catherine (Phillips) Penland, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of South Carolina. Aaron Penland came to Mis- souri with his family in 1871, and settled in Henry County on the Grand River, west of Clinton. Here he followed farming during the remainder of his life. He died in 1885, and his wife departed this life in 1893. They were the parents of six children, as follow: S. K., Clinton, Mis- souri; J. W. the subject of this sketch; Jane, now Mrs. Bryant, Galena, Kansas; Edna Langley, now deceased; Mrs. Maggie Stephens, Galena, Kansas, and A. G., deceased.
In early life J. W. Penland worked by the month as a farm laborer. When he came to Henry County he had saved about $1,000, and he de- posited $600 of that in a bank which failed a short time afterward. He then went to work on the construction of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad and when the road began to be operated he took charge of the Grand River pumping station, which furnished water to the tank there to supply the locomotives with water. At first the water was pumped by hand, which task Mr. Penland performed with the assistance of an- other man. Later improved machinery was installed, which consisted of horse power. This continued to be the method of pumping until the water tank was removed to Deepwater, where a steam pump was installed. Mr. Penland was in the employ of the railroad company eleven years in all.
Early in life Mr. Penland realized the earning power of money and
JOHN W. PENLAND
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while in the employ of the railroad company he not only purchased two hundred acres of land, but loaned considerable money, and during his entire business career in Henry County has loaned large sums of money. He was engaged in farming for ten years and in 1894 came to Clinton, where he has since made his home, and during that time has carried on an extensive loan business. During his time he has owned a great deal of land in Henry County and has bought and sold several hundred acres in the course of his various transactions. He is one of Henry County's substantial citizens and has accumulated a comfortable fortune. He has invested $14,000 in Liberty Bonds.
Mr. Penland was united in marriage in 1881 to Miss Anna Potter, a native of Indiana. She departed this life January 12, 1912. No chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Penland. Mr. Penland has been a life long Democrat and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has seen much of the development of Henry County and in its upbuilding has contributed his part. He is public spirited and has ever co-operated with any movement for the betterment of Clinton and Henry County.
W. T. Runner, the well known and popular sheriff of Henry County, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Peru, Illinois, November 20, 1865, and is a son of William and Helen (Epperson) Runner, the former a native of that part of Virginia which is now West Virginia and the latter of Missouri.
The Runner family were early settlers in western Missouri. Michael Runner, grandfather of Sheriff Runner, settled in Post Oak township, John- son County, on Mineral Creek several years prior to the Civil War. He was a Virginian and came to this State with his family and followed farming in Johnson County until his death. He was a victim of bush- whackers during the days of the border war. He was an old man at the time when the Civil War broke out, and on account of his advanced age, he believed that he would be unharmed and remained on his place, but subsequent events proved that he was mistaken, for his blood-thirsty assassins were no respectors of gray hairs. They murdered him the next day after they had murdered his son, Isaac, who was a cripple, having lost a leg in an accident some years previous. The father and son were killed while they with the assistance of their women folks were preparing for the burial of an uncle of Sheriff Runner, a brother of his father, whom the bushwhackers had previously killed. After murdering the three members of the family, the marauders robbed the house of everything
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of value and took the horses with them. Sheriff Runner's grandmother spent her life on the old home place in Johnson County, which is still owned by her descendants.
. William Runner, father of Sheriff Runner, went to Illinois, where he remained during the Civil War and at its close returned to Johnson County, where he was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising during the remainder of his life. He died January 26, 1892. His wife departed this life November 15, 1903. She was born in Pettis County, and her parents were early settlers in that section of Missouri. They were Ken- tuckians.
