USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 36
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Alfred H. Allison was educated in the district schools of Walker township and has always followed the vocation of farmer and stockman. In 1903 he purchased a farm of eighty acres and in 1915 he traded his farm for the home place.
Mr. Allison was married in February, 1893, to Miss Bertie McClenny, the daughter of Frank McClenny, of Henry County. The following chil- dren were born to this marriage: Mrs. Cornelia Caldwell, Walker town- ship; Mrs. Carrie Hart, Walker township; Ruby, at home with her par- ents ; two children died in infancy; Hazel, the last born, died at the age of one year and eight months.
Mr. Allison is a Republican and is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He is a good, industrious citizen, who tills his acreage so as to get the maximum yield of crops and is ever ready. to assist a worthy local enterprise to the best of his ability.
Michael Kedigh, a Union veteran of the Civil War and an early set- tler of Henry County, is a well known farmer of White Oak township. Mr. Kedigh was born in Germany December 11, 1840, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Moring) Kedigh, both natives of Germany. The Kedigh family emigrated to America in 1845, when Michael was five years old. They settled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where both the parents spent the remainder of their lives. The father died the same year that he settled in Ohio and the mother died in 1870. They were the parents of the following children: Michael, the subject of this sketch ; George, who also served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and died at the age of seventy; Mrs. Caroline Ricker, spent her life in Tus- carawas County, Ohio, and is now deceased.
Michael Kedigh received such schooling as the rural districts afforded in Ohio in his boyhood days, but as he says himself, his principal educa- tion was learning to work. Just about the time that he reached man- hood the Civil War broke out and in November, 1861, he enlisted in Com-
MICHAEL KEDIGH AND WIFE
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pany E, 80th Regiment Ohio Infantry for a period of two years, and at the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted as a veteran volun- teer and served throughout the war, being mustered out of service at Little Rock, Arkansas, in August, 1865. He was a good soldier and made an unimpeachable war record of which he and his descendants for genera- tions to come may be justly proud. He participated in many important battles and campaigns of great historic moment. He was with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea and took part in the battles of Iuka, Corinth, Jackson, Missionary Ridge and numerous other battles and en- gagements of lesser importance. He participated in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. At the close of the war Mr. Kedigh returned to his Ohio home and bought a small farm which he tilled for a short time.
In 1870 Mr. Kedigh came to Missouri and located in White Oak town- ship, Henry County. The first eighty acres which he purchased here was at a cost of twenty dollars per acre. He has added more land and now owns one hundred ninety acres, which is well improved and is one of the valuable farms of Henry County, and Mr. Kedigh is regarded as one of the successful farmers and stockmen of the county.
Mr. Kedigh has been twice married. In 1868 he was married to Miss Christena Baker in Ohio. She died in 1880, leaving the following chil- dren : Caroline, now the wife of C. D. Martin; Jacob, who was engaged in the mercantile business at Ballard, Missouri, for some time and is now a successful farmer and stockman of Bates County, Missouri; John, who resides at Mountain Home, Arkansas. Mr. Kedigh's second wife, to whom he was married in 1881, bore the maiden name of Margaret Henny. She is a daughter of Benedict and Martha (Zehnder) Henny of Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Benedict Henny was a native of Switzerland and came to America and settled in Ohio in 1854. In 1881 he came to White Oak town- ship, Henry County, and died here November 6, 1893. His wife died in Ohio in 1880. They were the parents of the following children: Bene- dict, deceased; John, lives at Delmar, Missouri; Rudy, deceased; Chris- tian, Delmar, Missouri; William, White Oak township; Margaret, the wife of Michael Kedigh, the subject of this sketch; Edward; Mrs. Emma Good- man, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Elizabeth Fraley, Bogue, Kansas, and Mrs. Mary Little, Walker township, and Mrs. Sarah Graff, deceased.
To Michael Kedigh and Margaret (Henny) Kedigh have been born three children, as follow: Benedict Edward, married Edith Scanlon and lives in Bogard township; Omer Frances, married Inez Hargrave and lives on the home place, and George William, married Lorena McDaniel and lives in White Oak township.
