Cooper County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1919 (part 11 of 24)

Aug. 23, 1883, William Meyer and Henrietta M. Steigleder were united in marriage. Mrs. Meyer was born on a farm near Oskaloosa, Iowa, a daughter of George Frederick Andrew and Mary Elizabeth (Hoch- stetler) Steigleder, the former, born July 30, 1829, at Michelbach on der Haide, in Germany, and the latter born Aug. 16, 1834, in Holmes County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Steigleder were united in marriage, Jan. 28, 1855, in Ohio, by Rev. J. G. Zohner, and to them were born eight children: William Frederick and George Henry; Anna Elizabeth Wilhelmina, the wife of H. P. Muntzel, of Boonville ; Louis Robert, of Big Cabin, Okla. ; Matilda H., the wife of subject of this sketch; Martha Amelia Louise, the' wife of Elmer George, of Bunceton ; Sophia Barbara, the wife of Thomas Etter, of Richville; and Louvina Luella, of Bunceton. Jacob Hochstetler immigrated to America from Rotterdam, and his descendents are scattered throughout America, Mrs. Meyer being a lineal descendent. The Hochstetlers settled originally in Somerset County, Pa. To Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have been born two children: Elmer C, married Elsie Stumpf, Jan. 31, 1918, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Marie Stumpf ; and Stella A. E., at home with her parents.

William Meyer is one of the original "boosters" of good roads in Cooper County, and one of the first to be interested in the establishment of the rural telephone and rural routes. He is a charter member of the Farmers Bank of Boonville, of which he has been a director for 21 years, until the bank was sold. He was a school director in his district for 15 years. Mr. Meyer stands high in the respect and trust of his fellowmen and there is no man in this section of the State more worthy of admiration and confidence.

Henry Smith, well known in the Lone Elm neighborhood for many years, now living retired in Boonville, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Oct. 15, 1847, son of Claus and Margaret (Sulau) Schmidt, the latter of whom died in that country. After the death of his wife, Claus Schmidt came to the United States with his seven children and located in this county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1896, being then nearly 86 years of age, and is buried in the Clarks Fork Cemetery. He was the father of seven children, as follows: Peter, Lone Elm; Henry; Joseph, died in Henry County; John, San Francisco; Heinrich, Petersburg, Mo. ; Anna, manned Frederick Lohee and is deceased ; and Mrs. Margaret Naumann, Lone Elm.

In the spring of 1877 Henry Smith, with his father, located in this county. Nov. 16, 1877, he married here Julia Hosp, who was born in this county, and after his marriage, he followed farming, until his retirement and removal to Boonville, where he and his wife are now living at 509 East Third Street. Mr. Smith still owns his farm in Clarks Fork township. To him and his wife were born four sons: Andrew C, a farmer, Clarks Fork township; George, farming the home place at Lone Elm; William, Bunceton; Charles, died, aged two years.

Mrs. Julia Smith, the mother of these sons, was born at Boonville, a daughter of Andrew and Amelia (Sombart) Hosp, both natives of Germany, whose last days were spent in this county. Andrew Hosp was born in Prussia in 1825, and there remained until he had attained his majority when, in 1846, he came to the United States, locating at Boonville. Feb. 1, 1849, he married Amelia Sombart, who was born in 1828, and who had come to this country with her parents when about three years of age. The same year that he was married came the announcement of the great gold discovery in California, and Andrew Hosp joined a party and set out for the coast. From there he went to Australia, after about two years of experience in California, and did not return to Cooper County until in 1854, in the meantime having undergone numerous hardships, but saved considerable money. Upon his return he bought a farm of 125 acres two and one-half miles south of Boonville, the place now owned and operated by his son, Julius A. Hosp, and there lived until his removal to Boonville, where, for a time, he conducted a hotel. He died in 1916, at the age of 91 years. His wife died in 1904 and is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Andrew Hosp and his wife had seven children: Mrs. Smith and her twin brother, Julius; Mary Hosp, Boonville; Mrs. William Kosted, Peoria, 111. ; Dora, died at the age of 58 years ; Amelia, married William Allison and is deceased; and Laura, died in infancy. The Hosp children received their schooling in the Mt. Sinai School.

Toler Brothers, 0. K. and Grover C. Toler, well known and substantial young farmers and stockmen, doing business in partnership on their well improved farm of 200 acres, 14 miles southeast of Boonville, in Clarks Fork township, were born on a farm one-half mile south and have lived there all their lives, proprietors of the place since 1915, when, upon the retirement of their father, who also was born on the farm, they bought the place and have since devoted their attention to its development. These brothers are sons of Jesse R. and Ella A. (Oakman) Toler, who, upon their retirement from the farm in 1915, moved to Prairie Home, where they are now living. Jesse R. Toler is a son of Elijah R. Toler, who opened for cultivation the farm now owned and operated by his grandsons, the Toler brothers.

Elijah R. Toler was born Aug. 15, 1804, and died on July 4, 1879. He was twice married. His first wife, Sarah Jane Toler, died Sept. 24, 1841, and his second wife, Nancy Toler, Feb. 4, 1902, and all are buried in the private burial plot on the old Toler homestead, on the rise of the knoll just north of the residence of the Toler brothers. A single monument carries the essential data relating to those lying there and four beautiful cedar trees shade the well-kept plot. It was on that pioneer farm that Jesse Toler was born and reared, and it was there that after his marriage to Ella Oakman, he established his home and reared his family. To him and his wife were born six sons, as follows : Roy, lives at Sedalia, where he is employed as a carpenter for the Missouri Pacific Railroad ; 0. K. and Grover C, subjects of this sketch; Frank George, who is now (spring of 1919) with the American Expeditionary Forces in France ; Joseph, at home with his parents; and Freeman, at home. Frank George Toler, the soldier son, enlisted in the American Army in June, 1918, and sailed for overseas service, a member of Company A, 351st Infantry, and was at the front when the armistice was signed, his command later being made part of the Army of Occupation, and was discharged in July, 1919.

0. K. Toler was born May 1, 1886, and Grover C. Toler was born Aug. 9, 1888. They received their schooling in the Washington and Jefferson District Schools. With the exception of four years, during which 0. K. Toler was employed in the pipe factory at Boonville, the brothers have, from the days of their boyhood, been engaged in farming together on the home place, and upon their father's retirement in 1915, they bought the place and have since been operating the same in partnership. The Toler farm is admirably situated, about 60 acres of the 200-acre place being bottom land and the remainder upland, the drainage thus being excellent. In addition to a 201-foot driven well, there are two excellent springs on the place, affording an ample supply of pure water. About 160 acres of the place is under cultivation and there is a well-kept Orchard. The farm house is a substantial two-story structure and there are two good barns with the proper complement of other farm buildings to add to the convenience of the well-ordered farm plant, these including a 12x32 Dickey silo. Besides the horses on the place and a good herd of milch cows, the brothers have a flock of fifty Shropshire sheep and a good drove of Duroc Jersey hogs, the place being admirably adapted for stock raising. The brothers are carrying on their operations in accordance with up-to-date methods and are doing well. Both are members of the local lodge of the Woodmen of the World at Boonville and of the Mystic Workers at Pisgah.

ville, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Alberta Catherine. July 26, 1913, G. C. Toler married Lillie Bybee, an orphan, who was reared by her grandmother, Mrs. Graydoff, and both families are making their home together -very pleasantly.

Robert Boone Smith, a well known and highly respected citizen of Prairie Home, is a native of Cooper County. He was born in Prairie Home township in 1855, a son of Jeremiah and Lutitia (George) Smith, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of North Carolina.

Robert Boone Smith received his education in the public school and Prairie Home College. In early life he engaged in farming and stocK raising. His place was located in Prairie Home township, and is now known as "Forest View Farm," the name which Mr. Smith gave it. He improved this place and made of it one of the prettiest stock farms in that part of Cooper County, and for 30 years made his home there. He sold it in 1910 and moved to Prairie Home, where he purchased 10 acres of land within the town limits. He has made extensive improvements on this place, building a modern residence, with garage, bam, poultry house, etc., and has a pretty home.

Mr. Smith was married the first time to Miss Catherine Boswell, a daughter of James Boswell, of Pleasant Hill, Mo. Three children were born to this union: Myra, married William Hurt, Clarks Fork township, and they have one daughter, Wilma ; Lena and Ruth, deceased. Mrs. Catherine Smith died in 1895. June 27, 1897, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Anna Yankee, a daugher of Wesley Yankee, a native of Kentucky. He was twice married. His first wife bore the name of Underwood, and to this union were born the following children: Andrew, deceased ; Samuel, deceased ; Mrs. Eliza Maxwell, Kansas City, Mo. ; Amelia, deceased ; and Joel, deceased. After the death of his first wife, Wesley Yankee married a Miss Franklin, and the following children were born to this union : Frank, Lone Jack, Mo. ; Fannie, now Mrs. Thompson, near Lone Jack, Mo. ; Anna, wife of Robert B. Smith, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Elizabeth Huston, Strasburg, Mo.; Benjamin, Lone Jack; William, Independence, Mo., and Mrs. Emma Hurt, Lone Jack. Mrs. Smith was educated in Cass and Jackson Counties. Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Modern Woodmen of America, Mystic Workers, and Mrs. Smith is a member of the Eastern Star. They both belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

The Smith family are among the best citizens of Cooper County, and Robert Boone Smith is a progressive and public spirited man who has had a successful career, and stands ever ready to co-operate with any commendable public enterprise.

George W. Carl, proprietor of "Woodland Farm," an excellent piece of property on both sides of the Rankin Mill road, three miles southeast of Boonville, in Boonville township, where he has resided since 1911, is a native son of Missouri and has resided in this State all his life. He was born on a farm in Warren County, Dec. 3, 1849, son of George and Anna (Phillip) Carl, the former an Alsatian and the latter born in Switzerland, who were married in Missouri and whose last days were spent here.

