USA > Missouri > Pettis County > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches > Part 110
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of the county. He was married in 1859, to Miss Lucinda Momberg. This union has blessed them with 11 children: Lewis, Catherine, Mar- tin, Martha A., Benjamin O., George H., Annie R., William C., Alonzo D. Flora S., Ira L. He is a member of the German M. E. Church, and among its liberal supporters.
J. H. M. MONSEES.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany and was born Feb. 26, 1839, and when he was about four years old his parents emigrated to the United States and located in Morgan County, Mo., where he grew to manhood. When the war began he moved around somewhat and went to Illinois, and worked at the carpenter trade. About 1863, he returned to Pettis County, Mo., and was married Nov. 12, 1863, to Miss Maggie Kahrs. She is a lady of culture and devotes her time to making home happy. This union has blessed them with six children: Lora, Lena M., Lydia, Ida, Joseph and Albert. He moved to his present location in 1863, where he owns a fine farm of 110 acres, with first class buildings. He is now one of the leading business men of his township.
JOHN McGEE.
Farmer. Post-office, Smithton. Among the many pioneers of Pettis County no one is deserving of more special notice than the subject of this brief sketch, who was born Nov. 11, 1817, in Cooper County, Mo. His father, David McGee, came to Cooper County in 1811, and lived in the fort for about two years. McGee Grove, in Cooper County, was named for his father. His father died in 1836. The subject of this sketch went to New Mexico in the employ of the Government in 1835, in the capacity of teamster. He was among the first that ventured through with goods. He was first married in August, 1838, to Miss Hannah Gisp. This union blessed them with eleven children, all of whom are now dead. She died in March, 1858. He came to this county about the year 1839, and lived here until his wife died. He was again married Sept., 1859, to Miss Driskell. This union has blessed them with seven children, six of whom are now living: Jennie, David A., Catherine, John A., Sam- uel ] .; lost one, Bettie Belle. Mr. McGee came to his present location in 1865, where he now owns a fine farm of 160 acres, and is a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and is one of the charter members.
JOHN H. MOMBERG.
Farmer. Post-office, Smithton. The subject of this sketch is a native of Pettis County, Missouri, and was born May 21, 1845, in township forty- four, range twenty. His father, Lewis Momberg, came to this county in 1837, with his father-in-law, whose name was Mr. Goetze, and lived in
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Pettis County until 1877, when he and Momberg went to Wyandotte, Kan., where Mr. Goetze died at the round old age of 100 years and three months. Mr. Momberg still lives there. The subject of this sketch was educated and grew to manhood in his native county. He was married May 21, 1868, to Miss Emelia Sluckman, and this union has blessed them with six childen, five of whom are now living: Charles, William, Ben, Frank and Annie. Lost one, an infant. In 1868 he moved to his present location, where he now owns a fine farm of 120 acres. He is a member of the Baptist Church.
R. E. MUELLER.
Residence, Smithton. Wheelwright and painter. The subject of this sketch is a native of Berne, Switzerland, and was born Sept. 9, 1834, and when he was about fifteen years of age he came to America, and located in Crawford County, O., where he attended school and learned the trade of carriage-maker, and served as an apprentice for three years. After this time he traveled and worked in several States until 1861, when he came to and located in New Haven, Ind., where he lived until 1869. When the World's Fair was at Paris he visited it, and then went to his native land, Swit- zerland, to see his mother. She returned to America with him, where she died June 3, 1878, at the round age of seventy-nine years, eight months and twenty-six days. Mr. Mueller still has one sister in Switzerland. He was married in 1862 to Miss Emitie Merrillit, and this union has blessed them with ten children, six now living: Mary E., Flora E., Celia, John A., Ida G. and Phœbe; lost four: William, Peter, Fred, and one infant. In 1869, he came to Smithton, Mo., where he has built up quite a large and profitable trade. As a workman he is first-class in every respect. He has won the confidence and esteem of the people of this community. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and always among the liberal contributors.
ISAAC McNEIL NORTON.
