USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 64
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Mr. Fisher is one of Sedalia's substantial citizens and has an ex- tensive acquaintance and many friends.
Herman Kirchhofer, a substantial business man of Sedalia, who has been a resident of this city, for thirty years, is a native of Switzerland. He was born March 31, 1863, a son of Jacob and Anna Barbara (Summer) Kirchhofer, both natives of Switzerland. The Kirchhofer family immi- grated to America in 1869, and first settled at Pocahontas, Illinois, where they remained about one year. They then removed to Jonesburg, Mis- souri, where the father bought a farm of 300 acres which he improved and sold in 1874. He then removed to Herman, Missouri, where he bought a vineyard which he operated for a time and later sold it and re- moved to Berger, Missouri, and spent the remainder of his life in re- tirement. He died in August, 1916. His wife died in 1910, and their remains are interred in the cemetery at Berger, Missouri.
Jacob and Anna Barbara (Summer) Kirchhofer were the parents of the following children: Fred, farmer, Herman, Missouri; Adolph, in the automobile business ; Mary, resides at Berger, Missouri ; Herman, the sub- ject of this sketch; John, Berger, Missouri; and Anna, Berger, Missouri.
Herman Kirchhofer, received his education in the public schools of Herman, Missouri and began life as a clerk in a general store at Berger. In 1889, he came to Sedalia and was engaged in various employments until October 4, 1917, when he purchased the Missouri Pacific restaurant, which he has since conducted.
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Mr. Kirchhofer was united in marriage in 1892 with Miss Mary Meyer, of Berger, Missouri. She is a daughter of William and Caroline Meyer, both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Kirchhofer, have been born three children, as follow: Roy, who was in the employ of the Missouri Jacific Railroad Company for nine years, volunteered in the United States Army, July 20, 1917, when twenty-three years of age and after spending some time in training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, near Indianapolis, Indi- ana, was sent to France in July, 1918, and is in the United States train service there; Flora married Benjamin Rose, of Sedalia, Missouri, who was one of the first to enlist in the World War in 1917, and has been in France for over a year at the present writing and is a member of the United States Engineer Corps; and Edna May, a student in the Prospect School, resides at home with her parents.
Mr. Kirchhofer is a wide-awake business man and takes a commend- able interest in public affairs. He was elected city assessor of Sedalia in 1914, and was re-elected to that office in 1916, serving four years in all. He is a member of the Woodman of the World, the Knights and Ladies of Security and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
G. C. Loveland, who owns and operates the Capital Corn and Feed Mill, 205 East Main street, Sedalia, is one of the enterprising business men of Pettis County. Mr. Loveland was born in Mercer County, Missouri, January 28, 1863. He is the son of Richard Porter and Hanna (Austin) Loveland, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Maine. Richard Porter Loveland was a Union Veteran of the Civil War, having served as captain of Company B, Forty-ninth Missouri Infantry. He located in Mercer County, Missouri, about 1860 and was there when the Civil War broke out. After the war he settled in Illinois. He died at Rockford, Illinois, aged eighty-six years and his wife was also eighty-six years old at the time of her death. Their remains are buried at Rockford, Illinois.
Richard Porter and Hannah (Austin) Loveland, were the parents of the following children: Charles, Trenton, Missouri; Byron, deceased; Martin, Trenton, Missouri; Amy, deceased; Harve, Rockford, Illinois ; John, Sedalia, Missouri ; Sadie, Minneapolis, Minnesota ; two died in infancy ; and G. C., the subject of this sketch.
G. C. Loveland was educated in the public schools at Rockford, Illi- nois, and in early life began the manufacture of furniture, at Rockford, Illinois, and for twenty years was successfully engaged in that industry there. In 1903, he came to Pettis County, where he was engaged in farm-
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ing for three years, when he bought an interest in the Capital Mills, and for six years operated it in partnership with Mr. Zimmerman. He then bought his partner's interest, and since that time has been the sole owner and proprietor. The Capital Mills is devoted to grinding meal and feed in which Mr. Loveland has an extensive trade. He also is en- gaged in the retail coal and wood business in connection with his mill- ing enterprise.
