USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 63
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and is known far and wide for the high class stock raised on his place. He is the owner of a farm of five hundred twenty acres, which is well watered and possessed of all the natural advantages of an ideal stock farm. The home farm consists of three hundred sixty acres, most of which is valuable and productive farm land and ranks as one of the lead- ing farms of Henry County.
Mr. Dunn was united in marriage March 4, 1903, to Miss Ora T. Gates, a daughter of William A. and Virginia Gates of Walker town- ship. They were pioneer settlers of Henry County and now reside in Walker township. The father is seventy-seven years old, and the mother seventy-five. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have been born two sons, Charles Victor and William Richard, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are members of the Presbyterian Church and rank high among the leading people of their community. Mr. Dunn is strictly a twentieth century farmer and stockman and his place bespeaks his thrift and industry.
Fridolin, or Fritz, Oswald, a prosperous and progressive farmer of White Oak township, is a native of Switzerland. He was born July 9, 1862, and is a son of Caspar (born December 14, 1823; died 1894) and Barbara Oswald (born 1836, died 1893), both natives of Switzerland. Fridolin Oswald was reared in his native land to the age of eighteen, immigrated to America in March, 1881, with his parents who, after spend- ing a few weeks in Illinois, their father came to Henry County, arriving in April, 1881. The father bought the farm where Fridolin now lives, and after living on it about two years he removed to Montrose, where he died in 1894. His wife departed this life in 1893, and their remains rest side by side in the Catholic Cemetery at Montrose. They were the parents of the following children: C. J., Kit Carson, Colorado; Fridolin, the subject of this sketch; Barbara, married Joseph Wagner, Montrose, Missouri; Elizabeth and Carl, died in infancy, and Caroline died in 1895, aged eighteen years.
Fridolin Oswald was educated in his native land and after coming to this country he remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. Since then he has been engaged in farming and stock raising on his own accord and now owns a valuable and productive farm of two hundred acres situate three miles southeast of Urich. The place is well improved, with a very good farm residence and two barns. He
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raises cattle and hogs on an extensive scale and is one of the successful stock men of Henry County.
Mr. Oswald was united in marriage July 28, 1884, with Miss Elizabeth Stapf, a daughter of Severin and Barbara Stapf. The father is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and the mother of Alsace-Lorraine. They came to America in the early fifties. Mrs. Oswald was born in Ohio. Severin Stapf was born in August, 1826, and died June 3, 1911. The mother was born August 13, 1838, and died April 13, 1893. Their remains were buried in the cemetery at Germantown, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children: Mary, married Henry Plume, Plainville, Kansas; Frank, died at the age of twenty-six years; Elizabeth, the wife of Frido- lin Oswald, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Barney Blomert, Walker township; Thomas, Germantown, Henry County ; Minnie, married A. Vogle, Montrose, Missouri. To Fridolin Oswald and wife have been born the following children: Barbara, married Joe Mensterman, Urich, Missouri; Mary Elizabeth, born September 26, 1886, died November 28, 1886; Frances Elizabeth, born March 7, 1888, a nurse in St. John's Hospital at Salina, Kansas; Charles F., born December 8, 1889, now a soldier in the National Army at Camp Funston; John Joseph, born September 18, 1891, enlisted in the United States Army February 26, 1918, and is now a member of the 354th Infantry, 89th Division, in France; William, born August 6, 1893, who resides at home; Benjamin, born September 12, 1896, at home; Julia Minnie, born June 4, 1898, at home; Edmond Thomas, born January 12, 1901, at home.
The Oswald family are prominent in the community and Mr. Os- wald is one of the substantial citizens of Henry County. Mr. Oswald and family are members of the Urich Mission of the Catholic Church.
Robert Barth, a successful young farmer and stockman of White Oak township, and a member of one of the pioneer families of Henry County, is a native of this county. He was born in White Oak township November 28, 1892, and is a son of John and Saphrona (Rombold) Barth. A sketch of John Barth and further mention of the history of the Barth family appears in this volume.
Robert Barth was reared on the farm in White Oak township, and received his education in the district schools of Henry County. Farming and stock raising has been his occupation since boyhood, and he has a valuable farm of one hundred sixty acres, which is located about two and
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one-half miles southeast of Urich in White Oak township. This place was formerly known as the Henney place and is a well-improved farm and under a high state of cultivation. In addition to general farming, Mr. Barth is making a success of raising cattle and hogs.
