USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 65
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December 29, 1910, Robert H. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Florence Wampler, a native of Johnson County, Missouri, born August 24, 1892. She is a daughter of Jacob B. and Fannie Lee (Lang- ston) Wampler, natives of Johnson County, now residing four miles north of Knob Noster, where Mrs. Thompson was born and reared. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born three children as follow: Chester, Delmar and Earl.
Mr. Thompson and wife are members of the Christian Church and he is a Republican and is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
J. Ed. Hall, of Blackwater township, is perhaps better known to the progressive, scientific and up-to-date agriculturists of this section of Missouri than any other man in Pettis County. He conducts the United States Demonstration Farm, of which he is the owner, in Blackwater township. This place is situated four miles northwest of LaMonte and contains 222 acres. It became a demonstration farm in 1910 when the first agricultural experiments were worked out here. J. Robert Hall, who at that time was a student in the State University in the Agricultural Department, began, with his father's help, experimenting on the farm with clover, soy beans, cow peas, etc., and analyzing the soil. Since then the place has been developed into a complete demonstration farm and meetings are held here annually for the benefit of farmers and others who are interested in the scientific application of the principles of agri- culture.
Mr. Hall asserts that in 1910, when he took over the possession of this farm, that its producing power was very low and that the proper
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application of lacking elements of the soil that the production of this farm has been increased three-fold. He keeps an accurate record of the business of the place, crop production and expenses, and can tell in an instant the profits of each particular department. The place is divided off into sections or blocks and an accurate record kept of each. The work on this place is under the direction of D. H. Doane, head farm adviser of the State and professor of agriculture in the State University. In addi- tion to general farming and his connection with the agricultural experi- mental work, Mr. Hall is interested in the breeding of pure bred White Rock chickens, Duroc Jersey hogs and Holstein cattle, Morse soy beans, Fultz wheat and Ried's yellow dent corn.
J. Ed. Hall was born in Clay County, Missouri, October 17, 1869. He is a son of John T. and Mary A. (Craven) Hall, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Tennessee. John T. Hall was born in 1834 and when four years of age his parents removed to Clay County, Missouri. He was a son of John R. Hall. John T. Hall was a farmer all his life and died in Clay County in 1898. Mary A. (Craven) Hall was born August 17, 1844, and died in January, 1909. The members of the Hall family have been farmers for generations and many of them have been pro- gressive students of scientific farming. J. Ed. Hall was reared in Clay County and was educated in the public schools and the Karney High School, at Karney, Missouri. He followed farming on the old home place in Clay County for twenty-five years and also owned land there himself. In 1907 he came to Pettis County and bought his present place, which was known as the old Dorsey farm. He has made many improvements, and it is one of the model farms of Pettis County.
Mr. Hall was married March 11, 1891, to Miss Allie M. Pence, a native of Clay County, Missouri. She died in 1904. Five children were born to them, as follow: J. Robert, who graduated at the University of Missouri in 1917 and is now county farm agent of Cass County, Mis- souri, located at Harrisonville; Arthur R., a student in the University of Missouri; Ralph W., residing at home with his father; Herbert E., also at home with his father, and Thelma, who died in infancy. Mr. Hall was married the second time, April 29, 1906, to Miss Georgia A. Dorsey, a native of Pettis County, born in Dresden township. She is a daughter of Thomas E. and Lucinda J. (O'Bannon) Dorsey, the former of Vir- ginia, the latter a native of Missouri. Thomas Dorsey was eight years old when he came to Cooper County and settled at Boonville with his
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parents. He died October 9, 1909. The O'Bannon family was one of the first four families to settle in Pettis County. A history of that family appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Dorsey now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Hall. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall has been born one child, Mary Lucinda, who died in infancy.
Mr. Hall is independent in his political views and is a member of the Baptist Church. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America at LaMonte. He is a progressive and public spirited citizen and one of Pettis County's most successful men.
