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 119
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 119
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 119
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1118
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Just 50 years to a day, afterwards, March 15, 1862, Col. T. wrote out the " cartel " for the exchange of prisoners between the Confederate States of America and the United States, Gen. Samuel Curtis repre- senting the United States and Col. T. the Confederate States, just after. the battle of Pea Ridge. This cartel was adhered to all during the late Civil War. After the war Col. T. returned to Warren county, where he has ever since continued to reside. For years he has been an enterprising agriculturist and one of the public-spirted citizens of the county. He is now living somewhat in retirement, however, and is with his sons on a handsome farm of some 600 acres, known as " Camp Branch Farm," one of the best farms in the north-western part of the county.
In 1873 Col. Taylor was commissioned quartermaster-general of the Missouri State militia by Gov. Woodson, and served in that office through Woodson's administration. Col. Taylor and wife had seven children, four of whom are living, namely : Bernard P., Porter C., Laura E. and Medora. The deceased are Nathaniel P., Robert W. and Tulie G. The two eldest sons are married and engaged in farm- ing in the vicinity of the father's homestead. Col. Taylor is vice- president of the National Association of Mexican Veterans. As a representative of the Clay family on his mother's side, the table of Henry Clay, the one on which the great Kentuckian wrote all his famous bills introduced in Congress, has come down to Col. Taylor, and is now in his possession, - one of the heirlooms of his family: Col. Taylor's father was a first cousin and also brother-in-law to Pres- ident Taylor.
PROF. HENRY VOSHOLL
(Of Central Wesleyan College, Warrenton).
Prof. Vosholl is a native of Illinois, born at Blue Island on the 1st of May, 1852. His parents, Rev. Henry Vosholl and wife, nee Miss Louise Engelke, were both of German birth, and were reared in their native country. The father is a minister of the M. E. Church, and a man of superior culture as well as of deep piety. They now reside in Missouri. The others in their family of children besides Prof. Henry Vosholl are Louisa, Rosetta, now the wife of Prof. Sauer, of Warren- ton; J. William, an attorney in Osage county, and Matilda, who is the wife of Prof. Labhardt, of Hermann. Prof. Henry Vosholl, the subject of this sketch, took a regular course in the institution with which he is now connected as a teacher, graduating in the class of ' 71. Immediately following this he became a teacher in the preparatory department of the institution, and continued in that position until 1876, when he retired from it in order to attend Boston University. He accordingly took a post-graduate course of two years in the latter institution. Prof. Vosholl then returned to Warrenton and was shortly elected to the chair of English and History in the Central Wesleyan College, the duties of which he has ever since continued to discharge.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
As the above facts show, he is a man of advanced education. His culture, as all know who are qualified to speak, is not out of comparison with the superior opportunities he has had for an educa- tion. The improvement of his mind may almost be said to have been his life work thus far, for he has been a close and hard student from youth. Gifted with a quick, active mind and a retentive memory, he has naturally become a scholar of wide and accurate learning. He pursued his education with a view of becoming a teacher, regarding this one of the most useful and honorable callings of the present age. Thoroughly devoted to his calling, he has exerted himself to succeed in it with that zeal and perseverance which rarely admit of disappoint- ments. Prof. Vosholl has already established an enviable reputation as a teacher, and his excellent social qualities make him hardly less esteemed in the community at large than his qualifications and success as a teacher challenge the respect and hearty commendation of profes- sional educators.
CHAPTER XII.
HISTORY OF HICKORY GROVE AND CAMP BRANCH TOWNSHIPS.
Hickory Grove Township Organized - Boundary - Early History - Wright City - Pitts Post-office - Biographical - Camp Branch Township - Boundary, Etc. - Pioneers - Biographical.
Hickory Grove township was set off from Elkhorn in 1839. It is one of the most desirable portions of Warren county, there being a larger proportion of prairie land there than characterizes the balance of the county.
BOUNDARY.
The township is bounded on the north by Montgomery county, east by St. Charles county, south by Charrette, and west by Elkhorn and Charrette townships. The past history of the town contains much that is of historic interest. At a point one mile and a half east of Wright City was located Kennedy's Fort, of which mention has been made in the general history of the county. From this vicinity were enlisted many heroes of the War of 1812, several of whom were classed among the leading men of Missouri. The Bryans, the Boones and other families of note lived in what is now Hickory Grove township.