On March 3, 1915, Mr. Barth was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Goodman, a daughter of Benjamin and Bessie (Harris) Goodman. The Goodman family came from Ohio in 1888, and settled in Henry County. Mabel Barth is a native of Henry County, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Good- man now reside in White Oak township and the following children have been born to them: Mabel, wife of Robert Barth, the subject of this sketch; Myrtle, died at the age of two years; Georgia, Roy and Floyd reside at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Barth are well known in the community and popular with the young people of Henry County.
Edward W. Barth, a progressive young farmer and stockman of White Oak township, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1892. He is the eldest son of John W. and Lena (Gretzinger) Barth, and a grandson of John Barth, a pioneer of White Oak township. A sketch of John Barth with more extended mention of the Barth family history appears in this volume.
Edward Barth attended school in the district school and later the Urich High School and then took a course in Central College at Fayette, Missouri. He then taught school for two years, when he engaged in farm- ing, which he has since followed. He has a farm of eighty acres of valuable land, which is located three and one-half miles south of Urich in White Oak township. Since owning this place Mr. Barth has made many improvements and now has one of the fine farms of western Henry County.
Mr. Barth was married September 11, 1916, to Miss Alma Bradley, a daughter of J. L. and Anna (Eaton) Bradley of Walker township, Henry County. Mrs. Barth was one of four children born to her parents as follows: William, resides at Towanda, Kansas ; Mrs. Effie Mehlhop, Dexter, New Mexico; Alma, the wife of Edward Barth, the subject of this sketch, and Earl, who resides at home with his parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Barth has been born one child, Dorothy Mae, born December 21, 1917.
Mr. Barth is an industrious and hardworking young man and realizes that success is not an accident, and comes through diligence and honest toil. He is one of the young farmers and stockmen of Henry County who is making good.
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John W. Barth, successful farmer and stockman of Walker town- ship, and a leader in his section of the county in both civic and political movements, is a native son of Henry County. Mr. Barth was born near Zoar Station, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1866, and is the eldest son of John and Mary Lebold Barth, earlier pioneer settlers of Henry County. A complete biography of John Barth appears elsewhere in this volume. John Barth became one of Henry County's most successful and influential citizens, owner of a large tract of land, and was widely and favorably known throughout the county.
John W. Barth accompanied his parents to Henry County in child- hood and was here reared to manhood and educated in the district school of his home neighborhood in White Oak township. He began during his boyhood days to "follow the plow" and learned the vocation of agriculturist and stockman from his capable father. He received as his share of the Lebold estate a tract of ninety-six acres, which was one-fifth of 487 acres which had been given to John and Mary Lebold Barth by the father of Mrs. Barth, who had invested in this land prior to the advent of the Barths in western Missouri. Mr. Barth improved this tract, which is located in Walker township and has added to his holdings until he now owns a total of two hundred and forty acres. He is extensively engaged in stock raising and is recognized as one of the successful citizens of Henry County.
In 1891, John W. Barth and Miss Lena Gretzinger were united in marriage. This marriage has been blessed with the following children: Edward W., born December 5, 1892, residing on a farm in White Oak township; Amelia H., born April 7, 1894, and died in 1905; Mary M., born March 9, 1897; Clarence C., born June 11, 1899. Mrs. Lena (Gretzinger) Barth was born near Zoar Station, Tuscarawas County, . Ohio, in 1866, and is the daughter of Jacob and Magdalena Gretzinger, who spent all of their days in Ohio.
In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Barth is president of the Farmers' Bank of Urich, Missouri, and is active in public affairs. He is a Democrat and is leader in his township of all movements furthering America's cause in the World War. He is serving as bond sales director in Walker township. He and Mrs. Barth and the members of his family are affiliated with the White Oak Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Agrippa Valentine Clary, a prominent pioneer of White Oak town- ship, was born in Overton County, Tennessee, July 12, 1851. He is a son of John H. and Lavina (Sevier) Clary, both natives of Tennessee. John H. Clary came to Henry County, Missouri, in November, 1860, and settled in Walker township, Henry County, and spent the remainder of his life in Missouri. He lived for many years in Walker township, and later moved to the southwestern part of the State. He died near Joplin at the age of eighty-four years. His wife preceded him in death sveral years. She died at Rich Hill, aged sixty-three years. John H. and Lavina (Sevier) Clary were the parents of the following children: Agrippa Valentine, the subject of this sketch; William R., Wenatche, Washington; Mrs. Martha Gragg, deceased; Mrs. Mary Tinsley, deceased ; George W., Diamond, Missouri; Catherine, deceased; John, deceased; James, deceased, and Nannie Bales, deceased.