John F. Schmidt, who is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Pettis County, is a well-known farmer and stockman of Elk Fork township. Mr. Schmidt is a native Missourian, having been born in Lafayette County, November 18, 1850. He is a son of Henry Schmidt. His mother bore the maiden name of Ducholtz. Both parents were na- tives of Hanover, Germany, and their two eidest children were born in that country. To Henry Schmidt and wife were born the following chil- dren: two oldest were daughters and died in infancy; Sarah W., married M. F. Kern and lives in Allen County, Kansas; John F., the subject of this sketch; and Henry who resides in Allen County, Kansas.
Henry Schmidt and his wife left their native land in 1847, and im- migrated to America. They first settled in Lafayette County, Missouri, where they remained from 1847 until 1857. They then removed to Allen County, Kansas. The mother died the same year that the family re- moved to Kansas and the father married for his second wife, Bridget Moore, a native of Ireland. No children were born to this union. Henry Schmidt died in Allen County, Kansas, in 1896, aged seventy-nine years. His second wife preceded him in death, she having departed this life in 1885.
ยท John F. Schmidt received his start in life by honest toil. He was reared on a farm and remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. He then began working out as a farm hand, receiving for his labor only thirteen dollars per month. This was in Kansas. In 1874, when Mr. Schmidt was about twenty-four years of age, he returned to Lafayette County, Missouri, and farmed rented land until 1883. He then went to what is now known as Ramsey County, North Dakota, and took up government land. He acquired 320 acres of government land and later bought eighty acres more. He improved this 400 acres with good buildings, fencing, and brought it up to a high state of cultivation. He
JOHN F. SCHMIDT.
MRS. JOHN F. SCHMIDT.
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sold this place in 1901 and came to Pettis County and purchased the place where he now resides in Elk Fork township. His place consists of 218 acres, and since buying this place, Mr. Schmidt has made valuable and substantial improvements and has one of the fine farms of the com- munity.
During the first four years of life on his North Dakota claim, Mr. Schmidt was unmarried, and like many others who were proving up on their claims in the west in those days, "batched." On April 14, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Viola Casady, a native of Wash- ington County, Ohio, born December 14, 1861. She is a daughter of William Casady. To Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have been born three chil- dren as follows: Perly H., deceased; Grant J., born April 24, 1894, in North Dakota, educated in the public schools of Pettis County, and in October, 1917, was inducted into the United States Army and is now serving in Europe, a member of Company L, 354th Infantry, Eighty- ninth Division. This is one of the divisions of the United States Army that immortalized itself in the final great battles of the World War and is now a part of the army of occupation in Germany. The youngest child, Florence S., born to Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt, was born in North Dakota, March 11, 1898, married Dell Wagner, of Kansas, and they have one child, Ada Dell. Mr. Wagner is also now serving with the United States Army in Europe.
Mr. Schmidt is a Republican and has served six years on the local school board. He is enterprising, progressive and public spirited and one of Pettis County's leading citizens. The Schmidt family stands high in the community where they live.
Stephen C. Connor, a progressive farmer and stockman, of LaMonte township, is a native son of Pettis County. He was born in Dresden township, May 25, 1879, a son of John and Mary (Shay) Connor. The mother now resides in Dresden township at the age of seventy-six years. The father, a prominent pioneer of Pettis County, departed this life, September 5, 1918, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. A more complete review of his career appears elsewhere in this volume.
Stephen C. Connor was educated in the district schools of Dresden township and remained on the home farm with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He was then engaged as a teamster about three years in the West and in 1903 returned to Missouri and was employed by the Midland Manufacturing Company at Kansas City, Missouri. In 1904
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he entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroads at Sedalia. In 1906 he returned to the home place and was engaged in farming for about a year. He then went to Saline County and farmed there one year when he bought his present place in LaMonte township. He owns 149 acres here and is engaged in general farming and stock raisiing.
Mr. Connor was united in marriage September 5, 1906, with Miss Agnes O'Keefe, who was born in Saline County, Missouri, August 22, 1879. She is a daughter of William and Mary (McIntyre) O'Keefe, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Quincy, Illinois. William O'Keefe settled in Illinois when he first came to this country and at one time owned the farm where the famous Braidwood mines were discovered, later. He came to Missouri in 1858 and settled in Saline County where he was engaged in farming and stock raising. He died in 1891, aged sixty years. His wife died in 1909 at the age of eighty years. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity. To Stephen C. Connor and wife have been born four children as follow: John William, Louisa A., Mary A., and Stephen F.
