USA > Missouri > Johnson County > Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis counties, Missouri ; containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 70
USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis counties, Missouri ; containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 70
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In the fall of 1887 Mr. Teater went to the state of Washington, and fourteen months later was engaged in the livery business with a brother. At the end of that time they sold out and our subject returned to Missouri and began operating the home place. He was married, April 10, 1890, to Miss Ada Stark, the daughter of William H. and Virginia Josephine (Benton) Stark, then res- idents of Chilhowee Township. Mrs. Teater was born in Logan County, Ky., January 5, 1868, and is a well educated and intelligent lady, greatly aiding her husband in his business projects. Their three children are Claude Stark, born Feb- ruary 19, 1891; George Benton, March 7, 1893; and an infant born April 30, 1895.
Our subject, together with his brother Mal- colin, purchased a quarter-section of land, going in debt for the greater part of it. The first year they put in a large crop of wheat, for which they received a good price. In a short time he sold his interest to his brother and invested his money in two hundred acres, on which he is now living. He was unable to pay for it at that time, but by his unflagging perseverance and indomitable will
he has liquidated the debt and placed the farm under the best improvement. Fifteen acres are devoted to an apple orchard, and on this estate may be found many other fruits, both large and small.
Mr. Teater is a stanch Democrat in politics, but in no sense of the term can he be consid- ered an office-seeker, as his time is entirely taken up in operating his farm. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which congregation his wife is also connected. He has been Deacon in his congregation for several years, and in many other ways is actively engaged in church work.
OUIS H. KAHRS, Chief of Police at Se- dalia, is very popular among his fellow-citi- zens, being a leader in the circles of the Republican party. He was nominated by that party to his present position in April, 1894, to serve for a two-years term, and it is now about ten years since he entered the police force, having been given a place by Mayor Rickman. At the end of two years he resumed his business affairs, but in 1887 was again appointed policeman by Mayor E. W. Stevens, keeping steadily on his round of duty for four years, or until his resig- nation in 1892.
Our subject was born in Lake Creek Township, Pettis County, November 30, 1858. His father, Cord Kahrs, a native of Germany, born near Hanover, emigrated to America in 1833, and be- came a well known farmer of Lake Creek Town- ship. In 1873 he retired from business and dwelt in this city until his death, which occurred in 1886, when in his eightieth year. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Kahrs, though she was not a relative. She also was born in the Father- land, and died early in life, leaving seven children, only four of whom now survive.
L. H. Kahrs, the youngest in his father's fam- ily, was reared on a farm, and attended the dis-
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trict school of the neighborhood. In the fall of 1873 he came to Sedalia and attended a public school for two years, and in 1876 entered the State University at Columbia, where he was a student for a year. On his return home he en- gaged in the grocery business with Henry Kruse, at the corner of Fifth and Ohio Streets. They continued under the firm name of Kruse & Kahrs for two years, when the latter sold out and entered the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- road, becoming a practical boiler-maker. After several years spent in this trade, his service in the police department commenced. He won the confidence of all by his strict attention to duty, and this was amply shown when they bestowed fresh honors upon him. A charter member of Sedalia Branch No. 113, Brotherhood of Boiler- makers and Iron Ship-builders, he served as its first President. He was also a charter member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph.
The pleasant home of Mr. Kahrs at No. 1, 302 Lamine Avenue is presided over by his faithful companion and helpmate along life's journey. In December, 1882, in Sedalia, occurred his marriage with Miss Mary Wittlinger, a native of Illinois, although she was reared in Pettis County. The couple have two bright children, named, respect- ively, Bessie and Cora.
LFRED HUNICKE, foreman of the paint department of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas car-shops at Sedalia, is one of the most ef- ficient employes of the corporation, and has been in this branch of the works since January, 1876, having been promoted to his present position in October, 1885. Since that time he has not lost a week by sickness, but has steadily remained at his post of duty.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., his birth having occurred in 1852, our subject was reared there until twenty-two years of age. His parents, Will- iam and Johannah (Woltamath) Hunicke, were
natives of Germany, and were married in St. Louis, where the mother is still living. The father, who emigrated to the United States in early manhood, learned the trade of wood-work- ing, and for many years was with the Shulenberg Lumber Company. During the Civil War he served in a Missouri regiment. He died in the Lutheran faith, in which he had been reared, when over fifty-two years of age.
