USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 26
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
George Samuel Poague spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Kentucky and in 1858 came to Missouri, residing for a year upon a farm in Lafayette County. He then removed to a farm near Warrens- burg, where he continued for about a year, after which he took up his abode in Benton County, Missouri, where he became a landowner and where he resided until his death, which occurred December 13, 1882. In early life he had engaged in merchandising in Ashland, Kentucky, but his store was destroyed by fire and, though he still owned considerable land, he had little ready money. Having heard much of the opportuni- ties to be enjoyed in Missouri, it was this that decided him to come to this State, and as the years passed he retrieved his lost possessions and
326
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
became one of the substantial citizens of Benton County. His life was an active and useful one and his many sterling traits of character gained for him the highest regard of all with whom he was brought in contact. He lived in consistent harmony with his profession as a member of the Baptist church and his example is one well worthy of emulation. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party and he took an active inter- est in State and county affairs, supporting all the measures which he deemed beneficial to the community. On the 25th of July, 1853, he mar- ried Miss Eliza Keller, who was born September 28, 1833, in Barbours- ville, West Virginia. She was the eldest of ten children, whose parents were Louis and Hannah (Miller) Keller, both of whom were natives of Germany, but were brought to America in childhood by their parents. The father was a mechanic and in early life was engaged in making shoes for horses and mules and also manufacturing horseshoe nails. The busi- ness grew to large proportions, until he was operating a number of shops and employing a number of men. He ranked among the prominent repre- sentatives of industrial activity in the community in which he made his home. John Thomas, born July 30, 1854, married Evelyn Harvey and is now living retired in Clinton. George Madison, born October 31, 1856, married Miss Laura Oaks and is a landowner and capitalist of Jerico Springs, Cedar County, Missouri. Frederick Cary, born April 20, 1859, married Fannie Wilsin and resides on the old homestead in Benton County. Emma Eugenia, born March 25, 1861, died September 26, 1862. Samuel Allen, born May 10, 1865, married Ethel Baugh, and is a practicing physi- cian, surgeon and druggist of Clinton, Missouri. Henry Fewell is the sixth in order of birth. Hattie Adelaide, born November 11, 1871, was married January 3, 1910, to Lawrence Crotty, who is a railroad man and one of the prosperous and valued citizens of Clinton. William Rhea, born March 29, 1873, married Ethel Shobe and is associated with his brother, Dr. Poague, in the drug and general mercantile business in Clin- ton. Mr. and Mrs. George S. Poague also reared an adopted son, who was taken into the family when six years of age. He resides with W. R. Poague at the old home in Clinton and from early boyhood has been in the employ of the Clinton Water & Gas Company, his long connection therewith indicating his fidelity as well as his ability.
Henry F. Poague devoted his youth largely to the acquirement of an education until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he began farming. He continued upon the farm until twenty-one years of age and
327
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
in his business affairs he met with substantial success. He began in the stock business when he owned but one little bay mare, but he continued trading and buying. He would purchase cows and hogs and when twenty-one years of age he had accumulated twenty- one hundred dollars in this business. He then sold out and left the farm, for, realizing the value of education, he desired to enjoy better opportunities along that line. He went to the University of Missouri and was graduated from the law department in June, 1892. He then returned to the farm and again turned to the stock busi- ness, but his friends and neighbors began to seek his professional services, and after a year he returned to Clinton and opened a law office, since which time he has been engaged continuously in practice. Something of his ability along professional lines is indicated in the fact that he has four times been called to fill the office of county prosecuting attorney. He is very careful and systematic in the preparation of his cases and is seldom, if ever, at fault in the application of a legal principle. The court records, therefore, show that he has won many notable ver- dicts and indicate that he is well qualified to solve the intricate and complex problems of the law. When he was elected prosecuting attor- ney, Henry County owed over six hundred thousand dollars of principal and interest in bonded indebtedness and was not paying any of the principal of the debt. He began figuring the levies and on the 1st of April in each year would carefully figure the finances of the county and pay all the money on the public debt, except enough to meet the current expenses, until the taxes would be collected in the fall. The assessment of 1913, when collected, will pay every dollar of the public indebtedness owed by the county. Moreover, during this time, there had been two hundred and fifty-three steel bridges built in Henry County at a cost of one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars, and in addition, the wooden bridges and culverts have been built; the county jail has been repaired to the amount of several thousand dollars; and the county farm buildings were rebuilt-and all paid for.
