USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 35
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On February 2, 1871, Robert H. Dugan and Clara Miller, were united in marriage. Mrs. Clara Dugan was born in 1852 and departed this life on April 6, 1909. She was a daughter of James Miller, a pioneer of Henry County. James M. Miller, father of Mrs. Clara Dugan, was a veteran of the Mexican War who enlisted with Illinois troops at Paris, Illinois. He came to Henry county in the fifties and made a permanent settlement in the vicinity of Montrose. Eleven children were born of this marriage: Mrs. Cora Dunlap, living five miles southeast of Montrose; James, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Mrs. May Kelland, Montrose, Mis- souri; Mrs. Mary Burnaugh, Lebanon, Laclede County, Missouri; Mrs. Ida Pumphrey, Paola, Kansas; Mrs. Margaret Warner, Paola, Kansas; Mrs. Beulah Petty, who died at Paola, Kansas; Thomas, a farmer located three miles southwest of Montrose; and Edward, a farmer living four miles southwest of Montrose; William, residing six miles northwest of Appleton City, Missouri.
In politics, Mr. Dugan has always been a Republican. For many years he has been a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic Post, Appleton City, Missouri. Personally, Mr. Dugan is a kindly, intelligent citizen of the
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old school whose last days are being spent in peace and comfort in the city which he has seen grow from its very inception and in which he has been such an important factor in upbuilding.
H. J. Reiling, manager of the Farmers Elevator and Supply Com- pany, Montrose, Missouri, was born in Deepwater township, December 26, 1866, and is the son of Henry and Gertrude (Schistler) Reiling, natives of Germany who emigrated to America with their respective parents when young and located in Henry County, Missouri where both were reared to maturity. Henry Reiling died in Oklahoma in 1913, at the age of seventy-two years. Gertrude Reiling died in 1914, at the age of seventy years. They were parents of three children: H. J., the eldest of the family; John Reiling, died in Oklahoma; William lives on the old home place of the family in Deepwater township.
Reared upon the home place of the family near Germantown, in Deepwater township, H. J. Reiling naturally took up the vocation of his forebearers and became a farmer. He rented the old Cordell farm in 1893, and in 1911 he purchased this tract of 169 acres located south- west of Montrose. He had this place nicely improved but suffered a severe loss from fire in 1914. He immediately rebuilt and continued to cultivate and improve his place until taking charge of the Farmers Elevator and Supply Company, upon its organization in 1915. Mr. Reiling is given thorough satisfaction in the performance of the duties of his position.
Mr. Reiling was married in 1895 to Otillie Conrad, who was born at Benedict, Iowa, the daughter of Ben Conrad, who resides in Nebraska. Eight children have been born of this marriage, six of whom are living, namely : William, Charles, Henry, August, Ida, and Edward, all of whom are at home with their parents.
Mr. Reiling is a Republican in politics and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Montrose. He is universally recog- nized as an excellent citizen who believes in progressive methods of business and continual civic betterment and is always ready and willing to put his shoulder to the wheel and assist in moving things onward.
The Montrose Farmers' Elevator and Supply Company was organized in June, 1915, with a capital of $6,000 all of which was subscribed by farmers in the vicinity of Montrose. The principal organizers were men of the highest standing in the community. The concern purchased an elevator which had been operated by other parties for some time previous.
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The grain elevator has a capacity of 6,000 bushels. During 1917 there were shipped from this elevator over 150,000 bushels of grain. The stock of this concern is divided among 123 stockholders. When the Company was first organized, H. J. Reiling was elected president; H. J. Hueser was elected vice-president; J. E. Dugan became secretary ; John Swaters, Jr., served as treasurer. The present officers are: Lewis Tilling, presi- dent; P. J. Meyer, vice-president; John Swaters, Jr., secretary and treas- urer; H. J. Reiling, manager.
General Lafayette Park, a prominent farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native of Tennessee. He was born in Cock County April 9, 1860, a son of John A. and Catharine M. (Garrison) Park, na- tives of Tennessee. The father died April 11, 1910, and the mother now resides with her son. John A. Park was a Confederate veteran. He enlisted in his native State and served in behalf of the lost cause until the fall of Vicksburg. At the close of the war he went to Indiana, where he remained until 1868. He then came to Missouri, settling near Lees Summit, in Jackson County, where he was engaged in farming until 1889. He then came to Henry County and he and his son, General Lafayette, purchased a farm in Big Creek township, which the latter now owns. Mr. Park's farm consists of nine hundred forty acres and is one of the well improved and valuable farms of Henry County. Mr. Park carries on general farming and stock raising. He is known as an extensive stockman and raises about one hundred head of cattle annually. He has shipped as many as four cars of hogs in one year.