Farmer; post-office, Sedalia. The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, and was born in September, 1834. He remained in his native State until 1857, when he moved to Michigan, where he and his brother bought and run a saw-mill until 1866, when he came to Pettis County, Missouri, and bought the farm on which he now resides. He owns a fine farm of 120 acres. He is an active charter member of the M. E. Church at Smithton, Mo. He was married Oct. S, 1857, to Miss Mariah Rogers. This union has been blessed with one child, Edith Luella, a lady of fine taste and culture. Mr. Norton's father was born in Litchfield, Conn., Nov. 26. 1799. During his boyhood he attended school with Harriet Beecher Stowe. When he was about twenty-two years of age he moved
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to Ohio, where he reared a family of eight children. He sold his farm in Ohio in 1868, and came to Smithton Township where he has resided with his children a portion of the time, and with his daughter in Morgan County.
W. D. NORTON.
Farmer; post-office, Sedalia. The subject of this sketch is a native of Madison County, Ohio, and was born in April, 1830. He was there edu- cated and reared to manhood. In 1857 he went to Michigan, and in 1866 he came to Pettis County, Mo., where he purchased 710 acres of fine land. The following year he moved to his present location. He now owns a farm of 330 acres with good improvements. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and is 'a liberal contributor and supporter. He was married in 1867 to Miss C. C. Hunt. She is a native of Michigan. This union has been blessed with six children, Emma S., Martin D., Alida E., Effie May, Charles W. and Cynthia C.
DR. W. C. OVERSTREET.
Physician and surgeon; Smithton, Mo. This gentleman was the first practicing physician of Smithton Township. He was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, Oct. 16, 1824. His father and mother were natives of Kentucky. When he was about four years old his parents moved to Mercer County, Kentucky, where he remained until he was twenty-three years of age. He was educated principally at a private select school, taught by James Graves, who is now publishing a Baptist paper in Mem- phis, Tenn. He attended Bacon's College, at Harrodsburg, for two years, and in the year 1847 graduated at Lexington, Ky., at the Transylvania Medical College. In the fall of the same year he attended lectures at Louisville, Ky. He came to Pettis County, Mo., in December of the same year, and began the practice of medicine. The following year he rode on horseback to Knox County, Ill. He was married December 11, 1848, to Miss Mary Seaton, of that county, and practiced medicine there until 1850, when he removed to Warren County, Ill., where he formed a partnership with Dr. Webster of Monmouth, who had settled there from Philadelphia, and which partnership existed ten years. In 1860 the part- nership was mutually dissolved, but Dr. Overstreet continued to practice there until 1864, when he, with his family, moved to Missouri, and located in Pettis County. In the year 1853 he came to this county and entered 320 acres of land at $1.25 per acre, since which time he has added 320 acres more, making a fine farm of 640 acres, well improved, with hedge, plank and rail fences. Quite a quantity of it is devoted to pasturage. His wife died April 14, 1880. She was a worthy member of the Baptist Church. The Doctor has also been a leading member of that organiza-
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HISTORY OF SMITHTON TOWNSHIP.
tion for about thirty-eight years, having been among the leading ones who organized the church at this place. He has a family of six children, five of whom are still living, viz: Robert W., who is now engaged in the drug business at this place; Mary Jane, now in Johnson County; Walter C., now located in the city of Sedalia, having graduated at the Missouri Medical College in 1878, also at Bellevue College, in New York City; David M., now in New Mexico, and Annie Clay, at home. Emma Thompson Overstreet was born April 26, 1859, and died Nov. 21, 1876. He was married to his present wife, Mrs. G. W. Overstreet, May 3, 1881. He has filled the office of Township and District Clerk for several succes- sive terms, and is a zealous worker for the cause of education, is a live and successful business man, and takes quite an interest in the advance- ment of the country.
MRS. JANE OVERSTREET.
The following obituary on the decease of Mrs. Jane Overstreet was written by her cousin, Rev. J. D. Steele:
" Passing through your beautiful city, bound to be the future seat of gov- ernment of the great State of Missouri, I was shocked to hear of the death of that venerable, beloved and sainted mother in Israel, Mrs. Jane Over- street, of Mercer County, Ky. Being intimately acquainted with this mother for the last forty-two years, I wish to make a statement of facts that will interest many of your readers. Mrs. Overstreet, whose name was Lowrey, was married to Robert D. Overstreet in 1815. He was a soldier in Trotter's Regiment, of Lexington, Ky., in the war of 1812. For the past twenty-five years she has been a widow. She was in her eighty- third year at her death. She was a woman possessed of an assemblage of christian virtues seldom found, all meeting in one person. Her ances- tors, paternal and maternal, were Presbyterians of the strictest type. She was a very worthy, devout, exemplary and consistent member of the same church. Drs. Rankin, Bishop, Blythe, Clelland and Young, now among the dead, were in their day among those she admired and heard. She was for sixty years a devout Presbyterian. Think of all it takes to make up the loving, dutiful, and affectionate daughter, the devoted wife, the tender-hearted mother, yearning over her rising household, pointing them all by precept and by example, the path that leads to peace, to glory and to God. I have no doubt that on the great day of the Redeemer's appearing, when He comes, and all His saints with Him, she will arise to glory, honor and immortality, and we have no doubt that on that great day very many will rise to call her blessed. A vast concourse of mourning kindred and friends followed her mortal remains to the Providence Pres- byterian Church to participate in the last solemn funeral services, thence to the family burying ground, and there the aged pall-bearers saw the
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HISTORY OF SMITHTON TOWNSHIP.
