USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 33
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George Gretzinger was born December 4, 1859, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, a son of Jacob and Magdalena Gretzinger who died in Ohio. George Gretzinger came to Henry County in 1889 and on February 24th of that year was married to Miss Dora Barth, who was born June 21, 1867, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She was six months of age when her parents, John and Mary (Lebold) Barth came to Henry County and settled in this vicinity. For further particulars regarding the biography of John Barth, who was one of the most successful and enterprising of Henry County's departed old settlers, the reader is referred to various sketches in this volume. Mr. Barth not only accumulated a fine estate, but he reared a splendid family of sons and daughters who have attained to positions of honor and affluence in their community. All have excellent homes and are prosperous, as well as being leaders in their home county. The following children have been born to George and Dora (Barth) Gret- zinger: Earl, died at the age of three years; Arthur Lee, born Decem-
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ber 9, 1893, at home with his parents; John Ross, born November 8, 1895, lives at home, married on September 2, 1917, to Mildred, daughter of Ellis Greenhalge, of Walker township.
Mr. Gretzinger is a Republican in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Gretzinger and the children of the family are members of the Lucas Methodist Episcopal Church, excepting Arthur, who belongs to the White Oak Methodist Episcopal Church. The Gretzinger's are an industrious family, progressive, intelligent, and endeavor to keep abreast of the times in all things.
Joseph H. Harness .- Along a stretch of well-kept highway in the Southeastern part of Walker township are a number of very attractive farm homes. The surroundings are ideal for a progressive farming community, with a flowing stream and beautiful timber tracts in the vicinity. This corner of the township is undoubtedly one of the most fertile and progressive in Henry County. The home of Joseph H. Harness and wife is one of the pretty places of the county, and shows in its appear- ance that the dwellers therein have a taste for the better things of life and believe in beautifying their surroundings. The Harness residence is a very pretty cottage, standing on a rise of ground on the west side of the highway and the other buildings and fencing are in keeping with the house.
The Harness farm consists of 210 acres of well-improved farm lands, eighty acres of which are in the home place.
J. H. Harness was born October 6, 1871, on the Harness homestead within one-half mile of his present home. He is the son of William Harness (born April 30, 1844; died July 3, 1914), a native of West Vir- ginia and a son of Adam Harness, who was one of the first pioneers to make a settlement in what is now Walker township. Mr. Harness pre- empted or entered Government land at a time when there was but one house between his cabin and the old settlement of Germantown in the early forties. There were no homes on the way to Clinton which was then but a frontier settlement. William Harness enlisted in the Con- federate Army in 1863 and served for one year with the Confederate forces during the Civil War. He became very ill with measles and it was necessary for his father to make the long journey to St. Louis and bring him home in order that he might receive proper care. Adam Har- ness made the long trip to St. Louis and returned by ox-team, the only available method of transportation in those days.
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William Harness received a tract of land from his father and mar- ried Mary Ann Mullen, who was born in Henry County, a daughter of William Mullen, a pioneer from Kentucky who gave the land for what is now known as the Mullen Cemetery. Mary Ann Harness was born in 1848 and died November 15, 1896. To William and Mary Ann Harness were born fourteen children, twelve of whom were reared to maturity: William A., a farmer in Bear Creek township; A. L., Kansas City, Mis- souri; Mrs. Mary Hackney, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Martha Long, White Oak township; Sterling V. and Mrs. Stella McCoy, twins, the former of whom resides in Bates County, Missouri, and the latter is deceased; Har- vey, White Oak township; John S., deceased; Edgar died at the age of nineteen years; Mrs. Sarah Wort, living in Kansas; Mrs. Frances Jen- nings, Maxville, Kansas.
J. H. Harness was educated in the common schools and has spent his whole life in the vicinity of his birthplace with the exception of one and a half years' residence in Eldorado Springs, Missouri.
Mr. Harness was married, October 18, 1893, to Miss Gertrude Col- son, who was born in Walker township, the daughter of Archibald and Hannah (Sevier) Colson ,the former of whom came to Henry County and made a settlement in the early fifties, dying here in 1906. He was a Union veteran, one of the best-known of the old settlers of Henry County, and reared a splendid family. His widow now resides in Urich. She is a direct descendant of the famous Sevier family of Tennessee, one of the members of which family was Governor Sevier of Tennessee. She was born in Osage County, Missouri, in September, 1846 and is the mother of seven children: Dr. J. R. Colson, Schell City, Missouri; Mattie, wife of Richard Angle, Clinton, Missouri; Mrs. Laura Chrisman, Bonham, Texas; Mrs. Mollie Clyzer, a widow living at Montrose; Mrs. Gertrude Harness; B. S. Colson, Appleton City, Mo; R. P. a live stock buyer, Mont- rose, Missouri.
