USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 50
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February 18, 1864, Andrew D. McQueen and Miss Sarah E. Tope were united in marriage. To this marriage have been born children as follow: Mrs. Hettie C. Nichols, residing on a farm two miles east of the McQueen place on the county line; Abel E., owner of 330 acres of good land in Benton County, Missouri; Joseph B., a farmer in Leesville township; George F., Leesville township; Rebecca Geneva, deceased; Joshua F., Butte, Montana; John, living in Colorado, and Milton, at home (twins) ; Mrs. Eva O. Puckett, Leesville township; Mrs. Sarah Emeline Fite, Par- sons, Kansas; Mary S., her father's housekeeper; William B., a farmer in
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Leesville township; Alonzo H., aged twenty-nine years, at home; one child died in infancy. The mother was born June 7, 1842, in Carroll Coun- ty, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph and Hettie Tope, natives of Pennsyl- vania and descendants of Holland Dutch and Irish stock, respectively. Mrs. McQueen departed this life on November 28, 1910. She was a good and faithful helpmeet to her husband and cheered and comforted him in adversity and assisted him materially in achieving to a position of com- fort and well being. She was a kind and wise mother to her children, fulfilling her destined mission on earth as only a true and noble woman could.
Mr. McQueen has always been a Republican and served as justice of the peace of Leesville township for twenty years. Being a man of ex- cellent education and well informed he has been one of the most useful citizens of Henry County during his long years of residence here. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When there were many more Union veterans in the neighborhood and before their fast thinning ranks were depleted by the inroads of the "grim reaper," there existed in Leesville a flourishing Grand Army Post. This post was known as Dan McCook Post No. 312 and their meeting place was in the McQueen home in the large room referred to in a preceding paragraph. Mr. Mc- Queen assisted in organizing the Grand Army Post and gave the privileges of the room to the old veterans as long as was desired. Now the ranks of the veterans are so thinned that meetings are not held and each year only a few meet to administer the last rites to the memory of their com- rades who have preceded them to the great beyond. Well past four score years. Andrew D. McQueen has so lived his life that he is serenely contented in his old age to live a peaceful and retired life, a patriarch in his own right, respected and highly regarded by all who know him.
Henry Slack, a retired merchant and real estate dealer of Calhoun, Missouri, was born in Linn County, Missouri, January 5, 1843, a son of . James C. and Caroline (Humphrey) Slack. James C. Slack was born in Henderson County, Kentucky, in 1815 and in 1817 his parents left their home in that State and came to Boone County, Missouri. In 1838 James Slack moved to Linn County, Missouri, where he farmed until he came to Henry County in 1867. He lived three miles south of Calhoun until his death in 1872. Mrs. Caroline Humphrey Slack was born in Ken- tucky in 1825 and died in 1910. They were the parents of nine children: John of Tulsa, Oklahoma; William B., died in 1862 while serving in the
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Civil War in the Confederate Army; Henry, the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Mary E. Bentley, deceased; Alfred, a carpenter, Calhoun, Missouri; Mrs. Lydia Whitley, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Lucas, Webb City, Missouri; Thomas G., lives one mile northwest of Clinton; Virginia, married C. Ford, Windsor, Missouri.
Henry Slack was reared on the farm and when twenty-one years of age clerked in a general store at Ashland, Nebraska. He was employed in this work until 1867, when he returned to Calhoun, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming until 1873. He then purchased a general mer- chandise stock in Calhoun, Missouri, and continued that business until 1900, when he engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He owns eighty acres of well improved land east of Calhoun and also real estate in Calhoun.
Henry Slack has been twice married. October 1, 1873, he was mar- ried to Martha Carter, a native of West Virginia. The following chil- dren were born to this union: James E., a sketch of whom follows this article; one died in infancy, and George, a contractor in New York City.
Some years after the death of his first wife Henry Slack was mar- ried in 1881 to Betty (Calvert) Gray, who was born in Pettis County in 1856. She was the widow of John Gray and a daughter of Nod Calvert. Two children, Alice and Clifton, were born to this union. Both are de- ceased.
Mr. Slack is a member of the Baptist Church and a thorough busi- ness man, enjoying the respect and honor of those who know him.
