USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 70
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On December 10, 1884, Mr. Avery was united in marriage with Serena Merritt, and to this union were born five children, as follows: Walter C., Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Sidney R., at home; Lyman L., a soldier in the National Army, was in training at Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas, and is now in France; Susan C., at home. The first son of the family died in infancy, born May 1, 1887. Walter C. was born October 28, 1888, mar- ried Miss Ethel Woodard, and has three children, Lucille, Louise, Irene; Sidney R. was born August 7, 1893; Lyman was born March 3, 1896; Susan C. was born February 7, 1902.
The mother of the foregoing children was born in Henry County, March 28, 1861, the daughter of Judge Milton B. and Susan A. (Fewel) Merritt, who were parents of ten children. Judge Milton B. Merritt was born in Tennessee, April 27, 1819, and was an early pioneer of Henry County. He served as county judge for a number of years and was one of the best known men of his day in Henry County. He died March 24, 1906. His widow is now living on the old Merritt home place. She is
ROBERT W. AVERY
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one of the oldest pioneer women in Henry County, if not the oldest; she is well past ninety-three years of age, having been born June 18, 1825. Mrs. Avery was educated in the district schools and the Warrensburg Normal and is a capable and well-informed lady.
Mr. Avery was a Democrat but took little active interest in political matters. He was contented to strive and create for his family and his home, his interests in life being manly with his home and family to whom he was very devoted, no sacrifice being too great and no endeavors being too much for him to attempt in their behalf.
Benjamin F. Spry, a representative citizen of Bogard township, is a native of Missouri, and a descendant of pioneer parents of this State. Mr. Spry was born in Howard County, September 19, 1881, son of George W. and Elzerne (Shipp) Spry, both natives of Howard County. The father was born in 1851 and died October 7, 1915, and the mother was born in 1856 and died February 29, 1916, and their remains rest side by side in the Hickory Grove Cemetery. They were both descendants of pioneer families of Howard County, Missouri. To George W., and Elzerene (Shipp) Spry were born the following children: Cowin lives at Macks- ville, Kansas; Corbin died at age of thirteen years; Ludie May married William Mendenhall, Urich, Missouri; Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch; Fern W., Rolla C., Bogard township; and Bessie L., married J. Kellison, Blairstown, Missouri. Fern W. Spry resides with his brother, Benjamin F., his wife having died June 27, 1915. She bore the maiden name of Olive B. Stewart. They were married October 2, 1917, and two children were born to this union: Mary Louise, who died in infancy, and Harold F., who is a bright and intelligent little boy of three, and makes. his home with his uncle and aunt, Ben and Maude Spry.
Benjamin F. Spry was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he engaged in farming and stock raising for him- self. He now owns a farm of two hundred acres in Bogard township, which is one of the well-improved and productive farms of Henry County. In addition to being a successful general farmer he is also engaged in stock raising extensively, and is one of the successful stock feeders of the county.
Mr. Spry was married September 28, 1904, to Miss Maude E. Simp- son, a daughter of George and Annie (Kepner) Simpson of Bogard town- ship. To Mr. and Mrs. Spry has been born one daughter, Clara Lee.
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Mr. Spry is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Bogard township.
W. F. Lear, a native son of Henry County and a prominent farmer and Stock raiser in Bogard township, was born in this township, April 30, 1861. He is a son of Christopher and Minnie (Blazer) Lear, early settlers of Henry County. Christopher Lear was a native of Holland, he came to America when he was eighteen years of age. His method of obtaining passage to America from his native land was considerably out of the ordinary. He arranged with some companions of his to put him in a barrel and place him on board the vessel as freight. After the vessel had put to sea, his companions were to open the barrel and let him out, which they did. After the commanding officer discovered him, young Lear was required to work to pay his passage until the vessel reached New York, when he was permitted to go his way. This was exactly what he had planned on and in this way succeeded in reaching America. From New York he went to St. Louis and shortly after- wards came to Henry County, and bought land in Bogard township, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising until his death in 1901. He was an industrious man and a good citizen. His widow now lives at Anadarko, Oklahoma. They were the parents of the following children : John, deceased; Henry, deceased; Lizzie married J. H. Tabor, Carbondale, Kansas; W. F., the subject of this review; and Charlotte, who died in infancy.