From the many families who made their homes in this vicinity at an early day may be mentioned John Chambers, an Irishman, who first located in St. Louis county in 1798, and afterwards removed to Warren county. His sons, Thomas and Alexander, were both soldiers of the War of 1812.
John Gilkey was an early settler, locating in 1824. Thomas N. Graves was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, and was one of the first three judges of the Warren county court. There is on file in the county court a certificate signed by Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, and dated March 31, 1832, showing that the father of Thomas N. Graves was entitled to a pension of $100 per annum as a veteran of the first war with Great Britain. Joseph Gibson was an old settler, and raised a large family of children. He died in Lincoln county, aged 87 years. Guion Gibson, a Tennesseean, located in Hickory Grove in 1810. He was a remarkably clear-headed and far-seeing
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1121
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
man, raised a large family, and his sons, James, John and Guion, Jr., were members of Callaway's rangers. Robert Gray, a well known man of the early times in Warren county, settled in the vicinity of Howell's Prairie in 1809.
In the long list of men who distinguished themselves in those days when fortitude and self-reliance were required to maintain a home in the then wilderness of Warren county, no name is more conspicuous than that of Thomas Kennedy, a soldier of the Revolution, who set- tled in Hickory Grove township in 1809. He built the post known in history as Kennedy's Fort, and was one of the foremost men of his day. To Thomas Kennedy the early settlers looked for advice, and upon him they depended when danger threatened them. His young- est son, Judge Royal J. Kennedy, yet resides on the old family home- stead, one and a half miles east of Wright City. In 1860 Mr. Ken- nedy was a member of the State Legislature, and he was at one time a judge of the county court, and enjoys the distinction of having re- sided in one Territory, one State and three counties, and yet has always lived on the same place and never changed his domicile.
The Kennedys were among the best known people of the county. James Kennedy was one of the commissioners who laid out the old " Whosau Trace," which was located in 1815, and ran westward from St. Charles, nearly parallel with the famous Boone's Lick road. The " Whosau Trace " long since ceased to be known as a highway, yet there are still traces of it to be found.
Among other early settler's of Hickory Grove were John and Will- iam Kent, William McConnell, James, William and Thomas Collins, Warren Kidder, Louis Pendleton, Aaron T. McConnell, Wm. Mc- Connell, Jr., Lawson Carter, Cleaver Linn, Milton Edwards, Wm. Organ and Milton J. Young.
WRIGHT CITY.
Wright City is the principal village in Hickory Grove township. It is situated about eight miles from Warrenton, the county seat, and is a flourishing town. The village was located and platted in 1857, by Dr. H. C. Wright, a prominent citizen, from whom the town de- rives its name.
The early settlers included J. B. Oliver, a Kentuckian, who was a well known and public-spirited man; C. M. Bryan, who opened the first blacksmith shop ; J. V. Hays, an attorney, still practicing there ; A. P. McConnell, who built the first store ; D. A. Bass ; Thomas Mc- Ginness, who built and conducted the first hotel ; Henry Ordelheide,
1122
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
brother of Sheriff Ordelheide ; Andrew McConnell, who was killed during the Civil War ; N. P. Stevenson, and James Tatum, who was one of the leading spirits of the town, and who built and operated a tobacco factory for several years.
The first church was originally built by the Baptists, but for years was used by all denominations. This building was burned by the Federal militia during 1863, reference to which event will be found in the war history of the county.
Previous to the Civil War the only school was at Locust Grove, about a mile and a half west of the village. In 1865 a school-house was erected in the village, which has since enjoyed the best of educational facilities.
The Dr. Wright referred to, for many years was looked upon as the leading man of the country. He was an educated gentleman, a very distinguished physician, and withal a man who took a deep in- terest in all public matters. His widow yet resides in St. Louis, and one of his daughters is the wife of R. G. Butler, assistant superin- tendent of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific road. Among the busi- ness men of Wright City, recognized for his sterling worth and ability, none were better known than Thomas J. Fariss, at present cashier of the Warren county Bank at Warrenton. Mr. Fariss was for 16 years one of the leading merchants of Wright City, carrying on business as the partner of E. F. Ordelheide, the present sheriff of the county.