He was a very careful man in his administrations and established for himself a reputation throughout the State of Missouri as being a "criminal cost saver." It is believed by the various officers in the State that he could handle more cases with better success and less criminal costs than any man holding the position; he was brief and vigorous in his prosecutions, but believed in tempering justice with mercy. He had
328
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
many political combats, but the people stood close to him and he would come out successful. And his official record stands as a monument for economical principles and successful financial management to the citizens and taxpayers.
In August, 1896, Mr. Poague was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Haysler, who was born in Clinton, Missouri, and is a daughter of Charles H. and Elizabeth (Humbrock) Haysler, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Cole County, Missouri. The father became an extensive dealer in harness, saddlery and sporting goods in Clinton, where he ar- rived in early manhood, winning recognition there as one of the leading and enterprising business men. He passed away in Clinton, where Mrs. Haysler still resides. In politics he was a Democrat and his religious faith was that of the Christian Church, to the teachings of which he was ever loyal. Mr. and Mrs. Poague became the parents of two chil- dren, Haysler A. and Vashti H., both at home. In addition to a com- fortable residence, Mr. Poague owns other valuable property. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of lodge, chapter and council, and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen, the Woodmen of the World, the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Fraternal Aid, the Homesteaders, the Yeomen and the Mystic Workers. His time is practically given to his profession, with just enough leisure for public duties and private interests that will constitute an even balance to his professional activity. In a calling where advancement must depend en- tirely upon individual merit he has made steady progress and that he remains a close and discriminating student of his profession indicates that he will continue at the front.
Chesley G. Woodson .- Nearly four score years have elapsed since Chesley G. Woodson of Walker township was brought to Henry County by his parents. Far back in 1839 this county was largely an unpeopled waste with here and there a lone settler's cabin in the timber tracts along the streams. The nearest trading point was Boonville, on the Mis- souri River, or Jefferson City. The pioneers of those faraway days would drive to either of these cities with ox teams and the trip required a week's time in the making. For a long time the pioneers would of necessity have their milling done at Boonville or Jefferson City until Cook's mill was erected on Grand River. During the days of his young manhood, Chesley Woodson shot many deer and wild turkeys and he recalls that his father killed a bear on Bear Creek. Various settlers operated grist
CHESLEY G. WOODSON
MRS. MARY ANN WOODSON
329
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
mills by horse power and some of them ground their corn meal by hand. The main commodity which the settlers had to sell were hides and furs. These they would take to Boonville and exchange for salt and groceries sufficient to last for several months.
Mr. Woodson has a distinction which few men possess. He served in both armies during the Civil War, having first enlisted in the Confed- erate Army and later through force of circumstances over which he had no control he was compelled to serve in the Union Army. Mr. Woodson was born on February 25, 1837, in Hancock County, Kentucky, and is the son of Shadrich and Agnes (Gates) Woodson, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Kentucky. Shadrich Woodson came to Missouri in 1838 and after a year's residence in Johnson County he came to Henry County and entered a tract of Government land in Walker township. He cut and hewed the logs for his two room cabin and spent the remainder of his days on the farm which he broke up and placed in cultivation. He was a hunter and killed a great deal of game which was very plentiful in those early days. He died December 4, 1852, at his home in Walker township. Of the children born to Shadrich Woodson and wife three are living: Jonathan, residing with Adam H. Woodson, his nephew; Mrs. Elizabeth Steele, who makes her home with William Steele in Walker township, and Chesley G., subject of this review.
Chesley G. Woodson was reared to young manhood under primitive conditions and enjoyed the frontier life to the utmost. He grew up a strong and sturdy lad who was skillful with axe or gun and knew how to till the soil. He served for two years in the Southern Army during the war between the States and after his term of service expired he went to St. Louis. While in that city he became a member of the 87th Missouri Regiment of the Federal Army under Capt. A. J. Smith and served for one year with the Union forces. After the expiration of his term of ser- vice he returned home. After his marriage he settled down to active farm life and accumulated a total of one hundred sixty-six acres. Of late years Mr. Woodson has retired from active farm life and is now making his home with his son, Adam H. Woodson.