Mr. Connor is a Democrat and belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.
Riley Landes, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in LaMonte township, is a native of Virginia. He was born in Augusta County, Virginia, April 1, 1859, and is a son of Abraham Landes, who was also a native of Virginia. The mother of Riley Landes was a Virginian. Both parents died when Riley Landes was about five years old, and he was reared in his native State by G. H. Saufley. He received his education in the schools of Virginia and remained in that State until 1880. He then came to Missouri and settled in Pettis County. Here he worked for a while as a farm laborer but soon rented a farm northeast of LaMonte. He succeeded to a satisfactory degree and in 1892 pur- chased his present place. He owns 120 acres of good land upon which he has made extensive improvements. He has a good residence, large modern barn and also a cattle barn and a brick silo. The place is con- veniently located, less than three miles from LaMonte. Mr. Landes and son George W. own seventy-five acres in that vicinity. Mr. Landes is a successful grain farmer and is also engaged in cattle and hog raising, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle.
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On January 29, 1882, Riley Landes was united in marriage with Miss Alice C. Drummond, who was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, May 21, 1863. Her parents were Virginians and descendants of old Virginia stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Landes have been born five children, as follow: Anna V., married Charles Wolfe, LaMonte, Missouri; Lena B., married E. S. Rodgers and they live in Blackwater township; George W., resides at home with his parents; Bessie F., married H. Perkins and they live in Blackwater township, and Goldie, married A. Perkins and they reside at Bradford, Illinois.
Mr. Landes is a Democrat and a member of the Christian Church. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Landes had met with success since coming to Pettis County, and the splendid appear- ance of his place testifies to the thrift and industry of its owner. He is one of Pettis County's substantial citizens.
Samuel E. Oglesby, a prominent farmer and stockman of Blackwater township, is a native of Missouri and a descendant of pioneer Missouri families on both the maternal and paternal sides. Mr. Oglesby is the owner and proprietor of the "Spring View Farm," which consists of 160 acres of well improved land under a high state of cultivation. This is one of the valuable farms of Blackwater township.
Samuel E. Oglesby was born in Grover township, Johnson County, Missouri, April 1, 1868, a son of John T. and Martha A. (Brock) Oglesby. They were the parents of three children, as follows: Alpha; Samuel E., the subject of this sketch, and Mollie H., who married H. Elder and resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Alpha is deceased.
John T. Oglesby was born in Johnson County, Missouri, in 1840. He was a farmer and stockman all his life and thus engaged in Johnson County until 1881, when he removed to Pettis County, and purchased a place in Blackwater township which he improved. Here he was success- fully engaged in farming and stock raising until 1904, when he retired and removed to Knob Noster, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died April 11, 1907.
John T. Oglesby was a son of Charles M. and Mary (Gilbert) Oglesby, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. They settled in Cooper County, Missouri, at a very early day. Later they removed to Johnson County, where they both spent the remainder of their lives.
Martha A. (Brock) Oglesby, mother of Samuel E. Oglesby, was a native of Cooper County. She was born July 4, 1844, and died November
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26, 1912. She was a daughter of Alfred Brock, who was a very early settler of Johnson County and located at Knob Noster, where he was the first to engage in the general mercantile business.
Samuel E. Oglesby was educated in the district schools and the State Normal School at Warrensburg. In 1888 he engaged in farming on his present place and since that time he has been successfully engaged in breeding, stock raising and general farming. He has been engaged in breeding Duroc Jersey hogs for a number of years. He has made his home in Missouri since boyhood, with the exception of two years spent in Wyoming, where he was engaged in the well drilling business.