The senior George Carl was born Nov. 12, 1812, and left his native Alsace and in the thirties came to Missouri, and for three yeais worked on a farm in Gasconade County to pay his board and repay the man who had paid for his passage to this country. The next year he worked for a small pair of steers, cut wood on Rush Island for a little money and afterward traded his steers for 40 acres of land in Gasconade County, which land he later sold for $50. In 1847 he bought a tract of 80 acres in Warren County and on that place, in the spring of 1849, established his home and reared his children. To this tract he gradually added until he had 200 acres, which in time he sold for $1,500 and with this purchase money secured an equity in a farm of 100 acres in Franklin County for $6,500, and seven years later had the place paid for. He died here Nov.

George W. Carl was reared on the farm in Warren County and received his schooling in a little log school house. He remained with his father until he was 21 years of age. For six years he worked in a saw and grist-mill. For seven years thereafter he made his home in Osage County, where he bought a small farm, selling that farm, he returned to Franklin County, where he bought 85 acres and remained there for 23 years. In 1911, he came to Cooper County and took possession of "Woodland Farm" of 205 acres, which he had bought in 1910, and where he has since made his home. Besides this farm, he still owns his farm in Franklin County, a place which he had brought up to a high state of cultivation. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Carl raises live stock and raises Red Polled cattle. An ample supply of water is obtained from a drilled well, 105 feet in depth, a gas engine being utilized for pumping purposes.

May 19, 1880, George W. Carl was united in marriage with Amelia Witthar, who was born in Franklin County, Jan. 28, 1859, daughter of Henry and Mary (Juedemann) Witthar, natives of Holland, whose last days were spent in Missouri, to which State the former had come with his parents when about 12 years of age, and the latter, with her parents when about 14. They were married in Franklin County, where they made their home for years, later moving to Independence, where they spent their last days and where they are buried. Mrs. Carl is the fourth born of the seven children born to her parents, the others being the following: Henry Witthar, Independence; Fred, Independence; Chris, Kansas City; Mrs. Louis Carl, Independence ; Mrs. Lottie Borgemann, Buckner ; and Mrs. Catherine Drewel, Buckner. To George W. and Amelia (Witthar) Carl seven children have been born : Minnie, wife of Ernest Berkmeier, Independence; Delia, wife Of Ernest Wattenburg, Independence; Anna, at home; Rosa, wife of William Twiehaus, Independence; Dora, wife of Williem Loesing, of Clarks Fork township; Edwin Carl, who served with the American Expeditionary Force in France during the World War, and Emil, at borne. Edwin Carl enlistsd for service in the World War Oct. 2, 1917, and after a period of intensive training, sailed in the spring of 1918 for overseas service, a member of Company D, 110th Ammunition Train, 35th Division, and with that command participated in some of the hottest fighting which preceded the armistice, including battle of the Argonne Forest. Following the armistice the command to which he was attached was made a part of the Army of Occupation. He was discharged May 5, 1919, and is now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Carl have six grandchildren: George Berkmeier, Freda and Carl Wattenburg; Dorothy Twiehaus and Delphie and Wilbur Loesing. The Carls are members of the Evangelical Church at Boonville.

township, is a native of Pennsylvania, but has been a resident of Cooper County for more than 50 years, living for nearly 45 years on his present farm. He was bom in Butler County, Pa., April 21, 1853, son of John and Matilda (McCandless) Hockenberry, both also born in Pennsylvania, and who spent their last days there. John Hockenberry was a son of Joseph Hockenberry, also a native of Butler County, who was a son of John Hockenberry, a native of Maryland and a soldier of the War of 1812, whose father, John Hockenberry, also a native of Maryland, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and who lived to be 104 years of age. The Hockenberries in this country were founded by a family of Covenanters which came from County Down, Ireland, in Colonial days. Mr. Hockenberry's mother, Matilda McCandless, was a daughter of John McCandless, a native of Pennsylvania and a soldier in the War of 1812, whose father, William McCandless, was a native of North Ireland, of Scotch-Irish descent, and whose mother was a native of England.

Reared on a farm in his native county, Aaron T. Hockenberry received his schooling in the local schools, and remained at home until he was 18 years of age, when, in 1868, he came to Missouri with the family of his uncle, Oliver Pizer, and for 20 years made his home with Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Weight in this county. After his marriage in 1892, Mr. Hockenberry has since continued to reside there. In 1878 Mr. Hockenberry bought from J. Richard Davis 90 acres of his present tract of 585 acres and to this he gradually added until he became to be one of the leading farmers of Cooper County. This farm lies on the Clarks Fork-Moniteau township line, and all the substantial improvements now marking the place as one of the best farm plants in that section of Cooper County have been made by Mr. Hockenbei-ry. In addition to his general farming, he is engaged in the raising of live stock, feeding all his cattle and hogs, and ships about five carloads of hogs and cattle annually. During the current year (1919) he has 115 acres in wheat. There are two sets of improvements on the place.

June 9, 1892, Aaron T. Hockenberry was united in marriage, in Bates County , to Fannie Pope, who was born in DeKalb County, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Word) Pope, both members of pioneer families. Henry Pope was a native of Kentucky who came to Missouri with his parents, Henry Pope and wife, the family first settling in Cooper County and then going to DeKalb County. The senior Henry Pope, who was a native of Tennessee, was a school teacher and after coming here was engaged in teaching at Round Hill in Kelly township. His granddaughter, Mrs. Hockenberry has an old rollbook of the pupils attending his school at that place, for the term beginning Sept. 1, 1856, which is an interesting souvenir of pioneer days, carrying the names of some whose greatgrandchildren are the school children of this generation. The junior Henry Pope died in 1893, at the age of 49 years, and is buried in Pisgah Church yard. He and his wife had two daughters, Mrs. Hockenberry having a sister, Anna, wife of R. E. Neale, of Bunceton. Mr. and Mrs. Hockenberry have a son, Weight Pope Hockenberry, who attended high school at Bunceton and at California, afterward taking a course in the Business College at Sedalia and a two-year course in agriculture at the Missouri State University, and is now a valued assistant to his father.

Philip Davis, who lived on the farm where William Davis now lives, in the vicinity of the Davis school house, in Kelly township, was accidentally killed by being thrown from a horse, the accident being caused by the horse starting from fright at the sudden whirring of the wings of a prairie chicken, which rose immediately in front of it while the rider was cantering across the prairie in quest of game. Philip Davis was a man of unusual activity and was a famous hunter in his day, apparently satisfied only when out hunting or exploring some new part of the unsettled portion of the West. So noticeably true was this that the neighbors jokingly called his wife "the Widow Davis," because her husband often was absent for so much of the time. He would organize a crew to go West in search of fortune and adventure, and in this way had crossed the plains and had frequently been in skirmishes with hostile Indians. The accident by which he came to his death occurred at a point about a quarter of a mile from the Clarks Fork and Moniteau township line, near the present residence of Mr. Hockenberry. Philip Davis was the father of George and Porter Davis, the grandfather of Mrs. Dr. Williams, of Versailles, the great-grandfather of Dr. Porter Williams and the great-greatgrandfather of Mrs. Rod Williams.

James M. Hurt, an honored pioneer of Cooper County, is a native of Clarks Fork township, a member of a highly respected family, one of the first families of Missouri. Mr. Hurt was born April 10, 1853, a son of William and Catherine (Robertson) Hurt, natives of Cooper County.

William Hurt was born in Cooper County in 1817, at old Cole's Fort, a son of Col. Clayton and Mary (Dillard) Hurt. Col. Clayton Hurt was a native of Virginia. He was born Jan. 15, 1790, in Bedford County, Va. In 1814, he was farried to Mary Dillard, a daughter of James Dillard, of Kentucky, and in 1815 they came to Missouri and settled in Boonville township, Cooper County. They resided at Fort Cole for a short time, after coming to Missouri, and there William Hurt was born. William Hurt was united in marriage with Catherine Robertson, Sept. 6, 1837. Catherine (Robertson) Hurt was a daughter of Capt. Andrew Robertson, one of the earliest settlers of Cooper County. William and Catherine Hurt were the parents of the following children: W. A.; Mrs. Mary C. McFarland, of Clarks Fork township; James M., the subject of thifc sketch ; Jenkins D., Beniga, and Mrs. Nancy E. Davis, who are deceased.

James M. Hurt was educated in private schools, as he was of school age when the Civil War war raging. Since attaining maturity, he has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was given a farm of 100 acres of land by his father, when he, the son, had attained the age of 22 years. To this tract of land, James M. Hurt has added 125 acres of land, and he now has one of the best country places in the county. His land is well watered and is located 7'/:> miles southeast of Boonville. There are two good barns and a comfortable residence on the place, which has been improved by Mr. Hurt since he acquired the ownership. He raises cattle, horses and mules.

Nov. 25, 1874, James M. Hurt was married to Adaline Rogers, a daughter of Dr. Benjamin and Harriet (McDonald) Rogers, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Saline township, Cooper County, both of whom are now deceased. The remains of both parents of Mrs. Hurt are interred in the cemetery at New Salem Church. Dr. Rogers came from the South to Missouri in the early fifties, and opened his office in Saline township at his home. Adaline (Rogers) Hurt was reared and educated in Saline township. She is one of six children born to her parents, as follows: Mrs. Ann Johnston, deceased; Mrs. James M. Hurt, the wife of the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Lucy Williams, deceased; Mrs. Jeff Stone, deceased; Mrs. Hattie Parson, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Benjamin F.. Jr. To Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have been born three children: Jessie, the wife of Hubert Brubaker. of Madison, Wis.: William .1., a farmer of Clarks Fork township ; and Grace, the wife of S. S. Hickam. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt are very proud of their two grandchildren: Lois Hickam and Adaline Brubaker.