To J. H. and Gertrude Harness have been born two children: Glen W., and Richard P. C., both of whom are at home with their parents. Po- litically, Mr. Harness is a Democrat. He and Mrs. Harness are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. They are intelligent, well informed, sociable people, who while industrious and enterprising, be- lieve in enjoying the good things of life while they may.
The history of the Harness family in America begins with Peter Michael Harness, a native of Holland, who accompanied one of the expe-
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ditions of William Penn to the colony of Pennsylvania in search of a home and religious freedom. He settled later in Virginia. A descendant of this Peter Michael Harness was Capt. Jack Harness, who served as a captain of a company in Gen. George Washington's Army, during the War of the American Revolution. He is mentioned in the History of the Valley of Virginia as one of the noted characters in the Revolutionary epoch of American history. He was an inveterate Indian fighter and killed many Indians during his eventful career; three of his brothers lost their lives at the hands of hostile Indians. His son, Lee Adam Har- ness, was the father of Adam Harness, who was married to Nancy Ellen Murdock and came to St. Louis County, Missouri, as early as 1830. In 1855 he came to Henry County, and settled on Granddaddy Creek, near Stone's Chapel. His son, William Harness, enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1863 and fought at the battle of Wilson's Creek. He served under General Price and was in Price's Raid through Missouri and Kan- sas, his commander being Captain Spangler of the cavalry. At St. Louis, he became ill with measles and his father made the long trip to bring him home, as before stated.
John Layman .- After a number of years spent as a successful con- tractor and builder in Kansas City, John Layman listened to the call of his country and the land and returned to the farm in Bear Creek township in order to do his part in swelling the vast amount of food stuffs needed to feed the people and armies of America's allies in the Old World who are battling for the rights and freedom of mankind. John Layman and Georgiana Layman are owners of 320 acres of farm land in Bear Creek township which they are improving and fixing up so as to make a good country home in time to come. Mr. Layman was born in Clark County, Missouri, in 1860 and is the son of George and Eliza (Combs) Layman, natives of West Virginia and Missouri, respectively. Mrs. Eliza Layman was a daughter of Kentucky parents who were Mis- souri pioneers. George Layman came to Missouri with his parents when but a boy. He was born in 1817 and died in 1901. In 1865, he moved to Henry County from Clark County and lived for three years upon a farm east of Clinton, and in 1868 he located near Montrose. There are ten children of the Layman family: Mrs. Renie Skelton, Topeka, Kansas; Mrs. Emma Fair, deceased; Mrs. Belle Triplett, Topeka, Kansas; Will- iam; Henry, Kansas City ; Mrs. Florence Durnell, Joplin, Missouri; Mrs.
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Florida Burks, Joplin, Missouri; Mrs. Maude Davis, Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Bab Trott, Joplin, Missouri.
In early manhood, Mr. Layman learned the trade of bricklayer and builder and many of the brick houses in his section of Henry county were built by him, among them being the old Nick Erhart mansion which in days gone by was one of the show places of the county. He and Mrs. Layman and the family spent eight years in Kansas City where Mr. Layman was employed as foreman of brick construction on many of the largest public buildings of the city. On account of his health and the fact that the farm needed their personal attention they returned to Bear Creek township and resumed cultivation of their large acreage in 1914.
John Layman and Georgiana Erhart were united in marriage in 1886 and to them have been born five children: Iva, wife of Fred Roberst, Muscogee, Oklahoma; Joseph, living on the home place, mar- ried Nannie Lober and has two children, Aubertine and Burnell; J. Nick, resides in Bear Creek township, married Pearl Minnich, and has one child, Margaret; Ida, at home with her parents; Frankie, the youngest of the family. Mrs. Georgian Layman was born in Bear Creek town- ship, in 1868 and is the daughter of the late Nicholas Erhart.
