USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 37
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The mother of the foregoing children was born in Christian County, Illinois, November 22, 1863, the daughter of William C. and Jane (Finney)
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Nelson. The parents of W. C. Nelson were natives of Tennessee and were pioneers in Christian County, Illinois. W. C. Nelson and Jane Finney were married in 1860 and resided in south Missouri during the Civil War period. In 1863 they located in Sangamon County, Illinois, and then re- turned to Christian County in 1864, removing from there to Henry County in 1879. Mr. Nelson made a permanent settlement on a farm in White Oak township three miles southeast of Urich. Their children were as follow: T. L. Nelson, was an attorney, deceased ; John W., lives in Kansas ; Mildred C., deceased; Maggie, died in youth, and Mrs. J. B. Gillilan.
The Democratic party has always had the steadfast allegiance of Mr. Gillilan, who is a pronounced Bryan Democrat of the old school. He has served as member of the Walker township board of trustees. He and Mrs. Gillilan are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Well informed upon most matters of general interest, intelligent, a constant reader, a true American citizen of the highest and best type, progressive to a considerable degree, James B. Gillilan is one of the leading citizens of Henry County who is universally respected and admired by all who know him.
Dr. Richard B. Fewel, actively engaged in the practice of medicine at Montrose, Missouri, was born in Johnson County, Missouri, May 9, 1857, a son of Richard Benjamin and Nancy Ann (Avery) Fewel. The father was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina, and the mother in Tennessee. Her father built the first house in Henry County that had glass windows, bringing the glass with him from Tennessee. The first County Court of Henry County was held at his home, and he was other- wise prominently connected with many pioneer incidents. Richard Ben- jamin Fewel was a stockman, dealing in fine horses, mules and cattle. He came to Missouri in the fall of 1839, settling in what is now Henry County, in company with his parents. Here he was reared and eventually became a land owner, engaging in business as a dealer in fine stock. He met with success in his undertaking and remained upon the home farm until his death, February 11, 1880. His wife passed away some years later in Johnson County.
Doctor Fewel was the fourth in a family of nine children. He began his education in the public school near his old home and in 1870 was a student at Sylvan and through the succeeding two years attended school at Center Point Academy. He next entered Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois, from which he was graduated June 27, 1877. He de-
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termined to make the practice of medicine his life work and with that end in view began reading medicine in 1878 at Shawnee Mound, Missouri. He was in business at that time as a member of the firm of C. O. Fewel and Brother. He afterward attended the St. Louis College of Medicine and was graduated March 3, 1881. He later attended the Chicago School of Higher Arts and Sciences, completing his course in 1893, and he took post-graduate work in the Chicago Polyclinic in 1901, completing his course on June 21. Throughout his professional career he has continued a student in the science of medicine and has thus constantly benefited his knowledge and promoted his efficiency.
In early life, however, before he was able to take up the study of medicine, Doctor Fewel taught school. He was then about nineteen or twenty years of age. He afterwards engaged in merchandising at Shaw- nee Mound for about three years, but sold out in 1880 in order that he might continue his studies. He began practicing at La Due, where he continued for a year, and in 1882 came to Montrose, where he has since followed his profession. He now devotes practically his entire time to his practice, which is large and growing. Besides, he is the owner of a fine farm of 160 acres in Henry County, to which he gives general super- vision. In his practice he specializes to some extent in the diseases of women and children.
September 22, 1881, Doctor Fewel was married to Miss Rosa Frances Vickars, who was born on the old home now owned by her. She is a daughter of Henry Clay and Elizabeth (Roberts) Vickars. Her father, a native of Kentucky, went to Virginia in early life and was there reared. The mother was born near Charleston, West Virginia, where she was married and removed from Virginia to St. Louis. Mr. Vickars engaged in farming near St. Louis for a number of years, but afterwards came to Henry County, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death. In early life he was a merchant in Virginia. Both he and his wife are deceased.
Doctor Fewel votes with the Democratic party and keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen Camp and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. Professionally he has membership in the County Medical Society, the Medical Society of South- west Missouri, the State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Doctor Fewel had the first telephone line in Montrose run-
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ning from his drug store to his residence, over a quarter of a mile, put up by George Paxton in 1884.