W. F. Lear was reared in Bogard township and educated in the district schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was married in 1885. In 1887 Mr. Lear purchased a farm in Bogard town- ship, and since that time has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. The Lear place contains one hundred twenty acres of valuable and well-improved land, which is located in Bogard township four miles north of Urich. The place is well kept and the farm build- ings are in good condition and altogether presents an appearance indi- cating the thrift and industry of the owner.
Mr. Lear was united in marriage February 3, 1885, to Miss Belle Hendricks, a daughter of M. L. and Nancy (Tabor) Hendricks. He was born in Kentucky in 1834 and came to Henry County with his parents when he was about one year old. M. L. Hendricks was the son of Asa Hendricks, who was truly one of the pioneers of Henry County, and ex- perienced the hardships and vicissitudes incident to pioneer life. He
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came to Henry County from Kentucky in 1835. He made rails in Lexing- ton one winter for twenty-five cents per hundred, while his wife re- mained at home in Henry County and cared for the children. Mr. M. L. Hendricks died December 13, 1882, and his wife died November 3, 1911, and their remains are buried on the old Hendricks homestead. To M. L. and Nancy (Tabor) Hendricks were born three children, the oldest of whom died in infancy and the others are: Mrs. W. F. Lear, the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. H. E. Huffman, of Warrensburg, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Lear have been born four children, as follow: Alice mar- ried R. C. Spry, Bogard township, Henry County; Clarence N., married Zonie Depew of Bogard township and resides on the home place; Loy H., now in the service of the United States Navy and after a period of training at the Great Lakes Training Station near Chicago, Illinois he went to France and is stationed at a naval aviation base; and Dora E., who resides at home with her parents.
Mr. Lear is one of the progressive men of Bogard township and one of Henry County's substantial citizens. He is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Lear is a member of the Urich Christian Church, as are Mrs. Alice Spry and Mrs. Dora E. Lear.
John B. Gamlin, proprietor of the "Highland Stock Farm" in Bogard township, is one of the leading farmers and stockmen of this county. Mr. Gamlin is a native of Illinois, born in 1871, a son of John and Elizabeth (Baker) Gamlin, both natives of England. They were married in Illinois in 1866 and ten years later came to Missouri and settled in Pettis County. They resided in that county from 1876 until 1889, when they came to Henry County and settled on a farm in Bogard township, near Blairstown, and they now reside at Raymond, Illinois. They were the parents of the following children: Kate married W. H. Rector, Bogard township; John B., the subject of this sketch; William H. lives at Urich, Missouri ; Matthew resides in Illinois ; Mrs. Mary Burke, deceased ; Joseph lives in Illinois ; Mrs. Virgie Gamlin lives in Illinois; Nellie married Ray Henry and lives in Illinois.
John B. Gamlin received his education in the public schools. In 1909 Mr. Gamlin purchased his present place of two hundred acres, which is located about four and one-half miles north of Urich. It is one of the valuable places of western Henry County with a splendid residence and other farm buildings. The place is well watered and adapted to stock raising as well as general farming. Mr. Gamlin raises horses, cattle,
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sheep and hogs. He keeps a good grade of Shropshire sheep and Durham and white-face cattle. He is also an extensive breeder of Poland China hogs. Mrs. Gamlin has built up an extensive reputation as a success- ful chicken raiser. She specializes in White Leghorns, and at this writing has about eight hundred chickens. She has been interested in this line of work for the past five years.
March 16, 1898, John B. Gamlin was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Eller, daughter of H. P. and Martha (Hendricks) Eller of Bogard township. Mrs. Gamlin was born in Bogard township. Her mother is now deceased and her father, who was a native of North Carolina, re- sides at Urich. To H. P. and Martha (Hendricks) Eller were born the following children: Thomas, deceased; Louisa, wife of John B. Gamlin, the subject of this sketch; Annie, married W. H. Gamlin and resides at Urich, Missouri; Jessie, married Emmett Meinert and lives in Montana ; Albert H., now a soldier in the United States Army, a member of Battery A, 348th Field Artillery and located at Camp Lewis, Washington. He enlisted in Montana in the autumn of 1917. To Mr. and Mrs. Gamlin has been born one son, Ray L., who resides at home with his parents, and is one of the competent stockmen of Henry County. He thoroughly un- derstands the stock business and is recognized as one of the competent judges of stock in the county. The Gamlin family rank as one of the leading representative families of this section.
