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 118

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1166

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 118
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 118
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 118

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.

hardware and also a complete stock of farm machinery and household furniture. Their average stock runs from $5,000 to $18,000, and their trade is proportionally large. They own the large business house which they occupy and also the Warren County Bank building, one of the best houses in Warrenton. February 14, 1869, Mr. Mid- delkamp was married to Miss Malina Strack, a daughter of the Rev. Strack. She survived her marriage, however, only about four years, leaving him at her death a son, Charles. To his present wife Mr. Middelkamp was married December 27, 1876. She was a Miss Mary Gardemann, a daughter of H. H. Gardemann of this county. They have one son, George. In 1876 Mr. Middelkamp was elected to the office of treasurer of the county, and four years after wards he was re-elected, his present term to expire in December following. He and wife are members of the German Evangelical Church.

WILLIAM H. MORSEY

(Attorney at Law, and Prosecuting Attorney of Warren County, Warrenton).

For ten years continuously Mr. Morsey has occupied the position he now holds, that of prosecuting attorney of the county by consecutive biennial elections. This fact speaks more for his standing as a lawyer and popularity as a man, where he was born and reared and is best known, than anything that could be said here. It is a well known fact that he occupies a position of enviable prominence not only at the bar in this county, but throughout the circuit in which he prac- tices. He is a member of Peers & Morsey, the leading law firm of Warren county, and one of the leading firms in this part of the State. Mr. Morsey has been a close and hard student of the law and has thoroughly grounded himself in the great principles of civil and crim- inal jurisprudence, as laid down in the books of text-writers and de- clared by the higher courts. A young man of strong native ability, well educated and a popular, effective speaker, industrious in his practice and faithful to his clients, he could hardly have failed of at- taining to enviable prominence at the bar. The firm of Peers & Morsey has a large and lucrative practice not only in Warren but in adjoining counties. Mr. Morsey was born in this county November 21, 1850. He was of German parentage, a son of Col. Frederick Morsey, a native of Hanover, but who came to this country in 1833, and subsequently became a prominent lawyer of this county. Col. Morsey first resided in Philadelphia for a short time and then came to St. Louis. From the latter city he removed to Franklin county, where he served in the office of county surveyor. He became a resi- dent of Warren county in 1854 and also served in the office of county surveyor in this county. He was quite successfully interested in farming and later along was admitted to the bar and became a popu- lar attorney of the county. During the war he promptly identified himself with the cause of the Union and organized a regiment for the service. He commanded the Tenth Missouri cavalry, which was dis-

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.

tinguished for its superior drill and discipline, and its conspicuous gallantry on more than one hard fought field during that long and ter- rible struggle. A worthy sketch of his life and services appears in the " Bench and Bar" for this State, a work recently published. His wife was a Miss Minnie Bock, a daughter of Mr. Bock, with whom Col. Morsey came across to this country from Holland when a young man. They reared a family of four children : George W., an engineer of Moberly ; William L., the subject of this sketch ; Thomas M., the partner of S. B. Cook, in the Warrenton Banner; and Helen, the wife of Mr. Heffern, William L. Morsey was educated in the high school at Warrenton, and also attended the Central Wesleyan College. He read law under his father, Col. Morsey, and in 1870 was admitted to the bar under Judge Gilchrist Porter. Immediately after his admission he engaged actively in the practice of his pro- fession and soon attained a recognized position at the bar. In 1874, such was his standing as a lawyer and his personal popularity that he was nominated for the office of county attorney by the Republi- cans at the November election and duly elected to that office. Mr. Morsey has made an able and successful prosecutor, and has given general satisfaction in office as his repeated re-elections show. In 1879 he was married to Miss Laura Pulliam, a refined and accomplished daughter of Judge John A. Pulliam, deceased, late of Warrenton. Mr. and Mrs. Morsey have two children : Frederick W. and Chase. Mr. Morsey has always taken quite an active interest in politics and is recognized as one of the leading men of his party in this county. In 1876 he was a delegate to the National Convention which nominated Hayes for the Presidency.

CAPT. E. F. ORDELHEIDE

(Sheriff of Warren County, Warrenton, Mo.).

