Gasconade Biographies F-J
Gasconade County
Biographies
F-J
Jesse Fitzgerald, constable and farmer of Bourbois Township, was born
in St. Louis County, twelve miles from the city in 1836, and is the
fourth of eight children, four now living, born to Mason and Julia Ann
(Hibler) Fitzgerald, natives of Kentucky and Maryland, respectively,
the father born in 1806, and died in 1860, and the mother born in 1807,
and died in 1859. They were married in St. Louis County, and died in
that county. Mason Fitzgerald was an excellent farmer, and the son of
Peter Fitzgerald, a native of Kentucky, and of Irish descent. Of Mr.
Mason's family the following four children are now living: Jesse,
Zachary T., of Maries County, Mo.; Louisa Allen, of Greene County, Ill.
and Rebecca Elizabeth Coons, of St. Louis County. Jesse Fitzgerald
received very meager educational advantages for an education, not
attending more than three months altogether. In 1858 he went to Wash-
ington, Franklin County, and the same year married Fatana E., daughter
of Samuel and Arminta Kalill, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respec-
tively. The mother died in Franklin County. Mrs. Fitzgerald was born
in Washington, and the result of her marriage to Mr. Fitzgerald was the
birth of four children: Virginia, wife of Henry Kinkade; Edway J. and
Theattus (twins), and Samuel M. Soon after marriage Mr. Fitzgerald
removed to Gasconade County, settling in Bourbois Township, and has
resided on his present fine farm of 240 acres since 1861. In August,
1862, he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-second Missouri Volunteer Inf-
antry, was at Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, all through the Siege of
Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., and was on picket when the gun boat
"Cincinnati" was sunk at Vicksburg. He was first corporal, and was
mustered out as sergeant at Columbus, Ohio, in August, 1865. He was
commissioned lieutenant and captain, but refused to accept the position
on account of education. Soon after the fall of Vicksburg Mr. Fitz-
gerald received a sunstroke, which resulted in paralysis, and which
disabled him from field service. From that time until the close of the
war he was on detached service. From March until September, 1864, he
was Lincoln's body guard. He then spent one month at Albany, N. Y.,
from there to Indiana, and for the remainder of the service was acting
orderly for Gen. Carrington, in the special detective service, etc.,
through Indiana and Ohio, at which work he proved very efficient, and
when a warrant was placed in his hands it was certain to be executed
with dispatch and care. After returning home Mr. Fitzgerald served one
year as road overseer. He is now serving his third term as constable
of Bourbois Township, having been elected in 1874, 1876 and 1886. He
has always been a Democrat in politics, his first presidential vote
being for Bell, in 1860. He is a member of the G. A. R., the A.O.U.W.,
and has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for about twenty years.
He can remember when St. Louis was but a small insignificant town, full
of frog ponds, a little frame courthouse, and when there were many
buffaloes in St. Louis County. Mr. Fitzgerald has often been solicited
to accept various county offices - sheriff, county judge, etc., but
owing to his limited education has peremptorily refused.
Christian Flutsch, farmer, is the son of John and Elizabeth (Fausch)
Flutsch, both natives of Switzerland. The father was a farmer by
occupation. Both parents died in the old country, the father in 1865,
and the mother a few years later. In their family were seven children,
four sons and three daughters. Two sons and one daughter came to this
country. The eldest child, Christian, was born in Switzerland, in
1830, was reared on a farm, and in 1858 came to America, locating in
Gasconade County, where, in the same year, he married Miss Mary Felix,
also a native of Switzerland, born in 1826. She came to this country
on the same ship that he did. Four children were born to Mr. Flutsch's
marriage, three sons and one daughter. In 1865 Mr. Flutsch was drafted
in Company K, of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Infantry,
United States army, and was transferred to the Eleventh Missouri Infan-
try. He was in the battle of Spanish Fort, and was discharged in
January, 1866. He is a Republican in politics, and both he and Mrs.
Flutsch are of the Evangelical faith. He is a good farmer, owning 140
acres, and although he came to this country in debt, is now in very
comfortable circumstances, all the result of his own efforts.
