USA > Missouri > St Charles County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 117
USA > Missouri > Montgomery County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 117
USA > Missouri > Warren County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 117
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
suited for the position. Dr. Koch was employed to take charge of the college, and such is the satisfaction he has given, such the success and ability with which he has conducted the institution, that he has long since come to be regarded as hardly less than in- dispensable to its prosperity and usefulness. The college has made steady advances in every favorable respect under his presidency, and has since been brought to a position of enviable prominence and repu- tation among the better educational institutions of the State. His interest in the college is almost that of a father for a favorite daughter. Feeling, and justly feeling, that his own reputation is involved in the good name and reputation of his school, he cares for it and strives for its progress and prosperity with more than ordinary solicitude and zeal. While the Central Wesleyan is a denominational institution; there is no bigotry or intolerance in its management. The young of all denominations are admitted within its walls, and the religious preferences of none, if they are honest and sincere Christians, are in- terfered with. It is to this broad and enlightened policy that is due, in no unimportant measure, the excellent success the college has achieved. The personal biography of Dr. Koch is brief. He was born in Sommerfield, Prussia, September 4, 1828. His parents were Adolph Koch and wife, nee Katrina Koehler. His father was a suc- cessful merchant, a man of good education and of marked intelli- gence. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Koch (the father ) was married the second time, but there were no children by his last union. By his first wife there were three children besides Dr. Koch, namely : Antonie, Alwin and Emil. But neither of the three came to America. Dr. Koch was educated at Guben College, where he graduated in 1845. He was then engaged in the study of medicine until the outbreak of the Revolution of '48. His subsequent career is outlined above. In 1854 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Weile, a young lady of Bur- lington, Ia., whose parents were originally from Germany. She died in 1861, leaving him three children : Edward P., John W. and Lizzie. Dr. Koch's present wife prior to her marriage was a Miss Mary Rivinius, of Blandinville, Ill. They also have three children : Mary, Ella and Carrie. Dr. Koch's eldest son, Edward, is a practicing physician of Pekin, Ill. His other son is engaged in farming in this county. Elizabeth, his eldest daughter, is the wife of Louis Slitt, of South Pueblo, Col.
JOHN H. KOELLING
(Clerk of the County Court of Warren County, Warrenton).
It is the boast of Republican institutions, and particularly those of America, that people of every country and nationality, provided they are people with native honesty and with a just appreciation of civil liberty and human rights, may readily adapt themselves to the duties and responsibility of citizenship under such a government, it matters not what may be their preconceived ideas or notions, or what may have been their former political habits of life. So in this country we
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
see people from England, Germany and all the nationalities mingling together and forming one homeogeneous people under a single gov- ernment, and all fulfilling their duties in harmony, with patriotism and in perfect good faith. Where the rights of all are protected and all are equal before the law, there is never just cause for discontent or civil discords, so far as the affairs of government are concerned. Under such institutions unquestionably the intelligence and energies of men may reach their highest development - progress is the most assured and the most rapid. Among the intelligent families who came to this country nearly half a century ago was that of which the subject of the present sketch is a representative. His parents, Ernst and Anna E. (Assum) Koelling, came to the United States from Holland in 1843, landing at New Orleans. From there they pro- ceeded by boat up the Mississippi to St. Louis. The father was a sugar refiner by trade, a man of intelligence, sterling good character and a good manager in providing for his family and accumulating the substantial rewards of honest industry. He left Holland with a nucleus of means to begin life with in the New World. But no one can tell when fortune is to smile or frown. On their way up the Mississippi their boat took fire in the night time and was completely destroyed, the Koelling family with others barely escaping with their lives. They took passage on another boat, but this, too, met with a misfortune, being grounded on a sand-bar. Thus they were left sev- eral hundred miles from the point of their destination penniless and among strangers, unable