James M. Hurt and Mrs. Hurt are worthy and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. They are highly regarded in their community, and they are numbered among the best families of the county.

born on a farm in Clarks Fork township, Jan. 21, 1875, son of Gabiiel and Sarah Catherine (Harris) Carpenter, the former born in that township and both spent their last days there.

Gabriel Carpenter was born Oct. 15, 1837, son of Samuel Carpenter and wife, Pennsylvanians, who were among the pioneers of Clarks Fork township. The farm on which Samuel Carpenter settled upon coming here is now owned by the Reavis estate, and the grave of that pioneer is on the H. J. Reavis farm. Gabriel Carpenter grew to manhood on that farm and became a farmer and stockman on the farm now owned by G. W. Morris, to which place he moved in 1866 and where he made his home the rest of his life. He died April 6, 1914. His widow died March 5, 1915, and both are buried at Pisgah. They were the parents of five children, of whom James F. was the third, the others being George H. Carpenter, a farmer of Clarks Fork township; Julia Ann, widow of George T. Taliaferro, Clarks Fork township ; Mrs. E. L. Allison, Kansas City, and Andrew M., deceased.

James F. Carpenter grew to manhood on the farm on which he was born, receiving his schooling at Prairie Home Institute and at Wentworth Military School, completing his schooling when 18 years of age, after which he engaged in farming. He has made many substantial improvements, including the erection of a new eight-room house, a barn, garage, tool shed and the like, his farm plant now being admirably equipped. The farm, an almost level tract of 118 acres, takes its name from the fact that in the front yard there is a single cedar tree which was planted there by Gabriel Carpenter about the year 1884. "Lone Cedar Farm" is situated five and one-half miles east of Bunceton and is well adapted to stock raising, to which phase of farming Mr. Carpenter gives considerable attention, particularly to the raising of Jersey cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Carpenter is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World at Bunceton and with the Modern Woodmen of America at Pisgah. He and his family are members Of the Christian Church.

Nov. 18, 1896, James F. Carpenter was united in marriage with Gertrude Hayes, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have been bora, Gabriel William, Catherine Lourinda and Howard Tilden. Mrs. Carpenter is a daughter of William A. and Lourinda (Miller) Hayes, the latter of whom lives at Bunceton. William A. Hayes died in 1898 and is buried in Concord Cemetery. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, those besides Mi's. Carpenter being George

T. Hayes, of Boonville; Mrs. Bessie Doyle, deceased; Mrs. Delia Watson, of Livingston, Mont. ; Mrs. Mary Hinton, of Chelsea, Okla. ; Mrs. Lora Davis, of Kansas; and Mildred, resides with her mother. Samuel Carpenter, the pioneer, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, crossed the plains in 1848 and spent some time prospecting in the West. Unlike so many who set out on an adventurous trip, he profited quite heavily from the trip. He was a great lover of the chase and the experience appealed to him doubly on this account, for he combined his business enterprises with hunting along the way and in this way found real pleasure in what to so many who ventured West in those days was but an arduous and toilsome trip. Samuel Carpenter especially liked to hunt the buffalo and often engaged in that sport in the early days, in company with Johnson Reavis.

Peter W. Loesing, one of the energetic and progressive young farmers of Clarks Fork township, who is assisting in the operation of "Alfalfa Valley Farm," owned by his father-in-law, William F. Schmalfeldt. He was bora on a farm near Bunceton in 1894, son of August and Louisa (Falter) Loesing.

August Loesing was bora in St. Louis County, Mo., in 1861, and has been a resident of Cooper County since young manhood. It was here that he married Louisa Falter, who was born in Monroe County, 111., in 1863, and who had come to this county with her parents. After their marriage, he and his wife established their home on a farm in this county and their children were reared here. Mrs. Louisa Loesing died in Feb., 1916, and is buried in the Lone Elm Cemetery. August Loesing and his wife were the parents of 12 children, as follows: Lena, wife of H. H. Fahrenbrink, Bunceton; Fred, Bunceton; William, of Clarks Fork township; Bruno, same township; Christina, housekeeper for her father; George Henry, who recently returned home from service in the United States Army; Peter W. ; Minnie, died at the age of two years; Julius, at home; Elizabeth, at home; Edgar, died in infancy; and Emily, resides with her sister, IV*vr. Fahrenbrink. George Henry Loesing, the soldier son, enlisted Oct. 21, 1918, and was sent to Camp Bowie (Texas) for training. There he was attached to the 23rd Regiment, United States Infantry. He was discharged March 28, 1919, after which he returned home.

Peter W. Loesing was reared on the home farm and received his schooling at Lone Elm and at Glendale. From the days of his boyhood he has given his attention to farming and after his marriage in the fall of of the community.

1918, he put in his lot with that of his father-in-law, William F. Schmalfeldt, at "Alfalfa Valley Farm," Clarks Fork township, and has since been engaged in the operations of that extensive farm, he and his wife making their home on the place.

Sept. 10, 1918, Peter W. Loesing was united in marriage with Emma C. Schmalfeldt, who was born in this county March 25, 1898, daughter of William F. and Anna (Brandes) Schmalfeldt, both natives of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Loesing are members of the Lutheran Church at Clarks Fork and take part in church work as well as the general social activities of the community.

P. Lee Debo. - The Debo Farmstead, in Boonville township, consisting of 177 acres, is a well kept and productive tract of land. Mr. Debo erected a large, modem residence of cement blocks in 1909. This home contains 10 rooms and has every convenience for the comfort of the family. He erected the first silo ever built in Cooper County in 1910. Mr. Debo is a breeder of Black Angus cattle and has been specializing in this famous breed of live stock since 1915. He now has a herd of 30 head, nearly all of which are pure-bred stock. Mr. Debo does not handle this breed of cattle for show purposes or for fanciers, but simply raises the Angus cattle to satisfy his own fancy and desire for a good, pure bi^eed of cattle on his farm.

P. Lee Debo was born June 6, 1864, in Bedford County, Va., and is a son of R. P. Debo and Mary Jane (Hepstonstall) Debo, both of whom were members of old Virginia families. The family came to Howard County in 1870 and five years later the parents came to Cooper County and made their home with the subject of this review. Reed P. Debo, his father, was born Jan. 19, 1832, and died April 21, 1912. Mary, his mother, was born Oct. 18, 1840, and died July 23, 1888. Reed P. Debo served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He enlisted from Bedford, Va., and served for four years in a Virginia regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, while fighting with Gen. Lee's invading army and was taken prisoner by the Federals.

Reed P. and Mary Debo were parents of the following children: P. Lee, of this review; Luther C, a farmer in Boonville township; Grover E., a farmer across the highway from P. L. Debo. For the first 15 years Reed P. Debo lived on a farm two and a half miles east of Boonville on his own place.

Jan. 2, 1890, he was married to Miss Alice W. George, who was born Sept. 6, 1870, a daughter of Jacob George, who is one of the old pioneers of Cooper County. Her grandfather, William George, entered the land in 1817, the land patent being signed by President James Monroe on Nov. 15, 1817. The Debo farm was first settled in 1817 by the Chambers family, and is the oldest settled place in the neighborhood. James Chambers came to Missouri from North Carolina in 1817, raised a crop and returned to North Carolina and brought back cherry and apple trees, which he planted, establishing the first nursery here. These trees matured and bore fruit until just four years ago, when the last of them disappeared.

The Georges came to Cooper County during the War of 1812, and were warned by the people that they would have to remain in the forts or go back, inasmuch as it was dangerous for settlers to live upon the land. They went to St. Genevieve, remained during the war, and then came to Cooper County in 1816. Mr. Chambers built a two-room cabin, and established the first nursery in Cooper County. In the years which followed his settlement here, he assisted many people in getting located in Cooper County. Six brothers of the George family settled here. Elsewhere in this history is a fuller account of the George family.

Mrs. Alice W. (George) Debo is a daughter of Jacob L. George (born May 4, 1831, died March 25, 1897), who was born on a farm just one-half mile south of the Debo place. He was a son of Reuben George, born Feb. 25, 1792, in North Carolina, whose wife was Sarah McFarlan, prior to her marriage, and was born Aug. 8, 1792. Jacob L. George migrated to St. Genevieve County Mo., in 1815, and two years later came to Cooper County with the Chambers family. He had four children : Nancy L, born Jan. 9, 1823; Thomas L., bora Jan. 5, 1826; Ellen K., bom Sept. 11, 1829; and Jacob George.

Jacob George married Mary E. Chambers (born March 20, 1836, died Oct. 12, 1912), who was a daughter of James and Jane Chambers, who had three children: Mrs. Mary E. George; Louisa Jane, bora April 12, 1841; Martha E. Givens, of La Plata, Mo., born March 8. 1844. Mrs. Debo is the only child of her parents.

Mr. Debo is an independent democrat. He and Mrs. Debo are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are intelligent, progressive people who have many friends in Cooper County

William F. Poertner, one of the progressive young farmers of Clarks Fork township and owner of a well-kept farm, five and one-half miles southeast of Boonville, was bom on a farm near Berger, Franklin County, Dec. 1, 1887, son of Henry and Jennie (Kroeger) Poertner, the latter now residing at Boonville.