He was appointed a member of the Henry County Council of National Defense and received his commission from Governor Gardner in June, 1917. He was elected vice-chairman of County Council at its second meet- ing. Also was appointed and served as deputy county food administrator for Henry County.
Doctor Fewel has ever been an earnest and discriminating student of the science of medicine and is very conscientious and capable in the discharge of his duties. His ability has increased with the passing years and both his colleagues and the public pay high tribute to his professional service and to his fidelity to the highest standards of his profession.
Edward F. Rock, buyer and salesman of the grocery department of the Kahn Commercial Company of Montrose, Missouri, was born in Frank- lin County, Missouri, May 1, 1880. He is the son of Fred and Rosina (Bauer) Rock, natives of Switzerland. Both parents of Edward F. Rock came from their native land to America when young with their respective parents. They were reared to maturity in Illinois and were married at Herman, Missouri. He removed to a farm in Montgomery County, Mis- souri, in 1887, where he died in 1915 at the age of sixty-seven years. Mrs. Rosina Rock was born in 1845 and still resides upon the farm in Montgomery County. They were parents of eleven children, six of whom are living: Edward F., Victor, Walter and Rosina, at Big Springs, Mont- gomery County, Missouri; Herbert, McKittrick, Missouri; Henry Rock, a farmer in Davis township, Henry County.
Edward F. Rock was educated in the public schools and the college at Warrenton, Missouri. After completing a business course at War- renton, he was employed in a store at McKittrick, Missouri, until his removal to Montrose, in 1908. He became a member of the firm upon its organization in 1909 and is now of the grocery department of this large establishment.
February 3, 1911, Edward F. Rock and Miss Nell Faulk of Montrose, Missouri, were united in marriage. This marriage has been blessed with a son, Edward F., Jr., aged three years. Mrs. Nell Rock is a daughter of Samuel Faulk.
Mr. Rock is a Democrat and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a good, thorough business man who has made good in his chosen vocation and his place among the leading citizens of Montrose is established as one of the leaders of the community.
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Anton Bartels, proprietor of a splendid farm of 322 acres located in the Germantown neighborhood in the northwest part of Deepwater township, was born in 1861 in a log cabin which stood on the farm which he now owns. He is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kleine) Bartels, both of whom were born in Germany. Joseph Bartels made a settlement in Henry County as early as 1853, or thereabout, and departed this life in 1869. After the death of his parents, Anton Bartels lived with the neighbors and friends and worked out by the day at whatever he could get to do and earn an honest dollar. For over thirty years he was em- ployed in Kansas City and returned to the old home farm in 1912. For sixteen years he served as baggageman in the union depot at Kansas City and for ten years he was in the employ of the William Voelker Whole- sale Company of Kansas City. During the thirty years spent in steady, constant employment, he saved his money and invested it in the old home place of his father in Deepwater township and additional land. In 1912 he returned to his birthplace and is contented to live the life of an agri- culturist and stockman, independent of the time clocks and the bosses for the rest of his natural life.
Mr. Bartels was married July 16, 1912, to Miss Geraldine Black, an orphan girl, who was born May 9, 1892, and came to Missouri when three years of age, living first at Montrose and later at Germantown. Mr. and Mrs. Bartels have one child: Virgil Anton, born December 6, 1917.
Mr. Bartels is an independent voter who is not held by the party fetish worship idea. He thinks and acts for himself and votes accord- ingly. He and Mrs. Bartels are members of the Catholic Church.
August Engeman, a successful farmer and stockman of the German- town settlement and owner of 1871/2 acres of good farm lands, was born in Hickory Grove township, Warren County, Missouri, a son of Henry Engeman, who emigrated from England to America in the thirties. Henry Engeman was a native of Germany and in his younger days was em- ployed in a sugar refinery at London, England, prior to his immigration to America. His wife was Mary Fisher, who bore him the following children: August, the subject of this review; Mrs. Dena Dansenbrink, Montrose, Missouri; Henry Engeman, Jr., of Warren County; Charles Engeman, Montrose, Missouri; Lena, Montrose, Missouri; Lizzie Enge- man, a Sister in Ohio, and John Engeman, Montrose, Missouri. In 1871 Henry Engeman came to Henry County, where he remained until he re- tired to a home at Appleton City, where his death occurred.