even to speak the language of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Koelling (John H.'s parents) proceeded on their journey on foot, and having several small children, they experienced many hardships and privations while on the trip, being out about six weeks, late in the fall, through all the changes and severities of weather. But at last arrived in St. Louis, they were kindly cared for, particularly by their German friends, and above all by a good family from Holland of the name of' Rutger. Mr. Koelling ( Sr. ) readily obtained employment in a sugar refinery in St. Louis, and soon had his family comfortably situated. Through industry and economy, in about eight or nine years he was able to buy a good farm in Lincoln county, to which he removed in 1852. There he made his permanent home and became one of the substantial farmers and respectable citi- zens of the county. He died in 1878. There were nine children in his family, but only three lived to reach mature years : Henrietta, who died the wife of H. K. Schaefer ; Sarah, now the wife of Henry Gerkin, of Wright City, and John H., the subject of this sketch. John H. Koelling was born at St. Louis, November 26, 1844. Prin- cipally reared in the country, however, his youth was spent at farm work and in attending the neighborhood schools. On the 20th of No- vember, 1867, he was married to Miss Catherine Gerkin, a daughter of Peter Gerkin, of Lincoln county. About the time of his marriage Mr. Koelling engaged in merchandising at Wright City, which he con- tinued with success until he assumed charge of his present office in January, 1883, having been elected the fall previous. After his elec-
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
tion he removed to Warrenton, and has ever since resided at this place. Mr. Koelling has given his whole time and attention to the duties of his office and has made a very efficient and popular officer. His official record thus far has met with general approval. During the war Mr. K. served about one year in the Union army under Capt. John E. Ball, Forty-ninth Missouri, commanded by Col. Dyer. He was out until the close of the war, and, among numerous engage- ments, participated in the capture of Mobile, where he was wounded by the explosion of a shell. Mr. Koelling is an ardent Republican in politics - he votes as he shot - though he is not an intolerant par- tisan, and concedes to every man the right he claims, to think and speak as he pleases in political matters so long as he acts the part of a gentleman and avoids giving just cause of offense. Mr. and Mrs. Koelling have seven children : Lydia, Edward, Laura, Ida, Albert, Sarah and Annie, all at home with their parents. Mrs. K. is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church.
WILLIAM LENZE
(Merchant Tailor and City Treasurer, Warrenton).
That there is a great diversity of roads to success in life, if prop- erly followed, is illustrated by the examples of successful men in the different pursuits in almost every town and village in the country. Mr. Lenze early committed himself to tailoring as his regular calling, and he has followed it with commendable perseverance and industry, and has managed his affairs with marked intelligence and success. Believing in the adage that " if the workman keeps his shop his shop will keep him," he has adhered to it strictly and has proved its truth by his own successful experience. He is now quite extensively en- gaged in the merchant tailoring business and has accumulated a good property. He owns his own business house, or rather is now build- ing a store house and dwelling, a building that will be a credit to the town. True to the old German custom, when the foundation was completed he gave a hausfest, inviting all his friends, who were enter- tained with speeches, alternated with good music by the local brass band, and all accompanied with a free and generous flow of wine and beer, which were supplemented with an abundance of the substantials. A general good time was had and all went merry as a marriage bell. When the house is completed a hausuaormig, or house-warming, will be given, which will exceed in numbers and doubtless in every other respect the former occasion. Mr. Lenze was for several years a member of the city council, and he is now city treasurer. He was born in Westphalia, Prussia, February 22, 1847, and was one of twin brothers, children of Peter and Frances ( Biermarch ) Lenze. There were five other children in the family. William, the subject of this sketch, and Joseph came to America in 1867. The former had already learned the tailor's trade, and he did journey work in St. Louis until 1873 when he started in business for himself in Warrenton. August 27, 1874, he was married to Miss Christiana Wessel, a daughter of
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Christopher and Friedericka Wessel, of Warren county, but formerly of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Lenze have one son, Paul, now 9 years of age.
BUCKLEY LIVSEY
(Clerk of the Circuit Court of Warren county, Warrenton).
