USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 60
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The Farmers Bank of Blairstown was organized November 20, 1909, with a capital stock of $10,000. Its first officers were: W. W. Johnson, president; W. R. Farnsworth, vice-president; and J. S. Stover, cashier. The present officers are W. W. Johnson, president; C. L. Farnsworth, vice- president, and H. C. Whitaker, cashier. The Farmers Bank is a substan- tial institution and has had a gradual growth since its organization. Its officers are safe and conservative financiers. To illustrate the increase in business of this bank the deposits of March 7, 1911, were $19,803.14, and on June 28, 1918, the deposits had increased to $90,717.53.
Mr. Whitaker was united in marriage March 20, 1912, with Miss Ruby Shepperd, a daughter of D. E. and Susie Fisher Shepperd, of Blairstown, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Shepperd reside at Blairstown, where the father is successfully engaged in the automobile, implement and hardware busi- ness. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker has been born one son, Valgean.
D. E. Shepperd, a well known hardware merchant and automobile dealer of Blairstown, Missouri, is a native of Ohio. He was born at Moxa- hala, Perry County, Ohio, December 23, 1865, and is a son of G. W. and Martha J. Shepperd, both natives of Ohio. The father was born Novem- ber 27, 1841, and died April 25, 1905, and his wife departed this life sev- eral years before the death of her husband. She died in 1868 when D. E. was about three years of age. The following children were born to G. W. and Martha J. Shepperd : Mrs. W. H. Larick, Dally, Iowa ; Mrs. M. Penman, Glouster, Oklahoma, and D. E., the subject of this sketch. After the mother died the father was again married and two sons and a daughter were born to that union: W. B., Mckeesport, Pennsylvania; C. S., Moxa- hala, Ohio, and Mrs. Alice Stallsmith, who died at Zanesville, Ohio, in May, 1916.
D. E. Shepperd was reared in Perry County, Ohio, and educated in
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the public schools. When he was twenty-one years of age he went to Pittsburg, Kansas, where he was employed about five months, when he went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he entered the employ of I. D. Clapp, a wholesale commission dealer. After remaining there about a year he came to Blairstown and engaged in the harness business. A few years later he added a hardware stock and later added the automobile business. He is one of the successful merchants of Blairstown and has built up a large trade. In 1906 he bought the J. H. Schweer building, where his hard- ware stored is located. In addition to his other business enterprises he is now erecting a large garage.
Mr. Shepperd was united in marriage in February, 1893, to Miss Susan Fisher, a daughter of C. S. and Martha J. Fisher, Henry County pioneers. They settled in Big Creek township at a very early date. The father was a native of Missouri and the mother of Virginia. C. S. Fisher died in 1903 and Mrs. Fisher resides at Blairstown with their daughter, Mrs. Shepperd. To Mr. and Mrs. Shepperd have been born the following chil- dren: Ruby L., the wife of W. H. Whitaker of Blairstown, a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Lelia and Ronda, both of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Shepperd served as postmaster of Blairstown for nine years, re- ceiving his appointment from President Roosevelt. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Shepperd has been successful in his business undertaking. When he came to Blairs- town he only had $500 capital, and today he is one of the well-to-do men of Henry County, and in addition to his prosperous business institution, he and his wife are the owners of 360 acres of valuable land in Big Creek township. He is one of Henry County's substantial citizens.
J. S. Pollock, a prominent merchant of Blairstown, Missouri, and senior member of the firm known as the Blairstown Mercantile Company, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Chilhowee, Johnson County, December 27, 1872, and is a son of W. P. and Susan M. (McFarland) Pollock. W. P. Pollock was a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and an early settler in Johnson County. Susan M. McFarland was born in Centerview, Missouri. and belongs to one of the oldest pioneer families of Johnson County. Her mother was a daughter of Levi Simpson, who was prominent in the early history of Johnson County and Simpson township of that county was named in his honor. W. P. Pollock and Susan M. McFarland were married in Johnson County in 1869 and after nearly fifty years of wedded life they
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reside at Chilhowee. This venerable couple are the parents of the follow- ing children: James, Chilhowee, Missouri; J. S., the subject of this sketch; C. W., Chilhowee; Arthur, a merchant, Chilhowee; Rev. L. N., Arrow Rock, Missouri ; Mrs. E. B. Strasburg, Strasburg, Missouri ; Mildred, Kansas City, Missouri; and W. P., Jr., Mullinville, Kansas.
