USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 71
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Franklin M. Page was born in Moniteau County, Missouri, December 26, 1837, and when a boy came to Henry County with his parents. He grew to manhood in this county and was married here in 1859. Later he removed to Cass County, which was his home for many years. In 1904 he returned to Henry County and bought a farm of one hundred sixty-five and one-half acres five miles northwest of Urich, which is now the home of J. W. Page, the subject of this sketch. This place was for- merly owned by Asa Hendricks, who entered this land from the Govern- ment. Franklin Page was one of the pioneers of this section and a man of high integrity and sterling worth. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Creighton, having been made a Mason at Old Wadesburg, an extinct Cass County town. This was before the town of Creighton or the railroad through that section was thought of. During the Civil War Franklin M. Page served as a member of the Home Guards. Both he and his wife were worthy pioneers of Henry and Cass Counties, and are well worthy of commendable mention in a work of this character.
John Wesley Page was educated in the public schools at Creighton, Missouri, and remained with his adopted parents as long as they lived, caring for them and giving them all the attention of loved and respected parents until they passed to the great beyond.
Mr. Page is one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Henry County, and has always been engaged in that line of work. He is well known as a breeder of Polled Durham cattle and spotted Poland China hogs. He is a good farmer and understands the stock business. He is.
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a member of the Masonic Lodge at Creighton, Missouri, and is one of the substantial men of the community.
Nelson H. Tillman, a Union veteran of the Civil War and a Henry County pioneer, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Darke County, April 14, 1842, a son of Jacob and Eliza (Nighswonger) Tillman. They were the parents of the following children: A. M., resides in Clinton, Missouri ; Nelson H., the subject of this sketch, and William H., of Clinton, Mis- souri. The mother died in Darke County, Ohio, about 1852 and the father was married again. To this second marriage were born two children: George and John, both of whom are now deceased.
Nelson H. Tillman was reared in Darke County, Ohio, and attended the public schools. The Civil War broke out when he was about nineteen years of age and in August, 1861, he enlisted at Arcanum, Ohio, in Com- pany K, 34th Ohio Infantry, and served throughout the war. He partici- pated in the battles of Cedar Creek, Harper's Ferry, Ball Towns and nu- merous other hard fought battles and important engagements. At one time he was struck by a minnie ball which knocked him down, although he was but slightly injured. Mr. Tillman was captured during his term of service in the army. He with eight hundred other Union soldiers were captured by General Rosser's forces while engaged in guarding the Balti- more and Ohio railroad in Virginia. Mr. Tillman was confined in the Con- federate military prison during the winter of 1864 at Richmond in Libby prison until April of 1865. During the period of his confinement he never lost courage and with his good humor and optimistic view of the situation he gave much comfort and encouragement to many of his more despon- dent comrades.
At the close of the war Mr. Tillman received his honorable discharge by general order of the war department and returned to his Ohio home. Here he remained until 1868, when he came to Missouri, settling in Pettis County, near Dresden. A short time later he went to Cherryville, Kansas, where he remained two years. He then came to Henry County and oper- ated a saw mill south of Calhoun for about three years. In 1873 he bought a farm in Shawnee township in partnership with his brother William, and since that time he has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He owns one hundred ninety-eight acres of good farm land under a high state of cultivation. His farm is well improved. All the improvements have been placed there by Mr. Tillman.
Nelson A. Tillman was united in marriage January 26, 1873, with
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Miss Harriet A. Leaton, a daughter of Edward and Pinkston Leaton, pion- eer settlers of Tebo township, Henry County. Edward Leaton was born in Kentucky and came to Henry County, Missouri, an orphan boy. Harriet Pinkston was a widow when he married her, her first husband having been a Mr. Stephenson. Both parents of Mrs. Tillman are now deceased. Mrs. Tillman was one of the following children born to her parents : Flavius, Harriet A., wife of Nelson H. Tillman ; Franklin, Verilous, Oscar and Mrs. Laura Crabtree, who lives in Oklahoma, all of whom are deceased except Mrs. Tillman and Mrs. Crabtree.