Capt. Ordelheide was a gallant soldier in the Union army during the war, and during the latter part of it commanded a company of militia in this State. He enlisted in 1861 in the volunteer U. S. ser- vice, becoming a member of the Eighth Indiana. Subsequently he served in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas, and later along, still, became captain of Co. E, of the Missouri State militia, under Col. Morsey. Capt. Ordelheide is a German by nativity, and came to this country when quite a young man, in 1858. He was born in Brockhagen, Prussia, in 1840, and was a son of Franz Ordelheide and wife, nee Mena Harstronberg, both old families. They reared eight children, seven of whom are living. Henry, Herman and Charlotta are the only ones besides E. F. who came to America. Henry died in this county in 1864, Herman being a resident of Lincoln county, and Charlotta, now Mrs. William Kamp, being a resident of this county. Capt. Ordelheide came to America when about 18 years of age. Soon afterwards, the war breaking out, he enlisted in the army, in which he served until the close of the war. In 1866 he was appointed postmaster at Pitts, in Warren county, in which position he served

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.

for two years. He was also engaged in merchandising during that time. In 1869 he removed to Wright City, where he continued mer- chandising. While at Wright City he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and filled that position with credit to himself and to the public. In 1882 he was nominated for the office of sheriff and collector of the county by the Republican party, of which he is and has long been an earnest and faithful member. Notwithstanding the office had been in control of the Democrats for the preceding eight years, such was his personal popularity and his high standing in the county that he was triumphantly elected. He is now serving his first term in office, and it is but the truth to say that he is one of the most popular sheriffs the county ever had. Mr. and Mrs. Ordelheide have five children : Emma, Rosa, Edward, Julius and Frank. They are members of the Lutheran Evangelical Church.

HON. CHARLES E. PEERS

(Attorney at Law, Warrenton).

Among the self-made, prominent men of Missouri, the subject of the present sketch occupies a conspicuous and honorable position. Few men in the State have been more active or influential in public affairs in recent years than he. Though still comparatively a young man, twice he has been the recipient of the distinguished honor of be- ing called to preside over the deliberations of his party at its State convention, a position he filled each time with such dignity and ability as to attract general attention, and favorable comment all over the State. Other positions of hardly less prominence and distinction he has repeatedly filled in a manner entirely worthy of the enviable repu- tation he bears as one of the leading public men of the State. Mf. Peers is now a popular candidate before his party for the nomination to represent his district in Congress, and has attracted a large follow- ing who are thoroughly devoted to him in his present contest, as they would be in any other. It is confidently believed by many who are impartial observers of the present race in the seventh district that if a true, unbiased test of the party's choice could be had, he would un- questionably be selected as the nominee. The convention, before which he was a candidate, recently adjourned after taking 589 ballots without effecting a nomination. A new convention has been called, but what will be its result remains for the future to develop. Mr. Peers is a lawyer by profession, and has been actively engaged in the prac- tice for nearly twenty years, or since his admission to the bar in 1867. To any one in the least acquainted with the judical affairs of the State, and particularly with the history of the bar in the third and nineteenth circuits, it is unnecessary to speak of his standing and eminent suc- cess as a lawyer. To all such he is well known as one of the leading attorneys, if not the foremost lawyer of the circuit. But as the bio- graphical part of this work is intended to preserve a record of the lives and careers of the men of whom it speaks, it is not improper to state here that almost from the beginning of his practice he has held a posi-

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.

