USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 27
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Salmon, Robert D .; Sanders, E .; Sanders, Tom; Sanderson, L .; San- ford, Frederick; Saner, John A .; Sardin, John L .; Savage, Elmer; Sayles, Leon; Sayles, Romeo; Schaffer, August C .; Schaffer, H. A .; Schaefer, . George E .; Schaiblin, Theodore; Schiek, Martin; Schiner, L. V .; Schlo- bohn, Herman Henry; Schlomer, Daniel C .; Schlomer, Herbert W .;
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Schmidt, Franklin Edward; Schmidt, John F .; Schmidt, Julius L., Jr .; Schmitt, Michael James; Schneider, William George, Sergeant; Scholl, Nelson; Scholton, Raymond; Schondelmeyer, Raymond; Schreyer, E. H. Lieut; Schroeder, Arthur; Schroeder, E. W .; Schuholz, Arthur J .; Schu- holz, Robert Oscar; Schultz, A. L .; Schumaker, Jack; Schweer, Julius; Schwenk, H. E .; Schwenson, Chas. John; Scott, E. N .; Scott, Edward; Scott, Jean Edward; Scott, James Grover; Scott, John R .; Scott, Millard F .; Scott, Ralph Amick; Scotten, Clyde F .; Scroggins, H .; Scruton, George Henry, Jr .; See, Otis; Seifner, Lawrence H .; Servan, Richard, Corporal; Sexton, Roy; Seydell, Frank, first lieutenant; Chackles, P .; Shadburne, Leland Will; Shafer, Charles Henry ; Shaffer, Henry Charles ; Shamp, Roy ; Shank, Murray ; Shaw, Clarence Arthur; Shaw, W. S .; Shel- ley, Roy Rue ; Shelton, H. A., sergeant ; Shemwell, R. L .; Shepard, Albert ; Shephard, Andy ; Shepherd, Herbert; Shepherd, Iva; Sheridan, Wilbur F .; Sheridan, William Clyde; Shirk, Walter Carmony, sergeant; Shobe, P. C .; Shoemaker, Bryan; Shoemaker, E. T .; Shore, Howard; Short, Bryan; Smith, Ross T .; Smith, William M .; Sneed, John M .; Sneed, Robert C .; Snorgrass, F. F .; Snyder, Leslie; Snyder, Oscar; Solomon, Henry ; Solo- nowsky, Samuel; Spears, Hugh; Speer, Brent; Speer, Ezra E .; Spillers, Clarence; Sprecher, Ira, captain ; Stanley, A. D .; Stanley, Everett; Stans- berry, J. J .; Stansberry, Lester B .; Starr, Joseph; Staus, Martin An- drew; Steele, William D .; Steger, John Wade; Steger, Roy Melton; Steph- ens, Charles O .; Stephens, W, A .; Stern, Joseph; Stevens, James C .; Stevens, Russell; Strain, Edgar; Strain, Frank; Strawsburg, Clarence; Stietz, Ernest D .; Sturges, De Perkins; Sturges, Gould, first lieutenant ; Sullivan, James; Sweeney, T. L .; Swegle, Earl D .; Swope, Sydney ; Salis- bury, Joseph, first lieutenant ; Sanders, Ralph; Sands, Henry C .; Satter- white, Russell; Saunders, Joseph, Jr .; Savage, Harvey ; Shackles, Pete ; Schader, Albert; Schmid, Dudley; Schmidt, Edward; Schmidt. Grant; Schneider, Charles H., lieutenant; Schrader, Carl, lieutenant ; Schroeder, Albert W .; Scott, Alva; Scott, Bertram; Scott, Clarence; Scott, Gene; Scott, Harry B., captain; Scott, Jack; Scott, L. G., sergeant; Scott, Mil- ton; Scott, Stewart; Scott, Walter; Scotten, James Leonard; Scruton, Allan Edward; Scruton, Charles; Scruton, George, major; Seibert, Leo M .; Shacklett, Paul; Shain, Edward; Shain, Matson; Shaw, Harold H., lieutenant ; Shaw, Marvin ; Shaw, Roy Estelle; Short, R. L .; Shortle, John ; Shryer, F. H., first lieutenant; Shull, Willie A .; Sills, A. C .; Simmons, C. K .; Simmons, Robert Harry ; Simms, E. C .; Simm, Ferd Chris Henry ;
