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

George A. Carpenter, one of Cooper County's leading farmers and stockmen, is a native Missourian, and belongs to a pioneer family of this state. He was bora in Benton County, in 1860, a son of Samuel and Lucy C. (Dooley) Carpenter. Samuel Carpenter was born in Clarks Fork township, Cooper County, and was the son of Samuel Carpenter, who was a Kentuckian, and came to Missouri at an early date. He bought 360 acres of land in Clarks Fork and Moniteau township and spent the remainder of his life here. He died on the farm which is now owned by Henry Reavis' heirs.

Samuel Carpenter, father of George A., was born on the Reavis farm in 1835. He was an extensive farmer and stockman and was very successful. At one time he owned over 1,000 acres of land. He gave each of his children 160 acres, before his death. He died May 17, 1907. His wife died Dec. 9, 1899, and their remains are buried in the Carpenter and Reavis private burial ground. They were the parents of the following children W. H., farmer in Prairie Home township; George A., the sub- ject of this sketch; Uriah G. died in infancy; Mason P., the inventor of the rotary engine resides in Chicago, 111., and Martha Ellen married George E. Taylor and lives in Johnson County, Mo.

George A. Carpenter received his education in the public schools of Cooper County, attending school in the Ellis district, and later attended Prairie Home College. In early life he engaged in farming and stock raising on his own account, and has successfully devoted himself to that field of endeavor to the present time. He began with 180 acres in 1881, and has increased his acreage until he now owns 430 acres in Clarks Fork township after giving his four children 460 acres. This is known as the "Ideal Stock Farm", which is a very appropriate name for this place, as it is truly an ideal farm in many particulars. For several years Mr. Carpenter engaged in breeding Shorthorn cattle and he has also been an extensive feeder of hogs and cattle, feeding from 100 to 150 head of cattle annually. Mr. Carpenter's barn which is 70x112 feet, is one of the largest barns in the county and is built very substantially. The frame is of oak and the roof is metal. There is also a large horse barn on the place 44x52 feet, and also silo, garage and other suitable farm buildings.

Mr. Carpenter was first married in 1883 to Mary McCune McCullough of Moniteau township. She was a daughter of Robert McCullough. The following children were bom to this union : Lucy M., died in infancy ; Warren E. lives in Prairie Home township; Homer L., Prairie Home township; Edgar A., Moniteau township; and Virginia, a graduate of the Missouri Valley College at Marshall, and is now principal of the Bunceton school. The mother of these children died in Aug., 1910, and Mr. Carpenter married Cora M. Dilse, Nov. 15, 1917. She is a daughter of John Dilse of Cooper County, who resides in Clarks Fork township. To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter has been born one son, Newberry Wilson.

Mr. Carpenter has had a successful career and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of this county. He is a director of the Bank of Bunceton, and has always been ready to cooperate with any worthy enterprise, the object of which has been for the betterment or upbuilding of his county. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Baptist Church at Prairie Home, of which he is a deacon.

Henry E. Fuser, farmer and stockman, Boonville township, is owner of a fine tract of 90 acres and is farming the Martin Fuser farm of 279 acres which adjoins his own place. Mr. Fuser is raising cattle, horses, hogs and mules, and is specializing in the breeding of purebred Here- ford cattle. He has 16 head of registered Herefords with a splendid herd leader which he purchased in October, 1918. Mr. Fuser is a breeder of Mammoth jacks and has two of these famous animals, descended from the Monsees herd of Mammoth jacks.

Mr. Fuser was born in Boonville township, Oct. 9, 1881 and has lived on his present place since 1883. Martin Fuser, his father, was born in Germany in February, 1856. He accompanied his parents, Vernon Fuser and wife to America in 1864 and was reared to young manhood in Cooper County. He married Mary Lutz, who was born in this county in 1857 and is the daughter of pioneer parents. His first farm was a small tract of 40 acres a short distance from the present Fuser home place. In 1883, he purchased part of the home tract and continued to add to it until he accumulated a total of 279 acres, well improved with a good residence, fencing and farm buildings. In 1911, Mr. Fuser went to Vinita, Oklahoma, where he is living retired. His children are: John, a stockman, Afton, Okla., owner of 1,380 acres of land; Martin, a fanner and stockman, of Brighton, 111.; Henry E., of this review; Benjamin, a druggist, traveling salesman in Texas; Anna, wife of Henry Esser, Boonville township; Mrs. Mamie Hubener, whose husband is a farmer and stockman, Brighton, 111. ; Lydia and Cora are with their parents.