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For a good many years August Engeman supported his parents and helped the family with his earnings. He began life with the handicap of poverty and the additional burden of having to support his parents. For four years he was employed on the irrigation ranches in Humboldt County, Nevada, and during that time he sent regular remittances to the home folks. During one season when he was in Nevada he took his mother with him and she remained there one year. Even after his re- turn from Nevada he still cared for his parents. His first purchase of 194 acres of land was made in 1879, near Appleton City, Missouri. In 1897 he made his first purchase of land in the Germantown locality, and has been adding to his acreage continuously until he now owns 1891/2 acres in different tracts. Mr. Engeman paid good prices for his land and has managed to accumulate his acreage by the exercise of hard work, industry and economy of the strictest character. In 1900 he erected a comfortable and imposing brick residence of eight rooms.
Mr. Engeman was married in 1884 to Miss Lizzie Meyer, who was born in Franklin County, Missouri. To this marriage have been born eight children: Mary resides with an aunt in Franklin County, Missouri; Joseph, at home assisting his father in the farm work; Annie, died at the age of three years ; Regina, a Sister in Perry County, Missouri; August, Jr., Louise, Rose, Henry and Anthony at home with their parents.
Mr. Engeman is an independent in political matters and votes for the individual rather than supporting the man who bears a party label. He and all of his famliy are members of the Germantown Catholic Church.
John J. Cook .- One of the oldest living pioneers of Henry County is John J. Cook of Germantown, who enjoys the distinction of not only having resided in this county for a period of over fifty-seven years, but also served in the Union Army during the Civil War. For years Mr. Cook was the well known merchant of Germantown and became widely known throughout Henry County as a shrewd business man and an in- telligent and enterprising citizen. He is now living in peaceful retirement at his home in Germantown.
John J. Cook was born in Germany February 23, 1844, the son of John and Frances (Koch) Cook, who immigrated to America in 1851. John Koch was twice married, his first wife, Catherine, dying in 1848, and he then married Frances, his second wife. When he came to America he located in Henry County upon a farm situated just one-half mile west of Germantown, where his death occurred in June, 1877. There were
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four children by his first marriage, of whom John J. Cook, subject of this review, is the only survivor. Two children out of three born of the sec- ond marriage are living: Henry, deceased; Joseph, a farmer in Walker township; Anna, widow of William Rotert, resides in Nebraska.
On February 23, 1863, John J. Cook enlisted for service in the Civil War in Company H, 7th Missouri Cavalry, under Captain Box and Gen- eral Brown. He served until his honorable discharge, April 20, 1865. He enlisted at Greenfield, Missouri, and from that point went to Linden, in southeast Missouri, thence to Marshfield, always fighting the bush- whackers who infested the State during that troublesome period. It was the duty of his division to give protection to the loyal citizens of the territory assigned them for patrol. His next station was at Warsaw, then to Tipton, Missouri, thence to Warrensburg, Missouri, and from there he went to St. Louis, where he was mustered out of the service. His brother, Anton Cook, was shot three times while serving with the Union forces at the battle of Lone Jack.
After his return from the war Mr. Cook tilled his father's place for three years, then after his marriage he purchased a farm of eighty acres near Montrose which he tilled for five years, eventually trading this farm for another tract, which he owned and farmed for twelve years. He then rented his farm and came to Germantown, where he engaged in the mer- cantile business for twenty-five years. Mr. Cook has done well. He has accumulated a comfortable competence, reared a splendid family and can now live in peace for the remainder of his days. He retired from active business in 1911, but is still kept busily engaged in raising vegetables on his tract of four acres, which, as Mrs. Cook says, "the plot just fur- nishes enough vegetables to feed the children when they come to visit the old folks on Sundays and holidays."