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Simon, Carl R .; Simon, John William; Simonds, Raymond A .; Simpson, J .; Skaggs, Hampton Mitchell; Skinner, Harry Duke; Slingman, Eugene ; Smalley, Cleophus; Smallwood, Joseph; Smart, Earl V .; Smith, A. D .; Smith, A. E .; Smith, A. R .; Smith, Alfred; Smith, Benjamin F .; Smith, Douglas ; Smith, E. H .; Smith, Edwin; Smith, Everett J .; Smith, Frank H .; Smith, Frank I .; Smith, George P .; Smith, James D .; Smith, John Robert; Smith, J. E .; Smith, Joseph; Smith, Lee Roy; Smith, Raymond; Smith, Robert R,; Smith, Ross T .; Smith, Russell C .; Smith, W. H .; Snapp, Thomas A .; Snedeker, H. S .; Snodgrass, Everett Doeker; Snoeder, Arthur; Snyder, Dwight; Solomon, Herbert B .; Spahr, Charles S .; Sonne- berg, Otto; Souder, Byron; Speaker, Walter R .; Spencer, Robert; Splitt, J. L .; Spoonemore, C .; Sprache, Walter H .; Spratley, James B .; Spurlock, W. A .; Squires, Ray A .; Staats, Ethen F., corporal; Staats, Ray V., cor- poral; Stafford, John W .; Stanfield, Edgar J .; Stanforth, E .; Stanley, Ray Allen; Stanley, Thomas Harrison; Stapleton, J. T .; Starr, Frank, captain; Stauf, Martin ; Staus, Alvis ; Steele, William B .; Steffens, Claus ; Stemmons, Percy L .; Stephens, James Luther; Stephens, Lawrence; Stephens, R. S .; Shemwell, James F .; Shine, Patrick; Shirk, Robert, cor- poral; Shoemaker, Charles Thomas; Shomaker, Jack; Shull, Louis; Shy, Roy L .; Sibert, Ernest L .; Sibert, Harvey ; Sieckmann, William Frederick ; Simmers, Robert E .; Simon, Carl Earhart; Simpich, Joseph S .; Sisk, Alba H .; Skillman, Forest C .; Slagle, Walter, first lieutenant; Smith, D. M .; Smith, Earl; Smith, Frank; Smith, Fred L .; Smith, George Sublet, ser- geant; Smith, Grover Luckett; Smith, Harry D .; Smith J. Archer; Smith, James V .; Smith, Leo; Smith, Leo H .; Smith, Louis E .; Smith, Luther M .; Smith, Mintle J .; Smith, Paul Judson, sergeant; Smith, R. Berry ; Smith, Ralph T .; Smith, Robert L .; Stephens, Whitney Arbuckle; Ster- nitzke, Frank J .; Sternitzke, William Leo; Stevens, Charles D .; Stevens, E. E .; Stevens, Edward S .; Stevens, George W .; Stevens, Myron Otto; Stevens, Zadok; Stevenson, Earl C .; Stevenson, Lewis E .; Stewart, Charles L .; Stinnett, Charles G., corporal; Stoner, Benjamin J .; Stott, Mordaunt Joseph ; Stringer, Lon S .; Streuber, Carl Phillips; Streuber, J. F. Stuart, James M .; Stuckey, Carl ; Stultz, Bert H .; Suddath, William ; Sullivan, John M .; Summers, Case Earl; Sutherland, Emmett; Sutherland, William W .; Sutherlend, Leon Jackson; Sutherlend, Robert; Sutton, Roscoe, corporal ; Swearengen, Henry; Sweet, W. R .; Swope, Frank L .; Swope, Nathaniel H .; Sypes, Robert.