To Nelson H. and Harriet A. (Leaton) Tillman have been born three children, as follow: Clara, resides at home with her parents; Ruby, mar- ried M. E. Merritt, Calhoun, Missouri, and Carl, who is living on the old home place in Shawnee township, Henry County. Mr. and Mrs. Tillman have five grandchildren: Tillman, Evangeline Merritt and Harless C., Ruth O. and Carl C. Tillman. Mr. and Mrs. Tillman are one of the honored pioneer couples of Henry County and well deserving of mention in a work of this character, the chief aim of which is to preserve the story of tlie pioneers of other days.
Fred Keck, a well known farmer and stockman of Fields Creek town- ship, was born on the old Keck homestead in the township where he now lives December 24, 1872. He is a son of Constantine Keck, who is a pioneer settler of Fields Creek township. He built one of the first brick residences of the county. It is a two story, eight room structure and is still stand- . ing, is occupied and in a good state of preservation. It was built in 1877 and the brick were manufactured on the Keck homestead.
Fred Keck was reared on the home farm in Fields Creek township and attended the district schools of his neighborhood. He has followed farming and stock raising in Fields Creek township all his life and has met with well merited success. Mr. Keck is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He specializes in Durham and Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs. The Keck homestead consists of two hundred eighty acres of land and is owned by the Keck estate, there being six children in all.
January 18, 1897, Fred Keck was united in marriage with Miss Emma Dehn, a native of Henry County, born in Honey Creek township April 3, 1875. She is a daughter of Peter and Susan (Nace) Dehn, and is one of the following children born to her parents: Katie, resides in Clinton ; John, Clinton township; Lizzie, married John Duerr, Clinton, Missouri; Daniel, lives in Fields Creek township; Anna, deceased; Mary, married Henry
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Myers, Ashgrove, Missouri; Susan, married W. D. Lloyd; George, lives near Clinton, Missouri; Rosa, married Godfrey Batschlett, La Due, Mis- souri; and Emma, married Fred Keck, the subject of this sketch. Peter Dehn was born in Germany April 26, 1824, and immigrated to America in 1851, settling at Galena, Illinois. He came to Henry County in 1867 and settled in Honey Creek township, where he died April 27, 1910. His wife was born in Germany in 1839 and died December 24, 1910.
The Keck family are well known and highly respected in Henry County and Fred Keck is one of the substantial men of the community.
John McCoy, a prominent farmer and stockman of Bogard township, is a native son of Henry County and a descendant of pioneer parents of this section. Mr. McCoy was born about two miles southeast of Creigh- ton December 29, 1855, a son of Mason Louis and Mary (Baker) McCoy. Mason Louis McCoy was born in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Feb- ruary 8, 1829, and died at Urich, Missouri, April 15, 1917. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1838, and they settled in Lafayette County and in 1854 Mason Louis McCoy came to Henry County. He was a man who had a vast experience in the new and undeveloped west of the early days. For a number of years he was train boss for Russell and Major, who were extensive freighters in the early days. Mr. McCoy crossed the plains in the employ of this company many times. During the Civil War his family lived in Henry County on the old homestead and much of his time was spent in Sedalia, where he was serving as a member of the Home Guards. Mason Louis McCoy was an unusual man in many ways. He was fairly well to do and charitably inclined. Many of the early pioneers owe their success in later life to being assisted at a critical time by Mr. McCoy, whose generosity was one of his leading characteristics. He was enterprising and progressive, and took an active part in all pub- lic matters and measures which tended to build up his county and com- munity.
To Mason Louis and Mary (Baker) McCoy were born the following children: John, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Elizabeth McClung, Urich, Missouri; William, died at Premlin, Oklahoma; Mrs. Evaline Peake, Ver- non County, Missouri; Mrs. Letitia Johnson, Richards, Missouri; Robert, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Dollie Hillebrant; George, Urich, Missouri, and one who died in infancy.
John McCoy, the subject of this sketch, received his education, prin- cipally, in private school which was conducted by Marcus Hendricks, who
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settled in the vicinity of Urich in the early days, on a place about half a mile north of town. Shortly afterwards a small frame school house was built on the McCoy place there. This was destroyed by fire and the next school building was located about one-fourth mile south of there, which was subsequently replaced by the Oak Grove school house, which is still standing. Mr. McCoy remained at home with his parents until he was about eighteen years old. His first independent venture was work- ing as a farm laborer in Cass County, for which he received fifteen dollars a month. Shortly after this he engaged in farming on his own account and in 1884 bought ninety acres of land. He has added to this as oppor- tunities presented themselves and is now the owner of a good farm of three hundred thirty-five acres. He is a successful general farmer and is extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs, as well as buying and selling stock. He is a self made man and what property he has accumu- lated is the result of his unaided efforts. When he purchased his first land he was practically without capital and mortgaged the place for al- most the entire purchase price for which he paid eleven per cent. interest. At that time all farm produce was at the low water mark of prices. For instance, eggs sold for three cents per dozen. Mr. McCoy believes that a man can buy a farm today without capital, and pay for it easier and quicker than at any other time in the history of the country.