Henry Frechmann, a farmer of Richland Township, was born in Prussia, in
1815, and is the son of Ferdinand and Gertrude (Kotthoff) Frechmann.
The father died in Germany, and in 1841 the mother came to the United
States, settled in Mississippi, but later moved to Little Rock, Ark.,
where she died. Henry received a good common school education, and at
the age of fifteen began as an apprentice at weaving and dyeing, which
he followed until he came to the United States in 1836. After spending
one year in Philadelphia he moved to Vicksburg, Miss., and was engineer
on the Vicksburg & Jackson Railroad until 1843, when he came to Hermann.
He was married the same year to Miss Margaret Kotthoff, who came to
Mississippi from Germany with her parents about 1840, and afterward
moved to Hermann. Five children were born to this union: Frank, who is
living in Washington, Mo., engaged in blacksmithing; Tony, at home;
Henry F., Teresa, wife of August Baecker; and Jane, wife of Frank
Oncken. Henry lived five years on First Creek, and then came to his
present property, situated ten miles west of Hermann, which consists of
520 acres in the home place, and 240 acres in another tract, all the
result of his own labor and good management. He has filled the posi-
tion of justice of the peace, and from 1872 until 1878 he served as
county judge of the Ninth District with credit. He is a Democrat
politically, his first presidential vote was for Gen. Cass, in 1848.
Since his residence in Gasconade County, Mr. Frechmann has followed
agricultural pursuits, and is one of the prominent German citizens of
the county. His eldest son served in the militia during the war. Mrs.
Frechmann died in 1877. The father of Mr. Frechmann was sexton and
teacher of his town for thirty years. He was a man of intelligence and
ability.
Gustave A. Freund was born in St. Louis, Mo., February 5, 1843, and is
the son of Charles M. and Christina J. Freund. The father was a native
of the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany, and came to the United States in
1834. Gustave A. was brought up in St. Louis, where he received a fair
education, both in the English and also in the German language. Shortly
after the breaking out of the late war, he enlisted in Company D, Sec-
ond Regiment, United States Reserve Corps, Missouri Volunteer Infantry,
and with his regiment took part in the Siege of Corinth, Miss. After
serving in the war, Mr. Freund followed mercantile pursuits in St.
Louis and vicinity for a number of years, and in June, 1873, he was
married to Miss Charlotte Moeller, daughter of Mr. August Moeller, of
this county. Late in the fall of 1874, Mr. Freund removed to Gasconade
County, where he lived upon a farm until the fall of 1875, when he
began to teach school. After teaching successfully for three terms at
the district school in Richland Township, he removed to a district in
the neighborhood of Hermann, teaching again for two successive terms.
In 1880 Mr. Freund accepted a position at the public school of Hermann,
where he is now teaching his eighth year. His work in school has con-
tinued to prove successful, he has been promoted twice, and now holds
the position next to the principal. In 1880 he removed with his family
to Hermann, where he has lived ever since and became permanently loca-
ted. In conclusion we can say, that, for the past thirteen years Mr.
Freund has identified himself most favorably with the educational
interests of this county.
Dr. Thomas J. Grace, physician and surgeon of Bourbois Township, was
born in Spartanburg District, S. C., in 1843, and is the only child
born to Robert L. and Isadore Ann (Stewart) Grace, natives of Spar-
tanburg, S. C., and Portland, Me., respectively. They were married at
the latter place, settled in South Carolina in 1853, but removed to
Perry County, Mo., where they both died soon after. Mr. Grace was a
soldier in the War of 1812, was a wagon and carriage manufacturer by
occupation, and was of Irish descent. His father, John Grace, came
from Ireland to serve in the Revolutionary War. The mother of Thomas
J. was of Puritan, New England stock, and a member of the Presbyterian
Church. The father was a member of the Methodist Church. Dr. Thomas
J. was left an orphan at an early age. His guardian, E. L. Ellis, of
Perry County, owned slaves, which did not please our subject, and at
the age of sixteen he left and went to Chicago, where he was educated.