Taggard, Jack; Taylor, B. H .; Taylor, Charles Norman; Taylor, Frank
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
B .; Taylor, George; Taylor, Joseph; Taylor, Irvin; Taylor, Lynn; Taylor, William Layont; Teague, William V .; Tedrick, Olson T .; Teeter, Edward A .; Teeter, Jesse Troy; Telford, A. G .; Temple, Oliver T .; Templeton, Irving Lee; Terry R .; Terry, Theodore; Teter, Walter A .; Teters, B .; Thierfielder, Fred Nicholas; Thierfelder, Samuel; Thomas, Al; Thomas, C. L .; Thomas, Harvey H .; Thomas, John W .; Thomas, Lea R .; Thomas, Robert Franklin; Thomas, W. F .; Thompson, Bernard Philip; Thompson, Charles H .; Thompson, F. M., captain; Thompson, Harvey H .; Thomp- son, James Daniel, sergeant; Thompson, Oscar R .; Thompson, Walter F .; Thornton W. Morris; Tiedeman, John E., second lieutenant; Tierney, E. J. ; , lieutenant ; Tinker, Henry Melvin ; Tinker, William Howard; Titsworth, Guy, captain; Todd, Roy E .; Tolen, Henry C .; Tony, John F .; Torp, M. D .; Townsend, John ; Trader, C. B. Dr., captain; Travis, Carl; Traw, Den- ver R .; Trent, Ben; Trigg, Stephen; Triplett, Lloyd; Triplett, T. S .; Truesdale, Hugh; Truitt, Harold K .; Truitt, Kenneth; Tuck, Joseph Clar- ence ; Tuck, Robert Tilman; Tucker, F. E .; Tucker, Forest E .; Tucker, Fred; Tucker, Robert; Turner, Noah R .; Turner, Richard T .; Tyler, Paul Milton; Tyree, Virgile; Tarr, Charles ; Taylor, Charles G .; Telford, Allen F., sergeant; Terry, Henry; Teter, Albert Clark; Teubner, Samuel E .; Tevis, Paul; Tevis, William Edgar; Thompson, Charles R .; Thornsberry, Edward; Tilden, John, second lieutenant; Tilden, William; Tillberry, Francis Leo; Tiller, Harry K .; Todd, Frederick Harrison; Triplett, Samuel M .; Triplett, W. S .; Trueblood, Alva R .; Trueblood, Elbert, sergeant ; Tuck, Robert; Turner, Archie; Tuttle, Cecil L .; Tuttle, Ora W.
Urban, Carl F., sergeant; Ulmer, Carl Neinia; Ulmer, Pearl L .; Upton, Leonard.
Vance, Chester M .; Van Hoy, Francis H .; Van Noy, William W .; Vauhgt, Lewis, Ernest; Venable, Estel A .; Valentine, L. P .; Van Diver, Joe; Van Dyke, Arthur J. C .; Van Dyne, Clifford; Vaulieu, Evert W .; Vann, U; Van Natta, Ed M .; Van Natta, Paul; Van Riper, George Prather, lieutenant; Van Slyke, Thomas A .; Varner, William O .; Vaughan, Benja- min F .; Vaughn, James ; Vaught, R. L .; Veazey, Marten; Venable, Ernest R .; Venable, Robert; Vermillion, Elbert; Vickery, K. C .; Vitt, Jerome M .; Voelkel, Elwood Charles; Volkes, R .; Volbrath, Cletus Ezekial, Von Holten, Ernest.