Our subject is one of three surviving children, the others being named, respectively, Otto and Emma. In 1864 he began his business career as a painter in a chair factory, in which position he continued for a period of six years. About 1869 he was offered a position in the paint department of the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern Railroad shops, subsequently was in the Missouri Pacific shops at St. Louis, and later in Beard Bros.' Safe Works. In 1874 he went to Moberly, being employed in the Wabash car- shops, and one year later came to Sedalia, since which time he has been in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas shops. When he arrived here there were only thirty-six passenger cars on the lines of the company, and now there are over one hundred and eighty. On an average, he has twenty-eight or thirty men under his instruction, and his personal attention is given to every detail of the work. For three years he has been on the Test Committee of the Master Car and Locomotive Painters' Association of the United States and Canada. In Equity Lodge No. 26, A. O. U. W., he is a past officer, has been a representative to the Grand Lodge, and is also associated with the Woodmen of the World. A leading Republican, he has been a member of city and county com- mittees and clubs, has materially assisted in cam- paign work, and at present is one of the Board of Trustees of the public library.
In 1883 Mr. Hunicke built a comfortable home at No. 1009 East Broadway. The lady who pre- sides over its hospitality became his wife April 7, 1876, in St. Louis. She is a native of that metropolis, and formerly bore the name of Lizzie Hilker. Of the six children who have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hunicke, Alice, the eldest, graduated from the high school in
4
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1895; Grace and Mamie are members of the Class of '97; and the younger ones are Maud, Edna and Dorothea. The three eldest daughters are good musicians. Mr. Hunicke has a fine collec- tion of ininerals, shells and Indian relics in his possession, and is also an amateur photographer, having a number of fine views taken in this and other counties.
EWIS RUDY, who is one of the most suc- cessful farmers of Johnson County, has a fine estate in township 45, range 25. He is a native of New York, and was born in Tompkins County, November 15, 1825. His parents, Hen- ry and Ellen (Owens) Rudy, were both natives of the Empire State, the former born in the year 1803, and the latter in 1805.
The father of our subject became one of the wealthy agriculturists of Tompkins County, dying there at the advanced age of ninety-two years. He started out in life when young in years, earn- ing his first money by making a trip to Philadel- phia, Pa., with a drove of cattle, receiving there- for fifty cents per day. December 27, 1824, he married Miss Ellen Owen, who was then living with her uncle, Jonathan Owen. They started in life together in a log house on her father's farm in Tompkins County, and in three years' time had saved about $100. They continued to be in- dustrious and economical, and soon had enough laid by to make their first purchase of land, which consisted of one hundred and twenty-five acres located in that county. Trumansburg was the nearest trading-point and postoffice, and Mr. Rudy remembers when there were but four houses in that now flourishing town. He also owned a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres near Reynoldsville, Schuyler County, N. Y.
Our subject was the eldest member of the pa- rental household. His brothers and sisters were Lucy Ann, Minor, John, Henry, Mary E., James
F., William N. and Juliette. They were all ed- ucated in the common schools of Tompkins Coun- ty, with the exception of Henry, who attended the academy at Trumansburg, and afterward taught school in Iowa. The father of this family was a strong believer in the faith of the Baptist Church, and took an active part in the work of the same.
The following lines were written by Mrs. Rudy after the death of her husband, which occurred in Tompkins County, N. Y., December 14, 1893:
The boon hath come that he waited so long, For the unstrung nerves and the weary brain, "Til a world refreshed was awake again, And he sleeps at last.
While a day that came from the land of the blest, Went back through the gates of pearl in the west, We laid him down to his dreamless rest, To sleep in peace.
The loudest thunder above him may peal, And the earth with a shock may quake and reel, Constraining the prayerless for mercy to kneel To sleep in peace.
'Mid the quiet so soothing to every heart That is weary of toiling and jostling in inart And loves the still hours of communing apart He is at rest.
Kind father, dear father, slumber on Where we will join thee one by one; When in God's own time our work is done, We will meet thee in heaven at last.