August 12, 1885, G. C. Loveland was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Richardson of Rockford, Illinois. She is a daughter of Edward B. and Sarah Richardson, whose home is in Rockford, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Loveland have been born the following children: Harry P., mar- ried Marguerite May, and is engaged in business with his father at Se- dalia; Dr. Clyde Loveland, now serving in the Medical Corps of the United States Army; Florence, married Carr Sanders, St. Louis, Mis- souri; Walter B., married Mabel Echard, of Sedalia and is now in the National Army in France, a member of Battery F, Three Hundred Thirty- ninth Field Artillery; Leroy, a student in the Sedalia High School; Ruth May, also a student in the Sedalia High School; Rex, attending the Broad- way School; and Doris, died at the age of two years.
Col. John S. Banks, who now resides at Hartshorn, Oklahoma, is one of the very earliest pioneers of Pettis County, still living to tell the story of the primitive pioneer days of this section of the West. Colonel Banks is a native of Tennessee and a son of Jordan and Jane (Brumfield) Banks of Clarksville, Tennessee, where they both died and are buried. Mr. Banks has one living sister, Mrs. Lou Tucker, who resides at St. Louis, Missouri.
John S. Banks, came to Pettis County in 1850, with his guardian, Samuel H. Brown, who afterwards became a captain in the Union Army and while home on a furlough, he was accidentally killed by a gunshot, January 5, 1864. He was buried on his farm near Sedalia, with military honors.
Colonel Banks was educated in the Presbyterian College at Rich- mond, Ray County, Missouri. After finishing school he returned to his home, five miles northeast of Sedalia, where he was engaged in farm- ing until 1880. He then moved to the Ilgenfritz farm north of Sedalia, where he remained for fifteen years. He then went to Cooper County, remaining there until he went to Hartshorn, Oklahoma, where he has since made his home.
John S. Banks was married in 1875 to Miss Addie Wood, daughter
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of Watson and Lucinda Wood. Watson Wood and his brother, Clifton, were the first merchants in Pettis County. Their store was located at Pen Hook Mills, which was then the county seat of Pettis County. The mill there was operated by a man named Cummings. To John S. and Addie (Wood) Banks were born the following children; Mrs. Woodie Reynolds, Harts- horn Oklahoma; John S., Jr., Hartshorn, Oklahoma; Watson, Hartshorn, Oklahoma; Grover Vest, Morgan County, Missouri; Frank Newton, now serving in the United States Navy, having enlisted in May, 1918; and Joe V., now serving with the United States Army with the American Expeditionary Force in France.
While a resident of Pettis County, Colonel Banks was extensively engaged in farming and stock feeding. He also took an active part in early day politics of this county. He served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff McCormick, who resigned and was succeeded by John Hubbard, Mr. Banks continuing as deputy sheriff to the end of Sheriff Hubbard's term. Georgetown was the county seat when McCormack was sheriff.
Colonel Banks recalls many interesting historic events in the early history of Pettis County. He recalls when the first city lots were sold in Sedalia, October 16, 1860. When a boy, he often hunted prairie chickens on the site of the present city of Sedalia. He was' here during the Civil War, and remembers many instances connected with that conflict. He remembers when the trenches were dug to fortify against an expected attack from the Confederates. He says they were about four feet deep and extended on the north and east side of the town and Col. John D. Cradford was in command of the Federal troops here.
Mr. Banks says the first farm sold in Pettis County consisted of 460 acres, one mile east of Georgetown. It was sold by Milton Thompson to a Mr. Pilkington from Kentucky for ten dollars per acre. The early settlers of those days also had their social amusement and past-times and Colonel Banks tells of some of the early-day dances. He mentions one that was held in 1864, at the residence of George Hughes, west of Georgetown where there were fifty or sixty in attendance. They danced all night and the next day it stormed and the party remained and danced throughout the following night. Colonel Banks and Mrs. John B. Hughes are the only ones now living who were present on that occasion.