The marriage of Chesley G. Woodson and Mary Ann Harness took place on March 1, 1866. Mrs. Mary Ann (Harness) Woodson was born in Franklin County, Missouri, February 10, 1839, and was a daughter of Adam Harness, a pioneer of Henry County, concerning whom an account is given elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Woodson died on March 31, 1898.
330
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
The following children were born to Chesley G. and Mary Ann Woodson: Chesley A., deceased; Nancy Agnes, deceased; Adam H., and Mary Eliza- beth, wife of J. M. Hull, a biography of whom is given in this volume.
Adam H. Woodson was born February 7, 1869, and has achieved a splendid success as an agriculturist in Walker township. He is owner of three hundred twenty-four acres of well improved farm land upon which he has placed all of the buildings and fencing. Mr. Woodson has resided upon his farm for the past thirty years. He is a Democrat in his political faith as is his father, and has served as school director of his district. The other members of the Woodson household are Chester D. Hull and wife, nee Olga Robinson, who are keeping house for Adam H. Woodson. Mr. Hull was born August 29, 1894, the son of J. M. Hull of Davis township. He was married September 26, 1917, to Olga Robin- son, the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Moreland) Robinson.
Dr. Samuel Allen Poague, a leading physician and surgeon of Henry County, is a native son of Missouri. His parents were George Samuel and Eliza Christena Kellar Poague. A sketch of George Samuel Poague appears in this volume, with a detailed history of the Poague family. Doctor Poague was born in Benton County, just east of the Henry County line, May 10, 1865. He was reared on a farm and attended the public schools. Later he attended Missouri University and for four years taught school in Benton and Henry Counties. In 1889 he matriculated in the St. Louis Medical College and was graduated April 25, 1892, with a degree of Doctor of Medicine. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession at Clinton, where he has built up a large practice and won a place in the foremost ranks of his profession in this section of the State. Doctor Poague also owns a drug store in Clinton, which is one of the most complete and best equipped drug stores to be found anywhere. He has a manager in charge of this store, which is located on the south side of the square, and the doctor's office is located over the drug store.
June 1, 1904, Doctor Poague was united in marriage with Miss Ethel E. Baugh, a daughter of Doctor J. H. Baugh, who was engaged in the practice of medicine at Leesville, this county, for a time. He died at the age of thirty-six years. Mrs. Poague was born at Leesville. To Doc- tor and Mrs. Poague have been born two children, Martha Christena and Henry Frederick.
Doctor Poague is a member of the Henry County and the Missouri
331
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
State Medical Societies. At present he is the county and city physician and is a member of the local military draft board. He is a member of the Christian Church and is a Democrat. Doctor Poague is a man who makes friends and keeps them. He is a genial gentleman and is inter- ested in the welfare of his fellow men.
Edward Austin Gracey of Clinton, Missouri, is a leading member of the bar of Henry County, and has practiced his profession here for thirty-six years. Judge Gracey was born at Sparta, Tennessee, May 22, 1861. His parents were Wayman L. and Martha (Hudgins) Gracey, both natives of White County, Tennessee. The Graceys are of Irish descent, the great-grandfather of Judge Gracey coming from Bainbridge, Ireland, to America. On the maternal side, Judge Gracey's ancestors came from Scotland.
Wayman L. and Martha (Hudgins) Gracey spent their lives in Ten- nessee. The mother died in 1885 and the father departed this life in 1887, and their remains rest in the cemetery at Sparta, Tennessee. They were the parents of fifteen children, ten of whom are living, as follows: Edward Austin, the subject of this sketch; Alice, Sparta, Tennessee; Josie, the widow of W. C. Rogers, Sparta, Tennessee ; Mary, wife of James Meyer, Sparta, Tennessee; Charles, Louisville, Kentucky; Crockett, Chillicothe, Texas; Augusta, unmarried and resides in Clinton, Missouri, and Mack and Wayman, twins, reside at Sparta, Tennessee; and Ethel, unmarried, Sparta, Tennessee.