Sheriff Runner is one of a family of six children born to his parents as follows: James, Joplin, Missouri; W. T., the subject of this sketch ; Walter, Memphis, Tennessee; Joseph, died at the age of twenty-one years; Leota, now the wife of Thomas Garnett, a railroad contractor residing at Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Maud, the wife of J. B. Thompson, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
W. T. Runner was reared to manhood in Johnson County, Missouri, and reecived his education in the public schools. He followed farming there until 1889, when he came to Henry County and bought a farm in Shawnee township. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1916, when he was elected sheriff of Henry County, and since that time has resided in Clinton and devoted himself to the duties of that office. He is a capable and conscientious public official and has a broad acquaintance in Henry County and friends without number. He has a valuable farm of 160 acres in Shawnee township which he has rented since he assumed the duties of the office of sheriff. Sheriff Runner is a Democrat and has been identified with that party since boyhood.
In 1887 W. T. Runner was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Cameron, a native of Henry County, and a daughter of James Cameron, a Henry County pioneer, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Runner have been born three children: Rolla, now a member of the One Hundred Twenty- ninth Field Artillery, National Army, in service on the western front in France; Glenn, and Earl, who reside at home. Mrs. Blanche Runner, mother of the foregoing children, died in 1907. Mr. Runner married Mrs. Carrie Cochrane, a widow, in 1909. Mrs. Carrie Runner has one daughter by a former marriage, Jessie, at home.
Sheriff Runner is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Baptist Church.
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Charles J. Keil .- Starting out in the business world at an early age, Charles J. Keil has since been dependent upon his own efforts and resources and the success which he has achieved has come to him as the direct result of his determination and energy, guided by sound judgment. He was born at Huntsville, Alabama, October 6, 1864, a son of Joseph W. and Louisa A. (Plath) Keil. The father was a native of Austria, born April 3, 1838, while the mother's birth occurred in Prussia, March 2, 1838. The father learned the jeweler's trade in his native land and when a young man came to the United States, working for a time in New York City, after which he removed to Huntsville, Alabama. There after remaining for a brief period in the employ of another he started in business on his own account. His final naturalization papers were granted him in 1866. He was married in Huntsville in 1860 and left that State in December, 1864, removing to Burlington, Iowa, but after a few months there he took up his abode in Rushville, Illinois. He had sacrificed all his property in Alabama owing to the exigencies of the war. After five years at Rush- ville he removed to Clinton, Missouri, on the tenth day of June, 1870, and engaged in the jewelry business, in which he continued until his death on the twenty-eighth of August, 1897. While his stock was at first com- paratively small, he built up the largest business not only in Henry County but in his part of the State and became recognized as one of the foremost merchants of Clinton. He devoted much time to his commercial interests, but when he had leisure moments spent them in caring for his flowers. He was the possessor of the finest flower garden in this part of the State, cultivating every species and variety of flowers that could be raised in this climate. He found both pleasure and relaxation in this and his fellow townsmen pointed with pride to his beautiful gardens. Mrs. Keil still makes her home in Clinton, where she has now resided for forty-four years. They were the parents of four children.
Charles J. Keil, the third in order of birth, attended the public schools of Clinton and under his father's direction learned the jeweler's trade. He took his place behind the counter when but nine years of age. His father gave him most thorough instruction in all branches of the work. He would not allow him to take down a watch until he knew how to make every part of it. He continued in the store and eventually was admitted to partnership by his father, the relationship being thus maintained until the father's death, although for some years prior to his demise the son was in full control of the business, owing to the condition of his father's
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health. Charles J. Keil has devoted his entire time and attention to the store and its interests and the Keil jewelry establishment is known all over this part of Missouri. He carries one of the largest and most com- plete stocks outside of Kansas City and, in fact, his establishment would compare favorably with many of the leading jewelry houses of the metrop- olis of western Missouri. He occupies two floors of a building one hundred by twenty-two feet and the property is owned by Mr. Keil. He carries a most interesting line of both foreign and domestic manufacture and a very attractive stock of diamonds and other jewels.