Mr. Banks is one of the interesting pioneers left to tell the story of Pettis County, and although now in his seventy-fourth year, he is as keen in mind and active in body as the average man many years his junior.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
John Antone Yost, a Union veteran of the Civil War, and a Pettis County pioneer, is now living retired in Elk Fork township, Pettis County. Mr. Yost is a native of Germany, born in Nassau, April 14, 1840. He is the son of Antone and Kate (Schimerschied) Yost. The father was born in Nassau, Germany, in 1812 and died in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1903. He was a farmer all his life. His wife was born in 1813, and died in 1853. The Yost family came to America in 1846, when John Antone, the sub- ject of this sketch, was about six years old. They settled in Pettis County where the father bought land in Lake Creek township. They were early settlers in that section of the county. Here John Antone Yost was reared to manhood and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in 1861, and first served with the State Guards for three months. In 1862, he enlisted in the State Militia, becoming a member of Company E, Thir- teenth Missouri Regiment, which was known as mounted cavalry. In 1863, he re-enlisted, becoming a sergeant in Company E, Thirteenth Mis- souri Regiment. At the battle of Independence, he received a gunshot wound in the thigh and was sent to a hospital at Ft. Scott, Kansas, and four weeks later returned to his company. He served until the close of the war and received an honorable discharge in June, 1866. After the war closed Mr. Yost returned to Pettis County, which has since been his home.
John Antone Yost has been twice married. He was united in mar- riage first with Miss Mary Gerlt, a native of Pettis County, Missouri, who was born June 21, 1840. To this union was born two children, Her- man A., a sketch of whom appears in this volume, and Minnie, the wife of J. W. Smith of Green Ridge township. The mother of these children died October 2, 1870. Mr. Yost married for his second wife, Mrs. Mary Wagnor, and two children were born to this union: Charles E., who resides in Elk Fork township, and Mrs. Clara Embree of Elk Fork township.
Mr. Yost is a Republican and was reared in the Lutheran faith. In reflecting upon the past, it no doubt is a great satisfaction and pleasure to Mr. Yost to feel a sense of satisfaction that he has done his duty whether on the field of battle or in the quiet ordinary every-day details of life. He is one of the grand old men of Pettis County.
Samuel Allen Powell, a descendant of one of Pettis County's early pio- neer families, is a prominent farmer and stockman of Elk Fork town- ship. Mr. Powell was born in Elk Fork township, December 12, 1876, and is a son of Charles H. and Kate (Whiteman) Powell. Charles H.
JOHN ANTONE YOST.
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Powell, the father of Samuel Allen Powell, was also born in Elk Fork township, January 29, 1854, and was married December 22, 1875. He was the son of Samuel A. Powell, a native of Virginia who came from that State to Missouri in 1836. He first settled in Callaway County and after remaining there one year, came to Pettis County. He became a very well-to-do man and owned several tracts of land in this County. He was an extensive stockman and bought and sold cattle. While on a trip buying cattle, he was taken suddenly ill and died, February 14, 1859. To Charles H. and Kate (Whiteman) Powell were born two children, Samuel Allen, the subject of this sketch, and Charles L., who lives in Camden, New Jersey. After the death of Charles H. Powell, which occurred in 1896, his widow married Henry Teliafero and they reside in Macon, Geor- gia. One child was born to this union, Myrtle Teliafero, who now resides with her parents.
Samuel Allen Powell was reared on the home farm in Pettis County and educated in the public schools. He purchased his present farm in 1901, where he has since been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. He owns 100 acres of land which is well improved and is val- uable and productive soil.
Mr. Powell was united in marriage in 1897 with Miss Emma N. Zimmerschied, also a native of Elk Fork township, born October 5, 1877. She is a daughter of Lewis and Lena (Mossiman) Zimmerschied, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Wisconsin. They settled in Pettis County about 1865. To Mr. and Mrs. Powell have been born two children: Charles E., born June 10, 1899, now serving with the United States Army in France, having enlisted in the Medical Corps. He is a graduate of the Green Ridge High School and the Central Business. Col- lege at Sedalia. The youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Powell, Bessie L., was educated in the Sedalia High School and the Green Ridge High School, being a graduate of both of these institutions.
Mr. Powell is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Green Ridge, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a stanch Demo- crat, and he and his family are members of the Methodist Church. He Is the present township assessor of Elk Fork township, having served in that capacity for the past three years. He is one of the substantial citizens of Pettis County who has succeeded in life through his own unaided efforts.