PITTS POST-OFFICE.
This post-office is located about four miles east of Warrenton, at the store of Henry T. Emming, the only other post-office in the town- ship being what is known as Teuque, located in the extreme southern portion of the town.
Camp Branch and Peruque creeks are the principal streams.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HENRY BLATTNER,
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Wright City).
Mr. Blattner is one of those energetic, enterprising citizens of for- eign birth with so many of whom Warren county is favored, and who have done so much to make this county what it is, one of the pros-
1123
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
perous counties of North-eastern Missouri. He was born in the can- ton of Argan, Switzerland, August 27, 1831. When he was about 11 years of age his parents came to America, and settled in Warren county, where the father engaged in farming and where both resided until their death. Henry was the youngest of three children, and he was reared on the farm in this county. October 29, 1852, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Leek, a daughter of Jacob and Eva Leek, formerly of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. Mr. B., however, was born and reared in this country. Mr. Blattner followed farming exclusively for some years after his marriage, and then also engaged in milling and the carding business. He established a saw and grist mill and a carding factory in this county, and ran it with success for many years, until his entire establishment was accidentally burned down in 1881. He brought the first portable steam engine to the county ever used in his neighborhood. Since the burning of his mill- ing and carding works he has devoted his entire time and attention to his farming and stock raising interests. He also deals to a consider- able extent in stock. He has a fine farm of nearly 300 acres, and is comfortably situated. At the recent Republican county convention he was given the nomination for the office of public administrator, unsolicited on his part. As the Republicans have. a majority in this county, and as he is a man of more than ordinary popularity, he will in all probability be elected. Mr. and Mrs. Blattner have twelve children, namely: Louisa (deceased) ; Charles A. a merchant of Wright City ; Henry L., also a merchant at Wright City ; John G., Mary C., the wife of Victor Strach, a well-to-do young farmer of this county ; Christena S., William T., August E., Jacob F., Julia L., John F. and Robert C. Mr. B. and family are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is a member of the A. F. and A. M.
JUDGE JOHN C. CASNER
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Foristel).
Judge Casner came to Warren county from West Virginia, where he had previously lived from his birth, in 1865, and settled in Warren county, near Foristell, where he bought a good farm and engaged in farming and raising stock. His experience here since that time has been an entirely successful one, and he has risen in popular esteem among the people of the county as a worthy farmer and use- ful citizen, not less than he has prospered in material affairs. He has an excellent farm of 320 acres, nearly all of which is either in active cultivation or meadow or pasturage. It is beyond ques- tion one of the best and most desirable farms of Hickory Grove town- ship. He is an energetic, neat and thrifty farmer and has set an example of successful farm life that is well worthy of imitation. Judge Casner is a man of solid intelligence and sober, sound, good judgment, as well as a man of excellent business qualifications and agreeable, popular manners. Always hospitable at his comfortable home, and pleasant and dignified in his bearing toward all whom he
1124
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
meets, he has very naturally won the confidence and esteem of the public and challenged general respect and appreciation for his sterling worth and usefulness as a citizen.
In 1874 such was his standing in the county, that he was elected presiding justice of the county court by a majority of his fellow-citizens highly complimentary to him, personally. He held that important and responsible office no less than eight years, consecutively, by the repeated indorsement of the people of the county, and as long as he would consent to be burdened with its duties and responsibilities. Judge Casner was born in Brook county, W. Va., March 8, 1828, and was a son of James and Elsie (Kerr) Casner, his father originally of Maryland, but his mother from New Jersey. His grandfather Casner was a gallant old soldier in the War for Independence. His mother is still living, now a resident of Troy, Mo. ; but his father died in 1842. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church. John C. was the second of their family of eight children, and was reared in his native county. He was married there November 9, 1858, to Miss Rosa V. Smith, a daughter of Andrew and Jane Smith, of that county. In the fall of 1858 (December) he moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, and continued to reside there, en- gaged in farming, until 1865, when he came to Missouri and settled in Warren county, as stated above. The Judge and Mrs. Casner have four children : Judson S., Lizzie ( deceased ), Edward H. and Dwight E. He and wife are members of the Congregational Church.