In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
and operated in Kentucky, Tennessee, South Missouri, Mississippi,
Alabama and Georgia. He was in the battle at Belmont, Fort Donelson,
Second Corinth, Shiloh, through the Siege of Vicksburg as dispatch
bearer to John A. Logan, Marietta, Ga., and from Atlanta to the sea
with Sherman. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., in May, 1865,
was breveted major, but never received the commission; was five times
wounded, but only slightly. He then returned to Chicago, finished his
schooling, and soon after began the study of medicine. He attended
two terms at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and spent three months, in
1871, at Louisville, Ky., Medical College, Hospital Department, and
began the practice of his profession at Powhattan, Ark., but since
1873, has practiced in Gasconade County. He was married, in that
county, in 1873, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and Margaret
Hoffman, formerly of Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Grace was born, and
since his marriage Mr. Grace has lived in Bourbois Township, four
miles northwest of Red River, where he has 320 acres. A life long
and stanch Republican, his first presidential vote was for Lincoln, in
1860. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Ernst Gaebler. Among the early settlers of Gasconade County were
Wilhelm and Maria (Ernst) Gaebler, both natives of Prussia, born in
1801 and 1797, respectively. For a livelihood the father followed
wool carding, and also kept hotel for some time. Their family con-
sisted of three sons, all of whom, together with both parents and
Grandfather Gaebler, came to America in 1839, and settled in this
county. The father died in 1860, and the mother in 1854. He was a
Democrat in politics, and both were members of the Lutheran Church.
The youngest of the boys, Ernst, was born in Prussia, in 1829. He
grew up on a farm and received his education chiefly before coming
here. Having worked for his father until twenty-three years of age,
he began for himself. In 1853 he went to California, and mined gold
for two years, after which he returned home and has since followed
agricultural pursuits, but in connection, for the past twenty years,
has been engaged in wine growing. In 1855 he married Miss Emma Senn,
a native of New Jersey, though of German descent, born in 1836, and
to them were born ten children, four sons and six daughters, only
seven now living. Mr. Gaebler has been a resident of this county
for nearly forty-nine years and is a good farmer. He and his wife
are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is deeply interested in
all subjects pertaining to education.
Anton Grass (deceased), eldest son of John Grass, was born in 1821, at
Klosters, Canton Grawbunden, Switzerland, where he was reared as a
peasant boy. His father, who was a teacher, and later a collector of
revenue, managed to give his son a good education. After growing up he
accepted a clerkship in a collector's office, and held this position
for two years, but wanting more room he left for America, in 1845, and
settled near Hermann on Frere Creek, in 1847, and two years later
married Miss Henrietta Heck (daughter of Ernst Heck), who was born in
Oberdreisz, Rhelnpreusen, in 1820, and who descended from a long line
of preachers. She immigrated from Urbach in 1848 in company with
several brothers, and settled near Hermann, on Cole Creek the same
year. After marriage Mr. Grass and wife settled on the farm where she
is still living. In 1869 Anton and family moved to Missouri City, Clay
Co., Mo., where he engaged in vine growing, but died the same year. Two
years after the family returned to this county again. In their family
were eight children, of whom five are living, all boys: John P., Anton,
Ernst, Charles and Henry. Charles and Henry are the only ones in this
county. The eldest and youngest of the boys are teachers, and the
second son is a miner in the West. The home place of 440 acres of land
is tilled by Charles and Henry. The Grass family has been settled in
this county for forty years. The father was a wide awake, stirring
business man, as are all his sons.
Gottlieb Grossmann, an early settler of Gasconade County, is the son of
Michael and Jacobine (Schoenthaler) Grossmann, both natives of Wurtem-
berg, Germany, where they were married, and where they reared a family
of five children, two sons and three daughters. The father was a farmer
by occupation. In 1887 they came to the United States, and the follow-
ing spring settled on the farm on which Gottlieb now resides. The
father was a soldier in the war with France in 1813, and a Democrat in
politics. Both parents lived to be about sixty-two years old. The sub-
ject of this sketch, the second child, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany,
in 1818, and came to the United States with his parents. In 1850 he
married Miss Christina Rapp, also a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born
in 1827, and to this union were born seven children, two sons and five
daughters. After their marriage they settled upon their present place
of residence, consisting of 270 acres, of which five acres are in
grapes. Both he and wife are members of the Evangelical Church, and in
politics Mr. Grossman is conservative, voting for the man rather than
the party. He is a good farmer, and as a business man he has been
quite successful.