J. S. Pollock was reared in Johnson County and educated in the public schools and the State Normal School at Warrensburg. He began his mer- cantile career when a boy as a clerk in the store of G. K. Christopher at Chilhowee. He worked for two months without pay and then his em- ployer started him at $10,00 a month. This store changed hands a number of times and young Pollock remained with the store each time until it was finally discontinued. In 1896 J. S. Pollock, in partnership with his father, opened a general store at Chilhowee and continued until 1898, when, after disposing of his business, J. S. Pollock went to Butler and was with the Mckibbon Mercantile Company about one year, when he resigned and came to Blairstown. Here he entered the employ of J. N. Schweer, and after remaining here three years he accepted a position with the Holden Mercantile Company at Holden, Missouri. One year later he re- turned to Blairstown and has been connected with the Blairstown Mer- cantile Company ever since. This institution was organized as a stock company by J. H. Schweer in 1904 and incorporated the same year with a capital stock of $8,000.00. The business is now owned by J. S. and C. W. Pollock. This is one of the important mercantile houses of Henry County. They carry a complete line of general merchandise, including groceries, dry goods, etc. It is a popular trading place and has a good business.
Mr. Pollick was united in marriage August 16, 1900, with Miss Nellie Cobb, a daughter of Rev. W. B. Cobb and Elizabeth (Davis) Cobb of Butler. Rev. W. B. Cobb was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, April 13, 1844, and died July 16, 1916. He was a son of James M. Cobb, a pioneer of Lafayette County, who was prominent in the early day affairs of that county. Mrs. Pollock has a half brother and a half sister living: Mrs. J. H. Hereford, Kansas City, Missouri; and W. T. Cobb, LaMonte, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Pollock has been born one daughter, Virginia Elizabeth. Mr. Pollock has an extensive acquaintance in Henry and ad- joining counties and he is that type of man who makes friends for the old reason, that he is a good loyal friend himself.
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Thomas P. Prouse .- In the southeastern part of Clinton township: are some splendid farms, nearly all of which have been built up and created by their owners. It is a picturesque and fertile region, bordering on the Deepwater River, the banks of which are heavily timbered. The Prouse farm of eighty-four acres is among the best in the country and very fertile. Mr. Prouse is owner of four tracts of land, eighty-four acres, forty acres, sixty acres and eighty acres, making a total of 264 acres, besides a six acre tract. He has resided upon his home place since 1879 and rented the land during his first year's residence. He then paid. $1,700 for 140 acres, and has placed all of the existing improvements upon his farms. It was necessary for him to clear away considerable tim- ber before he could place the land in cultivation. He paid $1,500 for his home tract of eighty-four acres and $900 for forty acres. This land is. now worth $75 an acre and Mr. Prouse is in very comfortable circum- stances. Much of the land is underlaid with coal and much coal has been mined from the Prouse land.
Thomas P. Prouse was born in Ross County, Ohio, November 10, 1851. He is the son of Thomas and Barbara (Kellar) Prouse, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio. They went to Edgar County, Illi- nois, in 1855, and after a residence of fourteen years there they came to Henry County and settled on the Deepwater, where Thomas died in 1874. To Thomas and Barbara Prouse were born seven children, three of whom are living: Thomas P., subject of this review; George, a farmer in Clinton township; Daniel, Denver, Colorado.
Thomas P. Prouse was married October 15, 1879, to Serilda Moyer, born December 25, 1861, in Illinois, the daughter of Solomon (born 1830, died 1893) and Elizabeth Moyer (born November 24, 1831, died April 9, 1905), natives of Kentucky who came from Illinois to Henry County, Missouri, in 1870. Solomon Moyer died near Osceola, St. Clair County, Missouri. Five children were born to Thomas P. and Serilda Prouse, as follow: James A., living on the home place, married Maggie Raper and has one child, Percy Thomas Prouse; Mrs. Callie Lee Schmidt, Clinton township; Celeste, deceased; Effie, wife of Isaac Arnold, living in Okla- homa, has three children, Thomas Jefferson, Gladys and Beulah; Nora, married Forrest Caldwell and has three children, Paulline, Edna and Ken- neth Forrest.
Since 1870, when she was nine years of age, Mrs. Thomas P. Prouse has lived on this farm and has witnessed the wonderful development of.