Among the old and highly respected citizens of Warren county, and one of its most popular public officials, as all know who know any- thing about the county, is the subject of the present sketch. In 1872 Mr. Livsey was elected sheriff of the county. Two years later he was elected to the office of circuit clerk, and at each subsequent election for that office he has been regularly re-elected. His official record, as these facts show, has met the unqualified indorsement of the people, and personally he is highly esteemed and more than ordinarily popular. His career in the public service is another proof of the fact that as a rule the people generally encourage official faithful conduct by their continued support at the polls. He has been a resident of the county for nearly 40 years, or ever since he was a young man. By nativity he is of English nationality, born at Manchester, November 8, 1826. His father, a popular salesman for a large manufacturing house, died when Buckley was about 14 years of age. Up to that time young Livsey had had excellent school advantages, but by this misfortune he was compelled to quit school and go to work in order to help care for his mother and the family of children. There were four others be- sides Buckley. Their mother's maiden name was Judith Carpenter. Buckley Livsey grew up at Manchester and when 21 years of age came to America. Landing at New Orleans, he came thence to St. Louis, and in a short time to Pitzer's Landing. Mr. Livsey located at Price's Branch, where he assisted in building a mill for Joseph Woollam. He had also married the year before he left England, hi- wife having been a Miss Mary A. Lunt, a daughter of Henry Lunt, of Manchester. He worked in the milling business under Mr. Wood- lam for about 18 months. The year after this he followed farm- ing, but soon came to Warrenton. Mr. Livsey has been a resident of Warrenton almost continuously ever since that time. For several years he ran the mill at this place, and in 1861 was ap- pointed depot agent at Warrenton. He occupied that position continuously until his election to the office of sheriff in 1872. His career since then has already been outlined. His first wife died in 1874, leaving him three children, namely: Bettie and Jennie, who are successful milliners, and part proprietors of a notion store in the city of New Orleans, La., and William, who is his father's deputy in the circuit clerk's office. Mr. Livsey's present wife was a Mrs. Louisa Chamberlain before her marriage. They have two children, Joseph P. and Ella M. Mr. L. and wife are members of the M. E. Church. Politically, Mr. Livsey is a Democrat, and the fact that he is such and has been repeatedly elected to office in Warren county, which is largely Republican, speaks in no uncertain
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
language of his personal popularity. It more than justifies what has been said of him in this respect in the present sketch.
THOMAS J. McNAIR, M. D.
(Retired Physician and Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Pendleton).
Every one of intelligence and fair observation must admit that there is something in family characteristics - that, ordinarily, men- tal attributes are transmitted from generation to generation hardly less, if, indeed, not more than physical castes or peculiarities. It is this fact that explains largely why certain families through gen- erations continue to occupy positions of almost uniform prominence and respectability, both socially and in point of success in material affairs. That the fruit may be judged by the tree is true with as few exceptions as the old proverb itself, that " the tree may be judged by its fruit." Of course there are occasional exceptions to this, as there is now and then a black sheep in every family. Exceptions, however, do not disprove the rule, but rather verify it. Glancing over the family antecedents of Dr. McNair, it is not otherwise than as should justly be expected that as a citizen and member of the community, he occupies a position of enviable consideration. He comes of good families, both on his father's side and his moth- er's. He is of sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestry, and in this country both of the families, the McNairs and Williamsons, have been from their first settlement here people of marked intelligence and unquestioned respectability. Dr. McNair's