History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences, Part 89

Author: National Historical Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1198

USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 89
USA > Missouri > Howard County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 89

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OBERON A. KUECKELHAN,

farmer and stock raiser. One of the most prominent and successful farmers and stock raisers of Cooper county is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. His farm contains nearly three-quarters of a section of fine land, and is handsomely improved and kept in excellent condition. It is situated about six miles from Boonville, and ap- proached from that city is one of the best appearing places throughout

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

the surrounding country. Mr. Kneckelhan is an educated, progres- sive and enterprising farmer, and " Aut Cæsar, aut nullus " is his motto as an agriculturist. He is a native of Cooper county, and has spent his whole life thus far in the county of his nativity, except while absent temporarily on business. His father, Dr. A. Kueckelhan, whose sketch appears elsewhere, is a well known and highly esteemed citizen of this county, now a resident of Lamine township. Mr. Kueckelhan was born in Boonville June 1, 1841, and was reared there up to his twelfth year, when his father located on a farm, where the son grew to majority. He had the advantages of good schools in youth, and received an excellent education. Having formed an ardent admiration for the honorable and independent life of a farmer, he adopted that as his calling, and has since followed it with great zeal and success. Settling down permanently on his present farm, he went to work with a determination to make it one of the best farms in the county, and he has not failed in his purpose. In November, 1862, he was married to Miss Lucy Wing, of this county. She died December 11, 1873, leaving him four children : William K., Annette W., Lucy M. and Oberon A. He was married a second time the 19th of July, 1877, Miss Lucy A. Williams then becoming his wife. She was born Decem- ber 7, 1856. Minnie and Wade H. H. are the children by this union. A trip across the plains and a stay in Texas awhile during the war are his only important absences from the county. Mr. and Mrs. Kueckel- han are both church members.

DR. J. T. MCCLANAHAN,

physician and druggist. On both his father's and mother's sides Dr. McClanahan comes of families of physicians. His father, Dr. Finis McClanahan, is one of the oldest practitioners in this section of the state, and is now practising in Tipton. His mother's father, Dr. John Gray, was for many years one of the leading physicians of Cooper county. The grandfather of Dr. J. T., Lacy McClanahan, settled in this county from Tennessee prior to 1820, and here Dr. Finis McClan- ahan subsequently married. His wife before her marriage, was Miss Dicy, daughter of Dr. Gray, who came from Kentucky to this county in 1840, but was originally from North Carolina. Dr. J. T., the sub- ject of this sketch, was born July 6, 1853, and the following year his parents moved to Tipton, Moniteau county, where the son was reared and educated. Coming of an ancestry of physicians, both paternal and maternal, it is not surprising that he also became a physician. He read medicine under his father for a number of years, and then attended

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

the Eclectic Medical college of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1874. After his graduation he located in Boonville, where he has since lived and practised his profession. In 1882 he engaged in the drug business, which he still conducts in addition to his practice. He was married April 23, 1874, to Miss Amanda Hagan, of Moniteau county. They have two children : Owen and Hattie. Dr. McClena- han is a member of the A. O. U. W.

MILTON MCCOY, D. D. S.,

dental office. One of the best class of citizens of Boonville, who has achieved success in his profession without having had the advantage of early opportunities, is Dr. McCoy. He began the active duties of life in the later years of his youth by learning the blacksmith trade, which he followed until he was twenty-two years of age. However, prior to that he had attended the schools of his neighborhood, and while work- ing at his trade applied himself, during his spare time, to his books, so that he succeeded in acquiring a good practical English education. When in his twenty-second year he commenced the study of medicine, which profession he afterwards practised for over fifteen years. He then made a special study of dentistry, becoming a graduate in that profession, to which he has devoted himself for the last twenty years, having long occupied a position as one of the leading dentists of cen- tral Missouri. Dr. McCoy was born in Kanawha county, West Vir- ginia, January 24, 1824, and was the seventh of a family of eleven children. His father, Samuel McCoy, was a native of Charlottes- ville, Virginia, but when a boy went to Kentucky, where he grew up and married Miss Elizabeth Graves, and subsequently moved to West Virginia. There the family was reared, and there Samuel McCoy, the father, died in 1860, but Mrs. McCoy survived her husband until 1878. Milton, now Dr. McCoy, lived in West Virginia until 1853, when, having studied medicine and practised that profession some years in his native state, he came to Missouri and located at Tipton, Moniteau county, continuing his practice there until 1863, when he adopted dentistry as his specialty. In 1863 he graduated from the Missouri dental college with marked distinction, and has established for himself a wide reputation as a scientific successful dentist. For the last twenty years he has resided in Boonville, where he has kept his office and continued his practice. On the 8th of April, 1852, he was mar- ried to Miss Joanna Craig, of Putnam county, West Virginia. Ten years afterwards, however, she was taken from him by death, leaving him five children, three now living : John C., Mattie K. and Bettie J.