THOMAS P. PROUSE AND FAMILY
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this great county. She and Mr. Prouse have seen the country emerge from a wilderness state to become one of the thriving and richest por- tions of the great state of Missouri, and best of all they have progressed and prospered with their home county. Mr. and Mrs. Prouse are mem- bers of the Evangelical Church and are kindly, hospitable folk of the true Missouri type, and have a host of friends and well wishers in Henry County.
John J. Munsterman, a well known and prosperous farmer and stock- man of White Oak township, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Mont- gomery County in 1861, a son of Anthony and Elizabeth (Wucherpfennig) Munsterman, natives of Germany. The father came to this country when he was sixteen years old and Elizabeth Wucherpfennig came to America with her parents when she was five years of age. They both died in Illi- nois, the father at Edwardsville in 1871 and the mother at Raymond in 1918. They were the parents of the following children: John J., the sub- ject of this sketch; Mrs. Anna Walpe, Clinton, Missouri; Mrs. Mary Brockamp, deceased; Mrs. Caroline Tonsor, Monroe, Missouri; Caroline, died in infancy, and Mrs. Louise Crockwell, St. Peters, Missouri. By a former marriage to Caroline Brockamp the following children were born to Anthony Munsterman: Henry, Theodore, Josephine, Katherine and Caro- line, all deceased. After the death of Mr. Munsterman his widow married Conrad Weller, and to this union the following children were born: Mrs. Minnie Poggenpohl, Henry, Joseph, Mrs. Elizabeth Back and Mrs. Rosa Eickoff, all of whom reside at Raymond, Illinois.
John J. Munsterman was educated in the public schools of Montgomery County, Illinois, and was engaged in farming there from 1881 to 1903, when he came to Henry County and located one mile west of Urich. He has a splendid farm of 450 acres with a good residence and other good farm buildings. The place presents a very attractive appearance and bears mute testimony on every hand of the thrift and industry of its owner.
Mr. Munsterman was united in marriage September 28, 1881, with Miss Catherine Brockamp, a daughter of John and Louisa (Lappe) Brockamp of Christian County, Illinois. Mrs. Munsterman was born in Illinois. Her parents both died in Christian County. To Mr. and Mrs. Munsterman have been born the following children: Mrs. Elizabeth Berg- schneider, Urich, Missouri ; Mrs. Mary Weitekamp, Raymond, Montgomery County, Illinois ; Joseph M., Urich, Missouri; Henry M., Urich, Missouri; Lawrence, Clinton; William, Urich; Rosa, Kansas City; Catherine and Luella, at home.
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Mr. Munsterman is a progressive citizen and always one of the first to give his support to any worthy enterprise for the betterment or up- building of his county. He was one of the first advocates of the drainage district plan, and he and Mr. Hinote guaranteed the expense of the pre- liminary survey, which was the first actual step in the inauguration of this great drainage project that means so much to Henry County now, by which thousands of acres of otherwise practically worthless land has been reclaimed. The Munsterman family are all members of the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Munsterman is a Democrat.
William E. Long, a substantial farmer and stockman of White Oak township, is a native son of Henry County and a descendant of a pioneer family of Missouri. Mr. Long was born in Walker township February 17, 1871, a son of John and Louisa (Burgess) Long, both natives of Missouri, the former of Miller County and the latter of Pulaski. John Long was a captain in the Home Guards in Miller County during the Civil War. He organized a company after his two brothers, George and William, were killed by bushwhackers. Shortly after the Civil War he came to Henry County and bought land in Walker township for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. He was a successful farmer and stock- man, and at the time of his death was a large land owner. He died in 1914, his wife having preceded him in death a number of years. She died in 1902 and their remains were buried in White Oak Cemetery. John and Louisa (Burgess) Long were the parents of the folowing children: George, who died in 1912; Mrs. Mollie Dunlap, Montrose, Missouri; Will- iam E., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Rosa B. Harrison, Walker town- ship, and Herman B., who resides on the home place.
William E. Long was reared on a farm and received his education in Camp Branch district school in Walker township. He started out in life for himself, farming rented land, when he was eighteen years of age. He moved onto his present farm which he rented at the time of his father's death. It contains 160 acres of well improved, productive land four miles southwest of Urich, which was formerly known as the James Roe McDaniel farm. The place is well improved with a good eight room farm residence and commodious and convenient barns and other buildings. Mr. Long is extensively engaged in the stock business as well as general farming.