father, Moses McNair, was of a worthy Scotch family that settled in Pennsylvania in an early day, and was born in Dauphin county, of that State, in 1779. His (Moses McNair's) mother, whose maiden name was Wallace, was a sister of Hon. Moses Wallace, a member of the first Congress under the pres- ent constitution. Moses McNair, after he grew up, married Miss Martha Williamson, of Philadelphia, born in 1783. She was a daugher of Col. George Williamson, who came over from Ireland prior to the Revolution and served in the Colonial army throughout the war. He enlisted as a private and for gallantry and meritorious services was repeatedly promoted until he reached the rank of colonel, which he held at the close of the war. In about 1811 Moses McNair and wife removed to Ohio and settled in Greene county. Shortly after this the second war with Great Britain broke out and he entered the army and served in the North-west. He be- came adjutant-general under Gen. Harrison and served until the close of the war. After the war he improved a large farm near Dayton, Ohio, and also became a leading distiller and vintager, being one of the leading manufacturers of liquors and wines in the State. He died October 20, 1824 ; his wife died February 1, 1868, at a ven- erable old age. They reared a family of four children, two of whom, besides the Doctor, are living : Edith, now the widow of Thomas Webster, of St. Louis ; and Margaret, also a widow lady, late the wife of Capt. James McCord ( deceased ), of St. Louis. The other,
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Annie, became the wife of George Moser, a prominent stockman of Ohio, but has been dead for a number of years. Dr. McNair was the eldest of the children ; he was educated for the legal profession and took a course at the Granville Institute and subsequently studied un- der a private tutor, Rev. Dr. Bryson. The instructions this good man gave him were of great advantage to him in an educational point, and as an immovable brace to his moral character, but it had the effect to destroy his future in the legal profession. The good minister taught him that even an untruth now and then was greatly to be reprobated, but that to make a profession of lying would never do in the world. Dr. McNair, however, at first thought that his pious-hearted tutor had drawn it a little too strong, and there- fore still persevered in his purpose of becoming a lawyer. He taught school for two years and in the meantime read law under the noted Tom Corwin, of Ohio. But the nearer he approached the duties of the legal profession, the plainer he could see that the ways of the lawyer are dark and devious. In other words, he became convinced that, as the victim who enters Dante's Inferno leaves all hope be- hind, so he who enters the legal profession, if he expects to suc- ceed, must leave all common honesty behind. He therefore gave up the pursuit of law and turned his attentions to the physical troubles of his fellow-creatures - to the medical profession. He
read medicine under his uncle, by marriage, Dr. Robert E. Stephens, and in due time took a regular course at the Cincinnati Medical College, where he graduated in 1839. In 1840 Dr. McNair came to St. Louis and there engaged in the practice of his profession. He continued in the practice at St. Louis for over 30 years, and almost from the beginning had a large and lucrative practice. In 1871 he retired from the practice and located on his present farm, Grove- land, in Warren county. Here he has a handsome place of 1,100 acres, one of the best grain 'and stock farms in the county. In 1855, September 19, Dr. McNair was married to Miss Darcus Adams, who was reared and educated in St. Louis. She survived her marriage but little more than two years, leaving him a son, Thomas Bruce, who now has charge of the farm in this county. In 1845 Dr. McNair founded the St. Louis Magnet, a monthly journal devoted to the in- terests of electrical science, in which he is thoroughly versed. The Magnet was first to advance many of the principles and doctrines of electricity as applied to the healing art, which are now known and received as indisputable the world over. The Magnet office was de- stroyed by fire in 1849, being a total loss, and the publication of the paper was not revived.
HENRY H. MIDDELKAMP, M. D.
(Physician and Surgeon, and President of the State Medical Society, Warrenton).