In September, 1897, Mr. Keil was united in marriage to Miss Hen- rietta Kemper, who was born in Audrain County, Missouri, near Mexico, a daughter of Jonathan and Martha E. (Early) Kemper, who were natives of Owen County, Kentucky. The father, who was born January 2, 1826, died January 13, 1902, at the advanced age of seventy-six years. His wife was born August 13, 1849. In early life he engaged in the stock business in his native State and after removing to Missouri he continued in the same line in Audrain County, where he preempted land and developed a good farm. After residing there for a number of years he removed to Montrose, Henry County, where he continued in the same business, re- maining in that locality throughout the rest of his days. His widow sur- vives him and now makes her home in Clinton with Mr. and Mrs. Keil. A little nephew of Mrs. Keil, born in 1901, also resides with them, for, having been left an orphan when a mere child, he was adopted into their family. In politics Mr. Keil is an independent Democrat. He has filled the office of city treasurer, yet has never been a politician in the usually accepted term of office seeking. Fraternally he is connected with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fra- ternal Aid. He is likewise a member of the Christian Church and his life, at all times honorable in its purposes, has won for him the high regard of those with whom he has been associated. Mr. Keil is a deacon in the Christian Church and is secretary and treasurer of the Henry County Board of Christian Churches, a position which he has capably filled for several years. He never fails to meet an obligation or keep an engagement, holds to the highest standards of commercial ethics and the consensus of opin- ion on the part of his colleagues and contemporaries places him with the leading business men and citizens of Clinton.
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W. H. Hurley, president of the W. H. Hurley Grain Company of Clin- ton, Missouri, is one of the progressive business men of Henry County. He was born at Saukville, Wisconsin, November 8, 1873, and is a son of James and Hannah (McCarthy) Hurley, the former a native of New York and the latter of Massachusetts. They came west and settled in Wisconsin at an early day. The mother is now deceased and the father resides in Wisconsin. They were the parents of the following children: James F., Green Ridge, Missouri; Agnes, married Merton Emery, West Bend, Wis- consin; Catherine, a trained nurse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Robert, a locomotive engineer on the Northern Pacific railway, resides at Tacoma, Washington; Frank, employed in the city treasurer's office at Seattle, Washington; Anna, the wife of Lieut. J. J. Clark, who is now in France with the National Army, and she resides at West Bend, Wisconsin, and W. H., the subject of this sketch.
W. H. Hurley was reared in Wisconsin and attended the public schools. He also took a business course in the Spencerian Business College, Mil- waukee, Wisconsin. He began his business career in a lumber yard at Rich Hill, Missouri, where he remained two years, and in 1897 came to Clinton, where he was engaged in the lumber business for ten years. In 1907 he engaged in the grain business at Clinton, continuing in that busi- ness under his individual name until 1916, when the W. H. Hurley Grain Company was incorporated and Mr. Hurley became its president. This company is one of the important commercial institutions of Clinton and Henry County. They have a large storage elevator in Clinton which is the headquarters of the company. They have an elevator at La Due also, and about twelve buying stations in various parts of the country. The main office of the company and elevator are located on Main, Grand and River streets in Clinton and they employ about eight men.
Mr. Hurley was united in marriage October 8, 1897, to Miss Winifred L. McCarty of Rich Hill, Missouri. Four children have been born to this union as follow: Jessie, a student at Loretta College, Webster Groves, Mis- souri; Winifred, student in the Clinton High School; Robert, a student in Clinton High School, and Margaret, also a student in the Clinton schools.
Mr. Hurley is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party, but he is inclined to be independent in politics. He is one of Clinton's substantial and progressive business men, whose contri- bution to the commercial importance of the town is no small factor.
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L. C. Jones, the well known recorder of deeds of Henry County, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Jennings County in 1868, a son of Louis E. and Catherine (Burns) Jones, both natives of Indiana. The Jones family is of old Virginia stock and George D. Jones, grandfather of L. C., was a Virginian, and went to Indiana from his native State at a very early day in the history of Indiana. Later, or about 1867, he went to Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life. Louis E. Jones removed from Indiana to Illinois in 1868, and now resides near Chester, Randolph County, Illinois. Catherine (Burns) Jones is also a descendant of one of the very early pioneer families of Indiana.
L. C. Jones is one of a family of seven children born to his parents, six of whom are living as follow: E. W., Terre Haute, Indiana; I. H., Sparta, Illinois; Nellie, the wife of John Boyd, Effingham, Illinois; Ina, now the wife of John Kull, who resides in northern Indiana; Susan, the wife of Lee Nolan, Sparta, Illinois, and L. C., the subject of this sketch.