A. V. Clary was educated in the public schools of Walker township, a Mrs. Cummings being his first teacher. The school house which he attended was one of the pioneer log buildings, and he had an opportunity to experience the beginning of public schools in Minnesota. Mr. Clary remained on the home farm until 1874 when he engaged in farming for himself on the place where he now lives. He owns ninety acres, five miles south of Urich, and carries on both general farming and stock rais- ing and is one of the successful men of White Oak township.
Mr. Clary was united in marriage with Mary Frances (Dunn) Sevier, a daughter of J. N. and Zulima (Ogle) Dunn of White Oak township. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn were pioneers of White Oak township, coming from Kentucky to Cooper County, Missouri, in a very early day, and came from Cooper County to Henry County in 1853. Mrs. Clary was born in Cooper County October 8, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn were the parents of the following children: Thomas, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Elizabeth Blevins ; Daniel Luther, deceased; James A., a sketch of whom appears in this volume ; Mrs. Margaret E. Armstrong; Mary Frances, the wife of Agrippa Valentine Clary, the subject of this sketch; Jasper Newton, who lives at Urich, Missouri. To Agrippa Valentine Clary and wife have been born the following children: George Ernest, who lives on the home place; Ola A., a farmer in Walker township; and John E., the present treasurer of Henry County. Mrs. Clary was first married to George A. Sevier and to that union were born the following children: James W., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Rosa E., married W. R. Williams, and she is now
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deceased; Dora E., married W. G. Martin, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, and Elwood F., a farmer of White Oak township, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Mr. Clary has a vivid recollection of the pioneer conditions as they existed in Henry County over fifty years ago. He recalls many of the pioneers who lived here when he came, and has observed the many changes that have gradually taken place in the county since his boyhood days. to the present time. He is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Clary are members of the Urich Presbyterian Church.
Robert W. Allen .- Upon the old Allen homestead in Tebo township in Henry County there have been born and reared three generations of the Allen family, since the land was first entered in 1835 by George J .. Allen, father of Robert W. Allen, the subject of this review. Robert W. Allen was born on this farm September 2, 1850, and is the son of George J. and Esther (Mitchell) Allen, who were parents of eight chil- dren : Mrs. Susan M. Hodges, deceased; William M. and Ann E., deceased ; Belle J., Windsor, Missouri; James, deceased, twin brother of Belle J., died in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; George J., living in Montana; Emma, widow of J. W. Huston, Windsor; Robert W., young- est of the family.
George J. Allen was born in Washington County, east Tennessee, April 5, 1809, and died in Henry County March 5, 1850. In 1835 he came to Henry County from Tennessee and settled in Tebo township, where he improved a splendid property and which later passed to his son, Rob- ert W. Allen, and is now being tilled by Robert L. Allen, son of Robert W. Mrs. Esther (Mitchell) Allen was born in Tennessee May 17, 1815, and died February 13, 1853. After the death of their parents the eight Allen children all remained on the farm, the oldest children taking the responsibility of the rearing of the younger and every child grew to up- right and worthy manhood and womanhood.
Robert W. Allen remained on the home farm of the family and tilled his acreage, consisting of 290 acres, until his retirement to a home in Windsor in 1911. He came into possession of the Allen homestead through the gradual purchase of the interests of the heirs and built it up into a splendid property.
October 9, 1879, Robert W. Allen and Miss Sallie M. Sutherland were united in marriage. Mrs. Sallie M. Allen was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, the daughter of Uriah and Margaret Jane (Harris) Suther-
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ROBERT W. ALLEN
MRS. SALLIE (SOUTHERLAND) ALLEN
.......