tion second to that of but few, if any, members of the bar, however old and experienced in the practice with whom he has been associated. Within a year after he was admitted, such was the favorable impres- sion he had made, and the high estimate that was placed on his ability and attainments, that he was elevated to the important office of circuit attorney of the third circuit, which then included the counties of St. Charles, Warren, Pike, Lincoln, Audrain and Montgomery. This office was then an object worthy of the ambition of any good lawyer, and was much sought after by prominent attorneys in the different counties. His selection was, therefore, a compliment of no ordinary significance, but one which the ability he displayed in the discharge of his official duties showed was not undeserved. In 1872, Mr. Peers, though a Democrat in a Republican county, was elected to represent his county in the State Legislature. His conceded ability for the po- sition, and his great personal popularity, were the controlling influence which brought about his triumphant election. In the Legislature he gave the county a standing and influence it had not had for years be- fore. On all sides he was recognized as one of the leading men of his party in that body. By the Speaker of the House he was honored with the chairmanship of the committee on criminal jurisprudence, one of the first committees of the House. While in the Legislature, aside from other valuable services he rendered the State and his county, he did a great deal to harmonize the discordant enactment then found in our criminal code, and to make it more systematic and consistent in all its parts. In 1876 Mr. Peers was a presidential elector for this State on the Democratic ticket, and made a brilliant canvass of his district for his party. Two years later he was made chairman of the Democratic State Convention, and in 1880 he was a prominent can- didate before the State Convention for Lieutenant-Governor, coming within a few votes of defeating Gov. Campbell for the nomination. Indeed, it is a part of the inside history of the politics of the State that he was only defeated for the nomination by a trade between other candidates more successful than holy. Over the last State Conven- tion of his party, which was held at St. Louis in June of the past year, he was called to preside as its permanent chairman. Since then . he has been actively engaged in his canvass for Congress. It has been said that Mr. Peers is a self-made man. How true this is may be in- ferred from the fact that as stated in the " United States Biographi- cal Dictionary " (Mo. Vol.), he was at work as a farm hand on monthly wages during the time he read law, availing himself of all his leisure from work to study for the bar. Certainly this is a record of which any man may feel a just and pardonable pride. Success in life when worthily achieved is always creditable, but when it is achieved from the most unfavorable of early circumstances, it is worthy of the highest credit. Though poor when a young man, and without family influence to look to for advancment, Mr. Peers comes of an old and highly respected family, one that has always occupied a position of marked consideration wherever settled. On his father's side he is of Scotch descent, the family having come originally from

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.

the land of Bruce and Wallace, and Scott and Burns. The branch of it to which he belongs removed first to the North of Ireland, and thence came to America, locating in Virginia. His grandfather was Maj. Valentine I. Peers, a gallant officer under Washington during the Revolution, and who commanded a brigade at the battle of Brandy- wine. His father, Edward J. Peers, was an officer in the Mexican War, the major of the regiment. Maj. Peers, Sr., removed from Loudon county, Va., in an early day, and settled with his family at Bowling Green, Kentucky. There Maj. Edward Peers was reared. The family are believed to have brought the first family carriage and the first piano to Kentucky ever seen in that State. Maj. Edward Peers was married at Bowling Green, Ky., to Miss Cynthia Reynolds, and some years afterwards removed to Missouri. Here he was ap- pointed military commander of the whole district of country north of Missouri, a position he held until the outbreak of the Mexican War. He then entered the army as major of a regiment, and served until the close of the war. He died in Troy, Lincoln county, in 1862, one of the highly respected citizens of the county. Charles E. was born at Troy, Mo., May 2, 1844, and was principally reared an orphan boy. His school advantages for an education were practically nil, having to employ all his time at work. His entire attendance at school would not aggregate as much as two half year terms. But of a bright, quick mind, and of industrious studious habits, ambitious and determined to rise in the world, he gave all his leisure time to books. After awhile he learned the printer's trade, and that afforded him an excel- lent opportunity to improve himself. All in all he succeeded in at- taining a fair general English education, far better and more substan- tial than the smattering apologies which many young men bring away with them from college.

In the newspaper office he also acquired the habit of composing and writing articles on the various political and other questions of the day with grace and rapidity, and became remarked by all acquainted with him for his force and ability as a writer. Finally directing his atten- tion to the profession of the law, he has ever since devoted the best energies of his life to that calling, and with what success we have seen. Mr. Peers is a man of family ; he was married in 1866 to Miss May C. Humphreys, of Warren county, a lady of marked intelligence and re- finement, a daughter of the late John Humphreys, of this county, but originally of Brooklyn, N. Y. They have two children : Frank C. and Porter. Mr. Peers is one of the prominent Masons of the State, and in all respects is a man and citizen of honorable standing and con- sideration.