One year after attaining his majority our sub- ject started out in life for himself, locating on a tract of land which had been given him by his father. While living there he was married to Miss Louisa Smith, a native of Tompkins Coun- ty, who was born October 4, 1830. She was the daughter of Christopher Smith, a native of Schuy- ler County, N. Y., and departed this life October 3, 1858. While a resident of the above farm, which was located in Tompkins County, Mr. Rudy owned and operated for twenty years the first threshing-machine ever used in that section. By Mr. Rudy's first marriage were born four chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. Ella L., born in 1854, married J. Buggs, and now makes her home in her native county in New York. Charles, born in 1857, left home when fourteen years of age, and is now a resident of Oklahoma.
Two years after the death of his first wife our
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subject was married to Miss Martha Wood, who was born March 7, 1838, and who was a daugh- ter of David Wood, of Tompkins County. They continued to reside there until 1868, when, hav- ing heard much about the splendid climate of Missouri, they came hither, coming direct to Johnson County. Mr. Rudy had visited the state seven months previously and purchased the quar- ter-section on which he now lives, paying there- for $25 per acre. The land was then occupied by a man of the name of Mulky, and it was he who named the great Mulky Creek in this county. Mr. Rudy and his family are still living in the old house which stood on the farnt at the time it was purchased.
To Mr. Rudy and his second wife there were born three children. Augusta, whose birth oc- curred August 2, 1860, is married, and now lives in Battle Creek, Mich .; Hattie M., born September 17, 1863, became the wife of John G. Townsent, of Rochester, N. Y., in which city they now live; Flora, born May 5, 1866, makes her home with her sister in New York.
The present wife of our subject was formerly Mrs. Mary M. (Neal) Amlin, who was born in Belmont County, Ohio, October 25, 1842. She was the daughter of Capt. Thomas and Clarissa (Colly) Neal, of Fayette County, Pa., who later removed to Ohio and engaged in farming in Belmont County. They were living in Monroe County during the war, and Mr. Neal enlisted, becoming Captain of Company C, Second Virginia Cavalry. He later resigned his commission and returned to Belmont County, where he lived un- til 1869, the year in which he came to Missouri. He at once located in Johnson County, engaging in farming and stock-raising until 1876, when he removed to Pratt County, Kan., where he is still living on a good farm. Mrs. Neal departed this life in Johnson County, May 23, 1870.
Mrs. Mary M. Rudy was first married, August 9, 1866, to George G. Amlin, of Washington County, Ohio, where he plied his trade of shoe- maker. He served in the late war as a member of Company C, Second Virginia Cavalry, as bu- gler. After his marriage he lived in Washington County until his death, January 3, 1870. To
them was born a daughter, Alice G., May 1, 1867. She was the wife of Dr. Rollin G. Smith, and died in Kansas, August 12, 1889.
To our subject and his present wife there have been born five children. Rose was born May 1, 1872, and is living at home and engaged in teach- ing school. Leslie N. was born July 23, 1874, and is attending the normal school at Warrens- burg; Lulu N. was born January 29, 1879, and is also attending the normal; Ray was born Jan- uary 3, 1877, and died March 3 of that year; Nellie was born October 12, 1882, and died Jan- ttary 26 of the following year.
Mr. Rudy has disposed of twenty-one acres of his land by sale, so that he now has in his pos- session one hundred and thirty-nine acres. He has filled office acceptably in the capacity of School Director and has also been Road Over- seer. Until three years ago he voted the Repub- lican ticket. Now, however, he is a Third Party man. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church North, meeting with the congregation at Warrensburg.
IRAM C. MORTON is the fortunate owner of as comfortable a home and surroundings as could be wished for. His well cultiva- ted and neatly kept farm is located in township 45, range 25, Johnson County, and on it he raises a large quantity of grain, besides giving consid- erable attention to the breeding of stock.
Mr. Morton was born in Randolph County, Mo., January 21, 1842, to Josiah and Margaret L. (Callison) Morton, natives of Madison County, Ky. The parents were married in the above sec- tion of the Blue Grass State, whence they came to Missouri the year of our subject's birth. They located in Randolph County, and after a stay there of two years, moved to Schuyler County, this state, locating on a tract of land near Kirks- ville. Our subject was six years of age when he left that place with his mother, his father hav-
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ing departed this life while living there. Mrs. Morton and Hiram came to this county and, rent- ing a farm in Grover Township, made their home on the same for six years. About that time an uncle of our subject took him home with him, and from that time until attaining his majority lie made his home with relatives.