On December 18, 1894, Samuel E. Oglesby was united in marriage with Miss Lena T. Patrick, a native of Pettis County, born in Black- water township, May 18, 1872. She is a daughter of Wallace and Willie (Feagan) Patrick, the former a native of Lafayette County, Missouri, and the latter of Tennessee. They settled in Pettis County about fifty years ago, and now reside in Blackwater township. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby have no children.
Mr. Oglesby is a charter member of the Masonic Lodge at LaMonte. He is a member of the Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Oglesby holds membership in the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby have an extensive acquaintance and are numbered among the prominent and representative people of Pettis County.
John Weedin, who for many years was prominently identified with the development of Pettis County, is now deceased. He was a native of this State, having been born in Clay County September 11, 1831. He was the son of Rev. Henry J. and Eda (Taylor) Weedin, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter of Howard County, Missouri. His parents belonged to the Rhode Island family of Weedins, who were of English descent and settled in America prior to the Revolution. Will- iam Taylor came to Missouri when a young man and the settlement of the Taylor family in Missouri dates back to 1800.
John Weedin was the tenth in order of birth of a family of seven- teen children born to his parents. He was reared principally in Saline County, Missouri, and later went to Cooper County. In 1869 he settled in Blackwater township, Pettis County, and here he was successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death. When he bought his farm here, it was open unbroken prairie. He made exten- sive improvements and developed his place until it was one of the well-
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kept and productive farms of Pettis County. Mr. Weedin was a man who took a deep interest in the welfare of the community and was one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Pettis County. He took a deep interest in educational matters and for a number of years was a member of the local school board. He died January 11, 1892.
December 12, 1860, John Weedin was united in marriage with Miss Matilda F. Wade, who was born in Highland County, Virginia, August 21, 1841. The Wade family is of old Virginia stock, further mention of whom is made in this volume.
To John and Matilda F. (Wade) Weedin were born the following children : L. Everett, born April 8, 1862, in Cooper County, Missouri, and died in Blackwater township June 19, 1915; Robert E. L., born in Pettis County February 27, 1867, and is now employed in Texas by the Govern- ment as a traveling auditor; Ranna C., born March 8, 1871, and died November 20, 1873; Ethel B., born March 9, 1875, is unmarried and con- ducts the home place in Blackwater township in connection with her mother, and Lottie M., born February 14, 1882, and died August 7, 1917.
The Weedin family is one of the representative pioneer families of Pettis County and rank high in the community.
James M. Carpenter is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Blackwater township, where he resides, and owns 180 acres of land in sections 27 and 34. He also owns forty acres in LaMonte town- ship. In addition to his general farming and stock raising, Mr. Carpenter also raises Poland China hogs. His farm is well improved and highly cultivated and is one of the valuable farms of Pettis County.
James M. Carpenter was born in Jefferson County, Missouri, Sep- tember 27, 1867, a son of George G. and Mannie (Hudson) Carpenter, both natives of Kentucky. George G. Carpenter was born in Boyle County, Kentucky, in 1827. He came to Missouri and settled in Jefferson County in 1867. Two years later he came to Pettis County and settled in Black- water township. Here he was engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death, February 1, 1901. He was prominent in the easy affairs of Blackwater township, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge. His wife was born in Kentucky in 1829 and died in Blackwater township, Pettis County, in 1904. George G. and Mannie (Hudson) Car- penter were the parents of the following children: John, deceased; Ida, married Moses Ray and they reside in Pawnee County, Oklahoma; Julia, married M. D. Swope, LaMonte township; D. H., Blackwater township;
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Deborah, resides with her brother, George, in Blackwater township; Mary, married W. Shaw, LaMonte township, Missouri; G. M., resides in Black- water township, on the old homestead. and Lena, married William Settles and is now deceased.
James M. Carpenter was reared on the home farm and attended the district school. He has made farming and stock raising his life's busi- ness. He first bought forty acres of land in Blackwater township and added to this from time to time, as opportunities offered and his means permitted, until he now owns 220 acres of some of Pettis County's best land.
On March 10, 1889, James M. Carpenter was united in marriage with Miss Mannie (Lee) Means, a native of Pettis County, Missouri. She is a daughter of James J. and Elizabeth (Anderson) Means, natives of Kentucky, and early settlers in Pettis County, further mention of whom is made in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have no children.