William L. Heckmann, manager of the Hermann Ferry Company, is also cap-
tain and pilot of the steamer "Vienna," which plies the Gasconade and
Missouri Rivers. John H. and Christina (Rewald) Heckmann, his parents,
came originally from Germany, and found a home in Pittsburgh, Penn.,
from which place they removed to St. Louis, Mo., and later to Hermann,
where they were among the first settlers. The father was a carpenter
by trade, and assisted in erecting the first house in that place. In
their family were eleven children, five of whom survive. William L.,
one of the sons, was born at Hermann, February 24, 1845, here passing
his years until maturity. As he grew up he attended the public schools
and afterward learned the carpenter's trade, for a number of years en-
gaging in building and contracting. In 1861 he entered the Home Guards
and served three months, and then volunteered in the Fourth Missouri
Infantry, of which regiment he was sergeant major. After a two years'
term of service he returned to Hermann. In 1868 Mr. Heckmann embarked
in steamboating, and has since directed his attention to that calling,
being a practical, experienced pilot and licensed captain. In 1864 he
was married to Annie Bethe, who died in 1866, leaving one child. In
February, 1868, Mr. Heckmann married Miss Mary Miller, and they have a
family of ten children, all living. He is commander of Manwaring Post,
No. 320, G. A. R.
John Helmendach. Also numbered among the first German settlers of Gas-
conade County are William and Barbara Helmendach, both of whom were
born in Germany, the former in 1809, in Prussia, and the latter in 1813
in Baden. When twenty-one years of age William left home, went to Lon-
don, and shipped from there to the United States, in order to escape
military service. Two years later he arrived at Philadelphia, and there
in 1837, was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Fine. They came to
Gasconade County, where they settled, reared a family of nine children,
and here died, he in 1854, and she in 1870. Both were members of the
Evangelical Church. John Helmendach was born in Roark Township, on his
present farm, in 1841, and received a rather limited German education.
In July, 1861, he enlisted in Capt. Fritz Bade's Company, of Fourth
Missouri Infantry Volunteers, and served three years and three months.
He participated in the following battles: Pea Ridge, Perryville (Ky.),
Missionary Ridge, and on through all the fights to Atlanta. He was
discharged at the latter place, in September, 1864. Two years later he
married Mary E. Bensing, who was born in Gasconade County in 1843, and
who bore him seven children, five of whom are living. Mr. Helmendach
is a successful farmer, and owns 167 acres; is a Republican in politics
and both he and wife are members of the Evangelical Church.
Henry Henze, wine grower and farmer of Roark Township, is the son of
George and Elizabeth (Wedekind) Henze, natives of Hanover, Germany,
born in 1793 and 1803, respectively. They were the parents of six
children, all of whom were born in Hanover. The father, for a liveli-
hood, followed bleaching linen. He was a soldier under Wellington at
Waterloo, and at the battle of Hamburg. Henry has two medals, one for
each battle, given his father for acts of bravery by the reigning
Prince George. In 1847 the parents and three of the children came to
America, and afterwards the other two children followed; one having
died in the meantime. In 1848 they came to Gasconade County, and
here the parents spent the balance of their days on the property on
which the subject of this sketch is now living. The father died in
1866, and the mother a year later. The former was a Republican in
politics, and both were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Henry Henze was born in 1835, and at the age of thirteen came to this
county, where he remained with his parents until 1863, when he married
Mrs. Caroline Bradenburg, nee Voigt. She was born in Prussia in 1836,
where she was married, and with her first husband came to this country
about 1858. Four children were born to her first marriage, two sons
and two daughters. To her union to Mr. Henze five children were born,
three sons and two daughters, and three are living of each marriage.