Nicholas Erhart was born on July 19, 1831. in Bavaria, Germany, and died at his home in Bear Creek township, July 18, 1915. In 1844, he emigrated with his parents, George and Susannah (Schrepfer) Erhart who settled in Cole County, Missouri, near Jefferson City. On the way to the West, his mother died at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. George Erhart made a home near Jefferson City and died there. Nick Erhart was there reared to young manhood and enlisted and served as a soldier in the Mexican War, receiving for his services a Mexican Land Grant in Henry County to which he came soon after the war ended. Not content with hav- ing served his country in Old Mexico, he enlisted with the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War and was badly wounded at the Battle of Lone Jack. He was hit in the shoulder and was honorably discharged, but after his wound had healed he returned again to the Union service. Mr. Erhart was very successful as a farmer and stockman and accumu- lated a total of 1,280 acres of land, much of which he gave to his chil- dren, owning at the time of his death 320 acres.
Mr. Erhart was married to Malvina Coffelt (born 1832; died 1910), a native of Knox County, Kentucky, and daughter of Philip Coffelt, a
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pioneer of Moniteau County, Missouri, who also made an early settle- ment in Henry County. Four children born to Nick and Malvin Erhart are living: Mrs. Viola Dutro, Brownsville, Texas; Mrs. Georgian Lay- man; Mrs. Ida Adkins, Bear Creek township; Mrs. Nellie Harness, Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Erhart was a Republican and a member of the Lutheran Church. He was a charter member of the Montrose Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
John Layman is a supporter of Republican political principles. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Montrose. He and Mrs. Layman are popular, well liked, industrious and enterpris- ing people, who are hospitable to the core and have many warm friends among the people of Henry County.
Woodford A. Snapp .- There is nothing more pleasant than to meet an Missouri old settler who has lived a useful life, reared his family, at peace with the world and friends with his neighbors, and glad to be alive; having accomplished his destined mission on earth-that of rear- ing an excellent family, creating a home for himself and having pro- vided for his declining years, is the estimable record of Woodford A. Snapp, one of the old timers of Henry County who is still hale and hearty despite his more than three score years and ten as allotted him by divine interpretation of the Scriptures.
Mr. Snapp was born June 2, 1847, in old Tennessee, and is the son of A. A. and Lavine (Bird) Snapp, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Tennessee. Both parents come from old Southern families of the. true pioneer type. As early as 1848 the Snapp family came to Cooper County, Missouri, and there established their home amid many of their former friends and acquaintances from Tennessee who had preceded them. In this county the elder Snapp created a fine farm, reared a useful family and departed this life after his work was done.
W. A. Snapp was reared to young manhood in Cooper County and when he had attained the age of twenty-five years (1872) he started out for himself and made a location in Pettis County, Missouri. Here he followed farming pursuits and was married in September of 1874 to Miss Sarah J. Lacey, a native of Pettis County, and daughter of George W. Lacey one of the well-known citizens of that county. To this mar- riage were born a large family of children, eight of whom were reared: Alpheus A. Snapp, is a clerk in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway offices at Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. Mary Sargent lives in Bear Creek town-
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ship; Jacob A. resides in Springfield township, Henry County; Walter M., at home with his parents; Robert L., Tulsa, Oklahoma; Rev. George B. Snapp, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now stationed at Chilhowee, Missouri; Mrs. Lillie Myrtle Crouch, Bear Creek township; Fred, a farmer in Bear Creek township.
Mr. Snapp has resided in Henry County since the year 1876, made his start in this county, and has owned various farms throughout the county. His fine farm of forty acres located in Bear Creek township is well improved and affords him a comfortable living. It is probable that there is not a more contented nor a happier and jollier citizen in Henry County than Mr. Snapp. He is a Democrat and has always espoused Democratic principles and supported the policies of his party and firmly believes that President Wilson is the greatest living figure in the world today. He and the members of his family are Baptists.
Judge William Benjamin Collins, a member of the County Court from the north district of Henry County, is a native son of this county and belongs to one of the pioneer families of western Missouri. Judge Collins was born July 18, 1856, in Big Creek township, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Wooster) Collins, natives of Virginia. Thomas Collins was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, August 20, 1816, and came to Warren County, Missouri, with his parents in 1825, when he was about nine years of age. He was a son of George Collins, who spent the remaininder of his life in Warren County after coming to this State.