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Mr. Kedigh is a public spirited and progressive citizen and takes a keen interest in all matters for the public good. He took an active inter- est in the reclamation project in Henry County and for seven years served as a director of the drainage district board. He is one of Henry County's most valued citizens.
Sol Kahn .- Since the year 1871 the name of Kahn has been favorably known in Henry County. Sol Kahn has the distinction of being the oldest merchant in the southern part of Henry County and of Montrose. The name of Kahn is recognized as an honorable one and the goods sold from the Kahn stores are dependable. An extensive business has been built up, a large department store growing from a very small beginning in Montrose in 1871.
Mr. Kahn was born in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Fuerstenthum- Birkenfeld, Germany, June 4, 1844, and was the son of Moses and Eva Kahn, who belonged to the Jewish fraternity. Moses Kahn was a dealer in horses in his native land, and both he and his wife, Eva, lived all of their lives in Germany.
Sol Kahn received a good education in the schools of his native land and served three years as an apprentice to a dry goods merchant who for a consideration of $100 a year allowed him to work in the business and learn as much as he possibly could during his apprenticeship. He then spent two years in a dry goods store at Brussels, Belgium, after which he was employed in a store at Treves, Germany, for four years. By means of thrift and the strictest economy, Mr. Kahn saved up a few hundred dollars and immigrated to America in 1869. His first two years in this country were profitably spent in a dry goods store at Macon, Missouri. In 1871 he came to Montrose, Missouri, and in partnership with Louis Baum he purchased the store which had been founded and operated by Kahn & David. The firm was conducted under the name of Kahn & Baum for two years, at the end of which time Mr. Kahn pur- chased his partner's interest and operated the business under his own name.
The Kahn stores progressed from year to year and grew from an ordinary sized store, carrying a stock of goods worth about $4,000, to a large department store carrying a stock of goods ranging in value from $30,000 to $40,000. The large Kahn building was erected in 1884 so as to afford ample quarters for the growing business. In 1904 an addition to the building became necessary and the business of the Kahn stores
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now occupies two floors of a large brick structure measuring 85x80 feet. Of late years Mr. Kahn has retired from the active management of the stores and the Kahn Commercial Company was organized in 1908 to op- erate the business. While Mr. Kahn holds a substantial interest in the business, his son, Carl Kahn, is president of the company, Ed Rock is secretary and Max Kahn, another son, is manager.
Mr. Kahn was married in 1876 to Miss Kate Marsh, born in Illinois, a daughter of George Marsh, one of the early settlers of Henry County. The children born of this marriage are as follow: Max and Carl, who are successful merchants.
Mr. Kahn is a Democrat but has never taken an active part in political matters. He adheres to the faith of his fathers, and is of the Jewish persuasion in religious matters.
Bernard Menker .- In the neighborhood of Germantown, in Deep- water township, Henry County, Missouri, is the oldest German settlement in the western part of Missouri. This settlement began nearly ninety years ago when the Schmedding brothers came to this locality and built the first cabins in this part of the county. A Catholic Church was built and a congregation formed as early as 1834, and its growth was steady as the years passed. Many excellent German families crossed the ocean to become a part of the new settlement which gradually spread to all parts of the southwest part of Henry County. The people living in this part of the county are prosperous, happy and loyal to the land of their adoption and all have excellent homes and good families who take a just pride in the accomplishments of their ancestors, who came to this country to find homes for themselves and their kinfolks. Bernard Men- ker, who resides on the old Weisman place, which was originally the Barney Hagebock place, the first proprietor of the farm having erected a splendid stone house as early as 1860, he having come from Osage County to Henry County in 1839, is one of the oldest and best known of the old settlers of the Germantown neighborhood.
Mr. Menker was born in Germany May 26, 1843, and immigrated to America in 1861. He was accompanied across the ocean by his sister, Francesca Menker, who later became the wife of Franz Weisman. Mr. Menker joined his relatives in Henry County and has been a continuous resident of the Germantown neighborhood with the exception of one year spent in Germany in 1880, when he returned to the land of his birth for an extended visit. He is a Democrat in politics and is a member of
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the Germantown Catholic Church. Mr. Menker makes his home with his nieces, the Misses Josephine, Elizabeth and Louisa Weisman, on the Weis- man homestead. He is owner of 240 acres of land.