John McCoy was united in marriage March 2, 1881, with Miss Mary E. Godwin, a native of Indiana, born June 29, 1860. She is a daughter of William and Mary Frances (James) Godwin. The Godwin family re- sided in Bogard township. The father was born February 3, 1828, and died November 13, 1882. The mother was born January 20, 1838, and died November 14, 1908. They came to Missouri in 1866 and settled in Cass County, where they resided for some time, and later the father bought a farm in Bogard township. William and Mary Frances (James) Godwin were the parents of nine children, as follow: George W., born March 18, 1854; Sarah, born February 4, 1856, married T. S. Clay, Bogard township; Annie E., born March 29, 1858, married Alves Williams, Lodi, California ; Mary E., the wife of John McCoy, the subject of this sketch; James F., born February 1, 1863, now deceased; Emeline, born Feb- ruary 16, 1865, deceased; William S., born July 18, 1867, de- ceased; Amanda J., born November 29, 1870, deceased; and Samuel A., born June 8, 1872, deceased. To John McCoy and Mary E. (Godwin) McCoy have been born the following children: Alford, married Josie E.
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Crissman of Bogard township, now resides on the home place; Joseph R., married Pearl Williams of Cass County, and also resides on the home place; Mayme Frances, married F. G. Hale. Both she and her husband were teachers in the Centralia public schools, Centralia, Missouri. Mr. Hale is now a private in the National Army, in training at Camp Pike, Arkansas.
Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are both members of the Christian Church of Creighton and are of Henry County's most highly respected pioneer families.
Albert M. Allen, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Fields Creek township, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Cumberland County December 27, 1853, a son of Lewis and Elizabeth F. (Pace) Allen, both natives of Kentucky, who came to Missouri in 1858 and settled in Lynn County. In 1867 the Allen family removed to Henry County and settled in Fields Creek township on a farm which is now owned by Albert M. Allen, the subject of this sketch. The father later went to Oklahoma and in 1912, after a residence there of about twenty years, died at Nor- man. His wife also died at Norman, Oklahoma, in 1904. They were the parents of two children, Albert M., the subject of this sketch, and James M., a banker at Humansville.
Albert M. Allen got his start in life from his father, who gave him forty acres of land. Mr. Allen has been engaged in farming and stock business for himself since reaching his majority and is one of the suc- cessful and prosperous men of Henry County. He has added acreage to his holdings from time to time until he now owns over five hundred twenty-five acres of some of the best land to be found in Henry County. It is all well improved and Mr. Allen is recognized as one of the success- ful stock raisers of the county. He usually has on hand about one hun- dred head of cattle and from one hundred fifty to two hundred head of hogs.
February 8, 1877, Albert M. Allen was united in marriage with Miss Nannie E. White, a native of Pike County, Illinois, and a daughter of Joseph and Lavina (Mitchell) White, the former born in Indiana in 1834 and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1835. Mrs. Lavina (Mitchell) White died March 30, 1917, and her remains are interred in the Fields Creek Cemetery. Joseph White now resides in Honey Creek township with his son, Joseph Lee.
The White family came to Henry County in 1869 and settled in Fields
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Creek township and the place upon which they then settled is now owned by members of the family. Joseph and Lavina (Mitchell) White were the parents of the following children: Nannie, who married Albert M. Allen, the subject of this sketch; John R., lives at Rock Island, Texas; . Oliver P., Joliet, Illinois, and Joseph L., a successful farmer and stock- man of Honey Creek township, married Anna Ford, a native of Honey Creek township, and they have a son, Joseph G., who is now a soldier in the United States Army in France, a member of the 129th Machine Gun Battalion, and their other children are: Emily M., Ernest F., Frances N., Ruby L., Robert B., Ethel Clare, Anna Evelyn, Lindsay and Nannie May, who died in infancy.