CARR EDWARDS
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Cappeln).
The Edwards family is one of the old and highly respected families of North-east Missouri. Branches of it are found in nearly every county of this section of the State. The family came originally from Virginia, and different representatives of it settled in this part of the State in 1883 up to a short time before the war. Mr. Edwards' pa- ternal grandparents settled in Warren county in 1838. His father, John A. B. Edwards, was then a youth 14 years of age. He grew up in this county, and was married to Miss Elizabeth Edwards, a cousin of his. They reared a family of six children, two others hav- ing died in tender years. The father is still living on the old family homestead, which his father settled nearly half a century ago. Carr Edwards, named for his maternal grandfather, was born in this county February 11, 1858. He was reared on the farm and secured good school advantages in youth and young manhood. After the usual course in the common schools, he entered the State Normal School at Kirksville in 1875, where he took a course in the higher branches. He then engaged in teaching and continued in that occu- pation with success for three years. In 1879 he matriculated at the State University, and besides taking a course in the general studies took a special course in civil engineering and surveying. He then re- sumed teaching and taught for two years. But tiring of the school-
1125
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
room and feeling that he ought to engage in something else more substantial than teaching, having married in the meantime, he settled down to farming and stock raising, in which he has ever since been engaged. Mr. Edwards resides in section 24, of Hickory Grove town- ship, near Cappeln, across in St. Charles county. He was married October 27, 1881, to Miss Jennie Ferrell, a daughter of Hutchens B. Ferrell, of St. Charles county. Mrs. E. was educated at Woodlawn Seminary, and at Fairview Female Institute. They have one child, Edmonia Addella.
REV. HEINRICH S. FEIX
(Pastor von der Friedens und Harmonie Gemeinde, Wright City).
Rev. Mr. Feix, pastor of the " Peace and Harmony Congregation " of the German Evangelical Church, at Wright City, has had charge of this congregation, which he himself organized, ever since its organ- ization, in 1880. He had then only recently been ordained a minister of the German Evangelical Church, after a thorough course of general and theological studies. Almost from boyhood, up to the time of his ordination, his time was spent either at school or college, and to the best advantage, for habits of close, assiduous study have always been one of his most marked characteristics. A regular graduate in theol- ogy when he came to Wright City, and a man of wide and varied learning and earnest piety, his experience here as a minister has been a most successful one, and one not less satisfactory to himself than gratifying to his church or useful to the cause of religion. By his zeal, eloquence and ability he has succeeded in building up a large and flourishing congregation, one of the most creditable, in numbers, to be found in the State anywhere outside of a large city. Rev. Mr. Feix is a native of Indiana, born at Cannelton, January 1, 1858. He comes of a highly respected German-American family. His father, Conrad Feix, was from the old country, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Roeder. His father was reared at Lenzahn, in Nas- sau, of which city he was subsequently mayor for a number of years. On the outbreak of the Revolution, in 1848, he entered the regular army in which he fought bravely until the year 1850. He then came to America and located at Cannelton, Ind., where he became largely interested in coal mining. He accumulated a comfortable property, and now he and wife are living in retirement, making their home with the subject of this sketch, at Wright City.
Rev. Heinrich S. Feix was reared at Cannelton, and from early boy- hood up to the age of 14 his time was spent in the local schools of that place. «He was then sent to the Chicago Academy for general educa- tion. After a course of two years there he was sent to the Elmhurst Seminary, of Elmhurst, Ill. Young Feix continued at Elmhurst until 1876, when he matriculated at Missouri Seminary, in Femme Osage, where he took a regular theological course of four years. He gradu- ated at that institution with marked distinction in the class of '80, and was thereupon duly ordained a minister of the German Evangelical
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Church by a synod composed of Insp. L. Haeberle, Dr. E. Otto and Rev. Langpaap. He at once came to Wright City after his ordination and organized his present congregation.
PIERRE FORISTELL
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Foristell).