Mr. Henze is a Republican in politics, and both he and wife are members
of the Evangelical Church. He owns eighty acres of land, seven of
which are in grapes. He has been a farmer and wine grower all his life
and is accounted as very successful. For the last seventeen years he
has taken more premiums and diplomas at the St. Louis Fair on grapes
and wine than any other man in the county.
William Herzog, of the firm of The Stone Hill Wine Company, of Hermann,
proprietors of the Stone Hill Vineyards, was born in Franfort-on-the-
Main, Germany, August 31, 1847, and after receiving a good education
immigrated to America in 1871, coming direct to Hermann, Mo., where he
at once entered into an engagement as traveling salesman for The Stone
Hill Wine Company, then composed of Messrs. Poeschel & Scherer. In 1874
he became a member of the firm and took charge of the branch house at
St. Louis, remaining there until 1878 at which time he and his present
partner assumed charge as sole proprietors, and Mr. Herzog then return-
ed to Hermann. In 1874 he was united in marriage with Miss Aurelia,
eldest daughter of Dr. Edward Cramer, of Hermann, and to them have been
born five children. Mr. Herzog served for a year (in 1867) as volun-
teer in the German army before leaving his native country, and partici-
pated in the German Franco War. He is now one of Hermann's substantial
citizens.
Frederick W. Hobein, another successful farmer of Roark Township, is
the son of William and Catherine (Schulte) Hobein, both natives of
Germany, he born in Prussia and she in Hanover. After marriage they
settled in Hanover and here reared a family of five children, three
sons and two daughters. The father was a farmer, and died at the age
of thirty-six. In 1857 the mother and all the children came to
America. The mother died in Gasconade County. The third child,
Frederick W., was born in Hanover, in 1836, and came to America just
in time to escape being drafted into the regular army. On reaching
St. Louis he found employment in piling lumber, and from that he
arose to a salesman in the same business, continuing at the same
about fifteen years. In 1859 he married Miss Catherine Meier, also
a native of Hanover, Germany, born in 1841. She was brought to
America when twelve years of age, and by her union to our subject
became the mother of six children, two sons and four daughters. In
1873 Mr. and Mrs. Hobein moved from St. Louis to their present home
of 311 acres, and have been quite successful at farming. He is a
Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Evangelical
Church. When Mr. Hobein came to America he was in debt for his pass-
age, but by hard work paid off all his debts, and has made what he has.
Dr. M. W. Hoge, one of the younger members of the medical fraternity in
Gasconade County, and a resident of Owensville; was born near Boonville
Cooper Co., Mo., November 18, 1861 and is the son of John J. and Mary
C. (Colhoun) Hoge, still residents of Boonville, where they have made
their home since 1876. The father is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and
for a time engaged in the practice of law in Wheeling, W. Va., but
after moving to Missouri his attention was directed mainly to agricul-
tural pursuits. In 1885 he received the appointment of receiver of
public money in the land office at Boonville, from President Cleveland.
To himself and wife four children were born, three of whom are living.
Dr. Hoge, the third child, as he grew up, secured the favorable advan-
tages of acquiring an education at the well known Kemper School, at
Boonville, from which he graduated. Following this he took one course
of lectures at Columbia, and for a year thereafter was occupied in
teaching, until, in 1881, he attended the St. Louis Medical College,
graduating in the class of 1883. Fitted to enter upon a professional
career, Dr. Hoge soon came to Gasoncade County, locating at Bay, but
after practicing one and a half years there removed to Owensville,
where he has since devoted himself assiduously to his adopted profess-
ion. Energetic and enterprising, his success for the future is assured.
Politically, he is a Democrat.
Henry Honeck, an extensive manufacturer of spring wagons, buggies,
farm wagons, plows, etc., and proprietor of a general blacksmithing
and wood work establishment, was born in Germany in 1833, and immi-
grated to America in 1852, locating first at Rochester, N. Y., where
he remained three years. Subsequently he worked for five years in
Chicago, and then, in 1860, came to Hermann, where he began working
at his trade. From that time to the present he has devoted himself
closely to his present calling with deserved success, though the
growth of his business has been gradual, as it was started on a small
basis. He carries on a blacksmith and wood workshop, besides a paint-
ing department, and has a good storeroom where work turned out com-
plete is kept on hand. In 1855 Mr. Honeck was married to Miss Mary
Weber, who was born in Germany, and to this union ten children have
been born, only one of whom is deceased.