The late Franz Weisman was born in Germany in 1835 and died at his home near Germantown in 1907. He immigrated to America in 1866 and settled at Germantown, Henry County, where he was married to Francesca Menker in August, 1866. Mrs. Francesca Weisman was born in 1836 and died in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Weisman made their home con- tinuously in the large stone house which now shelters their three daugh- ters and Mr. Menker. They accumulated 290 acres of land, 170 acres of which adjoins Germantown and 120 acres is in another tract.
There were eight children born to Franz and Francesca Weisman as follows: Mrs. Francesca Tilling, Walker township; Frank Weisman; Mrs. Anna Schmedding; Elizabeth, Josephine, Louisa, Mrs. Mary Goth. Fran- cesca married Louis Tilling and is mother of seven children: Anna, wife of Frank Bettels of Deepwater township, mother of one child, Ida; Jennie, Joseph, Minnie, Fred, Louis and Clara; Frank Weisman married Katie Bettels and died in 1905, leaving two children, Henry and Bernard, who reside with their mother in Walker township; Anna is the widow of Barney Schmedding and resides near the Bates County line with her four children: Monica, Frank, Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth, Josephine and Louisa reside on the home place. Mary is the wife of Edward Goth, who resides on a farm near Montrose. Mr. and Mrs. Goth have four children: Orpha, Bertha, Omer and Ethel. All of the family are members of the Catholic Church.
Joseph Schmedding .- To the Schmedding family or to the ancestors of the present members of the family in Deepwater township belongs the honor of having established the Germantown settlement and of hav- ing erected the first Catholic Church in Henry County or in western Missouri. Gerhardt, Theodore, Herman, Bernard and John Schmedding, brothers who were all born in Germany, immigrated to this country from their native land in the early twenties, and John Schmedding came to Missouri from New Orleans and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Warren County. About 1832 he joined his brothers at the new settle- ment in the northern part of Deepwater township in Henry County and his name has ever since been linked with the early history of this section of the county.
Joseph Schmedding, subject of this review, was born at Germantown,
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Deepwater township, April 20, 1852, and is the son of John and Eliza- beth (Walbert) Schmedding, both of whom were natives of Germany. John Schmedding was born in 1800 and died in 1864. Mrs. Elizabeth Schmedding departed this life in 1876. After coming to Henry County in 1832 John Schmedding entered free Government land, and here reared his family. There were three children in the family of John and Eliza- beth Schmedding: Joseph, subject of this sketch; J. Bernard, Montrose, Missouri; and Henry, deceased.
There were no free schools in this section of Henry County before the Civil War time and the education of Joseph Schmedding was of ne- cessity limited. He has always been a farmer and he came into posses- sion of the old home place of his parents. Mr. Schmedding formerly owned 400 acres of land but has recently sold some of his land and now owns a tract of 170 acres upon which he erected a new frame house in 1912.
In 1886 the marriage of Joseph Schmedding and Mary Myers took place. Mrs. Mary Schmedding was born August 28, 1865, in Bates County, Missouri, and is the daughter of Morris and Mary (Schmedding) Myers, the former of whom was a native of Germany and the latter was born in the Germantown neighborhood, the daughter of Barney Schmedding, pioneer. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schmedding have been born eight chil- dren: Catharine, Nebraska City, Nebraska; Mrs. Lavina Stewart, Walthill, Thurston County, Nebraska; Henry, Winnebago, Nebraska; Clements B., a merchant in Germantown; Charles, Winnebago, Nebraska; Mrs. Anna Cook, Henry County ; Bernardina and George (twins), at home; Mrs. La- vina Stewart has four children: Angeline, Josephine, Marion and Nina Stewart. Henry Schmedding married Mary Rotert and has two children: Maurice and Dennis. Charles Schmedding married Therese Rotert and has one child, Emmet. Mrs. Anna Cook has one child, Leroy Cook.
Mr. Schmedding was formerly a Democrat but of late years has espoused the cause of the Republican party. He and his family are mem- bers of the Germantown Catholic Church and he is fraternally affiliated with the Woodmen of the World.