Henry Poertner was of European birth, born in 1853, and was 15 years of age when in 1868 he came to the United States and settled in Warren County, Mo.. He married at the age of 28 and bought a farm in Franklin County and improved the place and died there in 1909, aged 56 years. In 1910, his widow came to Cooper County with her family and bought the Steigleder place, on which she made her home until she sold it to Albert Shannon. She is now living in Boonville, where she is very pleasantly situated. To Henry and Jennie (Kroeger) Poertner were born eleven children: Mrs. C. H. Witthar, Kansas City; Mrs. August Wissmann, New Haven ; Mrs. A. J. Allemann, Boonville ; Mrs. A. E. Schepperclaus, Kansas City; Henry, also of Kansas City; William F. ; John, died at the age of five years; Otto, who was killed in battle while serving as a soldier in the American Expeditionary Force in France in the World War in the fall of 1918; Ernest, now (spring of 1919) with the American Army in Europe; Anna, died at the age of two years, and Flora, attending college at Nevada, Mo. Otto Poertner, the elder of the two soldier sons of Mrs. Poertner, responded to the call to arms immediately following this country's declaration of war in April, 1917, and in that same month, as a member of the local company of state guardsmen at Boonville, to which he had been attached for some time, was inducted into the Federal service, going with his company to Kansas City and thence to Ft. Sill (Oklahoma), whence, after a period of intensive training, he was sent with his command on overseas service, attached to a machine gun company of the 35th Division, until he met a soldier's death in the battle of the Argonne Forest in France, Sept. 28, 1918, he then being 26 years of age. Ernest Poertner, the second soldier son of this family, was drafted for service in the National Army and the greater part of that time being in active service with the American Expeditionary Force in France, attached to the Third Division of the United States Army, long at the front. While at the front, he was severely gassed and for 21 days thereafter was confined in hospital, his condition for some time being regarded as critical. He received his honorable discharge from the service and is now at home.

William F. Poertner was reared on the home farm in Franklin County and educated in the schools of Berger. As a young man he continued his labors on the farm and was 21 years of age when he came to Cooper County with his mother in 1910. Two years later, in 1912, he bought the farm on which he is now living, in Clark's Fork township. This is a well-kept farm of 80 acres, which Mr. Poertner bought from Arby Mills. The farm is rich black second bottom land and there are two excellent running springs on the place. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Poertner raises cattle and hogs.

May 26, 1914, William F. Poertner was united in marriage with Ida Kohlsbusch, born in Franklin County, and to this union one child has been born, Grace, born in May, 1915. Mrs. Poertner is a daughter of Herman and Minnie Kohlbusch, natives of Missouri and whose last days were spent in Franklin County. Herman Kohlbusch died on March 18, 1919, and his wife died about 10 years prior to that time. They were the parents of eight children, of whom but three are still living, Mrs. Poertner having a brother, Louis Kohlbusch, a farmer in Franklin County, and a sister, Mrs. Charles Oberg, also of that county. The children now deceased were August, Edward, John, Sophia and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Poertner are members of the Evangelical Church at Boonville.

Henry Brokamp, owner of a well-kept farm of 80 acres, six and onehalf miles northeast of Bunceton in Clarks Fork township, is a native son of Cooper County and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm near Pisgah, Jan. 12, 1878, son of Henry J. and Mary Louise (Behle) Brokamp, and was the fourth of the six children born of that parentage, as follows: Mary, wife of Newton Mills, Clarks Fork township; William, same township; Bettie, wife of Chris Hein, Palestine township; Annie, wife of M. H. Lohse, of Clarks Fork ; and Emil, on the home place. Henry J. Brokamp and his wife were natives of Germany, who came to this country in 1869, locating in St. Louis County, whence they came to Cooper County and settled on a farm in Clarks Fork township, the place where Emil Brokamp now lives. Henry J. Brokamp died in 1903 and his widowdied in 1916. Both are buried in the CTarks Fork Cemetery.

Reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Pisgah, Henry Brokamp received his schooling in the local parochial school and in the Jefferson District School, and from the days of his boyhood, has followed farming.

He bought the farm on which he is now living in 1905, and since his marriage in the following year, he has lived on this place. Mr. Brokamp bought his farm, a part of the old Clark Hall farm, from John Hall and since taking possession of the same has made substantial improvements, including a remodeling of the farm house, the erection of a new barn and adequate drainage.

In 1906, Henry Brokamp was united in marriage with Minnie Kaiser, who, also, was born in this county ; to this union one child has been born, Edgar, born Dec. 9, 1910. Mrs. Brokamp was born in Prairie Home township May 24, 1878, daughter of George and Henrietta (Smith) Kaiser, and one of the five childxen: Mrs. Mary Schilb, of Otterville; John H. Kaiser, of North Moniteau township; and August and George, deceased; and Mrs. Brokamp. The late George Kaiser, father of Mrs. Brokamp, was for years one of Prairie Home township's best known and most substantial farmers, the owner at the time of his death of a fine place of 240 acres, the farm now owned by L. B. Laws. Mr. Kaiser was born Nov. 4, 1827, and died on Oct. 26, 1903. His wife died Feb. 19, 1897. She was born May 18, 1840. Both are buried in the Pleasant Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Elmer George, a well known and successful farmer and stockman of Kelly township, and judge of the County Court of the eastern district, is a native of Cooper County. He was born in Boonville, March 17, 1862, a son of Thomas L. and Lucy (McCulloch) George. Thomas L. George was also a native of Cooper County, born Jan. 6, 1826. He spent his entire life in this county, and died in 1890, and his remains are buried in the McCulloch Cemetery. Thomas L. George and Lucy A. (McCulloch) George were married June 21, 1850. She was born in Albemarle County, Va., Nov. 1, 1826, a daughter of Robert and Patsy (Mills) McCulloch. The McCulloch family settled in Clarks Fork township, Cooper County, in 1835, and here the parents spent the remainder of their lives.

To Thomas L. and Lucy A. (McCulloch) George were born the following children : Charles, Boonville ; Frank, Boonville ; Albert and Elmer, twins, Albert residing at Rock Island Texas, and Elmer, the subject of ..his sketch; Mrs. Ada Rudolph, deceased; and Maggie, a successful Cooper ounty teacher.

Elmer George was reared in Cooper County and educated in the public schools. Since early manhood he has been engaged in farming and stock raising, and has met with well-merited success in this field of endeavor. He owns 120 acres of well improved and productive land adjoining the town site of Bunceton. He has material on the place for the building of a new residence to succeed the old one, which is a brick structure, and has done service for many years, although it is still in a good state of preservation.

Since early life, Mr. George has manifested a strong liking and an unusual ability for mechanical work, and especially for machinery. He has always kept a machine and repair shop, which is equipped for general machine and repair work. He is capable of doing almost any kind of mechanical work. He has rebuilt threshing machines, manufactured wagons, and built an automobile. In connection with his other work he has operated a sawmill for a number of years.

March 21, 1888, Elmer George was united in marriage with Miss Martha E L. Steigleder, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Elizabeth (Hochstetler) Steigleder, the former born July 30, 1829, and the latter Aug. 15, 1834. The father died in 1909, and the mother now resides at Bunceton. They were the parents of the following children : William F., Bunceton ; George H., Bunceton ; Anna E., married Herman P. Muntzel ; Louis Robert, Big Cabin, Okla. ; Matilda Henrietta, married William Meyer, Clarks Fork township; Martha E. L., married Elmer George, the subject of this sketch ; Sophia Barbara, married T. H. Etter, Richville, Wash., and Leona Luella, resides at home with her mother.

Mr. George is a republican, and has taken an active part in the political affairs of this township and county. He was elected in November, 1918, and is serving as judge of the County Court from the eastern district, and giving a satisfactory and praiseworthy administration. He was the first republican to be elected judge of the County Court from this District. He has been a member of the School Board for 21 years, and has always consistently advocated and encouraged the betterment of the public school system. Mr. George is an industrious man of good habits. He is 57 years of age and never drank liquor or used tobacco in any form.

To Mr. and Mrs. George have been born one son, T. Edgar George, born July 8, 1893, and resides at home with his parents. The George family are well known in Cooper County and rank among its leading citizens.

Christian F. King, one of the best known citizens of Clarks Fork township and is the second of the three sons of Jacob and Annie (Nohrnberg) King. The other brothers, J. W. and H. M. King also reside on the place and C. F. King has a bachelor's home, which he built in the dooryard of his brother H. M. King and in which he thus feels himself very properly "boss of his own household". Jacob King, the father of these sons, was one of the real pioneers of that section of Cooper County and on the first clearing made on his quarter section of land there he set out an orchard, the first orchard in that neighborhood. This pioneer was a skilled cabinet-maker, an art he had learned in his native Denmark, and after settling here built a little cabinet-making shop and at "odd" times engaged in making furniture not only for his own household but for his pioneer neighbors, the products of his skill being in much demand. This handicraft skill was inherited by his son, C. F. King, and the latter is a cabinet-maker of exceptional ability, many of the products of his skill finding their way into the homes of the neighborhood, and his bachelor quarters are furnished in like manner. One of his most highly prized bits of furniture is a writing desk made by his father and a replica of which was sold in its day for $100. Mr. King also is an amateur photographer of much skill and in his rooms are many evidences of his proficiency in that art, to the development of which he gives much of his leisure which is not devoted to his prized wood-working tools. Some of the most interesting of the photographs which Mr. King has thus secured are scenes disclosed by his camera following the passing of the cyclone of 1916. One of these views shows the axle of a corn planter with wheel attached driven into a tree on the Smalsey farm. Another view shows a one-by-four scantling piercing an elm tree. Mr. King also has a number of exceedingly interesting views taken along the Missouri River during the height of the flood of 1903.