Judge Gracey was reared in Sparta, and received his early education in private schools, and after preparing for college entered Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, where he was graduated in the class of 1880. He then read law in the office of Judge D. L. Snodgrass for a time at Sparta and in 1881 came to Clinton, Missouri, where he con- tinued the study of law under the preceptorship of Gen. B. G. Boone, and in 1882 he was admitted to the bar of Missouri. He has been suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of law at Clinton since that time and is well known throughout this section of the state as an able and con- scientious lawyer.
September 6, 1882, Edward Austin Gracey was united in marriage with Miss Olive Blakemore, a native of Henry County, and two children were born to this union: Francis and George Wayman, both residing in Clinton. George Wayman is employed as teller in the Brinkerhoff-Faris Trust & Savings Company. Judge Gracey's first wife died February 10,
332
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
1899. . On January 29, 1916, he was united in marriage with Caroline Coats of Kansas City, Missouri.
Judge Gracey is a Democrat and has taken an active part in politics for a number of years. He has served two terms as prosecuting attorney of Henry County, from 1887 to 1891. For the past nine years he has served as a justice of the peace. He is a member of the Baptist Church and is one of the widely and favorably known citizens of Henry County.
Perce Bolinger, senior member of the B. & S. Plumbing Company of Clinton, Missouri, is a native son of Henry County. He was born in Clinton, in the house where he now lives, at 301 North Washington street, June 3, 1872, and is a son of W. W. and Eulalia (Lowden) Bolinger, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born near Beech Creek, Clinton County, and the latter was born at Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
W. W. Bolinger, the father of Perce Bolinger, was a jeweler by trade, and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in a Pennsylvania regi- ment, and served in the Union Army until the close of the war. In 1867 he came to Missouri, his destination being Osceola. He came as far as Sedalia by rail, and at that time there was no railroad from that point to the Southwest, but transportation facilities from Sedalia to Osceola, consisted of a stage coach which carried the mail, making the round trip from Sedalia to Osceola twice a week. Mr. Bolinger reached Se- dalia just as the stage had left on one of its weekly trips, and rather than wait until the following week, he proceeded to make the journey on foot. However, after reaching Clinton, he was so favorably impressed with the town that he decided to engage in business there and for thirty-five years he was actively engaged in the jewelry business. He spent his latter life in retirement, and died October 25, 1912. His wife preceded him in death a little over two years, having departed this life in January, 1910. They were the parents of three children, T. S., who died at Moberly, Missouri, in 1902, Perce, the subject of this sketch, and Blossom, now the wife of R. C. Woods, Sedalia, Missouri.
Perce Bolinger was reared and educated in Clinton, attending the public schools and Lamkin's Academy. After leaving school, he learned the printer's trade, which he followed about sixteen years, after which he served as chief of the Clinton Fire Department for six years. He then engaged in the bottling business in Clinton in partnership with R. C. Woods, which they conducted for nine years, when Mr. Bolinger dis- posed of his interest in that enterprise and engaged in the plumbing busi- ness.
.
333
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
Mr. Bolinger was united in marriage July 2, 1893, with Miss Etta Onwiler, and one child has been born to this union. John W., a member of 128th Machine Gun Company, 35th Division, National Army. He volunteered in the service early in the summer of 1917. Mr. Bolinger's first wife died in 1894. On June 20, 1896, he was married to Miss Alice Simmons of Clinton, Missouri, a native of Illinois.
Mr. Bolinger is one of the progressive and enterprising business men of Clinton, and takes a just pride in his native city and county. He has been a life-long Republican and has been active in politics since he was eighteen years old. He has served as city and county committee- man, and has been chairman of the Republican County Central Commit- tee. Although he has taken a deep interest in politics and been identi- fied with the local Republican organization, he has never been a candi- date for office but once and was then elected councilman of the Second Ward of Clinton, and is now serving in that capacity with the same progressive spirit which characterizes his private business methods. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of the Maccabees, and the Woodmen of the World. He is one of the widely- known and substantial citizens of Henry County.