L. C. Jones was reared and educated in Illinois. He spent his boy- hood days on the home farm and in 1887 came to Henry County, Missouri, where he followed farming and threshing for twenty-three years. He was engaged in the mercantile business at Quarles for eight years, although he has always been interested in farming and threshing. In 1914 he was elected recorder of Henry County and is now serving in that capacity, although he continues to reside on his home place, which is a splendid farm of 180 acres in Deer Creek township. In addition to general farm- ing Mr. Jones is extensively engaged in raising cattle, horses and mules, and is well known as a successful breeder of pure blood Shropshire sheep.
Mr. Jones was married April 22, 1892, to Miss Lillian I. Spicer, a na- tive of St. Louis County, Missouri. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Luther C., Bisbee, Arizona; Grace E., Claud and Alice, who reside at home with their parents. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Jones is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Masonic Lodge and has been identified with the Democratic party since boyhood. He is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Henry County.
Edgar Cornick, proprietor of the Clinton Green House, is one of the progressive business men of Clinton, and at the head of the oldest estab- lished green house in the county. This green house is located in the south- western part of the city on Artesian avenue, and was established about twelve years ago. About three acres are devoted to flower and plant culture and about 6,500 square feet are under glass. Here all kinds of
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plants, flowers, bulbs and shrubs usually found in a modern green house are kept growing summer and winter. The plant is equipped with steam heat so that the temperature can be kept normal for plant life during the most severe winter weather. The Clinton Green House has customers covering a large scope of territory and flowers are shipped to numerous towns in the surrounding country.
Edgar Cornick was born near Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, December 1, 1874, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Van Landingham) Cornick. Thomas Cornick, the father, was a son of John Cornick, who came to Ohio with his parents when he was a child. He died in 1874. He was a native of Pennsylvania and a son of Thomas Cornick, who came to Ohio with his family at a very early date, before Ohio was admitted to statehood, and settled in what later became Brown County. When the Cornick family crossed the Allegheny Mountains on their way to Ohio, which was then the far west, they carried their belongings on pack horses, and the sub- ject of this sketch has heard it related by his ancestors how they carried their children in two large baskets that were suspended on either side of one of the horses, and the grandfather of Mr. Cornick of this review was one of the children that was thus carried from Pennsylvania.
Thomas Cornick, the great-grandfather of Edgar, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and spent the latter years of his life in Ohio. Thomas Cornick, the father of our subject, was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War and served in Battery F, First Ohio Light Artillery. He enlisted when the war broke out and served until its close, and took part in several important engagements but was never wounded. Elizabeth (Van Landingham) Cornick was born in Flemmingsburg, Kentucky, in 1831 and came to Ohio with her parents in 1845. She was a daughter of Manly Van Landingham. She died in 1911. Her husband departed this life in 1909.
Edgar Cornick was one of a family of six children born to his parents who are now living: Thomas, resides near Ripley, Ohio; Mary, married G. C. Jordan, Lavanna, Ohio; W. N., Clinton, Missouri; Ida, married W. T. Jordan, a former resident of Clinton, now residing at Lavanna, Ohio; Arthur, Clinton, Missouri, and Edgar, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Cornick was reared and educated in Ohio. He first came to Missouri in 1898, and after spending about a year here returned to Ohio and for a time was engaged in farming and later entered the shoe business. In 1913 he returned to Missouri, and for two years was employed in the
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green house which he purchased in 1915, in partnership with W. T. Jor- dan, and later bought Mr. Jordan's interest. Mr. Cornick is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, and politically is identified with the Republican party, although he is inclined to be independent. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ..