Wadleigh, Leslie Earl; Wagner, Antone F .; Wagner, Dell Bartlett ; Waldman, Harry; Walker, George F .; Walker, Lewis, Stanley, sergeant ;
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Walton, William Byron; Warren, John W .; Warriner, W. W., lieutenant; Washburn, Seth; Waters, Millard; Weathers, Russell O .; Webster, George; Weer, Mark; Weller, Carl Emmett; Weller, Marvin; Weller William; Wells, Ray; Werner, A. A., lieutenant; Wesson, A. R., second lieutenant ; West, Dubert E .; Whaley, Claude ; Wheeler, Frederic H., corporal ; Wheeler, Lawson Ginn; Whitfield, J. B .; Whitney, George; Widel, John; Wilkerson, Charles Otto; Wikoff, Harry O .; Wilborn, Menefee; Williams, Luther; Williams, Roy, sergeant; Williams, Walter, corporal; Wills, George, Wills, Will, lieutenant; Wilson, Arthur C .; Wilson, Charles G., first lieuten- ant; Wilson, Earl K .; Wilson, Fred W .; Wilson, Ted W .; Wimer, Carl S .; Winch, Everett; Withrow, Floyd W .; Withrow, Jesse W .; Witte, William M .; Witte, Gus; Wofford, Edward Roy; Wolford, George F .; Wood, Bryan J .; Wood, Clarence R .; Wood, Estel; Wood, Grady T .; Wood, Norval; Wood, Riley ; Wood, Walter A., first lieutenant; Woods, Leonard David; Woodward, Ralph B .; Woolery, Walter; Woolf, William; Work- man, Austin J .; Wright, Benjamin C .; Wright, James C .; Wrightman, Fred, lieutenant; Kackher, Leslie; Waddell, Frost; Wade, Dewey; Wade, Hugh R .; Wagner, Lawrence, Jr .; Waisner, G. E .; Walch, Charles H .; Wal- den, Grady Everett; Waldon, Posey W .; Walker, E. R. Dr., captain ; Walker, G. M. Rev., Y. M. C. A. worker; Walker, Lewis T .; Walker, William E. Dr., captain; Walker, William H .; Walkup, Ralph B., sergeant; Wallace, Arthur Otto; Wallace, Sheldon; Wallington, D. M .; Walston, Clyde Earl; Ward, Charles C .; Ward, Paul; Ward, Ulysses S .; Ware, George H .; Warner, Max .; Washburn, Earl O., sergeant; Washburn, F. W .; Waters, Lee; Watson, Clark; Watson, George W .; Watson, Irvin R .; Watson. Robert E .; Watts, T. E .; Watts, Thomas Edward; Watts, W. A .; Waxburg, John; Weakley, Marvin Ray; Weathers, Lawson Jackson; Weathers, Melvin D .; Weathers, Russell O .; Weathers, Wiley P .; Webb, James Herbert ; Webb, Leslie E .; Weber, Henry ; Weber, Joseph; Weddle, Benjamin F., Jr .; Weikal, G. C .; Weikal, Walter, corporal; Weinrich, Ralph; Welch, Frank; Welch, George Lee; Welch, G. W .; Welch, Sim- mie Walter; Weller, F .; Weller, Joseph P .; Weller, Otto L .; Wellner, August; Wellner, Otto John; Wells, George, Jr .; Wells, Joe; Weslie, W. W .; West, John E .; Westbrook, Taylor Orville; Wharton, Lyman Hugh; Westermier, John Mike; Weston, H. B .; Wheeler, A. M., sergeant ; Wheeler, Carroll; Wheeler, J. C .; Wheeler, John Elmo; Wheeler, Dr. W. W., cap- tain; Whenry, Lester Kirby; Whenry, Roy Kirby, corporal; White, Cecil Alva; White, Emerson; White, Fred G .; White, Henry L .; White, Hugh
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L .; White, James Eathel; White, James E .; White, Joseph; Whiteman, Lester E .; Whitlow, William Marion; Whitworth, D. C .; Wickler, George; Wickline, Elmer, sergeant; Wigton, E. A .; Wigton, Edgar John; Wigton, Virgilia; Wikoff, Harry Oscar; Wilborn, Andrew Dirice; Wilder, Jacob H .; Wiley, Lon V .; Wilkerson, Claude; Wilkerson, P. O; Wilkin, Lewis H .; William, L .; Williams, C .; Williams, C. E .; Williams, E. E .; Williams, Ewing C .; Williams, Forrest L .; Williams, F. O .; Williams, Harmon C .; Williams, Harrison; Williams, Herman; Williams, Jack; Williams, L. E .; Williams, Lloyd A .; Williams, L. L .; Williams, Mack; Williams, Sidney ; Willis, Emmett M .; Willis, James A .; Willis, John M .; Willis, Robert ; Wilson, Burris; Wilson, Henry E .; Wilson, James Emmett; Wilson, John Burris ; Wilson, S .; Wilson, Turner, lieutenant, Y. M. C. A. work; Wilson, Willie B .; Wimer, L. C. R .; Windsor, Ernest A .; Winfrey, Elmer Francis ; Winfrey, Elmer Ray; Winthrow, R. W .; Witcher, Walter L .; Withrow, James E .; Wittlinger, A. F .; Wixom, E. J. D .; Wolford, Roy, corporal ; Wolfe, Charles W .; Wolfe, Joseph H., Jr .; Wolfe, William; Wolford, John E .; Wollett, Daniel J .; Wombles, Albert Thomas; Wood, DeWitt; Wood, Earl Raymond; Wood, Earl W .; Wood, Edgar Morrison; Wood, Oscar, corporal; Wood, Richard E .; Woods, O .; Woods, William G .; Woodson, J. B .; Woodson, Jesse Roy; Woodward, Coyne; Woolford, Woolsey, William Emery; Workman, Wayne S .; Worm, Gilbert W .; Worm, Hugo; Wornell, Clinton Arthur; Wright, A. O .; Wright, Harry; Wright, L. J .; Wulff, John Fred; Wybrick, Charles.