Rev. William Hovestadt .- The story of the work and struggles of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Montrose would be incomplete without some mention of the man who has made it what it is. Fr. William Hove- stadt was born in Germany of a German father and an Alsatian mother. He received his early education in the primary schools of his native land. His classical education was received at one of the recognized Gemnasiums
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from which he proceeded to Botingue for his philosophical studies. He made his theological course at the University of Louvain.
After his ordination, Father Hovestadt came to America to seek, like many other immigrants, that broader field of labor and the better oppor- tunities for good that seemed to be lacking at home. He and his congre- gation, though of German origin or of German descent, refuse to be known except as Americans. They are fully conscious of the blessings of liberty and they fully appreciate the opportunities offered in this land where "rich and poor stand equal in the light of freedom's day." They are doing their bit for Old Glory. In their church hangs a service flag displaying thirty-four stars-the boys who have gone to fight the bat- tle of freedom.
In 1872, when the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad was being built through Henry County, Missouri, the town of Montrose was laid out and the typical American railroad village soon began to rise on the site of the new town. About this time thrifty German farmers, hearing of the beautiful, mild climate of Missouri and of the fertile plains and prairies around Montrose, began to come down from Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and the less favored parts of Missouri, and Montrose and the adjacent parts of Henry County began to assume the appearance of a German settlement. Most, if not all, of the new arrivals were Catholics who quickly realized that it behooved them, if they were to abide permanently in this new country, to procure some means of attending to their religious need and obligations. The first step was to procure the services of a priest.
In 1879 Reverend Father Daly was appointed to look after the spirit- ual welfare of the Catholics of Montrose. In the same year a little frame church 20x26 feet was erected. A few of the pioneers, who helped in the good work, are still alive to tell the story of their early struggles: Joseph, Frank and Jacob Wagner, the Witmer and Lenartz families. The new parish grew so rapidly that within a few years a necessary addition of twenty-four feet was made to the church. In 1888 the Fathers of the Precious Blood were placed in charge of the parish by Bishop Hogan. So rapidly did the parish grow that a new and larger church was built in 1887 by Rev. Edward Jacobs, then pastor.
In 1903 Rev. William Hovestadt was appointed pastor of Montrose. There were in the parish at that time fifty-three Catholic families. The church property, on which was a debt of $1,087, consisted of the original frame church and the new brick one erected in 1887. The newly appointed
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pastor proceeded at once to place things generally on a more desirable basis. A collection amounting to $1,113 was taken up and the debt was wiped out. A school was the next urgent need of the parish. The old public school property was acquired at a cost of $1,500. An additional expenditure of $650 sufficed to render the building suitable to the needs of seventy-five children. The rectory at that time was also renovated at a cost of $800.
While these improvements were under way and perhaps because of them the Catholics in and around Montrose were steadily increasing in numbers and the need for more accommodation began to be apparent. The subject of a new church was broached, but the people, many of whom were new arrivals to whom Henry County was as yet but a land of prom- ise, were not inclined to assume new burdens and responsibilities. In 1909 the pastor felt that the time was ripe to begin preparing for the greater things of the future. He established a sinking fund to which old and young made generous monthly contributions till at the end of three years the amount in the treasury was nearly $5,000. The congregation now numbered ninety-three families.
In the autumn of 1911 plans and specifications having been made and approved, ground was broken for a new church. June 11 was to be a "red letter" day in the Catholic annals of Montrose. It was the day appointed for the laying of the cornerstone by Right Reverend Bishop Lillis of Kansas City. It was to have been a gala day. All was set for a big cele- bration but the weatherman tried to spoil everything by sending thunder and lightning and rain. But it would take more than the worst that the weatherman could do to dampen the ardor of those who had set them- selves to build a house to the Lord. The congregation turned out en masse and the cornerstone was laid. The new church, a masterpiece in Romanesque, was dedicated in the fall of that year. When completed it had cost $32,000. The beautiful high altar, the gift of the school chil- dren, cost $1,250. Only God knows the numberless acts of self-sacrifice and of self-denial that the little ones of His house made to present Him with their gift.