MARGARET ALLEN BYRNS
ROBERT BELL ALLEN III
DR. ROBERT LOGAN ALLEN
MRS. CLARA (ALLEN) BYRNS
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land. To this marriage have been born two children: Clara, wife of Rev. O. L. Byrns, Golden City, Missouri, mother of one child, Margaret; Robert L., who is managing the old home place of the family in Tebo township, a graduate of the Kansas City Veterinary College, and who combines the practice of his profession with farming pursuits, married Myrtle Bell and has one child, Robert Bell Allen.
Mr. Allen has always been a Democrat, politically, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. In addition to his land interests he is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Windsor and owns stock in the Peoples Bank of Calhoun, Missouri. Mr. Allen is one of the highly valued and substantial and enterprising citizens of Windsor and Henry County.
Dr. Robert L. Allen, veterinarian and farmer, Tebo township, Henry County, was born on the farm where he now resides June 28, 1882, and is the son of Robert W. Allen, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
Robert L. Allen was educated in district school number nine and the Windsor High School, from which he graduated in 1900. In 1902 he en- tered the Kansas City Veterinary College and graduated therefrom in 1905. He began the active practice of his profession in 1905 and for a year he was engaged in the service of the Government, being stationed at South Omaha, Nebraska. In 1906 he located at Columbia, Missouri, and practiced his profession in the State veterinarian's department for two years, all of which broad experience tended to develop his powers and render him more proficient in the practice of his profession and to broaden his knowledge of the diseases of animals. In 1907 he located in Windsor and soon built up a lucrative practice. In 1909 he settled upon the Allen home place in section 12 of Tebo township. Doctor Allen is a well known breeder of Hereford cattle and is farming 400 acres of land, being owner of 120 acres in Tebo township. He is continuing his successful practice which he carries on with his farming operations.
On April 4, 1909, Doctor Allen was married to Miss Mrytle Bell, who was born in Pettis County, Missouri, the daughter of John H. and Mary H. (McDaniel) Bell, the former of whom was a native of Illinois and the latter of Missouri, and are now living on a farm in Pettis County. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have one child, Robert Bell Allen, born August 21, 1910. Mrs. Myrtle Allen is a graduate of the Windsor High School and taught school for a number of years in Windsor and Weatherford, Okla- homa, and Clinton, Missouri, the greater part of her teaching experience having been in graded schools.
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Doctor Allen is a member of the Missouri State Veterinarian Asso- ciation and the Missouri Valley Veterinarian Association. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.
George H. Henny, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of White Oak township, belongs to a Henry County pioneer family. Mr. Henry is a native of Ohio. He was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1880, and is a son of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Goodman) Henny. Rudolph Henny was an early settler in White Oak township, and after coming here was engaged in farming and stock raising and spent the remainder of his life in this township. He died in 1902, and his widow now resides in Bogard township. They were the parents of the following children: Charles, now resides in Denver, Colorado; Elmer, lives on the home place in Bogard township, with his mother; George H., the subject of this sketch; Clara Ellen, resides at home, and Clarence Ray in Bogard town- ship. George H. Henny was reared on the home farm in Walker township, and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. Later he purchased his present farm of one hundred fifty-two acres. It is a valuable farm and located about one-fourth of a mile south of Lucas. Mr. Henry has recently built a seven-room bungalow of mod- ern design and his other farm buildings are in thorough keeping with his high-class residence. His land is fertile and productive and has the advantage of being well watered.
Mr. Henry was united in marriage February 8, 1911, with Miss Ida M. Barth, a daughter of John and Sophia (Rombold( Barth. More extensive mention is made of the Barth family in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Henny have one son, Oren Clifford. Mr. Henny takes an active inter- est in local public affairs and is now a member of the school board of his district. He is one of the substantial and progressive citizens of Henry County.
W. S. Ward, a well-to-do and progressive farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Boone County, February 19, 1868, and is a son of Lafayette and Malissa A. (Waugh) Ward, natives of Indiana. The Ward family came to Henry County in 1869, when W. S. was about one year old. They settled about two miles east of where Blairstown now stands. Here the father engaged in farm- ing until the time of his death in 1882. His widow married Abraham Crites, who is now deceased, and she lives at Blairstown. To Lafayette
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and Malissa (Waugh) Ward, were born the following children: W. S., the subject of this sketch; Charles E., deceased; Omer, deceased; O. L., Salesville, Montana; O. T., Big Creek township ;. and Ernest, who resides on the home place in Big Creek township.