ERNST SCHOWENGERDT

(Retired Farmer, and Dealer in General Merchandise, Warrenton).

A life devoted to honest industry in any worthy pursuit, and true to all the duties and responsibilities of one's situation and surround- . ings may truly be said to have been well spent. And in this country, without some unusual misfortune, such a life can hardly fail of being

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.

productive of substantial results. Such has been the life, thus far, of the subject of the present sketch. Nor has he been disappointed in the just expectations which he had every reason to entertain, that his long years of industry, directed by good business intelligence and accompanied with steady habits of frugality and economy, would result in an ample competence for his later years and for the comfortable provision of his family. Mr. Schowengerdt was left an orphan by the death of his father, while yet a mere boy, and afterwards had not only his own way to make in the world, but assisted in caring for his mother's family. Up to middle age he was engaged in farming, and was remarked for being one of the most energetic, industrious and suc- cessful farmers in his vicinity. In this industry he accumulated a good property, a large, comfortable homestead, and other valuable lands. His place was in the vicinity of Charrette creek, in Warren county. In 1868 he removed to Warrenton, and engaged in merchan- dising. Since then he has been in business continuously at this place. For years Mr. Schowengerdt has been recognized as one of the lead- ing business men of the county. He carries an excellent stock of goods, and does a lucrative and extensive trade. Mr. Schowengerdt is one of the substantial property holders of the county, a man in easy circumstances, and a large tax payer. Like many of the better citizens of Warren county, and of the entire country, for that matter, he is a German by nativity, born near Minster, Prussia, March 15, 1824. His father died near Minster when Ernst was only about five years of age. There were five children in the family, and in 1837, the mother, with her children, immigrated to America and settled near Marthasville, in Warren county, where the children grew to mature years. Ernst Schowengerdt was married in 1844, to Miss Eliza Huck ride, a daughter of Mr. Huckride, also formerly of Germany. Mr. Schowengerdt settled on Charrette creek, where he subsequently fol- lowed farming about 25 years. He then removed to Warrenton and engaged in merchandising. He and his excellent wife have reared a family of four children : John W., Mary J., now Mrs. John Middel- kamp; Caroline, the wife of Henry Kamp ; and Franklin, who is still with his parents.

JAMES W. SHELTON

(Farmer, Post-office, Warrenton).

For over 40 years Mr. Shelton has been a resident of Warren county and one of its thorough-going farmers and worthy citizens. Nor has his long residence and constant industry as a farmer and citi- zen been without substantial results. He is comfortably situated in life, having a large, well improved farm which is well stocked, a com- fortable home and an abundance of everything around him to render his circumstances satisfactory and agreeable. Mr. Shelton's farm contains nearly 300 acres, or rather his tract of land contains that number, more than two-thirds of which is under fence and otherwise improved. Mr. Shelton is a native of Virginia, and a son of Robert

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.

H. Shelton and wife, nee Martha Denison, the parents of each of whom were originally from Maryland. Mr. Shelton was born in Pittsyl- vania county, Va., November 16, 1819. His father was of the same county, but his mother was of Halifax county. They had a family of five children, the others, besides the subject of this sketch, being Nancy E. (deceased ), William (deceased ), T. S. and Matilda (deceased). In 1837 the family came to Missouri and located in St. Charles county, but settled in Warren county three years after- wards. The father, who had been a gallant soldier in the War of 1812, became a well-to-do farmer of Warren county, and died here July 17, 1873, at the advanced age of 81. The mother died in 1878 aged 78. James W. Shelton, the third in his parents' family of chil- dren, was 18 years of age when he came out to Missouri with the family. After coming to this State he remained in St. Charles county until 1840. Since then he has been a continuous resident of Warren county. February 19, 1846, he was married to Miss Sarah McClure, a daughter of Benonah and Elizabeth ( Hoffman) McClure. Mr. and Mrs. Shelton have had nine children, but two of whom, however, are living : Levy and W. Albert, the former of whom married Miss Ida T. Yocum and is now a resident of Lafayette county, and the latter married Miss Sarah Key and resides 'on the farm with his father. Mrs. Shelton died on the 5th of May, 1858, and Mr. S. has never re-mar- ried. He is a worthy member of the A. F. and A. M.