casket, with its precious treasure placed beside that of her husband and her deceased children and descendants to the third generation near the Kentucky River, in Mercer County. Peace to her ashes and glory to her memory. May her mantle be the inheritance of her descendants to the latest generation. She leaves behind her nine children, forty-seven grandchildren, thirty-five great-grandchildren, living in Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and other States; some in Sedalia, more in and near Smithton. It is certainly a remarkable fact that of all the ninety odd descendants of this venerable mother in Israel, there is not one " black sheep." This is a rare fact. "Surely, the righteous shall be held in everlasting remembrance."
W. H. PAGE.
Residence, Smithton. Farmer. The subject of this sketch is an eastern gentleman. He was born April 29, 1827, in Chenango County, N. Y. His father, K. Page, died when he was a mere infant, in 1831, and when he was about fourteen years of age he emigrated to Connecticut and attended the Berlin Academy for two terms .. He was there in the State of Connecticut until grown to manhood. In the fall of 1849 he located in Winnebago County, Ill., where he lived until 1855. He was married November 10, 1850, to Miss A. Oties, a native of Madison County, N. Y., who was born May 2, 1833. This union has blessed them with three children, of whom two are living, William B., now in Michigan, at Ann Arbor College studying medicine, and Star. Charles G. died when he was about eleven years of age. In 1855 Mr. Page moved to Lafayette County, Wis., where he farmed until 1861 when he embarked in the drug business at Darlington, Wis., in partnership with his father-in- law, Mr. Oties. He continued in this business until 1868 with a marked degree of success. He then took his family and returned to his native State on a visit and returned to Wisconsin in 1869. Coming the same year to Pettis County, Mo., he located near Smithton, and lived there about two years, then came to this city, and has since made it his home. His wife died Nov. 28, 1872. Mr. Page takes a warm interest in the advancement of education; he has been one of the School Board for one year and was elected president of the same, April, 1880, and is still serv- ing in the same office. He now owns a fine farm of 320 acres. He was again married to Miss S. E. Bohon, and this union has blessed them with three children, two now living, Cary C., George B .; lost one, Walter. Mr. Page was one of the men who took an active part in getting the iron bridge across Flat Creek.
D. F. PALMER.
Post-office, Smithton. The subject of this sketch is a native of Kentucky, and was born Nov. 19, 1837. When he was about nine years of age he
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moved with his parents to Mills County, Mo., where they remained for some time; they then moved to Benton County, Mo., and in 1850 to Pettis County, Missouri, in township 46, range 20, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. In 1857 he went to California, where he remained for about two years. He then returned to Pettis county, and took a trip to Texas, but remained there only two months, and then returned home. He next went to Montana and mined for a short time. He then began teaming on the U. P. Railroad, and several times during the war came to Missouri to buy mules, and paid out $30,000 for them. He remained in the freight business until the road was completed. He then returned to Pettis County, Mo., in 1870, and in 1871 he bought his present farm of 500 acres, paying $15,000 for it. He has since sold some of this farm, but now owns +103 acres. He was married Feb. 25, 1872, to Miss Emma M. Williams. This union has blessed them with four chil- dren, William. T., Addie L., Frank Floyd and Nettie Belle.
JAMES RINGEN.