Oley Johnson, farmer and stockman, Springfield township, Henry County, is a native of Sweden who came to America and made good in the land of his adoption. Mr. Johnson was born in Hudixwahl, Sweden, March 23, 1848, the son of Jonas and Christina (Pearson) Johnson, who were parents of two sons. The parents of Oley Johnson came to America in 1868 and made a settlement in Cooper County, Missouri, where Jonas Johnson died. His wife, Christina Johnson, died in Springfield township, Henry County, Missouri, May 7, 1901.
When he had attained the age of twenty years, Oley Johnson with his parents and brother decided to come to America in search of a home and fortune. He crossed the ocean and made his way to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1868, there finding employment on the railroad and any honest labor he could obtain. In 1873 he located upon a farm of eighty- two and one-half acres owned by Captain Henry in Springfield township,
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Henry County, and has prospered as the years have passed. During that same year he invested his savings in a fine farm of 160 acres in Benton County, Missouri. Mr. Johnson is recognized as one of the progressive and enterprising farmers of his township and is well-to-do.
Mr. Johnson was married December 16, 1903, to Mrs. Maude John- son, widow of his brother, Perry, who prior to her marriage was Miss Maude Rogers, born in Columbia, Missouri, August 16, 1876, the daugh- ter of Robert C. and Maria (Clay) Rogers. Robert C. Rogers was a na- tive of West Virginia and his wife was born at Carlisle, Kentucky, a daughter of John W. Clay, first cousin of the great statesman, Henry Clay, of Kentucky. Robert C. Rogers was a brick mason by trade and came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1880, locating in section 9 of Spring- field township upon an eighty acre farm. In 1892 Maude Rogers and Perry Johnson were married. Perry Johnson was born in Sweden on April 2, 1849, and accompanied his brother Oley to America. He died June 17, 1901, leaving three children: Edgar O., in the National Army, was married to Lena Bullock June 23, 1918; James Clay, now a soldier in the National Army, fighting in behalf of the free peoples of the world against the military oppression of Germany; Mary Christina Johnson, the only daughter, was married to Logan Taylor July 18, 1918.
Mr. Johnson is a Republican and has served as school director of District No. 7. He is a stockholder in the Windsor and Calhoun Eleva- tor Companies and takes an active and influential part in all civic move- ments.
Joseph W. Gray .- The Gray family in Henry County is one of the oldest and most distinguished in this section of the State, and was founded here in 1836 when the grandparents of Joseph W. Gray came to Henry County and entered the land where the old Gray homestead is now lo- cated and which the subject of this sketch is now cultivating. This old family has also contributed a descendant to the service of the Nation in the great World War, a son of Joseph W. Gray having been the first private soldier from Henry County to die at Camp Doniphan.
Joseph W. Gray was born at Windsor, Missouri, October 15, 1871, the son of Dr. J. W. and Clara E. (Head) Gray, who were parents of six children, as follow: Effie E. Cecil, Springfield township; Dr. Alfred A., a practicing physician, Calhoun, Missouri; Joseph W., of this review ; Charles V., Hollister, Missouri; Harry P., a veterinarian at Chilhowee, Missouri; Mrs. Clara Bennett, Long Beach, California.
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Dr. J. W. Gray was born in Henry County February 20, 1840, the son of Rev. W. A. and Mary (Loftis) Gray, both of whom were born in Kentucky. Rev. W. A. Gray first came to Missouri in 1835 and taught school. In 1836 Rev. W. A. Gray removed with his family to Henry County and entered land in sections 14, 15, 22 and 23, Springfield town- ship. He followed farming during the remainder of his life while preach- ing as a minister of the Baptist Church. Nine children were born to Rev. W. A. and Mary Gray, of whom Dr. J. W. Gray was the eldest. Doctor Gray was educated in the St. Louis College of Medicine and began the practice of his profession in 1863 near Lincoln, Benton County, Missouri. He located in Windsor in 1865 and practiced in this city for a period of twelve years. He then, in 1876, came to the Gray homestead and prac- ticed his profession while looking after his farming interests, retiring from active practice in 1913. He made his home on the old homestead until his death on June 17, 1918. Mrs. Clara Gray was born March 22, 1845, in Benton County, Missouri, the daughter of Dr. Alfred and Rhoda (Vincent) Head, natives of Virginia. Doctor Head was practicing his profession in Benton County during the Civil War.