J. O. Cunningham, owner and proprietor of the "Valley Farm," is one of the extensive farmers and stockmen of Henry County. Mr. Cun- ningham is a native of Illinois. He was born in McLean County Novem- ber 30, 1864, a son of J. W. and Rachel Elvina (Shaw) Cunningham. The father was a Union veteran of the Civil War and now resides in Iroquois County, Illinois. The mother died in October, 1917. They were the par- ents of the following children: J. O. Cunningham, the subject of this sketch; Emery, Sikeston, Missouri; John S., Iroquois County, Illinois ; Eva May, married Clarence Hollister, Sikeston, Missouri; Elma, married John Whitlaw, Hastings, Nebraska.
J. O. Cunningham was reared in Illinois and educated in the public schools and Eureka College at Eureka, Illinois. He engaged in farming in early life in his native State and followed that occupation there until 1901, when he came to Henry County, Missouri, and bought one hundred sixty acres of land in Bogard township. He improved this place and added eighty acres to his original purchase. He also owns a farm of two hun-
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dred acres near Blairstown. He built a fine residence on the home place in 1912. It is a two story, modern residence with sixteen rooms and is equipped with hot and cold water and modern heating and lighting sys- tems. The barns and other buildings on the place are in thorough keep- ing with the residence. Mr. Cunningham is one of the successful stock- men of the county. He is well known as an extensive breeder of regis- tered Poland China hogs. He raises as many as one hundred head of these hogs annually, all of which are eligible to registration. He also raises high grade cattle. The "Valley Farm" is well adapted to general farming purposes as well as being one of the ideal stock farms of the county. To supply the place with water Mr. Cunningham has drilled a well three hundred feet deep, which furnishes an inexhaustible supply of water for the place.
February 17, 1896, J. O. Cunningham was united in marriage with Miss May Center, daughter of H. C. and Hattie (Hall) Center of Watseka, Illinois. Mrs. Cunningham's mother died February 14, 1914, and the father died March 9, 1918. To Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have been born two children : Dewey C., a graduate of the Blairstown High School, and Eleanor Rachel, who married Paul H. Allen, of Urich, Missouri, May 8, 1918.
Mr. Cunningham takes a deep interest in local public institutions and has been especially active in the betterment of the public schools. He was one of the strong supporters for the Blairstown High School dis- trict, which is one of the best schools of the county. He is now serving his second term as secretary of the consolidated school district, number two. For six years he was president of the township board, and during that time much excellent road work was done, many concrete culverts being constructed and other road improvements made. He is one of Henry County's progressive citizens who stands ever ready to support any worthy public enterprise.
Eugene W. Costley, a well known representative citizen of Urich, is a native Missourian. He was born in 1857 in St. Charles County, a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Stone) Costley. The mother was a second cousin of the late Senator William J. Stone. She and her husband are both now deceased and their remains are interred in Darden Creek Ceme- try, St. Charles County, Missouri. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: Edward C., deceased; William M., lives in St. Louis, Mis- souri; Eugene W., the subject of this sketch; John D., deceased; Ka- turah, Howell, Missouri.
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When E. W. Costley was a child his parents removed to St. Louis, where he attended the public schools until he was sixteen years of age. He then attended the University of Missouri for three years. After leav- ing college he returned to St. Louis, where he was engaged in the boot and shoe business for a time. On account of failing health he went to Natchez, Mississippi. Later he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and from there to Texas, then to Holden, Missouri, and shortly afterward, during the seventies, he went to Clinton, where he was engaged in the boot and shoe business for a number of years. He also served as deputy sheriff of Henry County under Sheriff A. B. Hopkins. In 1882 he settled in White Oak township, where he bought a farm and engaged in general farming and stock raising, to which he has devoted his attention ever since. He owns seventy-five acres of land in Bogard township, eighty acres in White Oak and fifty-seven acres adjoining the town of Urich, where he makes his home.
Mr. Costley was married in 1882 to Miss Millie A. Moler, a daughter of Charles H. and Phoebe (Hendricks) Moler, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Henry County.