While fine woodworking and photography give Mr. King much pleasure in his leisure moments, it must not be supposed that he devotes all his time to these interesting and valuable "hobbies". Far from it, indeed. He owns a saw-mill and threshing machine rig and in connection with the former also operates a neighborhood store; while as a carpenter his services are in much demand, one of his recent bits of work along that line having been the construction of the fine woodwork on the house not long ago built by H. H. Fahenbrink and on which the finishing is of the very highest order.

Joseph A. Davis, one of the best known of the "old time" residents of Prairie Home township, was born on his present farm and has lived there all his life. The little old log cabin in which he was born is still standing in the dooryard of his present home and, with its contents serves to recall the memory of pioneer times. Mr. Davis' parents established their home here in 1857 and there are preserved many interesting relics of that period, including a brass kettle, familiar adjunct of the great lire place which occupies the greater part of one end of the cabin; a hackle with which the flax was rendered fit for spinning, the mother's spinningwheel and quite a few other bits of furniture of the period. Mr. Davis also owns his father's old rifle, bearing the manufacturer's date of 1831, and this he also prizes very highly, as well as the powder horn, the bullet pouch and the charge measure. But perhaps the most vital point of interest connected with that little old log cabin is the fact that it very properly may be regarded as the practical birthplace of the Christian Church in Cooper County, for it was his father, the Rev. 0. P. Davis, who settled there in 1857 and who preached the gospel of Christ in accordance with the tenets of the Christian Church throughout this county and in the neighboring counties of Moniteau and down as far as Miller County, to whom the history of that period ascribes a very large measure of the credit for establishing and building up the Christian Church hereabout.

Rev. Oliver Perry Davis was born in Wayne County, Ky., Sept. 26, 1816, son of Major Drury Davis and wife, the latter of whom was the daughter of Capt. North East, of that county, and was the first born of twelve sons and four daughters. Major Drury Davis, a veteran of the War of 1812, came with his wife and their first-born son. the latter being carried on horseback in the arms of his mother, from Wayne County, Ky., to Missouri in the fall of 1817 and settled in Howard County, where not 'cng afterward he was elected the first justice of the peace. About three years later he moved to Cole County and settled at the site of a great spring 16 miles southwest of Jefferson City, where he began the manufacture of gunpowder. He was elected justice of the peace there, was commissioned a major of the state militia and represented Cole County in the state Legislature. In 1832 he moved to Cooper County and for 11 years made his home here, moving then to Macon County, where he was engaged in farming and merchandising until 1856, when he returned to Cooper County and spent the remainder of his life. He died Oct. 10, 1872, aged 85 years.

In 1837, while the family were living in this countv. Rev. 0. P. Davis became a member of the Baptist Church at Pisgah. In 1839, in company with his younger brother, Jeremiah, he went to Macon County and there in 1842 was licensed to preach. In the spring of 1843 he was regularly ordained as a minister. For three years thereafter the Rev. 0. P. Davis preached for the Baptist church, or until he was formally accused of preaching Campbellism; whereupon he withdrew from the Baptist com-

Sept. 12, 1843, the Rev. 0. P. Davis was united in marriage to Sallie L. Robinson, of Mercer County, and to that union were born eight children : Margaret Ann, married Judge J. H. Zollinger and is now deceased ; Samuel R., died at St. Louis, during the Civil War; D. L. Davis died at Sedalia while on a visit ; Nancy Jane, wife of Hugh Logan, Sr. ; U. E. Davis, Chicago ; Susan F., married D. J. Judy and is deceased ; Joseph A. ; and Lucy B., wife of Hugh Logan, Jr.

Joseph A. Davis, son of the Rev. O. P. and Sallie L. (Robinson) Davis, was born Sept. 19, 1857. He received his schooling in the New Salem district school, James F. Adams being his first teacher. Mr. Davis has made farming his life's work but is now practically retired, renting the place to his son-in-law, Roger Q. Mills. Mr. Davis is a democrat, has filled offices on the local school board and is an elder in the Walnut Grove Christian church, of which he has been a member since his boyhood.

Jan. 25, 1888, Joseph A. Davis was united in marriage with Kate Logan, who was born in Missouri and to this union two children were born: Fannie Logan died in infancy and Jessie Ann, wife of Roger Q. Mills, who is farming the home place. Mrs. Davis was born March 9, 1858, died Jan. 2, 1908, and is buried in the Walnut Grove Church yard. Though born in this state, she was reared in the neighborhood of Stamford in Lincoln County, Ky., where her father died. Her mother died in Chicago and her body was taken to Lincoln County, Ky. for interment beside that of her husband.

William Foreman Johnson. - If signal achievement in a civic sense is a criterion whereby a good citizen's standing in the community is measured and a definite place in history is thus assured him by reason of his labors in behalf of his home city and county, then W. F. Johnson's place in the history of his home county of Cooper is established. During his 30 years of practice in the courts of central Missouri and throughout the state, he has won a place of importance among the legal fraternity ; those years have likewise been spent in promoting the development of his home city in ways which are enduring and beneficial, with the welfare of his fellow citizens and the city and county ever uppermost in his thoughts. Mr. Johnson may not have amassed great wealth as some men have; he may not have won nation wide fame but he possesses what few Cooper County citizens can boast - the warm friendship and esteem of the great mass of citizens of this county. William Foreman Johnson was born Feb.

Prof. Charles Brown Johnson was born Oct. 22, 1824, the fourth child of a family of seven children born to William C. and Harriet (Dillon) Johnson of Kentucky. William C. Johnson was a Kentucky pioneer who removed to that state from Ohio and followed the profession of government surveyor. He entered large tracts of land in Kentucky and developed a considerable estate. The Johnson family became prominent in Kentucky and the seven children of William C. Johnson were reared and educated in that state. Prof. C. B. Johnson, after completing a preparatory course of study, was graduated from St. Mary's College, and also completed the course in the Kentucky Military School, near Frankfort. Following the completion of his education he was engaged in the manufacture of plows until his removal to Shelbyville, Mo., in 1856, where he established a male and female seminary. During the Civil War he organized a company of soldiers for service in the Confederate army, attempted to join General Price's army, was captured by the Federals and paroled. For over 40 years, Professor Johnson was engaged in teaching and during that time he had charge of some of the best academic schools in Kentucky and Missouri. He served two terms as school commissioner of Shelby County. In 1881 he came to Pilot Grove and with his son William F. of this review, took charge of the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute which had been previously established by his oldest son, Charles Newton Johnston. He with his son W. F. had charge of this widely known institute for six years and spent his last days in Boonville where he died Sunday morning, June 8, 1900. Professor Johnson was a Presbyterian and a Mason and was always a democrat.

Prof. C. B. Johnson was twice married. His first marriage was on May 15, 1849, with Miss Hannah Walton, of Kentucky, who died in Nov., 1851. He was again married Feb. 22, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Ford, a daughter of Jeremiah, and Artemesia (Baker) Ford of Kentucky, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The other son born to this union besides the subject of this review was Prof. Charles Newton Johnson, a graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy, the Chicago Conservatory of Music and the Hamil School of Elocution. He taught in Shelbina College and established the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute in 1879. He died three years later, in 1882.

teacher who shared the labors of her husband and sons in their educational work. She died in Boonville in July, 1916, aged 90 years. In dedicating this volume of Cooper County History to the memory of his parents, Mr. W. F. Johnson is conveying a tribute to their memories and building a monument which will be as enduring as any marble or granite shaft.

The education of William F. Johnson was obtained largely under his father's preceptorship in the Brandenburg, Ky. Seminary and Shelbina College. He held the position of assistant principal of the Shelbina, Mo., public schools in 1880. He came to Pilot Grove and was associated with his brother in the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute for one year. He and his father then conducted the institute until 1888. He then served as publisher and editor of the "Pilot Grove Leader" until his election to the office of State representative in the General Assembly at the revising session 1888-89. In 1889 he was admitted to the practice of law and removed to Boonville in 1894. For a number of years Mr. Johnson was prominent in county, state and national politics and was one of the real leaders of the democratic party in the state. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Cooper County in 1906, re-elected in 1908 and 1910, serving six years in all. In 1912 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention held at Baltimore and there supported his kinsman, Champ Clark for the presidential nomination.

Mr. Johnson was married in 1882 to Miss Margaret Harris, a daughter of E. H. Harris, of Pilot Grove, Mo. Three children have blessed this marriage, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, wife of Walter M. Small, a geologist whose home is in Franklin, Pa. ; Marguerite, wife of E. H. Green, a capitalist of New York City, mother of one child, Marguerite, born in Dec, 1918 ; Newton H., born Dec. 9, 1884, educated in Kemper Military School, engaged in the real estate and insurance business, married Miss Tess Underwood and has two children, Joellis and Barbara.

Mr. Johnson became a member of Wm. D. Muir Lodge No. 277, of Pilot Grove, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in 1882, and is a past master of this lodge. He became affiliated with Cooper Lodge No. 36, of Boonville, in 1897, and is past master of this lodge. He has filled the post of Grand Senior Warden of the Missouri Grand Lodge of Masons ; is Past Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter; is past commander of Olivet Commandery Knights Templar and a member of the council and a Shriner.

Boonville Board of Education and has been the foremost champion of educational progress in the city. He championed the erection of the Laura Speed Elliot High School building and through his personal influence with Col. John Elliot, the city became the recipient of Col. Elliot's generosity in giving the lot upon which the building stands, to the city.

No greater friend to the cause of education resides in Cooper County than Mr. Johnson. For eight years he served as president of the Commercial Club and during his period of office many notable civic improvements were fathered by the club and brought to fruition, all of which stand as testimony to his worth as a citizen and his abiding love for his home city. This history of Cooper county which he has written has been a labor of love and a pleasure on his part to record the story of the making of Cooper County in order that posterity might know what manner of men and women were those who developed this fair and fertile tract of land into the present thriving and rich county, and built the cities and towns which grace the country side. - Written by Robert M. Gibson.