On the outbreak of the late war, young Morton enlisted in Company A, Seventh Missouri Infan- try, under Captain Houts and Col. John F. Phil- lips. With his regiment he followed Price for forty-two days, and afterward went in pursuit of Shelby in Missouri. When his services were no longer needed in the army, he was honorably dis- charged and mustered out at St. Louis, March 18, 1865. He at once returned to his home in this county, and February 26 of that year was married to Miss Lucy M., daughter of William E. and Louisa (Cox) Ezell, both of whom were born in Kentucky, and after taking up their abode in Johnson County made this section their home until their decease.
The parental household of our subject included nine children, of whom the following-named lived to mature years: Mary J., Wade H., Irimenta, Rebecca, Hiram C. and Richard B. Upon start- ing out for himself, our subject went to Lafayette County, where he purchased forty acres of land near Odessa, and lived for two years. He then sold out and upon his return to Johnson County became the owner of one hundred and forty acres. After holding this tract for a time, he traded it for another farm containing one hundred and fifty-three acres on Clear Fork Creek. He farmed this estate for some time, and when the next move was made we find him a resident of his present finely improved farm. In 1891 he erected a sub- stantial residence, which, with the good line of buildings which were already standing, makes of it one of the most attractive and valuable pieces of property in the township. Mr. Morton has on his place a fine Percheron Norman stallion, named "Charlie," and two fine jacks, "Henry Ward Beecher" and "Jerry Simpson." He raises stock exclusively, and ever finds a ready market for his animals when desirous of selling.
To Mr. and Mrs. Morton there have been born
six children. Charlie married Miss Clara Belle Fortner, and lives in this township; Lucy is the wife of William Phillips, and makes her home in this county; Albert married Minnie Munn, and they live on the farm with our subject; Emma is attending the normal school; and Lola and Win- nie are at home. In politics our subject is a strong Populist, and has done much good in ex- tending the lines of his party in this community. He was formerly a Republican.
The maternal grandfather, Hiram Callison, and also the great-grandfather of our subject. served in the Revolutionary War under General Washington. A grand-uncle on the maternal side fought as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was present at the battle of New Orleans, when An- drew Jackson conquered Packingham.
R OBERT LINSEY TEATER made his ad- vent into Johnson County in 1871, coming here from his native state, Kentucky. He was born in Garrard County, November 21, 1822, and was the son of Paris and Rebecca Teater, the former of whom was a well educated man and a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The subject of this sketch was the youngest member of a large family of children. He lived on the home farm and took care of his aged par- ents until his marriage, which occurred May 15, 1851, to Miss Paulina Davis. She was a native of Madison County, Ky., having been born July 4, 1823, and her parents were William and Lucy (Johnson) Davis. Mrs. Teater was well educated, and had long been acquainted with her husband's family, living as they did in the same locality.
After his marriage our subject lived with his wife's parents for a period of twelve years, they both dying on the same day, in the spring of 1863, and both were buried in the same grave on the home farm. When a young man, our subject
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received an injury on the head by being kicked by a mule, but his death, which occurred June 30, 1865, was the result of a stroke of lightning. He left at that time eight children, of whom Laura, the eldest, was born January 2, 1853; she married George B. Hughes in December, 1871, and is living in Rose Hill Township, this county. Malcolm J. was born July 29, 1854. Carrie Frances, Mrs. Hughes, was born April 5, 1856, and now resides in Rose Hill Township. Milton M. was born September 17, 1857, and lives in Seattle, Wash. Calvin B. was born September 22, 1859. Lucy Ann, born April 22, 1861, is now the wife of Andrew Chambers. Emma Alice was born March 19, 1863; Robert, March 22, 1865.
Mr. Teater disposed of his good farm in the Blue Grass State in 1871, and that year came to Johnson County, where for the first two years he farmed rented property. He then purchased the present home of his widow, which is eighty acres in extent. He was a Democrat in politics, and was always actively interested in the success of his party. Religiously he was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, al- though reared in the faith of the Baptist Church, now worships with the Cumberland Presbyterian congregation near her home, with which most of her children are connected by membership. She is a most estimable lady, and is well and favor- ably known throughout this county.