Yarnell, Hiram C .; Yost, H. J .; Young, Ed; Young, Diamond; Young, Edward; Young, George B .; Young, Hugo; Young, James C .; Young, Perry A .; Young, W .; Yount, E. R.
Zehr, Roy M., corporal; Zimmerschied, Ardie E .; Zoernig, Herbert; Zuhn, John C .; Zuhn, Walter E.
The foregoing list is corrected to December 7, 1918.
When the soldier left his home in America and went out to fight the battles of his country, it was the custom that his family display, in his home, a service flag. This flag consisted of a blue star, set in the center of a white field and bordered with red and indicated that a mem- ber of that family was in the service of the United States Government. When the soldier would die, or be killed, the blue star was replaced by one of gold.
The following stars in Pettis County have turned from blue to gold, and when they did, they did not sink, as does the evening star behind
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
a cloud of darkness to its setting ; but as the morning star, the star of the East, which fades away at the breaking of the dawn to give birth to a new, a grand and more glorious day :
Ernie Hirsch, Raymond M. Ashurst, Otis Aldridge, Eugene S. Anthony, Oscar E. Bishop, Charles Blackman, Bridges (initials unknown), Edgar Cole, Carl G. Carlson, Darrell Clingan, Walter E. Elkins, Edward Grote, Charley Hall, Charles Hall, Alexander Hefner, Clay Henderson, Lemnos Harrison Hill, Ledo Hilligoss, Sargeant Carl Holland, Daniel F. Lacy, Lay- ton L. Longan, James Owen Love, Lieutenant Charles R. Long, M. D .; Claude Henry Montgomery, Charles Edgar Marshall, Frederick Mitchell, James Monroe Manley, Dudley McBride, Hugh McCorkle, Roy E. Mahin, Richard Clay Owens, Edward J. Quinn, Loboring Rayl, Porter Robb, Flavel B. Rockford, Ezra E. Speer, Harvey L. Sibert, J. Archer Smith, Mintle J. Smith, Carl Phillips Streuber, Charles Tarr, Benjamin C. Wright, Sargeant Elmer Wickline, L. L. Williams, Sidney Williams. The above list is corrected to December 30, 1918.
CHAPTER XLIII.
REFLECTIONS IN VERSE
WHEN WARS SHALL END-THE PLAN OF LIFE-IN FLANDERS' FIELDS.
WHEN WARS SHALL END
When every nation of the earth Shall learn and understand, To treat its honor at its worth And temper each demand, With knowledge that each other power Has a national honor, too, And guards it every passing hour As is it's right to do.
With honor internationally codified, By world-powers, understood To mean one thing for all-not modified To serve one nation's good ; Then, with accepted understanding State-craft's jeweled hand can blend Strife with right, not might-faith commanding, Then wars shall surely end.
-Mark Austin McGruder.
(Not abandoned; rights reserved.)