On January 28, 1894, Mr. Long was united in marriage with Miss Martha A. Harness of White Oak township. She is a daughter of William
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and Mary A. (Mullen) Harness, both now deceased. The father was born in St. Charles, Missouri, and died in 1912, and the mother was a native of Kentucky and died in 1896. They came to Henry County in 1858. William and Mary A. Harness were the parents of the following children: William A., La Due, Missouri; A. L., Kansas City, Missouri; Joseph, Mont- rose, Missouri; Sterling, Altona, Missouri; H. M., Walker township; Mrs. Mary Hackney, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Sarah Wirt, Preston, Kansas, and Frances Jennings, Maxwell, Kansas.
To Mr. and Mrs. Long have been born four children, as follow: Mrs. Inez Graef, White Oak township; James Edward; Chester Lee, and Ermel Hadley, residing at home.
Theodore E. Hall, a progressive farmer and stockman of Honey Creek township, is a native of Henry County. He was born in Bogard township in 1877, a son of A. J. and Juliza J. (Cornett) Hall, both natives of Mis- souri. The father was born in Moniteau County and the mother in Jack- son County. A. J. Hall was a Confederate veteran and served throughout the Civil War. He came to Henry County shortly after the close of the war and located in Bogard township, where he now resides. To A. J. and Juliza J. (Cornett) Hall were born the following children: Mrs. Ida May Hudson, Urich, Missouri; Van W., Urich, Missouri ; Mrs. Lula May Elliott, Moniteau County, Missouri; T. E. and E. W., twins; T. E., the subject of this sketch and E. W., a farmer and stockman in Honey Creek township.
T. E. Hall was reared in Henry County and received his education in the public schools. He remained at home with his father until he was twenty-eight years of age. He now owns a valuable farm one-half mile north of Hartwell, which contains 340 acres. This was formerly known as the John W. Page place and is regarded as one of the best farms in western Henry County.
Mr. Hall was married in 1905 to Miss Bessie Page, a daughter of John W. Page of Big Creek township. Later the family moved to Honey Creek township, where the parents both died and their remains are buried in the Page Cemetery in Big Creek township. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been born three children, two of whom are living: Florence May and Frances Lee, living; Bessie Ethel Hall, died January 8, 1910, buried at Norris Cemetery, Honey Creek township.
Mr. Hall is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Urich and one of the substantial citizens of Henry County.
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J. M. Patt, a well known farmer and stockman of White Oak town- ship, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, in 1850 and is a son of Jackson and Mary W. (Dunn) Patt, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Kentucky. The father died about the time that J. M. was born and the mother came to Cooper County, Mis- souri, in 1853, with the following children: Mary E., who was born August 8, 1839; Charles Richard, born December 23, 1841; William F., born April 28, 1844; Henry Clay, born December 24, 1846, and Jackson M., the sub- ject of this sketch, born February 8, 1850. In 1854 the Patt family came to Henry County and located in White Oak township. A brother of the mother, Nathan Dunn, accompanied them.
J. M. Patt was reared to manhood in Henry County and received his education in the district schools. He has made his own way in life since he was fifteen years of age. He purchased his present place in 1882 and now owns 200 acres of valuable land, which is one of the best improved and prettiest places in western Henry County. The residence is situated on an elevation overlooking the surrounding country for a number of miles, which gives the place a very imposing appearance.
Mr. Patt was united in marriage March 9, 1871, to Miss Mattie L. Carver, a daughter of Noah and Nancy (McIntire) Carver of White Oak township. They settled in Henry County in 1866 and the mother died here in 1868 and the father in 1885. They came from Iowa.
To Mr. and Mrs. Patt have been born eight children, as follow: Louella J., married James Sever, White Oak township; Muzetta A., now the wife of William C. Sampson, White Oak township; Mary I., married Albert Barth, White Oak township; Ida F., married Alonzo Long, Walker town- ship, and Fannie Geraldine, married Harvey Harness, Walker township; James Franklin Patt, lives in Bates County ; Lee J., White Oak township, and Richard, White Oak township.
Mr. Patt has lived in White Oak township for sixty-three years and is one of the substantial pioneers of Henry County. He and his family are members of the Christian Church.