Joseph W. Gray received his education in the district school and the Clinton Academy, taught by Professor Lamkin. He began for him- self in 1891 and was engaged in farming until 1901. He then went to Montana and spent a year there, after which he purchased a general store at Roseland, Missouri. He conducted this store until 1906 and then sold out. He clerked in the Red Front Dry Goods Store at Clinton until 1907 and was then engaged as traveling salesman with the George W. Perry Rubber Company until 1909. Since 1909 he has been engaged in tilling the home farm of 240 acres.
Mr. Gray was married October 26, 1893, to Miss Ruth A. Phelps, who was born August 1, 1875, in Henry County, Missouri, the daughter of David and Louise (Moore) Phelps, natives of near Belleville, Illinois. The Phelps family came to Johnson County in 1872 and came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1874, and Mr. and Mrs. Phelps now reside in Cal- houn. Seven children have been born to Joseph W. and Ruth A. Gray, as follow: Guy P., born May 19, 1895, and departed this life at Camp Doni- phan, Oklahoma, November 30, 1917, while an enlisted soldier in the service of the National Army, his life being the first to be given by Henry County in defense of the freedom of the world-he died a soldier; Ruth, born January 20, 1900, and died January 28, 1900; Joseph, born April 9, 1902; Eugene, born April 14, 1904; Mary L., born November 17, 1905;
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Wilma, born March 4, 1909, died May 16, 1918; Clara B., born August 29, 1910.
Mr. Gray is a Democrat and has long been prominent in the affairs of his party in Henry County. In 1912 he was elected to the office of township tax collector and served for two years. In 1915 he was elected township assessor, an office which he is now capably filling. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Cooperative Company and is keenly interested in all worthy civic movements. Mr. Gray is a Mason, his father before him having been a charter member of the Windsor Masonic Lodge. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He and Mrs. Gray are members of the Baptist Church.
Christian Uhlenbock, a farmer and stockman of Springfield town- ship, owner of 197.5 acres of splendid farm land in sections 26 and 27, land which he has accumulated and paid for since 1887, is a native of Germany, but a loyal, progressive American citizen whose industry and enterprise is worthy of commendation. Mr. Uhlenbock was born in Lippe- Detwold, Germany, the son of Christian and Wilhelmina (Hagemann) Uhlenbock, who spent all of their lives in Germany. A younger brother of the subject, Anton Uhlenbock, lives in Springfield township.
Christian Uhlenbock was reared and educated in his native country, followed the trade of brick mason during the summer seasons and in winter followed the trade of butcher. He left Germany in 1882 and came to Henry County, Missouri. During his first two years in this county he worked at farm labor and then rented land for three years. In 1887 he bought his present farm of 197.5 acres and has made many substantial improvements on the place. Mr. Uhlenbock is a breeder of high grade Duroc Jersey hogs and Shorthorn cattle. In addition to his farming in- terests, he is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Windsor, Mis- souri.
October 25, 1883, Mr. Uhlenbock was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Griefe, born July 17, 1858, at Lippe-Detwold, Germany, and came to America in 1882 on the same ship which carried her husband. For further particulars concerning the Griefe family history, the reader is referred to the sketch of Fred Griefe elsewhere in this volume. To Christian and Henrietta Uhlenbock have been born two children: Will- iam Frederick, aged thirty-one years, and Henry Christian, the latter of whom is deceased.
Mr. Uhlenbock is a Republican and he and Mrs. Uhlenbock are mem- bers of the Baptist Church.
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Joseph E. Stringer, Union veteran and retired farmer of Leesville township, is one of the old settlers of Henry County who has lived on his fine farm of eighty acres in eastern Leesville township for the past fifty years. He has, during this long period, built up a very pretty country place which is the acme of comfort for his declining years. Mr. Stringer was born near the city of Alton, Madison County, Illinois, April 26, 1842. He is the son of Levi and Louisa (Donnegan) Stringer, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter of whom was a native of Georgia. Their respective parents were pioneer settlers in Madison County and were there reared, married and spent all of their lives.
Hearkening to the first call of President Lincoln for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States, Joseph E. Stringer enlisted in May, 1861, in Company I, 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for nearly two years in some of the hardest fought campaigns of the Civil War. He was severely wounded in the left elbow at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, October 3, 1862, and crippled for life. He lost from his left elbow the so-called "funny bone" or point of the elbow and twenty-one pieces of bone were taken from his arm. The result was what is termed by science as a complete "ankelosis" and the arm has never been of much use. He fought at the great battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, prior to receiving his wound.