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THE PLAN OF LIFE
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A little boy is playing with his toys, In childish glee, at ease, uncouth; No subtile thought to mar his joys, For this is youth.
A man of honor and of worth his burdens bear. His creed is duty, his name is good; Kind are his deeds, he laughs at care; This is manhood.
:
A grey head bowed in retrospective mood -
Dreams of life's race now run-how sage; Of faded joys and victories wooed, And this is age.
His friend and kinsmen gather round his bier; Recall his deeds good, kind and brave; And shed a sympathizing tear; This is the grave.
-Mark Austin McGruder.
(Not abandoned; rights reserved.) :
.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
*In Flanders fields, where poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place, and in the sky, The larks still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead; Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields !
Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from failing hands we throw The torch-be yours to hold it high ! If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields !
*Written by Lieuteant-Colonel John McCrae, M. D., who died at a hospital at Bolougne, France, in the last days of January, 1918.
(Toronto Globe.)
The death of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae has been widely noted in the United States press, and many newspapers reproduced his famous poem, "In Flanders Fields." Senator Mark A. McGruder, of Missouri, chair- man of the Committee on New Capitol, Constitutional Amendments and Permanent Seat of Government, was so impressed upon reading the poem in a Kansas City daily that he wrote as follows:
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"In Flanders Fields"
In Flanders fields, where poppies grow Between the crosses, row on row, One marks your place, and in the sky The stars in silence standing by Will sing your praises while they glow And all of those who died In Flanders fields For us.
You're not the dead who days ago Lived, moved, felt dawn, saw sunset's glow,
Loved and were loved, and now you lie In Flanders fields
This age and each succeeding day
Proclaim you patriot-well they may,
And all of those who died In Flanders fields For us.
Yours is our quarrel with the foe, To us your mighty hands did throw The torch. And we will hold it high,
And faith will keep; since you did die Rest on in peace, where poppies blow, Rest all of those who died In Flanders fields For us.
In Flanders fields for us you died, Time and its changes will not hide Nor dim the glory you have won ; But every age 'till time is done
Will sound the praise of you and yours, And all of those who died In Flanders fields For us.
Mark A. McGruder, in Ottawa (Ont.) Journal-Press.
Er by E & Williams & Bro NY
I.M. Mons (1)
CHAPTER XLIV.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Louis M. Monsees .- An individual's place in history is decided by his achievements and the importance of his accomplishments is deter- mined by the benefits conferred upon his fellow men through his efforts. The citizen who engages in a decidedly useful vocation which is of real and lasting benefit to the county, State and nation at large and at the same time ahcieves a fame and reputation for himself which extends far beyond the borders of his home county and State, has done something worth while, and the record of his achievements should occupy a prom- inent place in the historical annals of his home county. Louis M. Monsees is a Pettis county citizen who has made his mark in the world, and whose efforts in behalf of the placing of the science of animal husbandry on a high plane has placed him in the front ranks of jack and mule breeders in the United States, and the world in general.
Louis M. Monsees, proprietor of Limestone Valley Farm, Pettis County, became interested in breeding jacks and jennets when yet a boy twelve years of age. When he became of age he embarked in the busi- ness with every atom of energy and ambition to spur him on to great achievements. Even when a youth, he was ambitious to become the greatest breeder of his class in the world. For years past, he has had the satisfaction of having realized this laudable ambition. Mr. Monsees began breeding with a single jack in 1870 and during the past forty-eight years has climbed to the top of the ladder in his specialty. Mr. Monsees' first sale of jacks and jennets was held in 1881, and brought a total of $8,490. From year to year, the volume of sales has increased until 1909, the total amount of his sales was $56,850. In 1910 the total of sales was $67,750. Buyers of these annual sales flock to Limestone . Valley Farm from all parts of the United States and the Monsees sale is an event to
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
be reckoned with each year. On October 21, 1918, the thirty-ninth an- nual sale was held at Limestone Valley Farm and this sale was largely attended. Thirty-five jacks and forty-five head of jennets, bred and raised on the farm, were placed on sale on this date and scores of buyers and hundreds of people were in attendance.