March 10, 1888, G. L. Park was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lou Gault of Jackson County, Missouri. She is a daughter of James and Rebecca J. (Flanery) Gault. Mrs. Park's mother died in 1908, and her father is now living retired and spends much of his time with his chil- dren. To General Lafayette Park and wife have been born the following children: James, farmer and stockman in Big Creek township, who makes a specialty of breeding Percheron horses and mammoth jacks; Anna Belle, married Roy Albin, Big Creek township; Lafayette, farmer and stockman in Big Creek township, and Mabel, married Ralph Butcher, Big Creek township.
Mr. Park is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is a director in the Farmers Bank of Chilhowee, Missouri. He is a progressive and enter- prising citizen and always stands ready to co-operate with and support any enterprise for the betterment or upbuilding of his township and county.
G. L. PARK AND WIFE
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Henry B. Hecker-Hecker Brothers .- The late Henry B. Hecker, father of George J. and Joseph B. Hecker, well-known druggists of Mont- rose, was one of the best-known and useful citizens of the second gene- ration of a Henry County pioneer family. He was born in Germany in 1839 and his father emigrated from Germany and settled in the German- town neighborhood as early as 1854. Henry B. Hecker was reared to young manhood upon his father's farm and at the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted with the Union forces. He served for three years and three months as a member of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry Regiment and fought battles in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, and was in the thick of the campaign which resulted in General Price's Confederate Army being driven out of Missouri. After the war he settled down to farming and for some years served as postmaster of Germantown. Dur- ing President Arthur's administration, he was appointed postmaster of Montrose and served for three years. He then established a drug business in Montrose which he conducted successfully for some years.
Henry H. Hecker was married to Margaret C. Teeman, who was born in Germantown in 1850, and departed this life on February 25, 1918, at Boulder, Colorado, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Lennertz. The following children were born to Henry B. and Margaret Hecker: George J .; Lizzie, wife of H. A. Lennertz, Boulder, Colorado; Henry S., North Platte, Nebraska; Joseph B .; John P., Sterling, Colorado; Edward A., Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Florence Brushwiller, Virginia, Minne- sota. Mr. Hecker died in 1892.
Mr. Hecker was a member of the Catholic Church. He was a Re- publican in politics and prominent in the affairs of his party in Henry County. Being a well-educated man, he was a pronounced leader in his home community and county. He was well versed in legal lore and legal practices and his services in drawing up legal documents for the people of the countryside were constantly in demand. Mr. Hecker served for some years as justice of the peace in Deepwater township. He also ably filled the important post of county assessor of Henry County and was a very useful citizen in many ways. His life was so well spent that his place in the history of his home county is forever assured.
George J. Hecker was born in Germantown in 1869 and received his early education in the Montrose public schools. He graduated from the Kansas City School of Pharmacy in 1891 and then took charge of his father's drug business until 1903. In that year he went to St. Louis
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and served as a drug clerk until his return to Montrose in 1915. In June of 1915 the firm of Hecker Brothers, druggists, was established in Montrose.
Hecker Brothers succeeded the firm of Hecker and Hinkle which was established in 1912 by Joseph B. Hecker and John P. Hinkle. Mr. Hinkle was succeeded by George J. Hecker as the senior member of the firm. Hecker Brothers have a flourishing business, conducted in one of the most modern and handsomely furnished drug stores in western Missouri. The stock carried is the latest and best of drugs and drug- gist's sundries and the firm is in a prosperous condition.
In politics, George J. Hecker is a Republican. He is a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Catholic, at Montrose, and is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. George J. Hecker was united in marriage with Miss Julia Hess in 1900. Mrs. Julia Hecker is a daughter of Clement Hess. Mr. and Mrs. Hecker have three children: Clementine, Pauline, and Georgia.