Henry E. Fuser attended the Westwood district school and the Boonville High School. He purchased his farm in 1907 and has lived all of his life on the home farm. He was married on Nov. 23, 1910, to Miss Minnie Meyers, born July 5, 1892, at Pilot Grove, Mo., a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Hoff) Meyers, who reside on their farm three miles east of Pilot Grove. The children born to Henry E. and Minnie Fuser are: Henrietta, born Oct. 5, 1911; Herbert Benjamin, bom Oct. 2, 1913; Alberta Catherine, born Oct. 28, 1915; Martin Michael, bom March 1, 1919.

Mr. Fuser is a republican who takes an active and influential part in local politics. For the past nine years he has served as school director ana dork of the district board. He is a member of the Catholic church and is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. He holds membership with the Missouri Jack Association.

R. W. Whitlow, abstractor and iliourance man, Boonville, Mo., was born Sept. 9, 1843, in Cooper County, four mne^ couth of the city. He was a son of Andrew King Whitlow, who settled in Coopei County in

After the death of his mother, R. W. Whitlow made his home with his grandfather, Martin Harvey for 10 years, when his grandmother died. In the meantime his father had gone back to Kentucky, married his second wife and returned to Cooper County in 1847. The son joined his father in 1855 near Boonville and in March 1856, the family moved to Henry County, Mo. and assisted his father in fencing and improving his farm. They made rails on timbered land owned by the government and he and his father camped out during one winter on Grand River while busy in cutting and splitting rails. In December of 1861, the Civil War being on, conditions around the neighborhood became disturbed and the locality was dangerous for any one who desired to keep out of trouble. R. W. Whitlow went to his grandfather Harvey's place, riding horseback to Sedalia with a Union man who was fleeing for his life. He then walked to Boonville, 25 miles. He enlisted in Company F, Fifth Missouri State Militia, for service within the state, as a cavalryman. His command went south to Waynesville and guarded the hauling of supplies from Rolla to Springfield. They also hunted guerrillas and had many running fights with rebels. He was at Licking, Mo. several months, and then went to Rolla in February, 1864. At that time the Federal government was offering a bounty of $400 for volunteer veteran soldiers, and had given orders to recruit men from the Missouri State Militia. Capt. W. A. Mills, of Versailles, was recruiting and organizing Company I, the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, and when he came to Rolla about twenty-five men of Whitlow' a company enlisted, private Whitlow among them, on Feb. 14, 1864. This company went to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, where he was taken down with smallpox. He was then taken to the hospital near Carondolet and quarantined on "Bloody Island".

After his recovery private Whitlow was ordered to join his raiment at St. Louis. He was quartered at White Station on the Memphis and Charleston railroad for a while, and then mo%ed to Lagrange, Tennessee. They frequently made raids into «»e state of Mississippi and had many fights with General Forr«»fs cavalry in the vicinity of Tallahatchie River.

Private wnitlow, not being able to join the command, was ordered t^ me hospital at Memphis and remained there in Adam's hospital, being subjected to a rigid diet until Feb., 1865, and ever since that period he has enjoyed good health. Traveling from Memphis to Cairo, 111., on steamboat and after a short stay there went up the Tennessee River on a flotilla of boats and wintered at Eastport, Miss. Here, Gen. James H. Wilson organized a raiding division of 10,000 cavalry to destroy the rebels' source of supplies. On March 12, 1865, they defeated a regiment or so of Georgia militia and went on to Selma, Ala. They then went to Columbus, Georgia. They followed Cobb through Georgia and arrived within two miles of Macon when the city surrendered. The regiment was camped in that vicinity until the war closed. Mr. Whitlow saw Jeff Davis brought in a prisoner and taken before General Wilson at Macon. Mr. Whitlow arrived at St. Louis on June 4, 1865 and was sent to Omaha, thence to barracks up the river and in August camped just south of Sioux City on the Nebraska side. He then was ordered to Pawnee Indian Agency and from there to guard the overland mail route to Cheyenne. Ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Whitlow, was there discharged June 9,

W. W. Taliaferro had been elected circuit clerk of Cooper County in 1866. He appointed Mr. Whitlow his deputy for two years, 1867 and 1868. Whitlow then formed a partnership with Thomas B. Wright, a lawyer, and made an abstract of title to all the lands and town lots in Cooper County. He served four yeare as county assessor and kept up the abstract work.