W. S. Ward was reared on the home farm in Big Creek township and received his education in the rural schools of Henry County. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. He then went to Johnson County, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming for four years, when he returned to Henry County and en- gaged in farming and stock raising in Big Creek township. He bought his present farm in 1902 and since then has added many improvements, making of it one of the attractive and valuable places of this township. Mr. Ward is a modern farmer and stockman, as the neat and well-kept appearance of his farm indicates.
In 1889 W. S. Ward was united in marriage with Miss Katie R. Shelton, a daughter of C. D. and Emma (Ray) Shelton of Chilhowee, Johnson County, Missouri. Mrs. Ward was born in Illinois and her parents are also natives of that State. C. D. and Emma Ray Shelton are the parents of the following children: Katie R., the wife of W. S. Ward; James M., Kansas City, Missouri; W. A., Bozeman, Montana ; Mrs. Mary Coe, Ft. Worth, Texas; C. N., Big Creek township; Mrs. Pearl Wright, Sedalia, Missouri; and Mrs. Alice Killingsworth, Walnut Grove, Missouri.
To W. S. Ward and wife have been born the following children: Otto, born in 1890, enlisted in the United States Army September 20, 1917, and is now in the service in France, having gone there with the 88th Division in March, 1918; Francis P., born 1891, was educated in the Big Creek Consolidated High School and graduated at the University of Missouri. He then accepted a position as teacher of science in the high school at Litchfield, Illinois, for two years, filling the position of principal the last half of the second year. He entered the United States Army July 6, 1918, and is now stationed at the Central Officers' Training School, Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky. Blanche, born 1895, a graduate of the Big Creek Consolidated High School, who resides at home with her parents.
W. S. Ward is one of the substantial men of Big Creek township and all the members of the Ward family are prominent in Henry County.
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W. A. Stansberry, a Henry County pioneer and prominent farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Fairfield County, in 1852, a son of W. H. and Rachel (Elsborn) Stansberry, natives of Ohio. They came to Missouri in 1870 and settled in Big Creek township, Henry County. Later they removed to St. Clair County, where they lived for a time, but returned to Henry County and both died here, and their remains are interred in the Carpenter Cemetry in Johnson County. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Samantha Jane Crist, now deceased; Mrs. Mary Showalter, Carroll, Ohio; Mrs. Kate Lane, Clinton, Missouri; John, Old Chilhowee, Missouri; W. A., the sub- ject of this sketch; George, died in Montana; Charles, resides at Tulsa, Oklahoma; Mrs. Rachel Sherman, died at Pittsburg, Kansas; Mrs. Emma Corsen, died in Johnson County, Missouri; Noah, lives in Johnson County, Missouri; J. J., Miami, Oklahoma; Mrs. Frank Murphy, Honey Creek township, and Mrs. Millie Heath, Taborville, Missouri.
W. A. Stansberry was reared and educated in Ohio and was about eighteen years of age when he came to Henry County with his parents in 1870. After coming here he worked some by the month, but soon engaged in farming in Big Creek township on rented land. Later he bought a farm and now owns one hundred twenty acres, two and one-half miles southeast of Blairstown. His place is well improved with a good farm residence and other suitable farm buildings. He is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising, having been especially successful raising Duroc Jersey hogs in recent years.
Mr. Stansberry was married in 1876 to Miss Sarah E. Webster, daugh- ter of James H. and Mary Jane (Carpenter) Webster of Big Creek town- ship. The father died in Arkansas in 1903, and the mother died in Henry County during the Civil War, having contracted pneumonia from ex- posure when driven from home by "Jayhawkers." Mrs. Stansberry was one of four children born to her parents, the others being: Pleasant Webster, who served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and now resides at Bozeman, Montana; Mrs. Mary Haney, Chickalah, Arkansas, and Mrs. Hester Anderson, now deceased. After the death of the mother of these children, the father married again to Mary Lotspiech, and to this second marriage were born the following children: Charles, lives in Arkansas; Mrs. Dora Hanes, deceased; Walter, lives in Oklahoma; Oscar, Arkansas; Florence, Arkansas, and Maude, deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stansberry have been born four children, as follows ::
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