Charles H. Moler was an early settler in Bogard township and entered Government land here. His wife was a daughter of Asa Hendricks, who was one of the very early pioneers of this section. Mrs. Costley died in 1898, aged forty years, leaving the following children: Wade, who was born November 14, 1882, and is now at Dallas, Texas, in the employ of the United States Government as a constructor, he married Lula May Newcomb and they have four children, Harry H., Eugene, Laura May and Wade H., Jr. The second and youngest child born to Mr. and Mrs. Costley is Hoyland L., born February 20, 1887. She was educated in Stevens Col- lege, Columbia, Missouri, and now resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Wade was educated in the public schools of Henry County and the Central College at Fayette, Missouri.
Mr. Costley is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights and Ladies of Security.
Lewis B. Mckean, proprietor of the "Fairview Stock Farm" in Bo- gard township, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Seville, Medina Coun- ty, August 12, 1866, a son of William James and Fedora (Hay) Mckean. the former a native of Center County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Seville, Ohio. The McKeans are descendants of prominent colonial an- cestors, Thomas Mckean, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde-
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pendence, being a direct ancestor of the subject of this sketch. William James McKean was a Union veteran in the Civil War, having served for two years in Company K, 88th Regiment Ohio Infantry. In 1868 he came to Missouri and settled in Bogard township, Henry County, on the farm owned by L. B. Mckean, the subject of this sketch. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising practically up to the time of his death, De- cember 11, 1902. To William James and Fedora (Hay) Mckean were born the following children: Lewis B., the subject of this sketch; George H., died July 20, 1908, in Covington, Oklahoma; W. E., a prominent real estate and oil man of Guthrie, Oklahoma, who is prominent in politics of that State, having served as register of deeds of his county for seven years and was a delegate at large to the National Republican Convention in Chicago in 1912; Myrtle F., married A. D. Davis, Wheatland, Okla- homa. The mother of these children died September 16, 1877, and on February 15, 1880, William James McKean was married to Kate W. Criss- man, a daughter of Oliver and Caroline (Sisler) Crissman.
The Crissman family were Pennsylvanians and came from Blair County, that State, to Henry County, Missouri, in 1869. The father died October 1, 1916, the mother having departed this life May 21, 1912. They were the parents of the following children: F. M., Clinton, Missouri ; Mrs. Kate W. Mckean; T. J., lives in Bogard township; Frank P., Colony, Okla- homa; Mrs. Mary McVay, Hutchinson, Kansas; Mrs. Maggie Shoemaker, La Due, Missouri; Mrs. Ida Cowden, Fields Creek township, and Mrs. Ger- trude Ogan, Stevensville, Texas. To William James and Kate W. (Criss- man) McKean were born two children: Ida, who resides at home in Bo- gard township, and Norval, who is engaged in farming in Bogard town- ship.
L. B. McKean is one of the progressive farmers and stockmen of Bo- gard township, and his farm, which is known as "Fairview Stock Farm," is located four and one-half miles southwest of Blairstown, and is one of Henry County's valuable farms. Here Mr. McKean is engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Mckean is one of the high class farmers and stockmen of the county. He is a graduate of the University of Mis- souri, having been a member of the class of 1892, where he ranked high in scholarship. Politically he is a Republican and has served four years as township collector and is now serving his second term. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America of Blairs- town.
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Levi A. Spangler, owner and proprietor of "The Willowbrook Farm," Fields Creek township, is one of Henry County's successful farmers and stockmen. Mr. Spangler was born in McDonough County, Illinois, March 20, 1850, a son of Lewis and Harriet (Sarles) Spangler, both natives of Kentucky, the former born on March 11, 1815, near Louisville, Ky., and the latter on July 29, 1816, at Albany, New York. The family came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1858, and in 1864 left this section of the country and drove across the plains with an ox-team and settled in Idaho. A few years later they returned to Missouri, and settled in Cass County, near Freeman, where the father died in 1882, and the mother departed this life eleven years later, and their remains are buried in the cemetery at Freeman, Missouri.
Lewis and Harriet (Sarles) Spangler were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Norvall, who was a captain in the Confederate Army and was killed while in the service; Mrs. Susan White, deceased; Davis, who served in the Confederate Army, and after the war settled in Cass County and is now deceased; Mrs. Lucinda Calloway, died at Brunswick, Missouri; Mrs. Ruth Naylor died at Brunswick, Missouri; Isabelle died in Idaho in 1884; James M. resides at Clinton, Missouri; Levi A., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mary R. Luster, Springfield, Missouri; and George L., Appleton City, Missouri.