Joseph B. Hecker, junior member of the firm of Hecker Brothers, was born at Germantown, in 1881 and received his primary education in the public schools of Montrose. He graduated from the Kansas City School of Pharmacy in 1908. He practically worked his way through the school of pharmacy and worked as a drug clerk in Kansas City for nine and a half years. He returned to Montrose in 1912 and engaged in business with Mr. Hinkle in 1912 as previously stated.
In 1903, Joseph B. Hecker and Maude Hinkle were united in mar- riage and this union has been blessed with three sons: Bernard E., Joseph B., Jr., and William H. Mrs. Maude Hecker is a daughter of Isaac and Henriett J. (Adkins) Hinkle, both deceased, the latter of whom died at her home in Montrose, April 11, 1918. Mr. Hecker is a Repub- lican in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. He is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus.
James McNeal Miller, M. D .- Thirty-two years in the successful practice of his profession in Henry County, has marked the career of Dr. James McNeal Miller of Montrose as a medical practitioner of high rank and one of the leading physicians of Henry County, being among the oldest of the medical practitioners of the county in point of years of service in the healing art. Twenty-five years of his practice has been spent among the people of Montrose and vicinity where he is univer- sally esteemed and highly regarded.
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Dr. Miller is a native son of Henry County and is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of the county. He was born on a farm in Fairview township, near Deepwater, November 6, 1863, and is the son of James McNeal (born April, 1822; died December 24, 1906) and Arte- mesia (Elledge) Miller (born 1822; died 1872). James McNeal Miller, the elder, was born in Kentucky, a son of James Miller who was de- scended from an old pioneer American family of Scotch ancestry. Arte- mesia (Elledge) Miller was also born in Kentucky and was the daugh- ter of Isaac Elledge. Both the Miller and the Elledge families removed from Kentucky to Edgar County, Illinois in the thirties and there the parents of Doctor Miller were reared to maturity and were married.
James McNeal Miller was a veteran of the Mexican War and both he and his father were prominent in the affairs of Henry County. His father served as county clerk of Edgar County, Illinois, and he, himself, served as clerk of the Circuit Court in that county when Abraham Lincoln practiced law in that county. He came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1856 and settled upon a tract of land in Fairview township which he improved into a good farm. During the Civil War he served as a mem- ber of the Missouri State Militia in Capt. William Weaver's company. In 1868, he sold his place in Fairview township and settled upon a farm northeast of Montrose in Bear Creek township, where Mrs. Miller died. Later, the elder Miller moved to La Due and then came to Montrose, where he lived retired until his death.
Ten children were born to James McNeal and Artemesia Miller: Bruce, deceased; Clara, deceased wife of Robert H. Dugan, Montrose, Missouri; Frank, Peon Prairie, Washington; Ellen, Montrose, Missouri ; Isaac, deceased ; Marie L., a teacher in the Clinton Public schools ; Susan, wife of George F. Vansant, Bear Creek township; Dr. James M. Miller; Dr. Sherman Miller, former physician at Mayesburg, Bates County, Mis- souri, killed in an automobile accident in 1916; John S., Pasadena, Cali- fornia.
James McNeal Miller, the elder, was prominent in the political and civic affairs of Henry County for many years. He served as collector of taxes for Henry and St. Clair Counties shortly after the Civil War and filled the office of sheriff of the county during the reconstruction days. He was a Free Mason.
After his graduation from the Kansas City Medical College in 1886 Doctor Miller began the practice of his profession at Mayesburg, Mis-
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souri, where he remained for seven years. In 1893 he came to Montrose and has successfully practiced medicine in this city and vicinity for over twenty-five years. In every advance made in the science of medicine he has consistently endeavored to keep abreast of the times and has studied continuously since his first graduation. He graduated from the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis in the spring of 1895 and pursued a post- graduate course at the Marion Sims-Beaumont College at St. Louis in 1903 and 1904.
Doctor Miller was married in 1895 to Miss Minnie B. Mayes of Bates County, Missouri, a daughter of J. M. Mayes, of the prominent family of that name in Bates County.
The Republican party has always had the consistent support of Doc- tor Miller and he has served as mayor of Montrose for seven years. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Professionally he is connected with the Henry County Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.