George N. Angle .- The Angle farm in Davis township is one of the finest farms in Missouri. The home farm upon which the residence is located on a sloping hillside and overlooking a vast tract of country stretch- ing away on every hand, consists of three hundred sixty acres. In addi- tion to this tract another farm of ninety-five acres lies in the Grand River bottoms and is noted for its fertility. Mr. Angle has made this place his home since 1883 and has gradually built improvements until it is one of the beautiful places in Henry County. The residence of seven rooms was erected in 1903, supplanting the old house which had stood on the site for many years. On the Angle farms have been sown for this sea- son's crops one hundred fifty-six acres of wheat, one hundred fifteen acres of oats and one hundred five acres of corn. Mr. Angle's sons are farm- ing one hundred eighty acres of their own land and one hundred eleven acres which they are renting. The Angle farm is a very productive one, which boasts a heavy output of live stock each year. Only recently Mr. Angle has disposed of a carload of cattle and one of hogs (April, 1918). The average output of Hereford or white face cattle from the place is about one hundred five head. The yearly production of Duroc Jersey hogs is over one hundred eighty head. Fifteen head of work horses and mules are maintained on the place.
George N. Angle was born August 7, 1855, in Pike County, Missouri, and is the son of John and Sarah Elizabeth (Ferguson) Angle, who set- tled in Henry County in 1866.
John Angle was born in Pike County, Missouri, February 4, 1830, and died in Clinton, Missouri, November 18, 1914. He was the son of Jacob Angle, a native of Germany who emigrated to America and settled in St. Louis in 1812. Some years later he went to Pike County, Missouri, and settled on Salt River, not far from the city of Louisiana. John Angle was reared in Pike County and there married Elizabeth Ferguson, Octo- ber 26, 1854. Elizabeth (Ferguson) Angle is a daughter of John and Re- becca (Stevenson) Ferguson, natives of Kentucky who were pioneer set- tlers of Pike County, Missouri. Mrs. Elizabeth Angle was born September 3, 1835, and is now living in Clinton, one of the oldest of the pioneer women
GEORGE N. ANGLE AND WIFE
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of Henry County. The Angle family came to Henry County in 1866 and first settled a few miles northwest of Clinton and some time later settled in Davis township, where John Angle improved a splendid farm and be- came fairly well-to-do and highly respected. John and Elizabeth Angle were parents of eleven children, five of whom are living, as follow: George N., the subject of this review; Sarah, died in 1855; John Richard, resid- ing in Clinton ; Harvey, deceased ; Ernest Angle, died in 1905; Solon, lives in Canada, and has a family of eight children; Mrs. Orpha Dooley, lives in Clinton and has a family of four children, and Daisy Jeffries, lives in Oklahoma. John Angle became owner of two hundred sixty acres of land in Davis township and resided there until he removed to Clinton, where he died four years later.
George Angle was eleven years of age when he accompanied his par- ents to Henry County. He received his early education in the Fields Creek school. He located in Davis township in 1879 and remained with his parents on the home farm until he was twenty-five years old. He be- gan to make his own way when he attained his majority and has been successful from the start of his career. He purchased his first land in 1883 and with his wife's assistance and the joining of their respective capitals he became owner of one hundred twenty acres. With the excep- tions of forty-seven acres, which was Mrs. Angle's by inheritance, all of the Angle lands have been purchased on time. Mr. Angle found it a good business policy to go in debt for land and make the land pay for itself with wise cultivation and good business management. His large farm of four hundred fifty-five acres is one of the best in Henry County and one of the most productive. He has deviated considerably from the old time methods of agriculture and is progressive.
March 20, 1881, the marriage of George N. Angle and Miss Ella Rogers was solemnized. This marriage has been blessed with the follow- ing children: Albert F., born April 20, 1882, married Miss Marie Bassaird of Sonora, California, February 12, 1918, and resides at Sonora; John Ferguson, born April 17, 1883, died at the age of twelve years; Leslie, born April 25, 1885, resides in Isabelle, South Dakota; Bertha, born Octo- ber 4, 1887, married W. L. Coonrod in October, 1915, and lives at Carter- ville, Missouri; Earl, born October 30, 1889, Fairfield, Montana, married Alma Zimmerman August 20, 1917; Ralph, a farmer of Davis township, born November 11, 1891, married Clara Ogan in October, 1916; William A., born November 19, 1893, graduated from the Clinton High School,
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