Mr. Carpenter is a Democrat and takes an active interest in political affairs of his township and county. He has held the office of constable for eight years. He has an extensive acquaintance in western Pettis County and in Johnson County, and is one of the progressive citizens of Blackwater township.
William O. Means, a leading farmer and stockman of Blackwater township, has spent over a half of a century of his life in Pettis County. He is the owner of a well improved farm of 300 acres where he carries on general farming and stock raising, and is an extensive breeder of Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Means was born in Montgomery County, Ken- tucky, November 28. 1844, a son of James J. and Elizabeth (Anderson) Means, both natives of Montgomery County, Kentucky. The father died in Pettis County in 1884, aged sixty-two years, and the mother died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, August 11, 1899, aged seventy-two years. They were the parents of the following children: N. A., lives in Okla- homa ; William O., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Sarah Plummer, de- ceased; James H. died in Colorado in 1875; Mrs. Amanda Howard, de- ceased; Dr. Shelton, who was named after the Means family physician in Kentucky; Joseph, Nevada, Missouri; Nicholas lives in Oklahoma; Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Mannie Carpenter, Blackwater township.
William O. Means was reared to manhood in Kentucky and when the Civil War closed in 1865, he came to Pettis County and settled in Black- water township. In 1866 he returned to Kentucky and brought his pa-
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rents to the county. He drove the entire distance from Kentucky to Blackwater township with a team and wagon. He settled upon the place where he now resides when he came to this county.
October 12, 1876, William O. Means was united in marriage with Miss Alice Woodward, a native of Montgomery county, Kentucky. She was born March 13, 1860, a daughter of Richard M. Woodward. For a more extensive history of the Woodward family see sketch of J. D. Woodward which appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Means have been born the following children: Berton E., who is managing the home place in Blackwater township; Minnie, married John W. Scott and is now deceased; William A., Blackwater township; Maude married A. L. Whit- field, Maricopa, California; Lulu, deceased; John B., deceased; Nellie, deceased ; Cleo, married F. Freed and lives in Pennsylvania; Sallie mar- ried V. Fisher, Blackwater township and Reva, deceased.
Mr. Means is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Church. He is one of the substantial citizens of Pettis County, and the Means family are prominent in the community.
Rush M. Scott, who has been prominently identified in Pettis County for many years, is a leading farmer and stockman of Blackwater town- ship, where he owns and operates 240 acres of highly improved and valuable land. Rush M. Scott is a native son of Pettis County. He was born in Hughesville township January 31, 1864, and is the son of Joseph J. Scott. an early settler in Pettis County.
Rush M. Scott was reared in this county. He saw much of the pioneer life of this section of the State and, when a boy, frequently broke prairie with ox teams. He continued to reside in Hughesville township until 1910, when he removed to Blackwater township and settled on the farm where he now resides. He ranks among the successful farmers and stockmen of the county. Politically he is identified with the Demo- cratic party, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
September 9, 1885, Rush M. Scott was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Todd, a native of Martin County, Indiana, born April 19, 1865. She is the daughter of John A. and Isophene (Bobbitt) Todd, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Kentucky. To Rush M. Scott and wife has been born the following children: Isophene. married R. Viets, LaMonte, Missouri; Henrietta, deceased; Mary E., married G. Hayworth, LaMonte township; Allie, married J. J. Finch, Dresden township; Alma, married E. W. Miller, who is now deceased; Gillman H., born May 28, 1894, married Willa Wiley, a native of Pettis County, in 1915, and they
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have one child, Alma L. Gillman H. is engaged in farming and stock raising in Blackwater township, and now operates the Ratcliffe place. He is one of the progressive and enterprising young farmers and stock- men of Pettis County. The other children born to Rush M. Scott and wife are: Joseph M., married Mary E. Smith, of Benton County, Mis- souri, and now resides in Houstonia township, Pettis County; Wilford C., resides at home with his parents; Clay, deceased, and two died in infancy.
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