William Wilson .- The ranks of the Old Guard are fast thinning. It is only here and there can be found one of the sturdy veterans of either side of the great civil conflict which convulsed the Nation from 1861 to 1865. The wounds of that great struggle have long since healed and it is a matter of history that the fighting men of both armies never at any time had any great personal animosity towards one another. The feeling which existed between the North and the South for so many years was kept alive by politicians of both sides of the imaginary line which divided the two sections. In these trying days when the grandsons of these old veterans are far across the Atlantic giving up their life's blood that the principles for which their ancestors fought and died might be kept alive on this earth forever, the ties which bind the people of this great Nation together are stronger than ever before. William Wilson, or "Major" Wilson as he is affectionately called in Montrose, Missouri, is one of the last survivors of the old guard which fought in defense of the Union.
William Wilson was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1840 and is the son of John A. and Agnes (Curry) Wilson, natives of Pennsylvania, and Licking County, Ohio, respectively. His mother was of Scotch descent. John A. Wilson was born in 1815 and died in 1880. Mrs. Agnes Wil- son was born in 1817 and died in 1886. They came to Henry County in 1867 and settled upon a farm located three and a half miles
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northeast of Montrose. John A. and Agnes Wilson were parents of ten children: William, subject of this sketch; Stewart, Omer C., John W., Mary E., Eoline and Clara, deceased; Thomas, resides at Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Monroe lives at Cincinnati, Ohio; James resides in Montana.
In 1861 William Wilson enlisted in Company A, 76th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for nearly four years with his command, being honorably discharged from the service on July 15, 1865. He served with the 15th Army Corps under Generals John A. Logan and Sherman. He participated in the great battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and was in the campaign through Georgia, marched from Atlanta to the sea with General Sherman's Army, and thence through the Carolinas to Richmond, after the surrender of General Lee. He marched in the Grand Review of the victorious Union troops through the streets of Washington and then returned home. He accompanied his parents to Henry County and engaged in farming in this county until 1885, when he located in Montrose and engaged in the retail meat and butchering business. He followed this for several years and was also employed in a local grocery store for some time. Of late years Mr. Wilson has been living in peaceful and well earned retirement.
William Wilson has been twice married. His first marriage occurred in 1868 with Eliza E. Stubblefield, who died in 1890. His second marriage took place in 1893 with Miss Emma Tuttle. Mr. Wilson is a Republican in politics and has served four years as city assessor of Montrose. He also filled the post of city collector of taxes. He is a member of the Pres- byterian Church and is affiliated fraternally with the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Appleton City, Missouri.
Jacob Rhoads, pioneer settler and president of the Bank of Deep- water, was born in Edgar County, Illinois, July 30, 1847, the son of Alney McLean (born January 11, 1820, died February 12, 1892) and Susan (Dixon) Rhoads (born 1820, died December 24, 1859). Alney McLean Rhoads was born in Kentucky and was the son of Jacob Rhoads, who migrated to Edgar County, Illinois, in 1823 and was a pioneer settler of that county. The parents of Jacob Rhoads were reared and married in Edgar County, Illinois, and resided there until 1854. In that year A. M. Rhoads, wife and six children, gathered up their belongings and drove in wagons across the intervening country to find a new home in Henry County, Missouri. They arrived at their destination after a three weeks' trip and located upon a tract of land situated on the banks of Deepwater
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Creek, two and a half miles north of the town of Deepwater. Mr. Rhoads built a cabin of poles, having a stick chimney and a dirt floor to supple- ment the tent which had sheltered them of nights when making the long trip from Illinois. This rude structure served as the family domicile while the father was cutting and hewing logs to build a cabin. This log cabin was erected in September of that year and served as the home of the family until 1868, when a frame house was built. There were nine children in the Rhoads family, only two of whom are living: Jacob, sub- ject of this review, and Mrs. Elizabeth Moyer, Deepwater, Missouri.
During the Civil War Jacob Rhoads enlisted for service in the Mis- souri State troops but was exempted from active service on account of the fact that he was deficient in the sight of one eye. He was married in 1868 and began life for himself upon his father's farm. The family estate was left to him and his sister at the time of his father's death, but Mr. Rhoads had accumulated land on his own account. He has sold some of his land but is the owner of a total of 870 acres in Henry County. Mr. Rhoads has been active during his entire life and only of recent years has he turned over the actual cultivation of his farm land to his sons. Every day he makes a trip to the farm and does some work about the place. He believes that it is better to wear out in the harness than to rust out as so many retired farmers do when they retire to a home in town.