B. Adler, an extensive produce dealer of Clinton, Missouri, has been identified with the business interests of Clinton and Henry County for a number of years. Mr. Adler is a native of Germany, born in 1855, a son. of Samuel and Regina Adler, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Adler came to America in 1872 and first located at Charleston, South Carolina. Eight years later he went to Jacksonport, Arkansas. He remained there-
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until 1881, when he came to Clinton, Missouri. He obtained employment here with a Mr. Hirst, who was engaged in the produce business, and a year later engaged in the huckstering business for himself, dealing in eggs, produce and hides. He was an absolute stranger to Clinton when he came here and really it was not his original intention to remain here when he stopped. He intended going to Iowa. Mr. Adler opened his first pro- duce store in Clinton on the northwest corner of the public square and since that time has done business at different locations here and has been at his present location, 126 North Main street, about twelve years. He owns this building, besides considerable other business and residence prop- erty in Clinton. He is probably the most extensive produce dealer in Clin- ton, and also deals in rubber, metal and other kindred products.
Mr. Adler was married December 15, 1884, with Miss Julia Kohner of Meridian, Mississippi, a daughter of Doctor Kohner. To Mr. and Mrs. Adler have been born two children: W. S., a member of the firm of B. Adler & Company, and Regina, a teacher in the public schools of Clinton.
Mr. Adler is a liberal, enterprising citizen and has the best interests of his city and county at heart. He is a liberal contributor to all patriotic causes and a staunch supporter of every movement for the up-building of Clinton and Henry County. He is one of the substantial citizens of this County.
T. L. Snodgrass, the well known florist of Clinton and proprietor of the Snodgrass greenhouses, is at the head of one of the interesting enter- prises of Henry County. The Snodgrass greenhouses, which are located at 905 East Ohio street, is an extensive institution and a model of its kind. Here one finds the most modern equipment and the application of the best methods for the production of all kinds of flowers, bulbs and plants gen- erally found in an up-to-date greenhouse. There are over 12,000 feet under glass. The product of this institution is not confined to Clinton and Henry County, but flowers are shipped from here over a large radius of country. Much credit is due Mr. Snodgrass for the development of this business. While he is thoroughly experienced in this line of work, having devoted about twenty-one years of his life to it, the Snodgrass greenhouses of Clinton dates its beginning only about seven years ago.
T. L. Snodgrass is a native Missourian. He was born in Cooper County in 1875 and is a son of S. F. and W. E. (Timms) Snodgrass, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Georgia. The father was a soldier in the Confederate army and served throughout the war. He died in 1915
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and his remains were buried in Englewood Cemetery. His widow now resides at Clinton. They were the parents of the following children: T. L., the subject of this sketch; Etta, resides in Clinton; Lillie, married Walter Landaker; S. O., an engineer, Clinton, Missouri; Minerva, married Jack Cound, Toledo, Ohio; Fannie and Carl, deceased.
Mr. Snodgrass received his education in the public schools at Clinton, Missouri, and attended Clinton Academy, when Professor Lamkin was principal. Since leaving school Mr. Snodgrass has practically devoted his life to the florist's business, and in his broad range of experience in this line of work, has covered every detail of the practical side of flower and plant culture of which he is making such a well merited success.
Mr. Snodgrass was married in 1913 to Mrs. Nona Cherry of Nevada, Missouri, and a daughter of Dudley and Lula (Thomas) Thomas. The father and the mother reside in Clinton. Mrs. Snodgrass has one sister, Daisy, now the wife of James Grant, and a brother, Taylor Thomas, who resides in Nevada, Missouri.
Mr. Snodgrass is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his wife have an extensive acquaintance in Clinton and are popular.
Samuel Biggs, a well known stock dealer of Clinton, Missouri, is a native of Henry County. He was born near Alberta in Bethlehem town- ship, October 8, 1875. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Arnold) Biggs, both natives of Kentucky, the former born in Rockcastle County, Septem- ber 5, 1833, and the latter born in Warren County, December 24, 1840, and now reside in Clinton, Missouri. John Biggs left his native State in 1849 and went to Illinois and in 1868 came to Missouri. John and Eliza- beth (Arnold) Biggs were married in Illinois March 22, 1857, and the following children were born to them: Mary, now the wife of Allen Faith, Clinton, Missouri; John; Jane, now the wife of John Ellis, Versailles; Ed B., Montrose, Missouri; James and Charles, twins, died in infancy ; Laura, now the wife of Decatur Jennings, Kansas City, Missouri; S. D., lives at Buffalo, Kansas; Samuel, the subject of this sketch, and Minnie, married Horace Houtes.
Samuel Biggs was reared on a farm in Henry County and educated in the district schools. He engaged in farming, which he made his prin- cipal occupation until 1911, when he came to Clinton, and since that time has been engaged in buying and selling mules and cattle, and today is one of the extensive live stock dealers of the county. His operations are by
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