Charles Newell Menefee, proprietor of an excellent farm of 200 acres in Prairie Home township, was born on a farm in Nicholas County, Ky., Aug. 4, 1850, son of Frank S. and Mary Frances (Hamilton) Menefee, both natives of that county and the latter of whom was a daughter of Col. William Hamilton, an officer of the War of 1812, who died on that farm at the age of 89 years.

Frank S. Menefee came to Missouri with his family in 1860 and located in Knox County, but two years later returned to Kentucky, where he remained until 1867, when he came back to Missouri with a view to settling in Calloway County, but came over into Cooper County and settled on the farm now owned by C. N. Menefee and here spent the rest of his life. During the Civil War Frank S. Menefee was an ardent Southern sympathizer and was for three months held as a prisoner of war by the Federals on account of his outspoken views. He was born on Jan. 30, 1825, and died on Sept. 20, 1888. His widow died May 29, 1900. She was born on June 28, 1827. They were the parents of six children: Charles Newell; John A., living in Montana; William H., whereabouts unknown; Jonah, whereabouts unknown; Samuel G., Denver, Col., and Mrs. George Adams, Boulder, Col.

C. N. Menefee grew to manhood on the farm where he is now living, and in time bought the other heirs' interests. This is a well improved farm of 200 acres and the house was erected by Jesse McFarland, the owner prior to the Civil War. McFarland sold the place to Benjamin and

Solon Smith. The Smiths sold to Frank S. Menefee upon the latter's arrival here in 1867 and it has been in the possession of the Menefee family since. Mr. Menefee is a democrat, but has never sought office. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Prairie Home. For 25 years he was an extensive breeder of Poland China hogs and while thus engaged held 19 sales.

March 10, 1881, C. N. Menefee was married to Elizabeth Taylor, who was born in Missouri, daughter of William Taylor and wife, both of whom also were born in this state and died at Herndon, Mo. William Taylor and wife were the parents of six children: Mrs. Menefee; Mrs. Mary Finley, Saline county ; Mrs. Linnie Champion, Montrose, Colo. ; James, Saline County ; Henry, Montrose, and Robert, Herndon. Mr. and Mrs. Menefee have one child, Mary, wife of Frank Poindexter, who was with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe and a part of the Army of Occupation in Germany. Mr. Poindexter was one of the first men in Cooper County to be inducted into the National Army and was sent to Camp Funston in April, 1918, to France for overseas service with the 356th Regiment, 89th Division, which after the signing of the armistice was a part of the American Army of Occupation and was sent back to America and received his honorable discharge at Camp Funston, June 10, 1919.

John H. Windsor. - A strong character, a stm-dy and upright citizen who was universally respected and admired throughout this section of Missouri, was the late John H. Windsor, extensive farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township. He was born on the Mt. Vernon estate in Fairfax County, Va., Sept. 4, 1832. He was a son of Horace Simeon Windsor, of Virginia, who settled in Cooper County in 1838.

Thomas Windsor, the predecessor of the Windsors in Cooper County, was born in England, May 14, 1714. He was born near Old Sarum Castle. In early manhood he immigrated to America and settled on a large farm in Fairfax County, Va., where he operated a large plantation. He married Sarah Warden, who bore him a large family of children: John, Thomas, Sarah, Elizabeth, George, William, Libbie, Jemima, Millie, Samson, Mary and Richard.

Richard Windsor was born March 15, 1778. He married Elizabeth Numan who bore him the following children: Numan, Catherine. Priscilla, James, Elizabeth, James, Richard S., Mary Ann, Loftin, and Horace Simeon. The last named married Anne Matilda Allison and at his death left her a large state. He came to Cooper County in 1838 and became owner of a large tract of land south of Boonville. Returning to Virginia, he brought his family, movable belongings and a number of slaves on the return trip and settled in this county. He farmed on an extensive scale after the manner of the Virginia planters. Horace Simeon Windsor died in Boonville. His only child was John H. Windsor of this review, who became one of the most successful farmers and stockmen in Missouri during his lifetime. He received from his father a tract of 320 acres upon which he settled. Mr. Windsor accumulated a total of 1,200 acres of land which is noted for its splendid improvements. He raised all the feed for his cattle and hogs and when asked the secret of his success in feeding live stock, he would reply, "I have never lost anything by feeding as the Lord gave me the corn and the Lord gave me the cattle'*. At his death he left his heirs a large estate, comprising 1,700 acres of land located chiefly in Clarks Fork township.

When a young man he married Eleanor Zollinger, who was born at Hagerstown, in 1835 and died in 1890. She was a daughter of George Zollinger, a pioneer of Cooper County, who migrated from his native state of Maryland in about 1844 and settled southeast of Boonville near the Clarks Fork store. He entered land, accumulated 400 acres which was tilled by the slaves which he brought with him from Maryland. To John H. and Eleanor Windsor were born children as follows: Horace George, one of the most successful farmers in Cooper County, and an extensive corn grower and stockman who is owner of over 600 acres of land ; Walter B. Windsor, owner of 500 acres of land south of Boonville, and successfully engaged in raising cattle, sheep and hogs; John L. Windsor died in 1882; Alma, wife of E. H. Harris, Jr., cashier of the Third National Bank of Sedalia, Mo.: Eugene A. Windsor; and Dr. Norman Windsor, a successful physician who for 20 years has been located in St. Louis.

The late John H. Windsor found time to take an interest in civic and religious matters aside from the management of his extensive farming interests and he was a man universally respected and admired throughout the country. He was an elder of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and served for many years as superintendent of the Sunday school of his church.

Warren E. Carpenter, a progressive young farmer of Prairie Home township, owner of "Meadow Brook Farm", is a native son of Cooper County and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in the Clarks Fork township near Pisgah, Feb. 28, 1886, son of George A. and Mary McCune (McCulloch) Carpenter, the latter was a daughter of Col.

Robert Allen McCulloch, an officer of General Forrest's cavalry in the Confederate service during the Civil War and who, as well as George A. Carpenter's grandfather, Samuel Carpenter, was a '49er, both were grandfathers and great grandfathers of Warren E. Carpenter, having been among that courageous band which faced the practically unknown dangers of the plains and the mountains in the days when the California gold fields were attracting the attention of the world.

"Meadow Brook Farm", now the property of Warren E. Carpenter was originally entered by William Tyre, Dec. 16, 1833, and the government patent granting his claim bears date of Oct. 1, 1835. Samuel Carpenter and his wife Lucy, grandparents of Warren E., bought the farm Feb. 10, 1865, from John F. Smith and later transferred it to their son, M. P. Carpenter, who sold it to Francis M. Davis, who in time sold it to Louis Erhardt. who sold it to George A. Carpenter, who on Jan. 5, 1909, transferred the old homestead of 320 acres to his sons Warren and Homer, the present owners. Distinctively ornamental features of the place are several noble pine trees standing in the dooryard, which were planted by Samuel Carpenter, and a noble elm which was set out by William Henry Carpenter, an uncle of the present owners.

Reared on the farm, Warren E. Carpenter received his schooling in the local schools and has devoted his attention to farming. He and his brother Homer became joint owners of the old Samuel Carpenter homestead and which they have since greatly improved. The place is well adapted to stock raising. "Meadow Brook Farm" is admirably located on the Prairie Home-Bunceton road, has a substantial two-story nineroom house, which was rebuilt by W. E. Carpenter, a good tenent house, an ample stock barn, machine shed and other buildings and an excellent water supply, the water being pumped from a deep well by a gas engine which also furnishes power for small machinery used about the place. A tractor which pulls eight fourteen-inch plows and is capable of turning over 25 acres a day is a valuable adjunct to the operation of the place.

Jan. 10, 1907, Warren E. Carpenter was married to Ola Myrtle McDonald, who also was born in this county, daughter of John and Sarah (Savage) McDonald, formerly of Clarks Fork, both deceased, their daughter Ola having been reared in the household of Judge George W. Morris. and to this union five children have been born, Mary Matilda, George Emil, Bessie Virginia, Ada Lucille and Warren E., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Pisgah Baptist Church and take an interested part in church work as well as in general social and cultural activities.

R. S. Rankin was born at Woodville Mills, Cooper County, Dec. 13, 1849, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (MacFarland) Rankin, both natives of Virginia. William Rankin was born near Winchester, Va., in 1806. He came to Cooper County in 1838 and settled at Boonville. In 1840 he built the Woodville Mill and operated it for a number of years. This mill was originally a water-power mill, but steam power was added in 1854. The old mill continued to do service until 1893, when it was torn down and the present mill erected on the site of the old one by S. L. and R. S. Rankin. S. L. Rankin died in 1914, age 69 years.

R. S. Rankin has been engaged in the milling business nearly all his life. He was married in 1873 to Miss Marie L. Duncan, a daughter of George W. and Mary Duncan, of Clarks Fork township. They are both now deceased. Mrs. Rankin died Nov. 5, 1890.

The Rankin family is one of the old pioneer families of Cooper County, having been identified with this section of the state for over 80 years.

William H. Carpenter, one of the substantial farmers of Prairie Home township and the owner of "Oakland", a fine farm, is a member of one of Cooper County's pioneer families. He was born on the Henry Reavis farm in Clarks Fork township on Sept. 4, 1857, son of Samuel Carpenter, born in 1835, who was a son of Samuel Carpenter, who came from Kentucky with his family to this county and here spent the remainder of his life. During the days of the gold rush to California in 1849 he went to the gold fields. He died on the Carpenter homestead and is buried there, as is his son Samuel and the latter's wife. The younger Samuel Carpenter, who became one of the large landowners in this section, died .May 17, 1907. His wife, who before her marriage was Lucy Catherine Dooley, died in 1899. They were the parents of four living children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born, the others being George A. Carpenter, a farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township; M. P. Carpenter, an inventor, Chicago, and Mrs. Ella Taylor, Holden, Mo.