Christopher Horstmann, another old settler of Gasconade County, was
born in Prussia in 1808, and is the son of Adolph Horstmann. The
parents of Christopher were born, reared and married in Prussia, and
during the occupancy of Prussia by the French soldiery, both parents
and a sister were taken away by a contagious disease, leaving two
children, a daughter twelve years of age and the subject of this
sketch. The latter was reared by his guardian, and after reaching
the age of manhood took charge of his father's farm. In 1830 he
married Elizabeth Schonemeyer, also a native of Prussia, and of the
five children born to their marriage, three were born in Germany,
one on the way, and one more was born in America. They arrived here
in 1837, landed at Newport, Franklin County, and the following spring
came to Gasconade County, where they settled on their present farm,
consisting of 160 acres. In 1872 his wife died. She was a worthy
member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which her husband is
also a member. Mr. Horstmann is conservative in politics, and has
been a resident of this county for fifty years. He is an honest,
worthy citizen.
Fred. W. Hueller, sheriff of Gasconade County, like so many other well
known citizens of the community, is of foreign birth, born in Prussia,
April 16, 1850. His parents, Herman D. and Elizabeth (Schultz) Hueller
were also natives of that country, and in 1854 immigrated to America,
the father subsequently following agricultural pursuits in this county
until his death in 1856; the mother died in 1858. Young Fred was rear-
ed to a farming experience, with which calling he became acquainted at
an early age, and in the meantime secured a common school education.
At the age of twenty-one, on account of an accident, whereby his right
hand was crippled, he was obliged to leave the farm, after which he
entered a mercantile establishment as clerk, remaining so occupied for
some seven years. In 1884 his qualifications for the position led him
to be selected by the Republican party as a candidate for sheriff, and
at the ensuing election he received the majority of the votes cast. In
1886 he was re-elected. November 4, 1886, Mr. Hueller was married to
Miss Augusta Riek, a native of Gasconade County, born in 1864. They
have one son.
Conrad Humburg, ex-county judge, farmer and wine grower, was born near
Hesse Castle, Germany, January 31, 1835, and is the son of Jacob and
Anna C. (Meilbert) Humburg, both natives of the same place as our sub-
ject. The father was a wealthy land owner and burgomaster of Crumbach.
Having lived in their native country until 1867, they came to America
and located in Roark Township. All their children, ten in number, were
born in Germany, and eight of them came with their parents to America.
The father died in 1881, at the age of seventy-eight, but the mother is
still living, and is eighty-two years old. All six of their boys came
to America to escape military duty. Conrad was but nineteen years of
age when he left the old country for America, and, after remaining here
three years, returned on a visit to his fatherland, but he could not
stay long or he would be pressed into service. He then returned and
has made this county his home principally ever since. In 1863 he marr-
ied Mrs. Margaret Pfortenhauer, nee Pfilifn, a native of Switzerland.
By her first husband she became the mother of five children, and by her
second marriage became the mother of four children. In 1871 she died
and the following year Mr. Humburg married Pauline Shuetz, who bore him
six children. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church, as was also his first wife. In 1882 he was chosen county judge
and held that position for two years. He is a Republican in politics,
and during the war served in the militia. He is a member of the Agri-
cultural Wheel. He owns 200 acres of land, of which 100 acres are
under cultivation, and is a prominent citizen of the county.