Returning home he found conditions not to his liking as many thou- sands of returned veterans discovered on going back to the old home place after years of warfare. His health was impaired and he determined to heed Greeley's advice to "Go West." He came West, traveled over Kan- sas and Missouri, and like his old neighbor, Andrew D. McQueen, found the likable and health giving spot, the Leesville neighborhood. He bought eighty acres of land and placed all of the improvements upon it. This fine farm has been his home for half a century and he has never regretted coming to Missouri and Henry County, the garden spot of the West.
In November of 1867 Joseph E. Stringer and Miss Louisa Edwards were united in marriage. Mrs. Louisa Stringer was born in 1840 and departed this life in 1908 a well beloved and faithful wife and companion of Mr. Stringer for over forty years of happy wedded life. She was born in Illinois, the daughter of Louis B. Edwards, who was a pioneer of Henry County. Two children blessed this union; Effie L., her father's house- keeper, and Leora, wife of Robert Wilson, who operates the Stringer home place.
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Mr. Stringer has always voted the Republican ticket and has filled local township offices, always having taken a warm interest in civic af- fairs. When a young man he knew Abraham Lincoln personally and was his warm supporter in the great emancipator's political campaigns in Illinois. He has visited in Lincoln's Illinois home and saw his body after his assassination when the entire state of Illinois and the Nation did honor to his remains. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Dan McCook Post Grand Army of the Republic.
Charles D. George, one of the foremost educators of Henry County, is a native of this county and of Henry County pioneer ancestry. Mr. George, now principal of the Calhoun High School, has for many years been a teacher in the district and high schools of this State, as well as schools in New Mexico and California. He was born June 3, 1869, in Springfield township, Henry County, a son of William G. and Rebecca (Strieby) George. William G. George was born in Springfield township in February, 1847, and received his education in the rural schools of the county and was a farmer for many years. Rebecca (Strieby) George was born in 1848. William G. and Rebecca (Strieby) George were the parents of six children, as follow: The eldest died in infancy ; Charles, subject of this sketch; Ida, wife of L. Munday, is deceased; Lewis, lives in Springfield township, Henry County; and two who died in infancy. William George died December 1, 1917, and his wife departed this life in 1914.
William G. George was a son of William C. and Eliza (Collins) George, the former born in West Virginia September 25, 1806, the son of John George, born in Pennsylvania in 1770, who moved to Madison County, Virginia, in 1821 and there remained the rest of his life. William C. George came to Lincoln County, Kentucky, in 1816 and in 1835 came to Henry County, Missouri. He homesteaded in Springfield township and followed the life of the average pioneer farmer. November 21, 1839, he married Eliza Collins, a native of Missouri. Three sons and two daugh- ters were born to this union. William C. George was a soldier in the Mexican War and endured all of the privations incident to the pioneer life. He was a successful farmer and stockman and at the time of his death he owned 620 acres of land.
Charles D. George was reared on the farm and received his early education in the district schools of Henry County and afterwards, in 1889, he entered the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri,
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where he was graduated in 1896. Previous to graduation he spent four years in teaching the district schools. He was principal of the Urich High School, Urich, Missouri, for one year and principal of the Osceola schools for three years, and for four years was principal of the Schell City schools. He then became principal of the Jefferson City High School, Jefferson City, Missouri, and held that position for three years. During this time he served as school commissioner of Cole County, Missouri, for two years. He then became principal of the Otero County Union High School at Alamogordo, New Mexico, and he also was superintendent of the schools at that place for five years. For a time he was instructor of agriculture and manual training at Silver City, New Mexico, Normal School. Later Mr. George went to Los Angeles, California, where he was graduated from the Los Angeles State Normal School. He also was prin- cipal of the Beverly Hills schools of Los Angeles. In 1917 he was prin- cipal of a ward school in Joplin, Missouri, and in 1918 he accepted his present position as principal of the Calhoun High School.
Mr. George returned to Missouri on account of his father's ill health and since that time has resided on his farm near Calhoun. Here he enjoys his vacations between his years of school work. He is interested in blooded stock and owns a fine herd of Aberdeen Angus registered cattle, which is a source of great interest to him, both from the standpoints of recreation and profit.