The history of the town of Foristell is given in the general county his- tory of the present work, and it is, therefore, not necessary to occupy space here with that. Mr. Foristell was left an orphan boy at the age of 10 years without a penny and friendless in the city of St. Louis, by the death of both of his parents. He even had no home to go to, and certainly his outlook for the future was as gloomy as of that of any unfortunate little waif to be found floating about in a great me- tropolis. But in this country, and, indeed, in no other country can one's future be estimated by what his circumstances are in early life. The friendless and penniless boy of the present may be the wealthy and influential citizen of the future, while the child of affluence may be dependent on the charity of his whilom play-fellow of poverty. Mr. Foristell at the age of 10 years, his parents having died, went to work as a boy of all service at the stock yards in St. Louis. There he met Willis Buford, a stockman from Warren county, who took a fancy to him and offered him a home on his farm in this county, which young Foristell gladly accepted. He worked on Mr. Buford's farm, attending school a few months each winter, until the war broke out, when he became a volunteer in the Southern service. He served out his term in the State Guard, after which he returned home to Warren county and engaged in stock trading. In this he has continued with success ever since. For several years he was also engaged in the to- bacco business at Foristell. Of course, he has carried on farming all the time. In 1870 he bought a tract of land near Foristell, and on which he made his home. He now owns other valuable tracts of land, and altogether has nearly 600 acres in Warren and St. Charles counties. His land is all well improved, and his homestead at Foris- tell is one of the handsomest farms in the county. January 24, 1865, Mr. Foristell was married to Miss Powetan Travis, a daughter of John and Minta ( Young) Travis, of Warren county, but formerly of Vir- ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Foristell have a family of six children : Mary F., John E., Mattie O., Pierre O., Edwin M. and Naomi W. Mat- O. is deceased. Mrs. Foristell is a lady of culture and refinement. Mary F. was married to Dr. C. E. Pringle, October 1, 1884. John E. (or J. Emmet ) is a student of the Central Wesleyan College. Mrs. Foristell is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Foristell was born in the county Killkenny, Ireland, December 15, 1840. His parents were Thomas and Joanna (O'Keif) Foristell, both of the county Kilkenny. They came from Ireland in 1850, and located at St. Louis, where both died shortly afterwards.
1127
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
DANIEL McGOWN
(Retired Farmer, Post-office, Foristell).
At the venerable age of 88, Grandfather McGown, as all who know him now call him, is living in retirement from the active labors and responsibilities of life, and his good wife, his beloved and faithful companion for over half a century, having been laid to rest some years ago, until the morning of eternal life shall dawn, he now finds a welcome and pleasant home in the bosom of the family of his dutiful and loving daughter, Mrs. John A. Moore. Mr. McGown had a long and active career as a farmer, and one not unattended with substantial success. But, better than this, he has lived a life on which no shadow of reproach has ever fallen, and now that his earthly day is nearing its close, his name shines brighter than ever before. He and his good wife reared a large and worthy family of children, who have become well settled in life and themselves the heads of respected families. In a word, he has performed a worthy and useful mission, has lived out more than the average allotment of days, which have been devoted to honest and useful industry, and has made for himself a name that is mentioned with respect whenever spoken, and that will be cherished with veneration by many who have known him, and by all who have felt the beneficent influence of his life and example, long after he shall have passed away.
Daniel McGown, the subject of this sketch, was born in Maryland, April 20, 1796. His parents, Henry and Margaret McGown, were both of Irish birth, but came over to this country when they were still young. They were married in Maryland and soon after the birth of their eldest son, Daniel McGown, they removed to Virginia, where they made their permanent home. They lived to advanced ages, respected residents, and were widely and profoundly mourned at their deaths. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in that calling placed himself in comfortable circumstances. Daniel McGown was reared in Virginia, and was married there, May 18, 1820, to Miss Frances Torley. She was a daughter of Curtis and Sarah Torley, both of old and respected Virginia families. Mr. McGown continued to reside in Virginia, engaged in the occupation of farming, until 1834, when he removed to Missouri and settled in St. Charles county. There he shortly bought land and improved an excellent farm. He made his home in St. Charles county, where he reared his family of children, until some 12 months ago, when, his good wife having pre- viously died, he yielded to the earnest solicitations of his daughter, Mrs. John A. Moore, of Warren county, and came to make his home with her, where he has ever since continued. When the War of 1812 broke out he was a youth not yet of military age, but he nevertheless promptly enlisted for the service of his country, and continued in the army until the close of the war. Aside from that he has performed no public service to speak of, and although always taking a public-
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