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On the 5th of November, 1863, he was again married, Mrs. Martha C. Walters, nee Kinney, originally of Pennsylvania, becoming his second wife. The doctor and his wife are both members of the church, he of the Baptist and she of the Presbyterian. He is also a member of the I. O. G. T. His son graduated in the Missouri dental college in 1875, since which they have been practising together.

TRUMAN W. MCFARLAND,

farmer, section 18. In 1818 Jacob McFarland settled in the same neighborhood and near where Truman, his grandson, now lives. The grandfather came from Haywood county, North Carolina, where he was born and reared two years before settling in this county, and first located in St. Genevieve county, of this state. He was born in North Carolina, in 1772, and had been twice married before migrating west, his second wife, the grandmother of Truman, having been, before her marriage, a Miss Nancy Cathy, of that state. He died here October 13, 1846; she, in 1870. Reuben, the father of Truman, was born twelve years before his parents left the Old North State, October 17, 1804, and was therefore a youth of fourteen when they settled in this county. Here, after he attained his majority, he was married, January 17, 1828, to Miss Unice Rice, also originally of North Carolina. They had a family of six children, of whom Tru- man was the youngest, he being born February 12, 1841. The mother died here December 24, 1874, her husband surviving her about seven years, dying January 26, 1882. Both grandfather and father were successful farmers, and highly respected citizens. Tru- man grew up on the place where he was born and still lives, and February 12, 1866, was married to Miss Vina, daughter of Finis E. Wear, of this county. They have had a family of four children, but three of whom are living. The following are the names of their children : Mary E., Elizabeth E., Mettie R. and Hattie M. Mr. McFarland has spent his whole life on the homestead where he now lives, except from 1868 to 1875, during which he resided in Henry county, this state. His farm contains over half a section of land, and is well improved. Like his father and grandfather he is an enter- prising, successful farmer, and a worthy excellent citizen. He has long been a member of the Presbyterian church.

JAMES C. MACURDY,

proprietor of Macurdy's art gallery and photograph parlors. Among the men of Cooper county who have risen to prominence and success

THE WE " YORK

Ti · · S.