John Humburg, farmer, and son of Jacob and Anna C. (Meibert) Humburg,
was born in Crumbach, Hesse Cassel, Germany, in 1830, and was there
reared on a farm and educated. When young he came by himself to Amer-
ica, and in 1857 married Mary Bottermann, a native of Gasconade County,
Mo., who bore him six children, three sons and three daughters. Pre-
vious to his marriage, in 1853, Mr. Humburg went to California to dig
gold, but affirms that he could have made more by digging stumps at
home. After his return he married and settled where he now lives, hav-
ing 160 acres of good land. He affiliates with the Republican party,
but is not an active partisan. He and wife are members of the Metho-
dist Church, and are respected and enterprising citizens. Mr. Humburg
began life on comparatively small capital and has made all he has by
hard work, close economy and good management. He has been in this
county for thirty-two years and has succeeded in accumulating consider-
able property.
Julius Hundhausen, a vine grower of Hermann, was born near Cologne,
Rhine Province, Prussia, Germany, April 13, 1824, and is the son of
John Fred Hundhausen, now deceased, also a native of Prussia, Germany.
The father, with his four sons, Frederick, Robert, Julius and Hermann,
came to the United States in 1840, and settled on a farm in Franklin
County, Mo. He had studied theology, was a graduate of the University
of Marburg, and had been an acting minister of the gospel since July
30, 1813, evidenced by his first commission granted by Napoleon Bona-
parte, still in possession of his son with other valuable relics. He
afterward established the Lutheran Church at Hermann, Gasconade Co.,
Mo., where he preached for a number of years, and died January 28,
1874. His son, Julius, now the only survivor of the family, originally
emigrated in 1840, and stayed on the farm in Franklin County till the
fall of 1845, when he went to St. Louis, but returned to Franklin
County again in the spring of 1846. There he enlisted, together with
his brother, Robert, in the Mexican War, in Company E, First Missouri
Cavalry, commanded by Col. Doniphan, and participated in the battles of
Bracito and Sacramento, and the entire march of Doniphan's regiment
through Mexico down to the coast. In the year 1848 he came to Hermann,
where he has since lived, and is now cultivating the vine and has about
four acres of vineyard. During his residence in Hermann he held the
position of justice of the peace, presiding justice of the county court,
notary public, and was a memeber of the board of trustees of the town
of Hermann, as well as the school board for a number of years. In 1870
he was elected circuit clerk and recorder of deeds of Gasconade County,
which position he held for eight years. He has studied law and was
admitted to the bar several years before the late war. At the breaking
out of the Rebellion he commanded a battalion of Home Guards, afterward
was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Missouri Volunteer Inf-
antry, and served for about two years. He was then deputy provost
marshall till May, 1864, and superintended the draft in Osage and
Maries Counties, Mo., after which he went with his brother, Robert, who
had received the appointment of paymaster of volunteers, to New Orleans
and served as his clerk to the close of the war. October 22, 1872,
Miss Clara Holthaus, of Franklin County, became his wife, and to their
union were born seven children, five now living: Frederick A., Robert
J., Hermann H., Flora B. and Walter L. He is a respected citizen, and
is well known throughout the county and State.
Robert Jackisch (deceased). Among those who came from the hospitable
shores of Germany to Gasconade County, in 1854, should be mentioned
Robert and Fredericka Jackisch, both born in Prussia, he in 1827 and
she in 1828. After taking passage to America, and after being on the
ocean a week, the vessel was wrecked, and was obliged to return to
Liverpool for repairs. They at last set sail and reached New Orleans,
finding their way from that city to Gasconade County, Mo. He was a
saddler by trade, and for about fourteen months during the war worked
for the Union army. After the war he pumped water at a tank on the
Missouri Pacific Railroad for about seventeen years. While reading
one day the safety valve of the engine gave way, and the steam escap-
ing so rapidly, blinded him and he was unable to find his way out,
and was so severely scalded that he died in a few days (1882). He
was an honest, industrious man, and a member of the Evangelical Luth-
eran Church, an Odd Fellow and a Republican in politics, as were all
his boys. His widow still lives, and is also a member of the Lutheran
Church. Of their family of five children, Charles F. married Bertha
Rosin, and has two daughters; Adolphus G. married Katie Schumacher,
who died, leaving two daughters; Frederica H. is married and living in
Kansas; Bertha S. is still at home, and Daniel R. married Emma Wolter.