COL. CLAY TAYLOR

(Retired Farmer, Post-office, Pendleton).

Col. Taylor, himself a prominent citizen of Northern Missouri and well and favorably known among the prominent men throughout the State, is a representative of two leading families of the country, the record of whom forms a part, and not an unimportant part of the history of the country - the Taylors and Clays. Both of these families, as every one of ordinary general information knows, came originally from Virginia. Col. Taylor's grandfather was Gen. James Taylor, one of the distinguished men of the Old Dominion ; and his father was Col. Nathaniel P. Taylor, from Orange couny, Va., after- wards a gallant officer in the War of 1812 from Kentucky, and United States Register of Lands at St. Louis. He early came out to Ken- tucky from Virginia, and was afterwards married there to Miss Eleanor Hart Clay, a daughter of Rev. Porter Clay, a pioneer settler of Kentucky and an able minister who did missionary work in the West, and is believed to have preached the first sermon ever preached in the English language west of the Mississippi. He was a brother to the great Henry Clay, of Kentucky, the brilliant and almost idolized " Harry of the West." Col. Taylor, the subject of this sketch, is, therefore, a grand-nephew of the great Kentuckian. Col. Taylor's father enlisted in Kentucky for the War of 1812 and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, being, at that time, one of the youngest officers of his rank in the army. He served with zeal and fidelity until the close

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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.

of the war and several times distinguished himself by his gallantry in action.

In 1832 he removed to St. Louis with his family, and was shortly appointed U. S. Register of Lands, a position he held until his death,. which occurred in 1849. His wife had died before his removal to Missouri, in 1829. Col. Clay Taylor was the eldest of three children, of whom he is now the only survivor, and was himself quite young at the time of his mother's death. He was reared in St. Louis and was given superior educational advantages. After completing a prepara- tory course, he was sent successively to a number of the best institu- tions of learning in the country, taking, besides a general course, a course in military tactics and a course in law. He studied from first to last in the St. Louis Univerity, Maj. Laws' Military Academy, at St. Louis, Jacksonville (Ill. ) College, Kemper's College, St. Louis, and took a course in law under Hon. Josiah Spaulding, of St. Louis. About this time the Mexican war broke out, and, true to the traditions of his family for patriotism and courage, he promptly offered himself as a volunteer for the service of his country. He became a member of Capt. Weightman's company of Missouri light artillery, in which he served for about a year. He was on Kearney's expedition to New Mexico, and was with Col. Doniphan on the latter's march to join Gen. Taylor at Buena Vista. At Gen. Taylor's suggestion Col. Taylor was appointed first lieutenant in the Fourth U. S. infantry, which commission he declined, the war being ended, for the purpose of engaging in private business. He then went West across the plains, and was afterwards engaged in merchandising in New Mexico and California until 1852, when he returned to St. Louis.

Here he took an active part in the North Missouri Railroad enterprise, and shortly became financial agent and land agent of the company. He was a member of the board of directors of that company and con- tributed very materially to the early success of the road. November 16, 1853, Col. Taylor was married to Miss Marie Louise, an accomplished daughter of Gen. Bernard Pratte, ex-mayor of St. Louis and presi- dent of the Missouri Bank. He is mentioned in the history of that city as being the first white male American citizen born within its limits. Mrs. Taylor was educated at the St. Louis Convent of the Sacred Heart. Three years after his marriage Col. Taylor removed to Warren county, where he, was residing at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War. A Southern man by birth and family lineage and in convictions and sympathy, he at once entered the Confederate army, and was soon promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of ar- tillery and ordnance, in which he served until the close of the war. Col. Taylor's record in the Southern army is one of which any brave soldier might well be proud. He was in a number of the hardest fought battles of the war, and everywhere bore himself with gal- lantry and ability as an officer. One incident of a rather peculiar nature in the life of Col. T. is worthy of mention in this connection. In 1812 his father wrote the " cartel " of exchange of prisoners be- tween the United States government and the British government.

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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 118

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company Number of Pages: 1166

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1166