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Everett E. Durand, the well-known cashier of the Farmers and Mer- chants Bank of Green Ridge, Missouri, has been prominently identified with the banking interests of Pettis County for over twenty-eight years and is recognized as one of the capable financiers of this section of the State. Mr. Durand is a native of Iowa, and was born in Adams County at the beginning of the Civil War. He is a son of L. B. Durand and Louisa (Whipple) Durand. The father was a native of Ohio and of French ancestry, and the mother was born in Connecticut and of English descent. L. B. Durand was a farmer by occupation and died when a young man, about twenty-eight years of age. The mother died in 1902, aged about sixty years. They were the parents of four children of whom Everett E., is the oldest. The others are Charles S., a mining engineer, of Yerington, Nevada; Herbert A., resides at St. Charles, Iowa, and Mrs. Carrie L. Houck lives in Colorado.
Everett E. Durand was reared on a farm in Iowa and had the ad- vantages of a good common-school education in that state, and after coming to Pettis County he entered the Sedalia Seminary and Business College and was graduated from that institution in 1893. He then taught school. in Green Ridge for eight years, and was recognized as one of the successful educators of Pettis County. He served as postmaster of Green Ridge during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison.
In 1891, Mr. Durand became cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Green Ridge. This was shortly after the bank was organized, and he has held that position continuously since that time and has been the leading factor in shaping the policies of this successful banking in- stitution. The Farmers and Merchants Bank is recognized as one of the solid financial institutions of the State and has had a remarkable growth since Mr. Durand became its cashier, as evidenced by a comparison of its resources. In 1891 the total resources was about $30,000 and now at the beginning of the year 1919 the resources amount to about $300,000. As an evidence of the standing of Mr. Durand in his home county, he is now serving the second year as president of the Pettis County Bankers Asso- ciation. He has given the subject of banking and finance careful thought and study, and during his long experience, has solved many perplexing problems of banking.
Mr. Durand was married October 14, 1891, to Miss Mamie Flesher, a native of Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois. She is a daughter of Dr. W. H. and Katharine Flesher. Dr. Flesher came to Pettis County
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from Illinois, with his family in 1879 and practiced medicine in Green Ridge and surrounding country, until his death in 1898. His wfe de- parted this life in 1911.
To Everett E. Durand and wife have been born two children, as fol- low: Paul, who died in 1901, aged nine years; and Estalyn. Estalyn was educated in the Green Ridge schools and after completing the high school course, entered Stephens College at Columbia, Missouri, where she was graduated. She has specialized in music and is highly accomplished in that art. She was united in marriage, January 1, 1918, with Jesse V. Buester. Mr. Buester enlisted in the United States Navy during the World War and served on the U. S. S. New Hampshire.
Mrs. Durand, wife of Everett E., is a lady of many accomplishments, and has been active in the social affairs of Green Ridge and Pettis County. She is a member of the Ladies Musical Club of Sedalia and is active in every movement to advance the musical and social interests of the com- munity.
Mr. Durand is a Republican in politics and takes a keen interest in public affairs. He has been treasurer of the city of Green Ridge for the past twenty years, also a member of the school board and treasurer of the board during that period. He is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Shrine of that order, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He, together with his wife, are members of the Congregational Church, and he has been treasurer of the local congregation for the past twenty-five years. He is recognized as a progressive and public spirited citizen.
Edward S. Spickert, who is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising in Elk Fork township, is a native son of Pettis County. He was born in Elk Fork township, January 10, 1887, on the farm where he now resides and is a son of John N. and Mary Katherine (Quincy) Spick- ert. The father was a native of Kentucky and settled in Pettis County in 1882. He also lived in Benton County for a number of years. He died on the home place in Elk Fork township, August 9, 1907, and his wife departed this life January 29, 1904.
To John N. and Mary Katherine (Quincy) Spickert were born eleven children as follows: John Charles, Yellow Jacket, Colorado; Millie, mar- ried Ed Powell, Elk Fork township; James W., Mills, New Mexico; Mary K., married L. Horne and they live in California ; Minnie, married L. P.
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Anderson and is now deceased; Lewis T., resides in Colorado; Ida, mar- ried S. L. Heath and they live in California; Anna, married Eli Williams; Edward, the subject of this sketch; Eugene F., lives in Colorado; and George, Benton County, Missouri.
Edward Spickert was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of Benton and Pettis Counties, and was engaged in the mercan- tile business in early life. He has followed farming both in Benton and Pettis Counties. He went to Benton County and followed farming there until 1902 when he returned to the home place in Elk Fork township, Pettis County. Shortly after he returned to Benton County where he remained until 1906, when he returned to Pettis county and since that time has been engaged in farming and stock raisig. He operates 365 acres of land now. He is one of the progressive and enterprising farmers of Elk Fork township.