William H. Carpenter has followed farming all his life. He completed his schooling in Slaughter College, Prairie Home and after his marriage settled on the place where he is now living, which he has developed into one of the best farms in that neighborhood. He has 160 acres and his 'on, S. Alvin Carpenter, has an adjoining farm of 120 acres; they carry on their operations in close cooperation. In addition to his general farming Mr. Carpenter has for many years also given considerable attention to the raising of live stock.

May 6, 1886, William H. Carpenter was united in marriage to Letitia Belle Harris, a daughter of Judge A. T. Harris, of Prairie Home, and to this union one child has been bom, S. Alvin Carpenter, born on April 3, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Baptist Church at Prairie Home. He is an independent democrat.

Eugene A. Windsor. - In writing the history of the families of Cooper County, the biographer is impressed with the fact that the early pioneers of this county were from the older states of Virginia and Kentucky. They were people of substance, perseverance and standing, and many of them were of the better class from these older states. These traits have endured in their descendants to this day and the sons and grandsons of these early Virginia pioneers are the leaders in this county and the stale of Missouri in the business and professional walks of life. Eugene A. Windsor, successful real estate and farm loan dealer of Boonville, is a descendant of one of the earliest of the Cooper Coui*;y pioneers. Mr. Windsor was born on the Windsor homestead, six miles south of Boonville, Jan. 4, 1870. He is a son of the late John H. Windsor and is a grandson of Horace Simeon Windsor who settled in this county in 1838.

Eugene A. Windsor was educated in the old Cooper Institute and the Pilot Grove Collegiate Institute After farming for some years he engaged in banking in the Pilot Grove Bank for a year. He has followed the real estate business for the past 25 years and has been and is one of the most successful dealers in farm lands in central Missouri. Mr. Windsor has handled thousands of acres of farm lands and is owner of 700 acres of land located near Boonville, Choteau Springs, and Prairie Lick in this county. His offices are located in what was formerly known as the Windsor Building in Boonville.

Mr. Windsor is owner of the Choteau Springs Resort, ten miles southwest of Boonville, which he purchased in 1900. This resort consists of 40 acres of picturesque ground and is noted for its springs which yield a medicinal water. The place is equipped with a hotel, baths, swimming pool and several cottages for summer dwellers and is an inviting spot in which to spend a part or all of the summer season. Choteau Springs has an interesting history. Mr. Windsor's holdings are a part of a grant of 30,000 "arpens" of land or 26,250 acres which was made to Pierre Choteau by the Spanish King in 1799 when this entire territory belonged to the Spaniards. Later, trouble was made in getting the title to the land ratified by the American Congress and Congressman William H. Ashley rode to Washington, had the title perfected and purchased the land of

Eugene A Windsor

Choteau. Mr. Ashley discovered the medicinal springs and named the locality alter its former grantee, Pierre Choteau. The original land grant was made Nov. 28, 1799 and the deed conveys all of the tract from the Governor of Upper Louisiana, Charles DeHault DeLassus to Pierre Choteau. The scenery around the springs is beautiful and inviting and hundreds of people visit the Springs each year for the benefit of the baths and the medicinal waters.

March 20, 1907, Mr. Windsor and Miss Gertrude Hudson were united in marriage. This marriage has been blessed with two children: Eugene A. Windsor, Jr., aged nine years ; and Horace Hudson Windsor, aged seven years.

Mrs. Gertrude (Hudson) Windsor is a daughter of the late H. T. Hudson, formerly a prominent and well known merchant of Boonville, who was founder of the firm of H. T. Hudson & Co. Mr. Hudson was born in Miami, Saline County, Mo., in 1849, was there reared to manhood, married Lina A. Meyers who was born in 1845 and died in 1900. H. T. and Lina Hudson were parents of six children: Hallie, wife of Doctor Dunlap. Dallas, Texas; Elizabeth, wife of Richard H. Keith, Kansas City, Mo. ; Mrs. Gertrude Windsor, of this review ; Taylor, Los Angeles, Cal. ; Mrs. Alice McGee, Los Angeles, Cal. ; Hargrave, a member of the Bell Coal Company, Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Hudson died in Los Angeles, April 20, 1916.

Mr. Windsor is a stockholder in the Commercial Bank and is one of the enterprising and successful citizens of Boonville and Cooper County. His handsome residence at the southwest comer of Chestnut and Fourth streets is an ornament to the city. He is a democrat and takes a commendable interest in political affairs. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is liberal in his support of the church and all worthy enterprises. No call upon his purse for a worthy project to advance the interests of his home city goes unheeded, but he is always found in the forefront of good movements. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is affiliated with the Commandery, is a Shriner and a member of Aarat Temple of Kansas City, having attained the York Rite in Masonry. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias. To know Eugene A. Windsor is to have a sincere regard for him and to admire his qualities.

Herman H. Fahrenbrink, a well known and progressive farmer and stockman of Clarks Fork township, is a native son of Cooper County. He was bom on the old Clawson place four miles northeast of the place where (42) he now resides Feb. 9, 1876. A son of Henry and Magdalena (Scnnack) Fahrenbrink. A more extensive" history of the Fahrenbrink family is given in connection with the sketch of C. W. Fahrenbrink, which appears in this volume.

Herman H. Fahrenbrink was reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork township, and received his education in the Jefferson school district and the parochial school at Lone Elm. He also attended the high school at Bunceton for a time. He has made farming and stock raising his life occupation, and has met with more than ordinary success in this field of endeavor. Mr. Fahrenbrink owns one of the valuable and attractive farms of the county, it being a part of his father's old home place. He owns 170 acres of well improved land, which is located in Clarks Fork township, about six miles northeast of Bunceton. The Fahrenbrink home is a neat six room residence, and was built in 1903. It is modern throughout and lighted with acetylene gas. There are two barns on the place and other ample farm buildings. Mr. Fahrenbrink in addition to general farming, is extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs and he also raises large numbers of pure bred brown leghorn chickens.

March 31, 1912, H. H. Fahrenbrink was united in marriage with Miss Magdalena Loesing, a daughter of August and Louise (Falter) Loesing, both natives of Missouri. Mrs. Loesing died in 1914, and her remains are buried at Lone Elm. August Loesing now resides in Clarks Fork township. To August and Louise (Falter) Loesing were born the following children: Fred lives in Oklahoma; William, Clarks Fork township; George Henry, who served in the United States army during the World War, now resides at home in Clarks Fork township ; Peter, Clarks Fork township; Julius, Christine, Lizzie and Emily all residing at home. To Mr. and Mrs. Fahrenbrink have been born four children : Helen Louise, born Feb. 20, 1917, and three died in infancy.

Mr. Fahrenbrink is a member of the Farmers Elevator Co., of Bunceton, and is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Cooper County. He and Mrs. Fahrenbrink are members of the Lone Elm Evangelical Lutheran Church.

S. Alvin Carpenter, proprietor of "The Maples", a well kept farm of 120 acres in Prairie Home township, was born in that township and is one of the substantial young farmers of the county. He was born April 3, 1889, son of William H. and Letitia Belle (Harris) Carpenter, the latter a daughter of Judge T. A. Han-is, of Prairie Home. William H. Carpenter is a son of Samuel Carpenter, who was a son of Samuel Carpenter, a Ken- tuckian, who settled in Clarks Fork township, in pioneer days and became one of the leading men in that community. William H. Carpenter and his wife are living on the farm adjoining that of their son Alvin and father and son carry on their farming operations in close cooperation.

Reared on the farm, S. Alvin Carpenter completed his schooling in Clarksburg College and in William Jewell College and upon his return from college resumed his place on the farm, assisting his father and so continued until in 1914, when he bought the place of 120 aci-es adjoining that of his father, buying the place from Robert Heinen. Since taking possession of that farm Mr. Carpenter has made numerous substantial improvements, these including the remodeling of the farm house, the erection of a new barn 48x50 feet, a large water tank of tile and concrete, a wash house and engine house and other buildings. Mr. Carpenter is pursuing modem methods in his farming and included in the mechanical equipment of his farm plant is a high-power tractor. He raises some cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and Buff Orpington chickens. "The Maples" is delightfully situated and Mr. Carpenter and his family have a very pleasant home.

July 10, 1913, S. Alvin Carpenter was married to Edna Hale, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have been bom, Claud Elliott and Dorsey Earl Juanita. Mrs. Carpenter was born in Clark's Fork township, a daughter of Thomas F. and Sallie (Carey) Hale, who are now living in California. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Prairie Home Baptist Church.

Henry P. McPhatridge, a well known farmer of Prairie Home township, residing at "Edgewood Farm", is a Virginian, but has been a resident of Cooper County for nearly forty years. He was bom in Virginia .March 29. 1853, a son of Alfred and Mary M. (Latham) McPhatridge, both bom in Virginia. Alfred McPhatridge died in Tennessee and his widow came to this county and here spent her last days, she being 83 years of age at the time of her death. She is buried in the family burial plot on "Woodland Farm" in this county. Alfred McPhatridge and his wife had three children, of whom Henry P. is the youngest, the others being Mrs. William H. Ellis, of Prairie Home, and Napoleon, who is now living in Arkansas.

Reared in Virginia, Henry P. McPhatridge completed his schooling in a private school there. In 1881 he came to Missouri and located in Prairie Home township, which has ever since been his home. After his marriage, four or five years after coming here, he settled on his present place and has since resided there. "Edgewood Farm" is a part ol tne Ellis estate and consists of 110 acres of well improved land. The house stands at the edge of a fine wood of natural trees, one of the most picturesque spots in that neighborhood.