Thomas Collins went to California in 1849 with an ox team train. He met with more than the success of the average gold seeker and when he returned he came by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, and had several thousand dollars in gold, which he exchanged for cur- rency at New Orleans. He came to Henry County in 1855, settled near where Garland is now located in Big Creek township. Here he bought three hundred twenty acres of land, and later added more acreage until at one time he owned over eight hundred acres. He died February 10, 1899. His wife departed this life September 9, 1872, and their remains are buried in the Norris Cemetery. Thomas and Sarah (Wcoster) Col- lins were the parents of the following children: William B., the subject of this review, and James T. and John Pressly, twins. James T. lives in Bogard township and John Pressly died at the age of eight years.
When the Collins family settled in Henry County this section of Mis- souri was sparsely settled. Indians were still within the present borders
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WILLIAM B. COLLINS AND WIFE
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of Henry County. When Judge Collins was a baby the squaws who lived in the vicinity of the Collins family often wanted to borrow the white pappoose, but his mother, fearing that they might forget to bring him back, persistently refused to loan him for the amusement of the squaws. Judge Collins lives practically on the same place where he was born, and still drinks water from the same well from which he drank during his boyhood days. He attended school in the rural district school in Big Creek township and in Honey Creek township. His first teacher as he re- members was a Miss Spangler. He has made general farming and stock raising his life's occupation and has met with a reasonable degree of success. He owns a valuable farm of two hundred acres in Big Creek township and eighty acres in Honey Creek. In addition to general farm- ing he is also extensively engaged in stock raising, and is recognized as one of the successful stockmen of Henry County.
Judge Collins has been a life long Democrat and has always taken an interest in political affairs. He was elected county judge for the north district of Henry County in 1914 and re-elected in 1916. He has made a capable and conscientious public officer and has conducted the affairs of the county in the same capable, conscientious manner characteristic of him and his private business affairs.
Judge Collins was united in marriage February 20, 1876, to Miss Mary Blevins, a daughter of R. P. and Missouri Ann (Crockett) Blevins, the former a native of Henry County and the latter of Indiana. Further mention of the Blevins family history is made elsewhere in this volume. To William B. Collins and wife have been born two children: Ella and John Pressley. Ella Collins is now the wife of Dr. S. W. Woltzen, a native of Illinois, born May 6, 1870. He was educated in the public schools of Minook and Benson, Illinois, and the St. Louis Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri. He practiced medicine for twenty-three years in Henry County and on June 23, 1917, was commissioned captain in the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States Army and served in that capacity until his honorable discharge on account of sickness in June, 1918. John P. Collins, the only son born to Judge Collins and wife, is now engaged in farming in Big Creek township, Henry County. He married Ethel Miller November 14, 1906.
William Daniel Hendrick .- To have been one of the first white chil- dren born in Henry County and to have fought for the preservation of the Union were two of the honors which fell to the lot of the late Will-
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iam Daniel Hendrick of Bear Creek township. He also bequeathed to Henry county and the nation one of the largest families ever reared in the county. Death called him from his earthly labors too soon for him to rear his large family to maturity and the task devolved upon his noble and capable helpmeet who has achieved one of the most remark- able successes as a successful agriculturist and business woman in this section of Missouri.
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William Daniel Hendrick was born November 27, 1841, in the north- west part of Henry County, and was the son of Asa and Martha (Hig- gins) Hendrick, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, and who settled in Henry County during the early thirties. William D. Hen- drick was reared to young manhood in Henry County and enlisted in the Union Army in 1863 as a Government teamster, serving for nearly one year. He was married in 1876 to Miss Margaret Mohler, who was born June 20, 1858, in Dark County, Ohio, the daughter of Rev. John S. and Mary H. (Risser) Mohler, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively, both of whom were descended from Pennsylvania German stock. The Mohlers came to Missouri in 1868 and after spending one year in John- son County, near Knob Noster, they came to Henry County in the fall of 1869 and settled on a farm three miles northeast of Urich, residing there until 1878. They then moved to a farm near Deepwater. After residing here for some time they removed to Brown County, Kansas, and from there they went to Gove County, Kansas, with their children. Rev. John S. Mohler was a minister of the German Baptist Church and his whole life was spent in ministerial and agricultural pursuits. He was born May 30, 1831 and died November 1, 1911. Mary H. (Risser) Mohler, his wife, was born November 11, 1852, and died March 17, 1912. They were parents of the following children: Mrs. Nannie R. Bene- zette, deceased; Martin R., Maurine, Missouri; Mrs. Maggie R. Hen- drick; Mrs. Cassie R. Johnson, Kansas City, Missouri; Joseph R., Gove County, Kansas; Samuel R., Montrose, Missouri; Mrs. Rebecca R. Eisen- bise, Gove County, Kansas; John R., Preston, Nebraska.