Was born Feb. 2, 1852, in Pettis County, Mo. At the age of nineteen his father moved from his farm and came to the town of Smithton. He attended school in St. Louis, and then engaged in the blacksmith business, which occupation he continued to follow until the fall of 1879, at which time he was accorded an interest in the mercantile establishment of A. B. Cook, under the firm name of Cook & Ringen. They carry a well assorted stock of dry goods, groceries, clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps, hardware, tinware, queensware, notions, etc. They are doing a large and profitable business, which is continually increasing. Their ample stock, careful, conservative methods and clear business insight, give them decided and permanent strength. Mr. R. was married in 1875 to Miss Mary Annie Cook, and has one child-a little girl about four years old-Grace May. He and his wife are both worthy members of the M. E. Church. He owns a good, substantial residence, in a pleasant location of the town, replete with cheerful and elegant furnishings, the premises around his residence being beautified with fruits, rare flowers and rich shrubbery. His home is made doubly inviting by the presence of its refined and accomplished mistress, who, together with her husband, dis- pense hospitality to all of their many friends, as well as to the stranger. Mr .. R. is a man of liberal culture, sterling sense, conservative temper and habits. He ranks with the most popular and liberal spirited men of the community; his personal popularity with all parties and classes attesting the high appreciation of this people for good men.
JOHN SELKEN
One mile east of the town of Smithton we find the beautiful residence
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and farm of Mr. Selken, elegantly improved with good buildings, fenced with hedge, plank and rail fences, well watered and fine fruit orchards. Mr. S. was born in Germany, Feb. 16, 1816. He was married in the year 1832 to J. R. Bahrenburg, and in the year 1836 emigrated to the United States, settling in Washington County, Ohio, and engaged in the occupation of farming. Becoming impressed with the idea that Missouri offered greater advantages, he determined to remove to this county, which he did in the year 1867, and located at the above mentioned place, and commenced at once to improve his farm and put it in a good state of cultivation, which he has succeeded in doing, placing around him such of life's conveniences that conduce to the happiness and comfort of himself and family. In the month of April, 1869, the partner of his life was laid away in her last resting place, leaving many mourning friends, in whose affections she had secured a prominent place by her many deeds of kind- ness, and her consistent christian walk. Mr. S. has been a member of the M. E. Church for many years; he has been one of the trustees, and was one of the building committee of the M. E. Church of Smithton. He is a man of great influence, and highly respected by all.
T. J. SELLERS.
Post-office, Smithton. Farmer and sheep raiser. One of the enter- prising men of Smithton Township. He was born June 9, 1847, in Green County, Penn., and when he was about three years of age his parents moved to Ohio, in 1850, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, and in 1866 he moved with his mother to McDonald County, Ill. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary E. Kee, a native of Illinois; this union has blessed them with two children: Ralph Raymond and Minnie Lottie. The subject of this sketch went to California in 1870 and engaged in farming, where he remained until 1878, when he traded his property in California for property in Jefferson City, Mo., and he returned to his place in Jefferson City in 1878, where he remained for a few months. He then moved out on the farm near the city, where he remained until 1881; he then moved to his present location, where he now has two hundred and forty acres of land, besides eighty acres of land near Jefferson City, Mo. He is now turning his attention to the raising of sheep, and now has on his farm about six hundred sheep. He is a consistent member of the M. E. Church.
ANTON SCHUPP.
Residence, Smithton. Blacksmith. The subject of this sketch is a native of Missouri, and was born in Morgan County in 1856, and he there learned his trade and grew to manhood. His father, William Schupp, was among the pioneers of that county, and he was a noble
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citizen and much honored by his neighbors. He was killed during the war by outlaws, and his life was highly honored by all who knew him. The subject of this sketch came to Smithton in 1881, and he is now doing a good and profitable business. He was married March 27, 1SSO, to Miss Mary Neffer, and she is a much esteemed and honored lady.
D. J. SHY, JR.
Post-office, Smithton. Teacher and farmer. The subject of this sketch is a native of this State, and was born November 27, 1846, in Pettis County, Mo., where he grew to manhood and received his educa- tion. He began to teach school at the age of eighteen years. He was married in 1867 to Miss S. H. Godby. She is a native of Kentucky, and is a lady of fine taste, devoting her time to making her home happy. This union has blessed them with six children, viz: Mary G., Lena M., Milton P., Adia M., David E. and an infant. Mr. Shy has taught eight terms of school, four of which were in the Smithton district. He has always taken a warm interest in the advancement of education. He is a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and always among its liberal contributors and supporters. He is a man of great industry and good manage- ment. He now owns a fine farm of 139 acres, with a good house on the same. He is now numbered among the successful business men of his township.