On September 7, 1892, Mr. George was united in marriage with Miss Kathleen O'Bannon, of Cooper County, Missouri, born June 23, 1873, and one daughter has been born to this union, Kathleen, who was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California, November 5, 1913.
Mr. and Mrs. George are members of the Baptist Church and Mr. George belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He supports the policies and principles of the Democratic party.
Daniel P. Griffith, proprietor of a fine farm of 196 acres located in sections 27 and 22 of Springfield township, is one of the successful live stock producers and feeders of Henry County. He was born in Louisa County, Iowa, March 30, 1855, the son of Isaac and Rebecca (Parris) Griffith, to whom nine children were born.
Isaac Griffith was born in West Virginia in 1813 and went to Ohio when a young man. Not long after settling in Ohio he located in Iowa, where he was married. In 1868 he came to Missouri and bought a farm
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in Benton County, becoming owner of 200 acres of land which was his home until his death in 1878. The youthful days of Isaac Griffith were spent in poverty and he made his own way in the world. Having been left an orphan when a child, he was reared by a colored woman until he was able to make his own way. Mrs. Rebecca Griffith was born in New Jersey in 1821 and departed this life in 1877.
Daniel P. Griffith was reared to young manhood on the farm in Ben- ton County and he purchased a part of the old home place. His start in life was not auspicious, having began his career with a team of horses purchased on time and no money. He sold out his holdings in Benton County in 1885 and came to Henry County, where he purchased his farm and made good improvements thereon. For a period of ten years he operated the Thrush Mercantile Store.
Mr. Griffith was married on March 2, 1884, to Mollie Strader, who was born in Tennessee March 2, 1863, the daughter of Jesse Strader, an early settler in Henry County, who later went to Oklahoma and died in that State. Four children have been born to Daniel P. and Mollie Grif- fith, as follow: Mrs. Ethel Cheatham, Buckner, Kansas, is the mother of two children, Paul and Uel; Sherman, was born February 15, 1888, mar- ried February 17, 1913, to May Schoonover, and has one child, Alma, resides on the home place; Horace, born April 16, 1892, a soldier in the National Army, member of the 110th Ammunition Train, now on the western front in France, and Leota, at home.
Mr. Griffith is a Republican and has served as justice of the peace in Springfield township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Griffith's success has been mainly due to the feeding and raising of live stock, his annual sales of live stock fed on his place exceed- ing three carloads. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen who stands high in his community.
Joseph W. Huston, late of Windsor, Missouri, was a useful and widely known citizen of Henry County and was a pioneer settler of this county, accompanying his parents to Missouri as early as 1844. He was born in Morgan County, Illinois, December 8, 1839, and was the son of Robert P. and Nancy (Spencer) Huston, being the third born of eight children. The Huston family came to Boone County, Missouri, in 1844, and some time later made a permanent location in Henry County, in the vicinity of Windsor. Both Robert P. and Nancy Huston died in Windsor.
In 1861 Joseph W. Huston went to Texas and enlisted in the Con-
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federate Army, serving until the close of the Civil War, when he returned to his home in Henry County and engaged in farming. He first rented land in Johnson County and then purchased a farm in Tebo township, Henry County, upon which he placed substantial improvements. He re- sided on his farm for forty-five years and in 1912 located in Windsor, where he lived in well earned retirement until his death, November 17, 1917.
November 2, 1871, Mr. Huston was united in marriage with Emma E. Allen, who was born November 1, 1847, at Old Harmony Mission in Bates County, Missouri, the daughter of George J. and Esther (Mitchel) Allen, concerning whom the reader is referred to the biography of Robert W. Allen elsewhere in this volume.
When fifteen years of age Joseph W. Huston was converted to the cause of Christianity under the pastorate of Rev. A. P. Linn in Boone County, and during the remainder of his life he was a true and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, living a blameless and irre- proachable life. He was a man highly esteemed for his many worthy traits and sterling qualities and was universally respected and admired by all who knew him. Mrs. Huston is a member of the Methodist Church. Residing with her at her home in Windsor is a sister, Miss Belle Allen.
John W. Boyd, a successful farmer and stockman, owner of a splen- did farm of 201 acres of land in sections 1, 11 and 12, Tebo township, is a native son of Missouri. He was born in Lafayette County, September 18, 1873, a son of James A. and Mary D. (Forsey) Boyd.
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