To Albert M. Allen and wife have been born two children: Elmer P., who died when six months old, and Ernest M., a farmer and stockman of Henry County. Mr. Allen is one of the substantial citizens of Henry County and takes a keen interest in local public affairs. He has served as treasurer of Fields Creek township for six years, and is one of its leading citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
John Drach, Jr .- There are always in the settlement of every locality, a few men from whom historic points seem to radiate, and who are en- titled to the honor and glory of the development of that particular part of a new country. This may be truly said of John Drach, Jr., public ad- ministrator and one of the worthy pioneers of Henry County. Mr. Drach was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1842, and is a son of George and Margaret (Kling) Drach, natives of Pennsylvania. The Drach family lived pioneer lives and were early settlers in St. Clair County, Illinois.
They saw it in its manifold aspects. They saw the development of the wild and unbroken plains of western Missouri at a time when few folks knew or appreciated what this meant. At the close of the Civil War and for a few years thereafter, George Drach and family made their home in the vicinity of Belleville, in St. Clair County, Illinois, but when John came West and located in Missouri, in the fall of 1867, he left all of his kin and kindred behind, for the time being and was joined by his parents in 1868. He began life in a new locality, under new conditions, where manhood and integrity meant all, and family pedigree nothing. George Drach and the family came to Henry County in March, 1868. The Drachs first located one and a half miles west of Lucas Postoffice and moved to the Drach home place in the spring of 1871.
JOHN DRACH
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George Drach labored to make a home for his family and before this end was accomplished he died in 1883. His wife, undismayed by mis- fortune, continued to make her home in this county and rear her family, all of whom practically reached the age of maturity. She died in 1892.
To George and Margaret Drach were born the following children: John, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Annie M. Kruse, St. Louis, Mis- souri; George Drach, who died at Girard Illinois, May 6, 1917; Julius, born August 6, 1859, and died at Glenwood Springs, Colorado; Harry, died at Cripple Creek, Colorado; Catharine C., housekeeper for John Drach; Ed- ward E., born December 6, 1850, and now resides at Denver, Colorado, and Alfred Edward, who died in childhood.
Mr. Drach is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers and stockmen of the county and is the owner of one of Henry County's best farms, owning altogether 135 acres, located four miles north of Clinton on the Warrensburg road. Since coming to Henry County he has made many improvements and today ranks as one of Henry County's most pro- gressive citizens and fearless voters. Mr. Drach is regarded as one of the most progressive citizens of Henry County, and has done his part ably and well in the furtherance of progress. In politics he is a Demo- crat.
William R. Duck, proprietor of the "Woodland View Stock Farm," one of the leading farmers and stockmen of Bogard township, belongs to a pioneer family of this section. He was born in Stark County, Ohio, March 13, 1861, a son of Benjamin and Martha J. (Latimer) Duck, the former a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. The Duck family moved from Starke to Ashland County, Ohio, when William R. was a child and in 1868 they came to Missouri and set- tled in Henry County. Here the father bought one hundred twenty acres of land, to which he later added eighty acres, owning two hundred acres at the time of his death. He improved the place and built a home, haul- ing lumber from Holden, Missouri. Rev. Benjamin Duck was a United Brethren minister and preached in Henry and Bates Counties on numer- ous occasions. He was a Christian gentleman and a good citizen. He died in February, 1891, and his wife departed this life in 1904. Their remains rest side by side in the Grant Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary E. Eyster, Ashland, Ohio; Joseph H., de- ceased; Mrs. Rebecca A. Creveling, a widow, lives in Ashland County, Ohio; Daniel O., Hartwell, Arkansas; Benjamin A., Johnson County, Mis- souri, and William R., the subject of this sketch.
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William R. Duck was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools, attending school at Bee Branch in District No. 26. The schoolhouse here was built by his father, Rev. Benjamin Duck, who hauled the lumber from Holden, Missouri, and the first teacher here was Hattie Carpenter. Mr. Duck has always made farming and stock raising his occupation, and is recognized as one of the successful stock breeders of western Henry County. He raises Shorthorn cattle and has on hand about fifty head, most of which are registered. He also breeds Poland China hogs, eligible to registration, and also raises quite a number of mules and Percheron horses. Mr. Duck's place is one of the ideal farms in the county and is located two and one-half miles south of Quick City and six miles from Blairstown and consists of four hundred acres in the home farm, besides one hundred thirty acres in Johnson County, north- east of Quick City.