George W. Schweer, secretary and general manager of the Mis- souri Union Telephone Company, is at the head of one of the most important institutions of Henry County. Mr. Schweer was born at Shot- well, now Gerald, Franklin County, Missouri, February 16, 1860, and is a son of John H., and Catherine (Harshman) Schweer, pioneers of Frank- lin County, Missouri. They were both natives of Germany and came to this country with their respective parents when young, the father being twelve years of age when he came and the mother ten.
John H. Schweer was a foreman in a lumber yard for a few years in St. Louis, and was later engaged in the general mercantile business at Shotwell for a number of years. He also served as postmaster and held the office of justice of the peace. He was prominent in local affairs and in early life was a Democrat. Later he became what was known as a Douglass Democrat, and when the clouds of Civil War appeared on the horizon and the issue between Union and secession became well defined, he became a Republican and supported Lincoln at his second election. He was a strong Union man and served as captain of the Home Guards during the Civil War, and at one time was captured by General Price's army, but was released a short time after his capture. Both he and his
334
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
wife are buried at Windsor, Missouri. They were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living: Mrs. Lizzie Henicke, Gerald, Missouri; Mrs. Emma Stineker, who lives on the old homestead at Gerald, Mis- souri; Mrs. Carrie Martin, Denton, Johnson County, Missouri; George W., the subject of this sketch; Julius H., assistant cashier of the Bank of Blairstown, Missouri; John W., deceased, and his widow resides at Greeley, Nebraska ; Mrs. Kate Farrar, Windsor, Missouri, and H. A., who is engaged in the mercantile business in Jamesport, in the northern part of Missouri, and G. H., agent for the Iron Mountain Railroad Company at Hot Springs, Arkansas.
George W. Schweer was reared in Franklin County, and attended school in the old log school house at Shotwell, and later attended the Uni- versity of Missouri at Columbia. When he was sixteen years of age he taught a term of school near Shotwell. He then entered the employ of a wholesale grocery house in St. Louis, and was traveling salesman for that concern a part of the time for two years. He then engaged in the retail grocery and commission business for a period of two years. In 1884 he embarked in the general mercantile business at New Haven, Missouri, and in 1889 moved with his family to Windsor, Henry County, where he was also engaged in the general mercantile business. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster of Windsor by President Mckinley, and at the expiration of his term was reappointed in 1902, and reappointed again 1906 by President Roosevelt, thus holding that office for nearly thirteen years. While a resident of New Haven, Missouri, he was elected mayor of that town serving two years.
Mr. Schweer has been interested in the telephone business for a number of years. April 10, 1899, he organized the Missouri Union Tele- phone Company, which owns and operates the Windsor, Clinton, La Due, Deepwater, Montrose and Urich exchanges, with toll lines connecting the surrounding independent exchanges. He was elected secretary and gen- eral manager of this company one year after it was organized, and held that position to the present time. Clinton, having been made the central point of the operation of this company, Mr. Schweer moved his family here September 1, 1916.
Mr. Schweer's first wife, whom he married in 1882, bore the maiden name of Miss Meekie Farrar, and to them were born six children, as follows: Eugene, cashier of the Citizens Bank, Monroe, Missouri; Julius, a traveling salesman; Claud, was commissioned first lieutenant in United
335
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
States Signal Corps, but resigned on account of defective hearing; later enlisted as an electrician in the United States Navy; Guy W., wire chief of the Windsor Telephone exchange; Cora, a teacher; Lillie, now the wife of Elmo Witcher. Mr. Schweer's first wife died in March, 1898, and he married Miss Lizzie Holloway, April 10, 1899, and three children have been born to this union, Anna, Christena and Theodore Roosevelt, all attending school at Clinton.
Mr. Schweer is essentially a business man, and has been successful. Politically, he is a Republican and has held many positions in that party organization. Being a great admirer of Colonel Roosevelt, he went with the Progressive wing of the party during the campaign of 1912, and was chairman of the Progressive State Committee in 1914-16, when he again went back to his first love, the old Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Wood- men of America, and is a member of the Christian 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.