Mr. Whitlow has dealt rather heavily in real estate and loan business during the past years, but for the past few years he has been engaged in abstract work and insurance business exclusively.

Mr. Whitlow was married Nov. 8, 1872, to Hattie L. Rochester, a daughter of Thomas E. Rochester, former sheriff of Cooper County. Six children survive out of seven born to this marriage: Eugene, died in 1875; Charles W., employed in the Boonville National Bank; Sue Rochester, wife of Chester L. Landes, clerk in the New England National Bank, Kansas City, Mo. ; Hattie L., wife of Henry W. Michels, a traveling salesman ; Arthur W., married Martha Lee and lives at Bartlesville, Okla. ; Rose, at home; Elliot W. was bom in 1887, inducted into the National Army on May 25, 1918, trained at Camp Dodge, Iowa, sailed for Fiance, Aug. 13, 1918, with the Headquarters Company of the 351st Regiment, 88th Division, A. E. F.

Army of the Republic, a position which he has held for thirty years. He is a member and treasurer of the Walnut Grove Cemetery Association and is now and has been president of the Boonville School Board for the past 32 years.

Paul Hoflander. - The late Paul Hoflander, who died at his country home near Billingsville, Jan. 18, 1897, was an industrious citizen who built up a fine farm and reared an excellent family. He was born in Germany, Oct. 26, 1838. He was a son of John Ernst Hoflander who was born June 5, 1804 at Grosgarnstadt, Sachsen-Coburg, Germany and died at Billingsville, Mo., Aug. 24, 1879. He married Kunigunda Stegner, in Germany, 1829. Kunigunda Stegner Hoflander was born Feb. 10, 1806, at Frohnloch, Saxon-Coburg, Germany, and died at Billingsville, March 19, 1891.

John Ernst Hoflander was a son of Heinrich Hoflander, a miller by trade who was born at the old home in Sachsen-Coburg, Germany. He resided for many years in London, England and could speak and write the English language very fluently. He married Kunigunde Ludwig, daughter of a surgeon. He had one son, John Ernst Hoflander.

Nicholas Hoflander, father of Heinrich Hoflander, lived early in the 18th century in the old home of the family which was built in 1692. He married Louisa Sabina Mechtold who vm a skilled needle «uman.

John Ernst Hoflander left Germany enroute to America Oct. 12, 1853 and arrived at Boonville, Mo., Feb. 26, 1854, after traveling by the ocean and river route by way of New Orleans. He settled in what is now the Billingsville neighborhood and there lived the remainder of his days. His children were: Elizabeth Margarethe, born in Germany, July 30, 1830, married Jan. 7, 1855, at Boonville, to Frederick Mittelbach; Margarethe Barbara, born Aug. 9, 1836, married Timothy Grathwohl; Maria, born May 13, 1834, came to America May 19, 1853, married Christian Krohn who was killed at his home by guerrillas, Aug. 31, 1864 ; Paul Hoflander, of this review; and John George Hoflander.

Paul Hoflander was born Oct. 26, 1838 and died Jan. 18, 1896. He came to America with his parents and settled in the Billingsville neighborhood. He served for three years in the Union army during the Civil War, participating in several engagements in Missouri. He built the present home of the family in 1871 and accumulated a fine farm of 150 acres. He was a member of John A. Hayne Post, Grand Army of the Republic and was one of the builders of the first church erected at Billingsville by the Evangelical denomination.

On Nov. 7, 1869, Paul Hollander was married at Clear Creek, Cooper County, to Maria E. Quint, who bore him the following children: Mary Elizabeth, born Jan., 1877, died Feb., 1877; Fannie Pauline, born March 29, 1878, died July 21, 1898; Christian Henry, born Dec. 7 1882; and Ethel Smith, a girl who was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Hoflander. The mother of these children was born in Prussia, Germany, Jan. 15, 1847 and came to America with her parents in 1854. She was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Walge) Quint, early settlers of Cooper County. Mrs. Hoflander has reared a nephew, Ernest Quint, an orphan boy whom she took in her home when three years of age. Ernest Quint is a son of Ernest Quint and Bida (Ellis) Quint, the latter of whom was a daughter of Jacob Ellis.

Henry Hoflander is managing the home farm and has recently on Aug. 1, 1919 taken charge of the general store at Billingsville, having purchased the store in April, 1919.