Mr. Duck was united in marriage in 1897 to Miss Ida F. Farnsworth, a daughter of Lot and Caroline (George) Farnsworth, natives of Ten- nessee, who settled in Cass County in 1856 on a farm four miles south- east of Garden City. Later the Farnsworth family removed to Johnson County, when order No. 11 was issued. The parents are now both de- ceased. The father died in 1909 and the mother August 21, 1917. The following children were born to Lot and Caroline (George) Farnsworth: Robert, Quick City, Missouri; Mrs. Lou Fowler, Enid, Oklahoma; Mrs. Helen Hall, Longston, Kansas; Mrs. Laura Parkhurst, Kinsley, Kansas; Mrs. Lucy Parkhurst, Los Angeles, California; A. A., Marble Hill, Mis- souri; Ida F., wife of William R. Duck, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Edna Farnsworth, who resides in Johnson County, Missouri. and Cyrus L., Quick City, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Duck ·have been born the fol- lowing children: Carrie Lee, Cyrus W. and Lottie Helen, all of whom re- side at home with their parents.
Mr. Duck is one of the representative citizens of Henry County, who has made good and the Duck family are well known and prominent in the community. Mr. Duck is a Republican and a member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Duck is a member of the Christian Church.
Robert W. Wehmeyer, a well-known and progressive farmer and stock- man of Bogard township, is a native of Henry County. He was born on his father's place in Bogard township in 1874, a son of J. B. and Mary Wehmeyer, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Robert W. Wehmeyer was reared on the home place and attended
1
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the district school at Bee Branch and Brushy district in Bogard township. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, when he engaged in the livery business at Blairstown. He con- ducted this business for three years, when he engaged in farming on his present place in Bogard township. He made all the improvements on his place. The first year that he moved here he built a residence and later erected a barn and in 1905 built a second barn. His place is well im- proved with all necessary buildings including a garage. Mr. Wehmeyer is one of the successful stock breeders of the county, making a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs and Shorthorn cattle. He also raises quite a num- ber of horses and mules. His place is not only well adapted for general farming, but is an ideal stock farm.
Mr. Wehmeyer was married June 28, 1903, to Miss Jessie B. Schnorf, a daughter of J. H. and Isabelle (Schellers) Schnorf of Bogard township. Mrs. Wehmeyer's parents are both now deceased. The mother died in 1902 and the father in 1916 and their remains are interred in the Grant Cemetery. He was a Civil War veteran, having served in Company H, 93rd Ohio Infantry for three years during the Civil War. He was born in Warren County, Ohio, November 20, 1831. Mrs. Wehmeyer is one of the following children born to her parents: Ilda, who died at the age of sixteen ; Maggie, deceased; James, lives in Kansas City, Missouri ; John, lives in Cass County, Missouri; Alonzo, resides on the home place in Bogard township; Mrs. Etta Wehmeyer, and Jessie, the wife or Robert W. Wehmeyer, the subject of this sketch. To Robert W. Wehmeyer and wife have been born three children: Lottie Belle, died in infancy; Clarence S. and Chester Everet.
Robert W. Wehmeyer and his family are well known and prominent in the community and he is one of Bogard township's most progressive citizens.
Allen L. Depew, pioneer settler of Bogard township and a well in- formed and interesting citizen of Henry County, is a native of Indiana. He was born in Allen County May 16, 1851, and is the son of Hezekiah and Margaret Elizabeth (Essig) Depew, both natives of Ohio. They were married on January 25, 1844. Hezekiah Depew was the son of Isaac Depew, who was born in 1792, and his mother, Margaret Depew, was born in 1793.
Hezekiah Depew came to Henry County for the purpose of making a home for his family in the latter fifties and located in Bogard town-
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ship. He prospered in the county of his adoption and at the time of his death in 1859 he owned four hundred forty acres of land. The children born to Hezekiah and Margaret Depew were as follow: Mrs. Lovina Brooks, living in Canada; Allen L., of this review; Mrs. Elvira Jones, deceased ; Mrs. Angeline Beach, deceased; Joseph, Bogard township; Andrew, de- ceased.
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