Levi A. Spangler was educated in the public schools of Illinois, Idaho and Cass County, Missouri. He then attended school at the Brunswick, Missouri, Academy. In 1876, he came to Henry County. He was a poor boy without capital and worked as a farm laborer for twenty-five dollars per month. He was frugal and industrious and after a few years had saved fifteen hundred dollars out of his earnings, which he invested in a farm, making the first payment on two hundred forty acres in 1883. He added to this place from time to time until he now owns six hundred seventy-nine acres of well improved land and located about five and one- half miles northeast of Clinton. It is one of the well improved and val- uable farms of Henry County and is probably worth considerably more than seventy-five thousand dollars, if placed on the market today. The Spangler residence is one of the fine homes of Henry County and is equipped with all modern conveniences, including heat, light and water, and the other farm buildings about the place are thoroughly in keeping with the resi- dence.
Mr. Spangler was married October 26, 1882, with Miss Frances Hous-
K
LEVI A. SPANGLER AND FAMILY
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ton, who was born in Deer Creek township, October 16, 1863, the daugh- ter of Bayard and Kate (Adamson) Houston of Deer Creek township. The father is now deceased and his remains are interred in Englewood Cemetery and the mother now resides in Clinton. They were the parents of the following children: William, who is engaged in mining in Idaho; Mrs. Alice Spangler, Clinton, Missouri ; Thomas J. lives in Nebraska ; Berry died at Cheyenne, Wyoming; Frances, wife of Levi A. Spangler, subject of this sketch; Eliza, died in Clinton at the age of nineteen years; Samuel B., whose present address is unknown, and Mrs. Hattie Cameron, Deer Creek, township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have been born five children as follow: Mabel, Dr. Harvey B., James S., Frank A., and Louise, who died at the age of two years. Mabel Spangler was born on October 16, 1904, married Fred W. Olson, a banker of Windsor, Missouri, and is mother of two chil- dren, Frederick A., and Frances. Dr. Harry V. Spangler, who is now a member of the Hospital Corps No. 40, National Army, and is in the service at the western front in France, was born October 18, 1886. He was educated in the Clinton High School and graduated from this school, also completed a business course in the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Illinois, graduated from the medical department of Washington Univer- sity, St. Louis, Missouri. He practiced medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah, for four years prior to his enlistment as first lieutenant in the Medical Corps on June 25, 1917. Doctor Spangler is a Scottish Rite Mason. James S., a farmer in Fields Creek township, was born February 13, 1890, and was educated in the Clinton High School, the Sedalia Business College, and studied the Science of Agriculture at the State University, Columbia, Missouri. He married, Ruby, daughter of R. T. Lindsay, and has two chil- dren, Sarah Frances, and R. T. Lindsay Spangler. Frank A. Spangler was born November 18, 1893, graduated from the Clinton High School, and the banking department of the Gem City Business College, Quincy, Illinois, enlisted in the United States Navy in December, 1917, and received his training for the sea service at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and is now serving his country aboard a United States Naval Vessel in European waters.'
Mr. and Mrs. Spangler are justly proud of their fine family and are especially proud of the two sons whom they have contributed to the nation's service as soldiers in defense of their country. It is probable that they take more pride in their family than in their own accomplish-
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ments which have placed them in the front rank of Henry County citi- zenship. The Spangler home is a beautiful and spacious one and is noted for the warm hospitality and kindliness of its occupants. Nothing is too good for the Spangler children, and at Christmas time in 1917, Mrs. Spangler made her sons and son-in-law each a present of a valuable Masonic ring. Mr. Spangler is a Knights Templar Mason, and both he and Mrs. Spangler are members of the Eastern Star. Since the organization of the Clinton National Bank in 1907, Mr. Spangler has served on the directorate of this thriving financial institution.
J. W. Page, a progressive and enterprising farmer and stockman of Bogard township, was born in Cedar County, Missouri, April 15, 1883, and when an infant was adopted by Franklin M. and Mary J. (Beech) Page, both of whom are now deceased. The former died May 7, 1918, in his eightieth year and the mother departed this life in 1896.
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