March 10, 1886, that Henry P. McPhatridge was married to Minnie - L. Ellis, who is a member of one of the pioneer families of Cooper County, who have been represented here since the early days of this section of Missouri. She is a daughter of William H. and Ann M. Ellis, the former of whom died in 1886, aged 65 years, and the latter in 1897, at the age of 69 years. Both are buried in the Ellis cemetery. William H. Ellis and wife were the parents of four children : William H. Ellis, Jr., Prairie Home ; Mrs. McPhatridge; Collin E., died in Kansas City, and Anna Gray, died in 1894. Mrs. McPhatridge is a member of the Baptist Church.

Robert S. Tevis, farmer and stockman, who with his sister, Lillie M. Tevis, is owner of 240 acres of the old Tevis homestead, southwest of Lone Elm, Clarks Fork township, was born Oct. 4, 1875. Mr. Tevis was born on a farm west of Bell Air and came with his parents to the old Tevis homestead in 1895.

The history of the Tevis family in Missouri begins with Jeremiah Tevis, great grandfather of Robert S. Tevis, who came to Cooper County from Kentucky in 1831. His wife was Miss Hixie Lowry, prior to her marriage. Others who came to Cooper County at the same time was William Lowry, a brother of Mrs. Tevis and a sister, Mrs. Gillie, wife of Henry Corum, and another sister, Mrs. Lucy, wife of James Bridges. Jeremiah Tevis settled on the farm north of Bell Air, now owned by George Schlotzhauer. The Corums settled south of Bell Air on land now comprised in the Ravenswood Stock Farm.

Capt. Simeon P. Tevis, grandfather of Robert S. Tevis, settled on the Tevis homestead in 1831. His first visit to Cooper County, Mo., was made in 1823. He worked as a carpenter in this county, returned to Kentucky, married Emily Berkeley of Louisville, and upon his return to this county settled on land which he entered from the government. He had a family of six children: Cassandra, wife of William Allen; Daniel W. B. ; Jeremiah, St. Clair County, Mo.; John W. ; Nestor C. ; one child died in infancy ; Susan died in childhood ; and Mrs. Anna McCrosky, deceased. Mrs. Emily Tevis died March 19, 1888, at the age of- 76 years.

Capt. Simeon P. Tevis drilled a company of militia which was enrolled during the Mormon trouble in Missouri. His company was called for the purpose of putting down what was called the Mormon insurrection near

Nestor C. Tevis, father of Robert S. Tevis, was born March 25, 1839 and died April 11, 1912. He was married on July 14, 1874 to Julia A. Smith who bore him children as follows: Robert S. of this review; Simeon P., lives in Texas, married Bertie Jeanette Allen and has two children, Charlotte Julia and Anna Elizabeth; Lillie M. Tevis resides with her brother on the homestead. The mother of these children was bom in Alabama, May 19, 1848 and departed this life Dec. 25, 1918. She was a daughter of William Nelson Smith who met death on the Manassas battlefield. He was a grandson of Governor Page of revolutionary times and was a native of Yorktown, Va. He volunteered in the Florida War in 1836.

Genealogy of the Smith Family in Virginia: (I) Major General Lawrence Smith, of York County, Va., laid out Yorktown, Va. in 1691. He died in 1700. His son (II) Col. Lawrence Smith, justice, sheriff of York County Va., and member of the House of Burgesses in 1683. He died in 1700. His wife was Mildred Reed. Will proved, 1754. Their son, (III) Robert Smith, born 1733, died 1787. His wife was Mary Calthorpe. Their son, (IV) Dr. Augustin Smith of York County, Va., educated in Edinburg University, married Alice Page in 1793. She was born in 1775 and was a daughter of Gov. John Page of Virginia. They had six children. His son, (V) William T. N. Smith, born March 18, 1804, in York County, Va., married Elizabeth M. Fugua who was born near Farmville, Prince Edwardsville County, Va., Dec. 2, 1805, died Dec. 18, 1854 in Rogersville, Ala. William T. N. Smith was a direct descendant of a Revolutionary soldier. He was a volunteer in the P'lorida War of 1836. The soil in which he was buried was probably in other years owned by his ancestors. William T. N. Smith was father of nine children, the youngest daughter of whom, born near Rogersville, Ala., was married to Nestor C. Tevis at Lexington, Mo., July 14, 1848. William T. N. Smith was killed at the first Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas, July 21, 1861.

In 1686, Ludlow's land was sold to Lawrence Smith. This tract contained 1,452 acres in York County on Wamley Creek. The land came into possession of his great grandson, Robert Smith, and afterwards became Templa Farm. The Articles of Surrender of Cornwallis' army to General Washington were signed in the Smith mansion.

Robert S. Tevis is a worthy descendant of excellent ancestors and is keeping alive the traditions of the family. He has made some substantial improvements on the old homestead and is successful as a farmer and citizen. He has recently completed a 200 ton concrete silo on the place.

Mr. Tevis is a democrat as were his ancestors. He is prominent in the affairs of his township and county and is well and favorably known throughout the county. Mr. Tevis is a member of the Methodist Church South.

Edgar A. Carpenter, an energetic young fanner of North Moniteau township and owner of an excellent farm of 120 acres eight miles east of Bunceton, was bora on a farm in Clarks Fork township Nov. 13, 1890, son of George A. and Mary M. (McCulloch) Carpenter, prominent residents of that community. Col. R. A. McCulloch, maternal grandfather of Mr. Carpenter, was an officer of the Confederate army during the Civil War and spent his last days in this county. He died Dec, 1911, and was buried in Pisgah cemetery, which is a part of the original confines of Mr. Carpenter's farm.

Reared on the home farm in Clarks Fork, Edgar A. Carpenter received his early schooling in the Ellis district school and during the years 1909, 1910 attended the Missouri Valley College at Marshall. He then resumed farming on the home place until 1911, when he began farming on his own account. He bought the farm on which he is now living and Feb. 28, 1912, moved onto the same. Mr. Carpenter has made substantial improvements. He has a good two-story seven-room farm house, a substantial barn 48x48, a machine shed and other suitable buildings. In addition to general farming, Mr. Carpenter gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock, is now feeding a car load of cattle and has a fine bunch of Duroc Jersey hogs.

June 7, 1911, Edgar A. Carpenter was united in marriage to Edna Missouri Lewis, who also was born in this county, and to this union two children have been born, Gladys Margaret and Robert Allen, the latter named in honor of his great-grandfather, the late Col. Robert Allen Mc- Culloch. Mrs. Carpenter is a daughter of J. F. and Margaret (King) Lewis, of North Moniteau township. J. F. Lewis also was born in this county, son of John M. Lewis, who was an early settler near Otterville. Mrs. Lewis was born in Moniteau County, where the Kings had located in pioneer days. She and Mr. Lewis were married at Tipton. To their union seven children were born: Miss Aura Lewis, of Kansas City; Mrs. Carpenter; Minnie, died at the age of 19 years, and Susan Frances, Mary Belle, Mildred and Lucille, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Pisgah Baptist Church and Mr. Carpenter is affiliated with the Mystic Workers of the World at that place.

John R. Smith, a former teacher of Cooper County and for the past 20 years engaged in the mercantile business at Pisgah, one of the best known men in that section of the county. He was born on a farm near Clarksburg, Moniteau County, June 30, 1858, son of John I. and Peggy (Guyer) Smith, who were among the best known residents of Pisgah.

John I. Smith was a Kentuckian. He came to this state during the early '40s and located in Cooper County. He was for a short time a resident of Moniteau County, but soon made his permanent home half a mile southeast of Pisgah, in North Moniteau township, this county, and here spent the remainder of his life, as did his wife. She was born in Virginia and came to this county with her parents. John Smith and his wife are buried in the Guyer cemetery. They were the parents of ten children, of whom three are still living: John R.; Mrs. Christina Diffenbaugh, Eldon; and Mrs. Birdie Scott, Pleasant Green. The deceased members of this family are Berry, Mrs. Mallie Allison, William, Mrs. Lucy Yancey, Henry, Mrs. Mattie Russell and Charles.

J. R. Smith received his schooling in the local schools and as a young men was for three winters engaged in teaching in this county, continuing his farm labors during the summers. In 1897, he bought an interest in the business of his father-in-law, Squire Moore, of the Moore Mercantile Company at Pisgah, and became actively engaged in the mercantile business at that place. This mutually agreeable partnership continued until the death of Squire Moore, after which the latter's son, T. J. Moore, bought his father's interest. A year later Mr. Smith bought his new partner's interest in the business and has since been conducting the store alone. He carries a general line of goods required in the local trade, handles all kinds of country produce and is recognized as one of the leading merchants in that part of the county. Mr. Smith is a member of the Mystic Workers of the World at Pisgah.

In Aug., 1897, J. R. Smith was married to Ollie Frances Moore, daughter of Squire Moore and Frances (Lovell) Moore, both now deceased. The late Squire Moore, who for years was one of the best known and most influential figures in the community life of the Pisgah, is buried in Pisgah cemetery. He and his wife had four children, Mrs. Smith having three brothers, Robert Moore, Wyoming; T. J. Moore, Moniteau township, and Edward Moore, Moniteau township. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five children: Ruth, who was graduated from the Pisgah High School and is now a Cooper County teacher; Zaney, who also was graduated from Pisgah High School and is now teaching; Roy, who is now attending high school at Bunceton, and Woodson and Squire. The Smiths have a pleasant home at Pisgah and have ever taken an interested and helpful part in the general social activities of that community.