McCOWN BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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McCOWN, Walter R. - b: 1863 Bethlehem Twp, Henry Co, MO
source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - 
page: 815
residence: Bethlehem Twp

Walter R. McCown is the son of pioneer people who came to Henry County before 
the Civil War and labored faithfully and hard that their posterity might enjoy the 
privilege of the present time. Mr. McCown was born April 18, 1863, in Bethlehem 
township, Henry County, and now resides one and one-half miles from his 
birthplace. His parents, William H., and Elizabeth (Hockersmith) McCown, were 
born in Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. In 1840, with a rude ox-team as 
conveyance, they braved the terrors of the unknown country to trade with the 
Indians of Burham, Texas. They employed a native Indian as interpreter and for 
three years plied their business of trading with the Indians. In 1843, they again 
wended their way eastward and this time located in Bethlehem township, Henry 
County, where one hundred twenty acres of land were purchased. Forty-seven 
acres of the land were in timber and this was felled to build the rude log cabin 
and enclose the farm with a rail fence. A few years of residence here, spent in 
hard labor, was ended by the selling of the farm and returning to Kentucky, 
whence a year later they returned and purchased fifty-five acres in Leesville 
township, where they spent their remaining days and are now laid at rest in the 
Bethlehem Township Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: 
Burr, deceased; Mary, deceased, wife of Capt. Granville Deaurah, a Union veteran 
of the Civil War; Melvin, resides at Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Luam Edwards, San 
Francisco, California; Luther, Osage township; Mrs. Elizabeth Minick, Leesville 
township; Walter R., the subject of this sketch and W. H., twins. W. H. lives at 
Malvern, Iowa. Louis died in 1914, leaving a wife and three children. Walter 
McCown has spent his life in agricultural pursuits in this county and is now the 
owner of 160 acres of well tilled land. He also handles a large number of cattle, 
sheep and mules which he is constantly selling and buying for the markets. His 
early education was received in the district schools and in the early life he 
rented land until 1908, when he purchased 35 acres. in 1909 he purchased 80 
acres and 40 acres in 1917. He has made improvements on his farm, building two 
good barns, and also remodeling his home. A natural spring on the farm is piped to 
cement tanks for the cattle and is considered one of the best springs of the 
numerous ones throughout the county. The first marriage of Mr. McCown to Fannie 
Greer was in 1886. She was laid to rest in Good Hope Cemetery in 1901. The 
following children came to bless this union: Edgar Earl, died at the age of five; 
Ora, wife of Isaac Harvey of Leesville township; Lulu, wife of Emmett Bailey, 
residing at Hancock, Iowa; Florence, wife of J. B. Simmonds of Deepwater, 
Missouri; Blanche, wife of Adolph Zobrist, Hancock, Iowa. In 1902 Mr. McCown 
was married to Allie Hammond and five children have been born to this union: 
John Shelby, Wilber, Elbert, Walter and Beulah, all at home with their parents. Mr. 
McCown is one of the substantial men of Henry County and well deserves to be 
classed as one of its progressive citizens. 

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