On May 19, 1867, John J. Cook and Elizabeth Schmedding were united in marriage. Mrs. Elizabeth Cook was born in Deepwater township April 16, 1869, and is the daughter of Bernard and Mary Schmedding, natives of Germany who came to America in 1830 and were among the very first settlers of the Germantown neighborhood, Bernard Schmedding locating near the site of the village as early as 1834. Seven children have been born to John J. and Elizabeth Cook, as follow: Mrs. May Cook, Montrose, Missouri, mother of six children; Mrs. Minnie Bettels, Deepwater town- ship, mother of seven children; John F., a clothing merchant in Mon- tana, has one child; Mrs. Kate Kirsch, lives in Texas and has two chil-
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dren; Mrs. Emma Fick, Deepwater township, has six children; George A., with Armour & Company, in Texas, father of two children; Andrew B., a farm owner in Deepwater township, married Anna Cook and has two children. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have five great-grandchildren. On May 21, 1918, Mr. and Mrs. Cook celebrated their golden wedding anni- versary with their children and grandchildren.
Depsite his age Mr. Cook is still active and strong, and takes a keen interest in life. He and Mrs. Cook are a jolly, contented and happy couple who keep themselves well informed on what is going on during these interesting days. Mr. Cook is one of the finest gardeners in the State of Missouri and is proud of his accomplishments in this respect. He is a Republican and served sixteen years as postmaster of Germantown. He served for two years as justice of the peace and is a notary public. He and Mrs. Cook are good Catholics, and he is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic.
William Doll .- In the north central part of Walker township is a group of some of the prettiest farms in western Missouri in which the owners take a just and abiding pride in constantly improving and making more beautiful. The farm home of William Doll furnishes a striking ex- ample of what can be done upon a tract of Missouri prairie land, and the tract of one hundred sixty acres is undeniably one of the finest im- proved farms in the western part of Missouri. A pretty cottage home faces a well kept roadway, the home being fronted by a beautiful lawn ornamented with large shade trees, and a handsome wrought iron fence. All of the farm buildings are kept in first class condition and well painted. Mr. Doll has another farm of one hundred sixty acres in White Oak township.
William Doll was born in 1864 in Edgar County, Illinois, and is the son of John and Mary (Wisner) Doll, natives of Germany, who first set- tled in Ohio after emigrating to America. They next made settlement in Illinois and from that State came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1867. The Doll family can justly lay claim to being one of the pioneer families of this county. The elder Doll settled in White Oak township and resided on his farm in that township until his death in 1907. The widowed mother still resides at White Oak having arrived at the great age of eighty-one years, her birth having been April 1, 1837. Mrs. Doll came to America aboard a sailing vessel. She boarded a ship at London on March 19, 1857, and the ship "Victoria" required forty-nine days to make the journey to
WILLIAM DOLL, WIFE AND DAUGHTER
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New York. John Doll, the father, was born in Baden, Germany, No- vember 17, 1831, and died September 2, 1907. He was married on Feb- ruary 14, 1858, to Mary Wisner. He removed from Ohio to Illinois in 1862 and thence to Missouri in 1867. To John and Mary (Wisner) Doll were born five children: William, subject of this review; John, Walker township; Jacob, a successful farmer of White Oak township; Effie and Lizzie, the former of whom is at home with her mother and the latter is in Kansas City, Missouri.
William Doll was married in 1896 to Miss Elizabeth Barth, who has borne him three children: Anna Mabel, born June 26, 1908; Florence May, died at the age of nine years, eleven months and nineteen days; one child died in infancy. Mrs. Lizzie (Barth) Doll was born in 1872 in White Oak township, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Lebold) Barth, who were among the best known of the substantial pioneer citizens of Henry County.
John Barth was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, January 10, 1838, and died near Lucas, Missouri, June 6, 1917. He was married September 21, 1862, to Maria Lebold, who was born in Bolivar, Ohio, and died Janu- ary 12, 1874. This marriage was blessed with five children, as follow: John W., Dora Gretzinger, Mrs. Helen Doll, Mrs. Lizzie Doll, and Jacob S. Barth. On November 4, 1875, Mr. Barth was married to Sophia Rom- bold, who died May 27, 1911. She bore him ten children, nine of whom are living: Albert H., Maggie, deceased; Mrs. Clara Sevier, Josie, George, Tressie, Mrs. Ida Henny, Robert, Walter, David. John Barth immigrated to America in 1852 and located in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. From there he came to Missouri in the spring of 1868 and settled in White Oak town- ship. During the course of years in active farming operations in Henry County he accumulated a large estate valued at over $100,000. He be- came owner of 2,280 acres of land which he divided among his children as they became of age and desired to make homes of their own. He was president of the Farmers Bank of Urich and was universally respected and admired as one of the county's most sterling, upright and successful citizens. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and his life was so lived that the example he set of industry and right living will forever serve as an inspiration and guide to his descendants.