OHN SACK, one of the representative citi- zens of Johnson County, is a native of Prus- sia, Germany. He was born on the 4th of May, 1849, and is one of the eight children of Frank and Elizabeth Sack, all of whom still sur- vive. The father was born and reared in Prus- sia, and during his youth served an apprentice- ship to the blacksmith's trade, after which he went to the town of Naumburg, where he opened
a smithy and carried on business until his death, which occurred when he was about forty years of age.
The gentleman whose name introduces this re- view was reared to manhood under the parental roof and acquired his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. He heard much of the advantages and privileges which were afford- ed young men in the New World, and when he attained his majority resolved to try his fortune in America, embarking on a steamer bound for Portland, Me., where he arrived after a voyage of eleven days. He not only had no money, but also owed for his passage, but he was young, full of courage, hope and ambition, and resolved to win success. The greater difficulties he had to encounter, the more he exerted himself to over- come them. After four months' work as a farm hand in Lincoln County, he had paid off all in- debtedness, and from that time forward his labors more directly benefited himself.
For seven years Mr. Sack resided in Lincoln County, and then went to St. Louis, where he se- cured employment in a tin shop. He had learned the trade of a tinner in Germany and followed it for two years in that city, after which he re- moved to Arkansas. During the first nine years of his residence in America he lived frugally, worked earnestly, and on his arrival in Arkan- sas, with the capital he had thus acquired, was enabled to purchase a farm. For three years he cultivated his land, but, becoming dissatisfied in that locality, he sold out and returned to St. Lou- is, where he spent the succeeding year. On leav- ing that city he came to Johnson County and purchased his present valuable farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres, which, well cultivated and highly improved, yields to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon it, and he is numbered among the leading agri- culturists of the community.
On the 7th of February, 1877, Mr. Sack led to the marriage altar Miss Anna Hilke, daughter of Henry and Mary Hilke, a most estimable lady, who finds her greatest pleasure in making her home pleasant and her family a happy one. Eight children have been born of this union, six
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of whom are living, namely: Lizzie, Otto, Hen- ry, Bernard, Christopher and Joseph. In his religious belief, Mr. Sack is a Catholic, and in his political affiliations is a Democrat. He is a man of pleasing address, genial manner and gentlemanly deportment, and throughout the com- munity has a wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances.
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A RTHUR L. GARVIN. Throughout this portion of Johnson County the passer-by will find no better estate than that belonging to our subject. It is ninety acres in extent and is pleasantly located on section 12, township 44, range 28. He was born in Lafayette County, near Odessa, April 4, 1859, and is the son of Hugh and Eleanor A. (Hook) Garvin.
The father of our subject was born in Penn- sylvania, and was about thirteen years of age when he left home and went to New York State. There he learned the trade of a carpenter, and upon reaching mature years was married. A few years afterward he and his wife moved to Balti- more, Md., where he continued to ply his trade and where Mrs. Garvin died.
While a resident of Baltimore the father was appointed by the Government a Lumber In- spector. He was possessed of more than ordin- ary education and was a man of good judgment and shrewd business qualifications. James J., one of his sons, also learned the carpenter's trade. He was born December 28, 1824, and died in No- vember, 1893, leaving a family of five children. The eldest of the household, Elizabeth, was born February 3, 1821; Sarah J., April 2, 1823; Will- iam H., October 8, 1826; Theodore, August 28, 1833; and William Jones, December 20, 1837.
From Baltimore the father of our subject went to Hampshire County, Va., where he met and married Miss Hook, who became the mother of four children, of whom Arthur L. was the young- est. Francis Marion was born in Virginia De- cember 22, 1848; La Fayette was born August
28, 1850, and died October 18, 1851; Virginia was born July 13, 1852, and departed this life February 10, 1873.
In 1853 Hugh Garvin came to Missouri, locat- ing in Lafayette County, where lie purchased a small farm and at the same time worked at his trade. He was living there at the time of his de- cease, which occurred December 21, 1858. Mrs. Eleanor Garvin survived a number of years, pass- ing away March 19, 1879. The father was a de- voted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially was an Odd Fellow.
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