MACURDY'S

J. C. MACURDY, PHOTOGRAPHER , BOONVILLE MO.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

in their respective callings, Mr. Macurdy occupies a conspicuous posi- tion. Early in life he devoted himself to photography, and for over twenty-five years has pursued this art with an energy and intelligence that could hardly have failed of placing him among the most promi- nent and successful representatives of his calling throughout the country. He was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 27, 1837, and was a son of John W. and Catherine ( Mathews ) Ma- curdy, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother born and reared in Ohio. John W. Macurdy was a leading and well-to-do dairy farmer of Trumbull county, and died there, February 14, 1882. His wife still survives him and lives in that county. James C. was brought up to his father's occupation, and in youth received a good ordinary English education in the public schools. At an early age he evinced a taste for the artist's calling, and as he grew up this iuclina -. tion strengthened into a fixed purpose to devote himself to it. Accordingly, on attaining his majority, he turned his attention to portrait and landscape photography, and rapidly rose to a high posi- tion in his profession. Such was his reputation when the war broke out that he was engaged by the government to accompany the army as an official photographer. He continued in this commission until the close of the war, when be located at Oil City, Pennsylvania, where he remained for two years. In 1868 he came to Boonville, Missouri. Here he has achieved the most signal success. One of the best artists in the state when he came to this city, the fact soon became gener- ally known by the character of work he did, and his reputation rapidly and widely extended. His patronage steadily increased, and he soon commanded a business that would compare favorably with that of the better class of galleries in larger cities. Nor has he sim- pły proven himself a thorough and eminently successful photographer. In professional enterprise and artistic taste he has shown a high order of ability and culture. Recently he has erected a handsome art gallery and photograph building, which for size, beauty of appear- ance and elegance of finish is not surpassed in the state, and will com- pare favorably with the finest structures of the kind in the whole country. From its spacious and superbly appointed entrance room on the first floor, to the handsome sky-light apartment above, includ- ing a suite of elegant and richly furnished parlors, it is a perfect triumph of art, beauty and good taste. Certainly the citizens of Boonville owe to the enterprise of Mr. Macurdy no ordinary debt of gratitude for this handsome ornament to their city. If others would show the same degree of ability and enterprise in their respective

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callings, Boonville could justly claim to be one of the most beautiful cities in the country. On the 1st of June, 1871, Mr. Macurdy was married to Miss Bettie C., daughter of John Holt, Esq., of Callaway county, Missouri, originally from Halifax county, Virginia. They have a family of two children, Ward and Elgie.

MEIERHOFFER BROTHERS,

cooper manufactory. Frank and Charles Meierhoffer, aged re- spectively twenty-six and twenty-four, own and control one of the largest coopering establishments, if not the very largest, west of St. Louis, which they have built up from nothing as original capital, except their own industry and enterprise. Their present business was established in 1878, having at that time only a small shop. In five years, however, so rapid has been their success, that they now work from eighteen to forty hands, and their former shop building has been succeeded by a large house, seventy by twenty-four feet, and three stories high. They ship barrels, etc., extensively to western markets, and their trade is increasing almost daily. Such men as these are of incalculable value to Boonville, for, besides the large number of families that look to employment under them for support, thousands of dollars are sent here for the products of this factory, which enter into the wealth, and contribute to the prosperity of the place. Both brothers learned the cooper's trade under their father, Jacob Meier- hoffer, who followed the occupation in Boonville, together with turning and model making for many years. He was a native of Switzerland, but came to this country in 1852, a short time after which he located in Boonville. The elder brother, Frank, was born in this city, Feb- ruary 7th, 1857, and the younger, Charles, August 4th, 1859. Both had the advantages in youth afforded by the common schools of Boon- ville, and acquired the rudiments of a good, ordinary education. Charles Meierhoffer was married September 13, 1881, to Miss Hattie D. Nichol, of Palmyra, Missouri. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Aside from coopering they also deal largely in sand, lime and plasterers' hair. Frank married Rebecca Lahrmanu, of Lawrence, Kansas, in 1882 ; she was born in Boonville. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.

D. D. MILES, M. D.,

homopathic physician and surgeon. In the homopathic practice, Dr. Miles is second to no physician in the county. His general education is thorough, and his professional education was acquired in the