The public school buildings of our American cities are, for the most part, the pride of the communities they serve. What is true of the best equipped public school in the State is true also of St. Mary's Parochial school of Montrose. It is built of brick and Carthage stone. The base- . ment is fitted up as a gymnasium and play hall for the pupils in inclement
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weather. The first story is divided into four large class rooms, while the third story is divided into a large theater and rest rooms. The build- ing was erected at a cost of $17,000. There are in school 160 children taught by four Sisters of St. Benedict. The course of studies embraces the usual grade course to which will be added soon the high school and commercial courses. This school, like all similar Catholic institutions, is supported by the Catholic people of the parish, who do their full duty towards the public schools by paying their share of the public school taxes.
At present a beautiful rectory is under process of construction at Montrose. It is the last item in the splendid parochial "plant" and when finished will be in harmony with the rest of the magnificent work done by the Rev. William Hovestadt.
James B. Gillilan .- The Gillilan family is one of the oldest and most honored of the pioneer families of Henry County whose members have been active and influential in the civic affairs of this county for nearly sixty years. They are descended from old American stock whose ances- tors have been noted for their patriotism and each generation of this family have been pioneers in some undeveloped part of this country.
The beginning of the family in America is traced to the Gillilans of North Carolina of whom James Gillilan, great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, was a member. He emmigrated from Ireland in 1750. This James Gillilan was a soldier of the Revolution and was a pioneer of Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The history of Greenbrier County states that he cut the first roadway up the Kanawha River Valley and drove the first wagon into Greenbrier County over one hundred years ago. James Gillilan was a native of the North Ireland country and was of Scotch-Irish descent, his forebears having emigrated from Scotland to the north of Ireland many, many years ago to escape religious per- secution.
George Gillilan, grandfather of James B. Gillilan,, was born and reared in Greenbrier County, Virginia, and served in the War of 1812. His son, Judge James T. Gillilan, father of J. B. Gillilan, was born in 1829 and died May 9, 1877. He was born and reared in Greenbrier County, Vir- ginia, and migrated to Henry County in 1856. He purchased a tract of land in Bogard township which he developed into a splendid farm, became well-to-do and was prominently identified with Henry County affairs. During the Civil War the family removed to Davis County, Missouri, and remained in that county for three years, returning to the home in Henry
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J. B. GILLILAN AND FAMILY
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County after conditions had returned to normal. Mr. Gillilan was elected to the office of county judge in 1874 and served one term as presiding judge of the County Court. He was married to Amanda E. McClung, who bore him children as follows: Harvey, died in youth; Mrs. Mary A. Wright, lives in California; James B., subject of this review; Amanda E., or "Bettie," wife of W. R. Menafee, resides in White Oak township; George William is deceased, and John Franklin is deceased.
Mrs. Amanda E. (McClung) Gillilan was born in 1832 and departed this life in 1868. She was a daughter of Bollar McClung, a native of Scotland, whose mother was an English lady named Bollar. He married a woman of French descent whose ancestors came to America from France early in the eighteenth century.
James B. Gillilan was born April 11, 1861, in Bogard township. He received his education in the Urich district school and has always been a farmer and stockman. He left home in 1884 and located in Davis County, Missouri, where he became owner of a farm of one hundred fifty acres, which was a part of the family estate in that county. In Febru- ary of 1902 he sold his holdings in Davis County and purchased land in Walker township, which he improved to a considerable extent. Fire de- stroyed his residence and some other buildings in 1907 and he has since rebuilt the residence and barns, the Gillilan home place now being one of the most attractive and best improved farms in the county. Mr. Gil- lilan is owner of five hundred eighty-five acres of land, five hundred five acres of which are located in Henry County and eighty acres are situated just over the line in Bates County, Missouri.
April 25, 1883, James B. Gillilan and Miss Mary A. Nelson were united in marriage and to this marriage have been born children as fol- low: James W., a successful farmer in White Oak township, married Iva Dale; Lee A., born February 12, 1888, died at Clinton, Missouri, May 2, 1918, and who at the time of his death was serving as deputy county re- corder and was a candidate for the office of recorder, married Etta Gregg, left one child; Virgil P., a farmer in Walker township, married Orpha Hunt; Gilbert B., a farmer just over the line in Bates County, married Stella Horton; Mrs. Robina Gregg, whose husband is engaged in the hard- ware and implement business at Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Mamie Calvird, Davis township; three sons died in infancy.
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