DR. A. W. SMITH.
The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 20, 1837, in Gibson County, Indiana. His parents were poor, but honest, and before he was grown, nothwithstanding the family numbered fourteen, they had by economy and industry become prosperous and independent, though not what the world call rich. His father, Jesse Smith, was born in the year 1794, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch was five years old when his parents moved to the wilds of Southern Illinois, Jefferson County, where he labored on a small timber farm in summer and attended the common district school three miles away in winter. When twenty years of age he left home to make his fortune or to try to complete his education. He attended Professor Hillman's High School at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, until able to teach school. He then taught two schools in Illinois, then attended Professor Bird's school at Princeton, Indiana. He then taught another district school; then attended Prof. Gray's school, from which he went to Greencastle University, under the instruction of Doctor, now Bishop Bowman. He then taught a number of terms, and attended Prof. Jeremiah Behm's Commercial College at Evansville. The day before graduation he joined the Union army and left for Indianapolis to be equipped and drilled for war. He joined Rigby's Indiana Battery on the
.
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HISTORY OF SMITHTON TOWNSHIP.
22d day of May, 1861. His battery was engaged in the following battles: Alleghany Mountain, Va., McDowell Heights, Va., Cross Keys, near Port Republic, Va., and was captured with 10,000 others at Harper Ferry, Va., after a siege of fifteen days, under the command of Col. Miles (the traitor), who was killed by the last shot of the enemy's gun. Up to this date, in seventeen months of marching and battling, not a man of his famous battery was killed. Here his battery with the other 10,000 were paroled by Stonewall Jackson, to disband and go to their homes and remain until exchanged, which took place in a few months. They were then re-equipped and marched again to the front; this time to engage in the battles of Dalton Hill, Kentucky, and in the siege of twenty-two days at Knoxville, Tenn., under Gen. Burnside, against Longstreet's army corps. Here his three years of enlistment expired, and on the eleventh day of June, 1864, he was honorably discharged. He then spent some time at the same post as delegate of the United States Christian Commission, in taking care of the sick and wounded soldiers and distributing Bibles and religious tracts and papers, also holding meetings among the various camps and hospitals. Then he visited his home again in Illinois. As a delegate, he helped to close up the United States Christian Commission at Louisville, Ky., and at Nashville, Tenn. He again attended Greencastle College, and taught a number of classes in penmanship and phonography. He became acquainted with and married Miss Mary Helen Mears, on the 15th day of April, 1866. A short time after this, he entered the dental office of Dr. Arnold, and mastered the chosen profession of his future life. In the year 1870 he visited ten different towns and cities in Kansas and Missouri, looking up a location for life; and this he found at Sedalia, Mo., where he spent five years with great success in the practice of the dental profession. He then broke up and went back to his wife's old home at Washington, Indiana, where he practiced with wonderful success his profession for three years. Then returned to Sedalia and kept an office for one year. He moved to Winfield, Kans., where his health failed with the close con- finement to the office in one year. He then sold out and purchased a fine mansion at Smithton, Mo., some distance west of St. Louis, where he opened out a dental office in one of the rooms of his residence. He did his own chores and garden work and such dental work as chanced to come to hand. Here his health increased together with his business until he is well. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ever since the age of eighteen, in which he was often employed as super- intendent of various Sabbath Schools at Shoals, Ind., Washington, Ind., and Winfield, Kans. He believes in a holy religion as a life and heart work, and not a mere profession and a name to live while dead.
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HISTORY OF SMITHTON TOWNSHIP.
SAMUEL SMITH.
Farmer. Post-office, Smithton. The subject of this sketch is a native of New York State, and was born July 18, 1837, and he was there raised and educated until he was about sixteen years of age, when he emigrated to Warren County, Ill., where he lived until 1865. He was married on the 29th day of August, 1849, to Miss Cornelia Buck. She is a native of Ohio, and their union has blessed them with thirteeen children, all of whom are now living and whose names are as follows: Ryan R., Rollings A., Alice, Mindwill, Sidney, Seth, Cora, Charles L., Norman A., Warren, Olive, L. C. and Ira. In 1865 Mr. Smith became impressed with the idea that Missouri offered superior inducements to men of energy, and he came to Pettis County, where he owns a fine farm of 220 acres of fine land. He is a consistent member of the Christian Church.
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