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Homeopathic College of New York and in Bellevue hospital. His experience has been extensive and successful, and his reputation is well established. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, October 8, 1830. His father, Dr. David Miles, was a native of South Carolina, but lived in Ohio from an early period. His mother, whose maiden name was Susanna Dibra, was originally from Germany, but was reared in this county. They raised a family of six children, of whom Dr. D. D. was the eldest. Dr. D. D. was brought up in his native county. After attending private schools in early youth, he entered Earlham college, at Richmond, Indiana, one of the principal Quaker institutions of the country, where he remained as a student three years. While in college his father moved to Wabash county, Indiana, and on leaving college in 1852, went to that place and began the study of medicine under his father, who was a prominent practitioner and had a large medical library. He continued the study for two years, applying himself with great energy, and, having had the ad- vantage of constant instruction from his father, at the expiration of that time he entered into the active practice of his profession. He continued the practice until 1862, when he went to New York and entered Bellevue hospital as a student, remaining there one term. Returning to Wabash county, Indiana, he and Dr. S. D. Jones, his brother-in-law, established the Rural Home Water Cure. Afterwards, in 1863, he went back to New York and entered the Hygo Thera- peutic college, from which he was subsequently duly graduated. After his graduation he became the physician in charge of the Knightstown Springs, Indiana, continuing there through the summer. He practised the following year in Wabash county, and in the fall of 1865 came to Boonville, where he has since lived and practised his profession. Here he has had charge of the health office for five years, and was medical examiner for the United States pension office an equal length of time, and until he resigned the position. He takes a deep interest in educational affairs. and has been president of the school board of the city for two years. In all matters relating to the general good he is public spirited and active. Dr. Miles was married in 1855 to Miss Mary Jones, originally of Montgomery county, Ohio. They have six children : Stephen E., now a physician, located at Holden, Missouri ; William, now of New York city, and one of the leading telegraph operators of the country ; Oscar, now attending Earlham college, and Misses Ellen and Leonore, both at home. Resolved to keep up with the progress of his profession, Dr. Miles attended the Homeopathic Medical college, of Chicago, in 1881-2, from which he was graduated with distinction.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

RETURN L. MOORE,

general agent for the Missouri Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railways ; also of Moore & Elliott's marble works, etc. Mr. Moore's business career dates back only seven years, and these have been the early experimental years of his business life, for he is still but twenty-eight years of age, yet he has already made an enviable record as a successful, progressive business man. His father, Charles F. Moore, is a substantial, enterprising farmer of this county, and here R. L. was born, June 22d, 1855. He was raised on his father's farm, dividing his time in youth between farm employments and attending the schools of the neighborhood. A country bringing-up had the effect upon him to implant within him the qualities so essential to success in life - steady, industrious habits, and a wholesome, provident manner of living. As he neared the approaching years of early manhood, he naturally began to cast about for an occupation for life, and, being of an enterprising, aspiring disposition, determined to devote himself to business pursuits. Recognizing the importance, indeed, the necessity, of a good education to a successful business carcer, he resolved to provide himself with that qualification first, and accordingly began a course in the William Jewell college, which he continued until he had acquired an excellent English education. After leaving college, in 1876, he engaged in the grain business in Boon- ville, and followed that line of trade for two years, until he was appointed to an official position in the Missouri, Kansas and Texas rail- way office. In December, 1880, he was appointed chief clerk in the Missouri Pacific railway office, and in a short time was made agent and operator of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas office, in which he also acted as clerk. These positions he filled until he became general agent for both roads in this city, the duties of which he is now dis- charging. Full of industry and enterprise, he has not contented himself with the labors and responsibilities of a single line of duties, but has also given his attention to other business interests, among which is his partnership interest in the marble works firm of Moore & Elliott, mentioned in Mr. Elliott's sketch. In March, 1880, he was married to Miss Myra Burnett, of this county, and they have two children, Irving C. and Wilbur M. Mr. Moore is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

JOHN P. NEEF,

dealer in books, stationary, etc. The general book-store business is conceded to be one of the most difficult to master, and, at the same