Among physicians throughout the State Dr. Middelkamp is well known and recognized as one of the ablest and most prominent mem- bers of their profession. Such is his standing in the medical pro-
1108
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
fession, indeed, that at a meeting of the State Medical College in Sedalia, Mo., in May, 1884, he was honored with the election to the presidency of the society, a position he still holds. He has made medicine and its kindred sciences his life study, and while making himself thoroughly conversant with the principles and theories involved in, his profsssion, he has at the same time, or since his graduation from medical college over 20 years ago, been an active, extensive and closely observant practitioner. Thus thoroughly devoted to his pro- fession and gifted with a mind eminently fitted by nature for this field of investigation and activity; he has, as would naturally be expected, made himself a more than ordinarily successful and scientific physician. Almost from the beginning of his practice in this county he has had a large clientele in his profession - in late years the largest practice be- yond question in the county. Dr. Middelkamp has ever taken an active interest in the general affairs of his profession, of its welfare and advancement. In the work of its societies he has been one of the more active and prominent physicians in this part of the State. At his instance, and mainly through his exertions, the Linton Medi- cal Society was formed. Indeed, the honor is due him of being the founder of the society. Dr. Middelkamp was born and reared in Warren county and has spent his whole life thus far within its borders. His parents, John H. and Margaret A. ( Schlueter) Middelkamp, were both originally from Germany, but came to this country when young and was married here. His father, John H., was from Hanover, and came to America in 1835. He was married to Miss Schlueter several years afterwards. In about 1837, after working at Pittsburg and other points, he came to Warren county and bought a small tract of timbered land, about four miles east of Warrenton. Here he built a log cabin and opened a small farm. Being a man of in- dustry and intelligence, economical and a good manager, he prospered abundantly and became one of the substantial farmers and well-to-do citizens of the county. He accumulated an ample competence for himself and family. He died at his homestead near Warrenton, in 1866, well known and highly respected. His widow is still living on the old homestead. They reared a family of eight children, the names of whom appear in the sketch of John H. Middelkamp, Jr. Dr. Middelkamp was born on the homestead near Warrenton, January 27, 1839. His youth was spent on the farm and he received a somewhat advanced education, both in English and German, prin- cipally by private instruction and self-application to his studies. In 1861, having decided to become a physician, he began a course of study with that object in view under Dr. John E. Hutton, then practicing at Warrenton. In due time he entered the St. Louis Medical College where, after a regular course of two terms, he graduated in 1864. Immediately after his graduation Dr. Middel- kamp entered actively into the practice of his profession at Warren- ton. He was first in the practice with Dr. Hutton and, after the latter's removal to Mexico, Mo., he continued to practice alone in which, up to the present time, he has been continuously engaged.
,
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Dr. Middelkamp has been quite successful in his practice, both in the treatment of cases and in a material point of view. He has accumu- lated a comfortable property. He has just completed a handsome two- story residence, which he now occupies, a dwelling that is a credit to Warrenton. September 11, 1864, Dr. Middelkamp was married to Miss Ellen Smith, a daughter of George F. Smith, of St. Louis, but formerly of Cincinnati. The Dr. and Mrs. Middelkamp have five children ; Willie A., Edwin G., Marion S., Kate E. and H. Her- bert. Dr. Middelkamp has always taken a public-spirited interest in the cause of education, and has been actively identified with the school interests of Warren county. He was elected superintendent of the public schools of this county in November, 1870, and served two years, and was one of the curators of the State University at Columbia, in 1878-79. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. The Doctor occupies all, or nearly all, of his leisure time from the active duties of his practice with study and investigation in the line of his profession. He has accumulated a handsome library of medical works, both in English and German, in which much of his time is spent with pleasure and profit. The Doctor has quite a reputation as a lecturer and an extemporaneous speaker, for he is often called out to speak at public meetings.
JOHN H. MIDDELKAMP
(Treasurer of Warren county, Warrenton).
Mr. Middelkamp is a brother to Dr. Middelkamp whose sketch proceeds this, and was born on the old homestead of the family near Warrenton, March 22, 1841. He was the second in the family of eight children, Dr. Middlekamp being the eldest. The others were William, Annie, now Mrs. Kemper ; Mary, the wife of Mr. Kopple- man of St. Louis ; Herman, Maggie, now Mrs. Strack; Carrie, and two others who died in tender years. John H., the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm and continued at farming un- til 1866 when he and his brother, William, formed a partnership in the hardware business, and established a store at Warrenton. Their business venture proved a successful one. Commencing with a small capital their business steadily increased from the beginning until they had one of the leading houses in their line in the county - indeed, the leading house. They made it their motto from the first to deal fairly with every one and to sell at the lowest possible figures, consis- tent with sound business management. Always accommodating and obliging to their customers, and never intentionally deceiving them in the quality of their goods, their house soon attained an enviable and es- tablished reputation for reliability. The trade of the Messrs. Middel- kamp & Bro., has steadily increased from year to year and theirs has become one of the prominent and successful business firms of the county. They have each accumulated a comfortable property and are regarded as among the more substantial and highly respected citizens of the county. They carry a large stock of shelf and heavy
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