Turner, Missouri

The subject of this sketch, who at this writing is manager of the " Monitor Mills " of Eocheport, was born in Caldwell county, Kentucky, November 17th, 1826. His parents moved to Missouri when he was two years old and settled in Howard county, where Jeremiah was reared. He continued with his parents until attaining his legal majority, when he left home and began life for himself. Purchasing a farm in Howard county, near the Boone line, he owned and lived on it till 1856, excepting two years spent in California. In 1850, he rented his place, and started " across the plains " to the Eldorado of gold seekers. He and his father were together, and they went into the butchering business at Diamond Springs. The father, Drury C. Champion, died there in January, 1852, and Jeremiah started home the same month. Arriving in Missouri, he resumed farming on his place in Howard county, remaining till 1856, when he sold out, and erected a steam saw-mill in partnership with his uncle, Jeremiah Eucker, and his brother, James Champion, He bought out the interest of the others in 1858, and continued to operate the mill in different localities of Howard and Boone counties till June, 1875, Com- ing then to Rocheport, this county, he associated himself with Mr. L. Grossman, and they erected the fine flouring mills, known as the ''Monitor Mills, " of which Mr, Champion is still the manager, having rented Mr. Grossman's interest in 1878. Mr. Champion entered the state of connubial bliss, April 22d, 1848, when he was married to Miss Lucy A. Hill, of Boone county. They have seven living children : Martha Edna, wife of A. J. Turner; Clarissa B., wife of J. T. Suttles (Howard county) ; William Harvey ; George H> Samie D. and Lena. Mr. C. has been a member of the Christian church since he was sixteen, and Mrs. C. since she was fifteen years old. All the children but two belong to the same. He is a member of Rocheport lodge. No. 67, A. F. and A. M., of which he is chaplain. He is also G. W. C. of Rocheport lodge of Good Templars.

Passage source: History of Boone County, Missouri. Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens .., published 1882.

Mr. Garth is another citizen who can boast of having been " to the manner born." He is the son of Jefferson and Mary Garth, old residents of the county, and was born in Columbia, May 5th, 1841. He was reared in his native town and educated in the University there. His first business experience was that of clerk for Stone & Son in the dry goods business in Columbia. In May, 1865, he went to Rocheport and engaged in the grocery business, and is still in the same line of business at the same place. On the 9th of October, 1862, he married Miss Rhodie Turner, of which union there has been born one child, a daughter, named Lizzie. Mr. Garth belongs to Boone lodge. No. 121, I. O. O. F., and is an honored citizen of Rocheport.

Passage source: History of Boone County, Missouri. Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens .., published 1882.

The subject of this sketch is a son of Francis and Frederica Grossman, and was born in Baden, Germany, November 15th, 1817. His father was proprietor of a mill, and Leopold learned the trade of miller, having been reared to that vocation from early boyhood. At the age of seventeen, he was " turned out " for two years to learn the art of baking, so that at the age of nineteen, he found himself master of two trades - those of a miller and baker. He then began traveling in these vocations, operating as a journeyman worker in first one and then the other of them, traveling in Germany and France for some years. While thus engaged, he operated in Heidleberg, Stuttgart, Vienna, Strasburg, and many other great cities, all of which tended to expand his mind and give him a knowledge of the business world. In 1840, Mr. Grossman came to the United States, arriving in New Orleans on Christmas of that year. He proceeded to Ohio, and was there employed about three months in a grist mill. Then he and his uncle, Albright Breslaw, went to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where they erected a grist and sawmill. Here Mr. G. remained about one year when he left and went to St. Charles, Missouri, where he had relatives from the old country. Renting a farm, he began farming in St. Charles county, and was there married on the 19th of August, 1842> to Miss Melinda Wokely. In the fall following, he rented a sawmill near St. Charles, and followed " lumbering" till 1844, when he was forced to abandon it because of ill health. He came to Rocheport, in this county, in the spring and here engaged in the bakery business on Water street, which he operated successfully till December, 1845, when he sold out and returned to St. Charles, his wife being dissatisfied with Rocheport. There he purchased the sawmill he had formerly rented, and ran it until May, '48. He then sold out and once more returned to Boone county, and has been a citizen here ever since. Again starting his bakery, he continued thus until 1858, when he purchased a farm near Rocheport, and began operating it with slaves, of which he owned a considerable number. He still owns the farm. After one year he returned to town, and began the general merchandise business with William West, firm style of West & Grossman. At this time he had amassed considerable property. But now came the period of reverses, among which was the payment of one security debt to the amount of $4,000. About the same time the war broke out, paralyzing business, and Mr. G. did but little till 1863, when he and Geo. W. Gregory opened up the bakery and grocery business, which they continued successfully till 1871. During this time they built two large store houses, and a warehouse. Mr. Grossman still carries on this business, Gregory having retired from the firm. In 1875, Mr. G. and Mr. Champion built the " Monitor Mills " in Rocheport, which they still own. He has four living children: Houston; Josephine, wife of Dr. Edward Evans, of Boonville ; Eliza, and Annie, wife of Dr. Chinn, of Rocheport. Mr. Grossman has done much to build up and keep up the trade of Rocheport, and to improve the town. He has been a member of the town board for twenty years, about half that time serving as town mayor. He was elected president of the savings bank in 1878, and is still in connection therewith. He belongs to the Rocheport lodge of A. F. & A. M., and is one of the most esteemed citizens of the place.

Passage source: History of Boone County, Missouri. Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens .., published 1882.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Missouri Township - it names this place 3 more 3 times.