Mr. Spickert was married October 2, 1898, to Miss Anna Beaman who was born near Sedalia, Missouri. She is a daughter of Charles T. and Sallie Ann (Greer) Beaman, both natives of Virginia and early set- tlers in Pettis County. The father now resides at Warsaw, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Spickert have been born six children as follows: George W., Mabel, Cecil L., Mary K., Lawrence E., and Lelia M., all residing at home with their parents.
The Spickert family is one of the well known and substantial pioneer families of Pettis County.
Charles Dump, a well-known farmer and stockman of Green Ridge township, is a native of Pettis County. He was born in Flat Creek town- ship, February 17, 1892, and is a son of George and Mary A. (Crawford) Dump. George Dump was born in Hocking County, Ohio, in 1842, where he was reared to manhood and educated in the public schools. He was a farmer all his life. In 1873 George Dump came to Pettis County and settled twelve miles south of Sedalia. Later he moved to a place seven miles south of Sedalia where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a successful farmer and dairyman and kept Shorthorn cattle. At the time of his death he owned 420 acres of land. He died in 1916 and his wife departed this life in 1912. They were members of the Methodist Church and the father was a Republican.
Charles Dump is the youngest of a family of six born to his parents, one of whom is dead. He was reared in Pettis County and educated in the public schools. He spent his early boyhood days on the farm and
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has been a farmer and stock raiser all his life. He now owns and ope- rates eighty acres of land on section 14, in Green Ridge township.
Mr. Dump was married February 16, 1913, to Miss Elizabeth Elliott, a native of Pettis County and a daughter of Herbert A. and Cordelia (Durill) Elliott, who now reside in Washington township on a farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Dump has been born one child, Mary C. They are members of the Methodist Church and he is a Republican and holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Dump is one of the progressive Pettis County farmers of the younger generation. He is public-spirited and enterprising and is meeting with well merited suc- cess in his undertakings.
Robert H. Thompson, a well-known and successful farmer and stock raiser of LaMonte township, is a member of an old and prominent Pettis County family. Mr. Thompson was born in Johnson County, Missouri, October 20, 1887, ad is a son of Elmer E. and Mary (Vanatta) Thompson.
Elmer Thompson was born in Clinton County, Indiana, September 19, 1854, and is a son of Robert and Sarah J. (Lewis) Thompson, both natives of Butler County, Ohio, where the former was born June 9, 1833 and the latter was born June 8, 1834. They now reside in Sedalia. Robert Thompson was successfully engaged in farming in LaMonte town- ship for a number of years, after coming here in 1872 and is now living retired.
Elmer E. Thompson came to Missouri with his parents in 1872 and they settled on the farm in LaMonte township, which is now owned by Robert H. Thompson. Elmer E. Thompson was reared on this place and educated in the public schools and in early life engaged in farming for himself. His father gave him forty acres of land in Johnson County and he was successfully engaged in farming and the stock business for many years. A few years ago, when he divided his land among his chil- dren he had 1,820 acres. He is now engaged in farming and dealing in all kinds of live stock at Knob Noster, Missouri. Mary (Vanatta) Thompson, wife of Elmer E. Thompson, is a native of Pettis County and was born ten miles southeast of Sedalia. To Elmer E. and Mary (Van- atta) Thompson were born the following children: Robert H., the subject of this sketch; Florence D., married H. A. Wirner, Johnson County, Mis- souri; Joseph E., lives near Knob Noster, Missouri; Clifford E., was drafted into the army, October 5, 1917, was a member of Company E. 126th Infantry and after being wounded, was trasnferred to the field
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artillery and has been serving on the battle line in France since June 2, 1918; Roy L., attending school in Boonville, Missouri; Mary O., at home; Ruby, died at the age of four years.
Robert H. Thompson, the subject of this sketch, was born on a farm near Knob Noster and received his education in the district schools and the Knob Noster High School. After finishing school he remained at home with his father for a time and in 1915 he bought his present farm from his father. However, he had rented this place for some years previous to purchasing it. His farm consists of 280 acres of well-im- proved land and is located on section 30. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with success. In 1916 he began breeding Duroc Jersey hogs and is one of the successful breeders in this section.
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