In 1868 Jacob Rhoads and Augusta V. Plecker were united in mar- riage. Mrs. Augusta Rhoads was born in Augusta County, Virginia, June 2, 1852, the daughter of John W. (born April 15, 1817, died March 25, 1877) and Anna Eliza (Craum) Plecker (born March 15, 1820, died De- cember 19, 1889). The Plecker family came to Henry County in 1866 and settled upon a farm which had been owned by A. M. Rhoads previously. To them were born ten children, eight of whom were reared to maturity: David B. Plecker, Oklahoma; Edward J., North Dakota; John A., Okla- homa; James F., Deepwater, Missouri; A. H., Lynchburg, Virginia ; Mrs. Mary Frances Pomeroy, Colorado; Margaret Ann, wife of James Moyer, Clinton township; Mrs. Augusta V. Rhoads.
The children born to Jacob and Augusta Rhoads are as follow: Rosa Lee, John Alva, Dessie Ellen, Virginia Ann, Jettie Celeste, Harlan Francis, Mrs. Rosa Lee Sprouse lived in North Dakota, is deceased and left three children: Mrs. Edith Florence Wintsell, who has two children, Marie Wintsell and Nora; Earl Jacob Prouse, now in France serving in the Na- tional Army. Mrs. Bertha Virginia Lovell has one son, Eugene Merrill
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Lovell. John Alva Rhoads lives on the old home place, married Maude Haines and has nine children: Mrs. Cecil Audrey (Smith), Florence Floyd, Clifford Clyde, Carmel, Fay, Jacob Carroll, Fay Carmel, Ruby Lee, Ray- mond, Lois Virginia and Woodrow Wilson. Mrs. Dessie Allen De Armond, Deepwater, has two children: Goldie Fern and Dimple Violet. Mrs. Vir- ginia Ann Woods lives in Deepwater. Mrs. Jettie Celeste Wilson, Deep- water, has one child, Leota. Harlan Francis, living on the Rhoads home place, married Gladys Holmes and has three children: Cleo Jacob, Opal Francis and Glenn, born July 4, 1918.
Mr. Rhoads is a pronounced Democrat who has taken a more or less active part in political matters during his entire life. He was the first treasurer elected in Fairview township under the township organization and has filled several township offices. He is a director and president of the bank of Deepwater and assisted in the organization of this bank. He and Mrs. Rhoads are members of the Baptist Church.
Prior to his election as president of the bank in 1917 Mr. Rhoads served several years as vice-president of the bank.
It is a matter of history that A. M. Rhoads rebuilt Jackson's old water mill after the war and for a time it was operated by his oldest son until it passed into other hands. Jacob Rhoads recalls that the grinding of meal for the family table was done by tread-mill operated by "cow power." This mill was located southeast of Calhoun and he took corn there to be ground and remained all night. There was a "still" near this grist mill and the distiller would trade whiskey for corn, more whiskey being given in exchange for yellow corn than for white corn.
In point of years of residence Jacob Rhoads is probably the oldest living pioneer settler in the southern part of Henry County. Despite his age he is energetic, well preserved and keeps well informed of daily hap- penings, taking a great interest in everything that is going on in the world. He believes that a man, especially a man who is getting old, should keep alive his interest in everything which happens and will thus prolong his life and live much more happily than otherwise. When a man begins to lose interest in things mundane, he is ready for the grave. In this case Jacob Rhoads has a long time yet to live and enjoy life.
Alfred H. Allison, proprietor of a well improved farm of 128.64 acres in Walker township, was born in Bates County, Missouri, December 18, 1868, and is the son of Otho C. and Zerelda (Baker) Allison, the former a native of Illinois and the latter was born in Missouri. Otho C. Allison was born in 1845 and died in 1915. Mrs. Zerelda Allison was born in
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1850. Otho C. Allison came to Missouri in 1865 and drove the stage from Sedalia to Butler, Missouri, for a period of two years. He then settled on the old Baker farm in Bates County, where he resided until 1870 and then located in Henry County. He improved the farm which his son, Alfred H., now owns and lived thereon until his death. He was father of two sons and two daughters: Alfred H., Rolla C., lives in Kentucky ; Mrs. Roberta G. Williams, Walker township; Mrs. Cornelia Wilcoxen, lives near Lucas, Missouri.
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