Charles is running the farm, Adolphus took his father's place at the
pump, and Daniel began merchandising in Gasconade City in 1887. All
the children received their educations in both the English and German
languages, and are well informed and respected citizens.
Frank Johnson, farmer, stock raiser and thresher, was born near Sweden,
March 7, 1833, the son of Jonas and Martha (Swanhendrickson) Johnson,
who spent their entire lives in Sweden, the father engaged in farming.
Frank was educated by his mother and by his own efforts. At the age of
twenty-one he began for himself, and was for four years on Swedish
vessels, also the same length of time on American vessels, mostly bet-
ween England and the United States. His last trip was around the world
in three years, on an American vessel, "The Belle of Creole," commanded
by Capt. Benjamin Crewell. On his return, in 1861, he was married at
Antwerp, Belgium, by the American Consul, J. W. Quiggle, in February,
to Miss Sofi Sjoberg, a native of Sweden, born October 24, 1839, and
ten children were born to this marriage, four now living: Ida Maria,
Christopher, Sofi and James Garfield. The same year of his marriage
Mr. Johnson came on to New Orleans, and from there to St. Louis, and
still from there to Centralia, Ill., where he remained for a number of
years. He then returned to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade, as
ship carpenter, for five years. In 1866 he came to Gasconade County,
settled on Gasconade River, seventeen miles west of Hermann, where he
has 160 acres of good bottom land, which was considered worthless swamp
when he settled there, but which, by judicious draining, he has made
one of the best in the county. He is a natural genius, and has invent-
ed an improvement in the cleaning apparatus of the thresher, which has
since been in almost universal use by the leading manufacturers of the
country. He was twice elected justice of the peace, but declined to
serve. He was for two summers in the Alton Agricultural Works, one
year as foreman and the next as superintendent. He is a Republican in
politics, his first presidential vote being for Ulysses S. Grant, in
1868. Mr. Johnson is interested in the breeding of Poland China hogs,
and is also making preparation for the breeding of thorough-bred
Holstein cattle, having his barns conveniently arranged. His first
invention, the grain-cleaning apparatus for the thresher, was patented
in 1874, for which he was offered $3,000 but refused. Soon after, with
a slight change to prevent infringement, the companies adopted its use.
In 1883 he invented and had patented another and better cleaner, on
which he has been offered a royalty. He has it in use with a full size
threasher constructed by himself. He worked two years with the late
Capt. Eads during the war, making gunboats.
Jacob Jordon is the son of Joseph and Catherine (Faninger) Jordon, both
natives of Germany. The mother had been formerly married to a man by
the name of Faninger, by whom she had three children. By her second
marriage two children were born: Jacob and a sister, deceased. The
father was a tiller of the soil, and served eight years under Napoleon,
going to Moscow on that fearful Russian campaign. In 1832 he and fam-
ily came to America, landed at New York, and after spending about five
years in that State, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and at
New Orleans, located in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., and here passed the
last of their days. He was sixty-five years of age and she eighty-four
at the time of their death. He was a Democrat in politics, and both
were members of the Catholic Church. Jacob Jordon was born in Alsace
in 1814, and while growing up learned the wheelwright's trade, though
he never worked at it much. He remained with his parents until they
moved to Ste. Genevieve County. In 1840 he married Miss Catherine
Kerchner, a native of Baden, Germany, born in 1817, and who came to
America with her parents, Michael A. and Catherine (Hoffner) Kerchner,
in 1832, and located in Ste. Genevieve County. Her parents were born
in Baden, Germany, were married there, and reared a family of five
children, two of whom were born after reaching America. Her father was
a stone mason by trade, but, after coming to this country, followed
farming. Both parents died in Ste. Genevieve County, he at the age of
fifty-five, and she at the age of eighty-two. Both were members of the
Catholic Church. In 1843 Mr. Jordon and wife moved to Gasconade County
and entered the land on which they now live, which consists of 1,152
acres, all the result of his own efforts. To them were born nine chil-
dren, eight of whom are living. He is a Democrat in politics, and both
he and wife are members of the Catholic Church.