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

time, one of the most uncertain of success of all the various lines of trade. To understand it one must have, in addition to the informa- tion necessary in ordinary commercial pursuits, at least, some general knowledge of literature, and this cannot be acquired in a day or a year. And it is peculiarly uncertain of success because popular taste with regard to books is so varying ; and of all the dead stocks a merchant can have, a stock of books not in demand is by all odds the deadest, so far as realizing anything on them in an emergency is concerned. But notwithstanding these well-known features of the business, and other drawbacks far greater than these, Mr. Neef has built up a thoroughly successful book-store, and in addition to this has performed a service to the community that would be hard to over-estimate - has estab- lished a large circulating library, from which hundreds of volumes are constantly going on their missions of educating, elevating and refining the people. His book-store, including the stationery department, is one of the finest in Boonville, or among those of the surrounding country ; and his circulating library contains over 600 volumes of standard works. Such is the business of the man to-day who, at the age of twenty-one and as late as 1854, apprenticed mselhif in the bar- ber's trade and worked at it until 1866 - a citizen eminently respected by all for his business ability, intelligence, public spirit and un- questioned integrity. J. P. Neef was born in Germany, December 7, 1833, and in youth had the advantages afforded by the ordinary schools of his native country until he became fourteen years of age, when his parents came to this country, bringing him and his brother, now deceased, their only two children. His father, J. G. Neef, was a farmer by occupation, and having settled in Cooper county on com- ing to America, followed that industry here until his death, which occurred in 1854. Mrs. Neef, whose maiden name was Catherine M. Schaeffer, survived her husband nearly twenty years, the date of her demise being as late as 1872. J. P. followed farming with his father until he was eighteen years of age, after which he clerked in different stores until he was twenty-one, when he began to learn the barber's trade in St. Louis. He acquired that occupation, and afterwards worked at it in Boonville from 1857 to 1866. He then began the grocery business combined with notions, and gradually turned it into his present book and stationery store. He commenced his circulating library in 1868, which has steadily grown to its present importance, and is still increasing. Patience, industry, economy and close atten- tion to business, together with an honorable ambition to advance him- self in the world, have brought him to his present enviable position as

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

a business man and citizen. He was married November 3, 1858, to Miss Caroline Fuchs, originally of Germany also, but who came to this country when about eighteen years of age. Mr. Neef is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Evangelical church and of the I. O. O. F.

JAMES M. NELSON,

president Central National bank. For many years Mr. Nelson has been prominently identified with the more important material and other interests of Cooper county. From 1840 to 1860 he was one of its leading farmers, and during the last decade of that period he also be- came interested in banking and other business enterprises, since which time he has occupied a conspicuous position among the foremost busi- ness men of Boonville and the surrounding country. His life has been one of great activity, and regulated as it is by unimpeachable integrity and good management, the usual results - ample means and the re- spect and confidence of all who know him - have naturally followed. Not only do such men perform a duty they owe to themselves and their families, but they are of invaluable service to the community in which they live, for the prosperity of every section of the country de- pends upon the prosperity of its individual citizens ; and if each one proves worthy of success in life, supplies himself by honest exertions with an ample competence, the community invariably becomes a pros- perous one. Such are the men that build up countries, make great and prosperous states. James M. Nelson was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, June 16, 1816. His parents were both of the same county, and there reared their family, where they subsequently died, George Nelson, the father, in April, 1860, and his wife, Elizabeth, whose family name was originally Porter, in September, 1870. James M. was the eldest of ten children reared to majority, and he grew up to his sixteenth year in his native county ; but in 1832 went to Rappahan- nock county, and followed clerking in a business house in Amissville about three years. He then returned and attended school for two years, thus greatly advancing and improving his education. Follow- ing this, in 1837, he went to Copiah county, Mississippi, where he remained a short period, but not finding that as favorable a locality for a young man to succeed as he hoped, he then came to Missouri, and stopped first in Howard county, but shortly afterwards made Cooper county his permanent home. Locating in this county in the spring of 1840, he at once engaged in farming about two miles west of Boon- ville, and continued in that occupation, as above stated, about twenty years, being rewarded with abundant success. In 1858 he, Dr. W.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

H. Trigg and others organized the banking firm of W. H. Trigg & Co., in which he remained until 1861. However he was president of the Boonville branch of the bank of St. Louis, Missouri, from its organization until its re-consolidation with the St. Louis principal bank. Afterwards, when the Central National bank was organized he became its vice-president, and so remained until 1881, when he was elected president, the position he now holds. He is now also one of the direct- ors of the St. Louis National bank and has been since its organization. Besides his farming and banking interests he has been prominently identified with other important business and public enterprises, among which he was president of the Osage valley railroad and also of the Cooper county agricultural fair association. He was married to Mrs. Margaret Russell, whose maiden name was Wyam, a widow lady, and they have been blessed with four children : Lewis C., Nadine, Arthur and Maggie.

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Author: National Historical Company Publication date: 1883 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1198

Author: National Historical Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1198