FOCHT BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== FOCHT, John F. - b: 1863 near Wapokaneta, OH source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 390 residence: Walker Twp John F. Focht. Although John F. Focht, well-to-do farmer of Walker township, during a career as an agriculturist, has earned the right to retire from active labor, he willingly gave up his mode of living which provided for a round of travel and sight-seeing throughout the country, to return to Henry County and take active charge of his farm in order that the food supply of the nation might be enhanced. Mr. Focht is owner of 246.67 acres of farm lands in the northwest corner of Walker township, four acres of which lies in Bates County. Mr. Focht has had an interesting career and is one of the best posted and intelligent citizens of Henry County. Born on an Ohio farm, near the city of Wapokaneta, Ohio, August 15, 1863, he enjoys the distinction of being a son of the first white child born within the confines of his native county. He is the son of Daniel and Maria (Justus) Focht, the former of whom was a direct descendant of one of Baron Steuben's soldiers who came to America and assisted in the fight for the independence of the American colonies. Daniel Focht was born near Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, in May, 1813, and was a son of Adam Focht who settled in the wilderness of western Ohio as early as 1836, cleared a home from the forest and swamp land and reared a family of sons as follows: Louis, Adam, John, Samuel, William, Daniel, and Jacob. His father established a home in Pennsylvania, the western part not many years after the Revolutionary period upon a grant of land which had been given to the family by a grateful Government. Tradition says that the original Focht ancestor paid his passage across the Atlantic with Steuben's expedition by fighting with the American forces. Daniel Focht was reared to young manhood in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and in 1836 located in western Ohio. He was there married and reared a family of twelve children, nine of whom are living: Mrs. Jane Hulbert, living in Ohio; Jacob, a citizen of Ohio; Mrs. Hannah Abbot, Bates County, Missouri; John F., subject of this review; William, living in Ohio; Mrs. Dora Cummins, Indiana; Mrs. Susan Winegardner, Ohio; and Mrs. Leora Butler, living in Southern Idaho. John F. Focht was reared in Auglaize County, Ohio, and was there married in 1890 to Miss Vona Brackney, who was also born in Auglaize County, a daughter of Riley and Matilda Brackney, well- known residents of that county. One son has been born of this marriage: Russell C., born in March, 1893, a successful farmer of Walker township, who married Mazie Hughes. Leaving his native State in November 2, 1882, John F. Focht went to Iowa and was employed at farm labor in that State for a period of ten months. He was then employed in Nebraska for seven months; Kansas, eight months; New Orleans and the Southland, three months. After this sight-seeing trip over the country, he returned to Ohio and after a short visit with the home folks of four months he made a trip through Iowa, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, stopping for a time in Kansas City and Omaha, where he was employed at gainful labor. After his marriage in 1890 he settled down on an Ohio farm for six years. In 1896 he sold out and traveled a distance of three thousand miles to Chehalis, Washington, toured Idaho, attended the Portland, Oregon Exposition and then located near Chehalis, where he was engaged in farming for eleven months. He and Mrs. Focht then toured California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado and ended their trip at Creighton, Missouri. Since that time he has owned three farms and is now located on one of the good farms in Henry County. His last trip was a tour of Idaho in 1917. Mr. Focht is a Democrat in politics and is one of those widely traveled men who are well posted upon the events of the day and knows his native land and loves it for its vastness and beauty. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================