When William Daniel and Maggie R. Hendrick were married they settled on a farm two miles northeast of Urich which Mr. Hendrick had purchased. They lived for two years on this farm and then made a trade with John R. Mohler, sold the place which he obtained to Mr. Hendrick's brother and then bought a farm south of Urich. One year later Mr. Hendrick sold this farm and made his home with his parents until
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1881. In the fall of that year he purchased the farm in Bear Creek township which served as their home for six years. They sold this place and moved to a farm three miles of Montrose, remaining there until 1894, when they purchased the present home place of the family, con- sisting of 220 acres in Bear Creek township. During the dry year of 1901, when there was very little to occupy Mr. Hendrick in caring for crops he erected a splendid farm home which has been beautified until it is one of the attractive farm homes in Henry County.
Fourteen children were born to William D. and Maggie Hendrick: Etta May, born July 9, 1877, wife of Thomas Dugan, living near Mont- rose, and has six children, Emmet, Estell, Robert, Bernard, Margaret, and Dorothy; W. Warren, born August 13, 1880, resides near Maxville, New Mexico, married Viola Nelson and has six children, Deena, William, Ruth, Rachel, Gracie, Mary Margaret; Maude M., born January 6, 1882, wife od Rufus Long, of Walker township, and has two children, Ruby Myrtha, and Roland; Anna M. born March 24, 1883, wife of Elmer Long, of Walker township, has five children, Ewall, Daniel, Estell, Nannie, and Anna Lee; Gertrude L., born December 3, 1884, wife of Robert Skaggs, of Davis township; Grover R., born March 28, 1886, lives in Davis town- ship, married Myrtle Tribble, and has one child, Glenn; Otis M., born April 14, 1888, lives near Manzanola, Colorado, and is a fruit and alfalfa grower, married Dorothy Rodman and has one child, Ruby Lois ; Bell, born May 27, 1890, wife of Harry Mason, of near Uneda, Missouri, Bear Creek township; Asa, born November 28, 1891, lives near Manzanola, Colorado, married Golden Hood, and has two children, Carl and Mary; Virgie, born November 12, 1893, at home; Frances, born July 15, 1895, wife of Percy Pinkston, Bear Creek township, has one son, William Lee; Ruby; Ralph; Fern. William Daniel Hendrick, father of this remarkable family of chil- dren, died November 19, 1902. Mrs. Hendrick was left with their care and upbringing. She has accomplished the task in a most capable and really praiseworthy manner. Every child has been reared to become a good and worthy citizen and Mrs. Hendrick has ably managed her affairs so as to excite the admiration of those who know her. The farm improve- ments have been kept to a high standard; she has educated everyone of her fourteen children and assisted those who have left home to get a start for themselves and led them all to lead upright and worthy lives so that every child is a valued member of society in their respective communities.
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Politically, William D. Hendrick was a supporter of the Democratic party although he was never active in political affairs. He was reared a Baptist by his parents, but Mrs. Hendrick and her children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was a member of the Agricola Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Henry County and the State of Missouri has benefited by his sojourn upon this earth and his life was within blemish; his place in the history of Henry County is well deserved.
H. Bryant Hollopeter .- Born and reared upon the farm in Henry County, H. B. Hollopeter of Bear Creek township, achieved a success as a railroad man, and then returned to his first love, after having accumulated sufficient funds to purchase a splendid farm near his old home in this township. Unlike many of those who have been employed in salaried positions for a number of years, he carefully saved his earn- ings, always with a view to becoming a tiller of the soil and thus be independent of the tenure of a railroad job, and to become his own boss on the farm. Mr. Hollopeter was born in 1859 in York County, Penn- sylvania, the son of Frederick (born July 4, 1808; died March 3, 1893) Hollopeter, the son of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. Frederick Hollo- peter was reared in Pennsylvania and was there married in 1858 to Christian Troy, who was born August 26, 1836, in Clearfield County Penn- sylvania, the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Miles) Troy, natives of Pennsylvania.
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