Upon his marriage William Doll settled upon a one hundred sixty acre farm which was given to Mr. and Mrs. Doll by the late John Barth. This farm they have successfully built up and have added another tract of one hundred sixty acres to their holdings in this county.
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Mr. and Mrs. Doll are members of the Lucas Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Doll is inclined to the Republican view of things political, while Mrs. Doll is a pronounced adherent of Democratic principles. They are kindly and hospitable people who are progressive and enterprising in their views and stand high among the citizenship of Henry County.
John Witzel .- The two greatest fishermen in the southern part of Henry County are John Witzel and his long time friend, Joseph H. Wil- son. These two old settlers have spent many happy days in fishing for the finny denizens which are plentiful in the Deepwater River and even now, when age has come upon them, they love to take hook and line and spend a long summer day in angling for the watery denizens. In the early days Mr. Witzel also liked to hunt and remembers shooting a deer while working in a field. Despite the fact that the deer got away he is prac- tically certain that he shot the animal, which was afterwards chased by dogs and fell dead in a neighbor's yard.
John Witzel of Germantown was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1835, and is the son of Martin and Mary Elizabeth Witzel, both of whom died in Germany. John Witzel emigrated from his native country to America in June, 1866, and arrived at St. Louis when the cholera epidemic was raging in that city. He labored in that city for day wages until 1869 and then came to Henry County, where he rented a farm situated three miles southwest of Germantown. He purchased his home farm in 1881 and the place has been beautified until it is one of the pretty farmsteads in the county. For some years he and his son-in-law, Mr. Cook, farmed the place together and during that time many improvements were made of a substantial nature. Mr. Witzel is owner of seventy-seven acres of land.
On June 2, 1868, John Witzel and Elizabeth Kloer were united in marriage. Mrs. Elizabeth Witzel was born March 7, 1848, in Germany, the daughter of Theodore Kloer, who immigrated to America in 1852. Both of Mrs. Witzel's parents died when she was but a child at their home near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. To John and Elizabeth Witzel were born children as follow: Frances, wife of J. H. Puthoff, Deepwater town- ship; Mary, wife of August Schepers, a farmer near Montrose, who has three children: Joseph, Lizzie and Anton; Josephine, wife of Henry Cook, who died at the Witzel home February 14, 1915. Mrs. Frances Puthoff has five children: Norbit, Clements, Lizzie, Agnes and Josephine. On June 2, 1918, Mr. and Mrs. Cook celebrated their golden wedding ani-
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versary at their home near Germantown. Over forty people were in at- tendance.
Mr. Witzel is an independent Democrat and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Germantown Catholic Church. He is one of the best respected and highly esteemed old settlers of this section of Henry County.
M. B. Witherspoon, cashier of the Bank of Deepwater, Henry County, Missouri, is a son of one of the oldest pioneer families in this section of Missouri. He was born near Gaines, Missouri, July 13, 1868, and is the son of H. B. and Amanda (Levy) Witherspoon, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. H. B. Witherspoon was a son of one of the first pioneers of this county who settled east of Deepwater as early as 1840.
H. B. Witherspoon was born in Kentucky in 1835 and died in 1914. He was a son of Isaac Witherspoon. Mr. Witherspoon followed farming during his entire life and died at Brownington, Missouri. His wife and mother of M. B. Witherspoon died in March, 1917. H. B. Witherspoon was twice married, there being two children by his first marriage: Mrs. J. N. Dunnin, a widow living in Deepwater, and Mrs. M. T. Beelor, Clinton, Missouri. There were four children born to the second marriage: M. B., subject of this review; B. H., Troy Mills, Iowa; R. L., died at Browning- ton in 1915, and Mrs. E. M. Beelor, living in Oregon.
M. B. Witherspoon was educated in the district school and attended Lamkin's Academy at Clinton. For a number of years he was engaged in the mercantile business at Brownington, Missouri, and came to Deep- water in 1905 and one year later (1906) he became cashier of the Bank of Deepwater.
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