The Limestone Valley herd of jacks and jennets hold an unsur- passed record. It has always been the policy of Mr. Monsees to produce and mature the best stock obtainable, and he has followed the production of a type of jack and jennet as an individual, as a show animal, and as a breeder, which could not be beaten. The Limestone Valley herd has proven its worth, time and again, by its show records, and have been sold at public auction for record prices. It has produced the St. Louis World's Fair Grand Champion, Orphan Boy, Reg. No. 696; Limestone Monarch, Reg. No. 3254, twice Missouri State Fair Grand Champion, and reserve Grand Champion at San Francisco World's Fair. Mr. Monsees drew the largest check in 1904, at the St. Louis World's Fair, given as awards for exhibits of Limestone Valley jacks and jennies. He won more prizes and grand champion awards than all other exhibitors com- bined at the St. Louis World's Fair. He was awarded fifty prizes out of a total of fifty-three awards at St. Louis, and received thirty-three first awards out of thirty-six at San Francisco. Pettis County was thus placed in the front rank of stock breeding counties, and more money was won by Pettis County breeders than all other counties in Missouri. He won more premiums and awards at the St. Louis Fair than all other exhibitors. He repeated the performance at the San Francisco Exposi- tion, and has been repeating at all other great fairs held in the United States. He received every grand champion prize at St. Louis and animals bred from Limestone Valley stock won practically all awards, but two out of 420 head of animals exhibited.
Limestone Valley Farm, owned and operated by L. M. Monsees and Sons, consists of 700 acres of land upon which are located three farm dwellings, and two tenant houses. This farm is 189 miles west of St. Louis, ninety-nine miles east of Kansas City on the main line of the Mis- souri Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railways, six miles east of Sedalia and two miles north of Smithton, Pettis County, Missouri. The farm is reached by excellent rock roads from Sedalia and Smithton. There are seven barns on the place, the main barn being 120x40 feet in dimensions, nearly all farm buildings being painted white. At this writ-
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ing, October, 1918, there are 100 head of thoroughbred jacks and jennets on the farm and there are bred from sixty to 100 head annually. Besides the proprietor, his three sturdy sons and two hired men are employed constantly in the farming operations. In addition to the Limestone Val- ley farm, Mr. Monsees has a half interest in 580 acres and also another 120 acre farm. The Limestone Valley farm is beautifully located and is appropriately named on account of the limestone soil predominating in the rolling areas, embraced in the confines of the farm. The white tone of the buildings and fencing against the deep green of the blue grass cov- ered fields makes an attractive picture, all this being the outcome of a boyhood dream which terminated in an insatiable ambition of the young man, grown to become the greatest mule man in the world. To Louis M. Monsees, more than any other citizen, is due the credit and honor of placing Pettis County and the State of Missouri in the front ranks of mule-producing sections. Missouri mules are famous the world over, and on the battle fields of Europe they have been of inestimable use and their sturdy qualities are unsurpassed. It is safe to assert that there is hardly a mule breeding locality in the United States but its herds can boast of the strains of Limestone Valley herd. In addition to the jacks and jennets produced on the farm, it is highly productive, large crops of grain being raised, and over two hundred hogs are produced and fattened annually for the markets. Mr. Monsees was formerly a successful horse breeder, but of late years has devoted all of his attention to the breeding of jacks and jennets and maintaining his herd upon the world renowned high plane upon which his efforts and intelligence has placed it.
Louis M. Monsees is a native born citizen of Pettis County. He was born November 20, 1858, the son of John H. and Lucinda (Momberg) Monsees, who were pioneer settlers of Pettis County. John H. Monsees was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1836 and died in 1908.
When nine years of age, John H. Monsees accompanied his father, Martin Monsees, to America and the family settled in Morgan County, Missouri. In 1850 they came to Pettis County and settled near Smithton, one mile south of the present location of Smithton. Martin Monsees en- tered free government land, also purchased land and spent the remainder of his days in farming pursuits. John H. Monsees prospered as a farmer and fruit grower, the science of horticulture being his hobby. As he grew older and his sons became able to do the farm work, he devoted practically all of his time to his fine orchards. In 1902 he went to Canada
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