Charles Emil Gross was born on a farm just outside the corporate limits of Boonville, June 14, 1859, and was reared to manhood in the Vine Clad city, where he received his education in the public school. He is the second oldest of three brothers, the eldest being Henry W., who died in 1918, and Karl F., now owner and proprietor of the "Gross Hotel" in Boonville. His father was John Christian Gross who came to this country from Nassau, Germany, in Feb., 1853, with his father, David Phillip Gross, who was a cobbler and plied his vocation in Boonville during the 60's. Just after the Civil War the father of C. E. Gross established a bakery on Morgan street and operated the same there until 1875, when he purchased the building now occupied by the Bassett and Gregory store and moved to this location.

C. E. Gross was married to Sophia F. Biehle, at Belleville, 111., May 23, 1883 and the following children have been born to them: Irene Louise, has been money order clerk in the Boonville postoffice for 14 years ; Minnie, wife of William Talbot ; and Gertrude, stenographer for the Boonville National Bank. Upon the death of his father in 1884, he succeeded him in the confectionery business. He was elected to the office of city councilman in 1885 and succeeded himself for several years. In 1896 he was elected city register and during his term in this office the special charter of the city was surrendered and Boonville became a city of the third class.

In June, 1897, he was appointed postmaster of Boonville by President McKinley, and was reappointed to the office by Roosevelt in 1901, and again succeeded himself, being appointed by Taft, in 1905, holding the office 13 years. After retiring as postmaster he established the "Kozy Korner" confectionery, which he sold to the present owner after operating it a year.

In 1914, Mr. Gross was elected police judge of Boonville, which office he now holds, having been re-elected twice. In May, 1918, he was given charge of the Central Missouri Republican while the owner, Houston Harte, was in the service. In March, 1919, Mr. Harte returned and again assumed the general management of the paper, but he retains Mr. Gross as office manager.

James J. McCoy, proprietor of an excellent farm, the old Brady place, in LaMine township, though a comparative newcomer in that neighborhood and until a few years ago a stranger to Cooper county, has created for himself a substantial position in the community during the time of his residence here and is thus fully entitled to mention in a work of this character, having to do with the history of Cooper county and with the stories of the lives of its representative citizens. Mr. McCoy is a native of Illinois, born in St. Clair county Aug. 25, 1862, son of James S. and Eliza Jane (McKinney) McCoy, the latter of whom is still living, a resident of Blue Mound, 111., in the eighty -fourth year of her age.

James S. McCoy was born on a farm in Pennsylvania, but early took up railroad work and was the first conductor to run a train over the Lehigh Valley road upon the completion of that road. During the 40's he went to Illinois and was living there when the Mexican War broke out. He enlisted at once for service, helped to raise a company, was commissioned an officer and served until the end of the war. Following the war he took up saw-milling in Madison county, 111., later bought a farm in Christian county, same state, where his children were reared, and there resided until his retirement in 1893 and removal to Chicago, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there on Feb. 27, 1899, he then being in his eightieth year. As noted above, his widow is still living, a resident of Blue Mound, 111. She was born in Ireland and came to this country with her parents when she was 13 years of age. To James S. McCoy and wife seven children were born, as follows : Edwin J., who was killed by a runaway team of mules years ago ; H. B. McCoy, of Blue Mound, 111. ; Lizzie B., widow of Dr. R. S. Anderson, of Princeton, Ind.; James J., the -subject of this review, and his twin sister, Elizabeth ; Anna, who is widely known as a church worker and who makes her home with her aged mother at Blue Mound, and John R., deceased.

Reared on a farm in Christian county, 111., James J. McCoy received his schooling in the district schools and from the days of his boyhood gave his attention to farming, a vocation he has followed with considerable success. His first venture as a farmer on his own account was on a farm he bought in Nebraska and he remained there until 1900, when he sold that place and came to Missouri, buying a farm in Saline county, where he lived for seven years, at the end of which time he engaged in the implement business at Marshall. Five years later he disposed of that business and bought a farm in Missouri county, Texas, and moved onto the same. There he remained until the first of March, 1917, when he came to Cooper county and entered upon the occupancy of the farm on which he is now living and for which he had traded in 1912, an excellent and well-improved farm of 522 acres, formerly known as the Brady farm and later owned by Albert Hall, a son-in-law of Brady. In addition to this farm Mr. McCoy is the owner of a farm of 220 acres in Randolph county, this state, and is accounted one of the well-to-do citizens of the community in which he resides.

Nov. 14, 1900, James J. McCoy was united in marriage to Minnie F. Stillman, who was born at Lincoln, 111. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are members of the Baptist church. Mr. McCoy is a Republican and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.