PRUESSNER BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== PRUESSNER, August W. - b: 1866 Germany source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 576 residence: Leesville, Leesville Twp August W. Pruessner - The successful career of August W. Pruessner of Leesville, Missouri, began in 1885 when he purchased a lease on a tract of Grand River land and for three years tilled the land with fair success. He then bought sixty acres near the New Church in Bethlehem township, upon which he resided for four years and added forty acres during his tenure of the farm. Since his boyhood days Mr. Pruessner has known nothing but hard, continuous labor. He resided for three years in Benton County, Missouri, and bought land east of Warsaw, upon which he lived for three years. In 1897 he located upon 200 acres for which he traded. This land was located on the Benton-Henry County line and he cultivated it for three years. He accumulated 400 acres and improved the farm to a considerable extent. In 1905 he moved to Leesville and bought eighty-five acres of his present home place, which consists of 305 acres in all. He owns in addition to this another farm of 40034 acres on Tebo Creek, eighty acres of which lies in Henry County and the balance in Benton County. One hundred acres of the Pruessner land were sown to wheat, which has yielded (1918) the splendid crop of fifteen bushels to the acre; 180 acres are in corn, which promises to give a fine yield, and thirty- five acres of oats. The rest of the land is sown to grasses and pasture for the live stock. Twenty horses and mules are kept on the place and from ninety to 100 head of cattle are fattened annually for the markets. The farm produces from fifty to 400 head of hogs annually. The Pruessner ranch is one of the most modern and best equipped in Henry County. A silo is filled each year with green forage. The plowing and harrowing is done with a modern tractor. A grist mill is also operated by the same power. The ranch is equipped with the most modern farm machinery so as to expedite the farm work and do it more economically with the least labor possible. August W. Pruessner was born in Germany in May, 1866, the son of Simon and Florence Pruessner, the latter of whom died when August W. was a youth. The Pruessners came to America in 1867 and settled in Osage County, Missouri, and later in Gasconade County. From there they went to Kansas and settled in Henry County in 1886. The elder Pruessner was a farmer. In October of 1887 August W. Pruessner and Martha Fisher were united in marriage. Mrs. Martha Pruessner was born in Saline County, the daughter of Christ Fisher, a native of Pennsylvania and one of the old settlers in this county, moving from Saline to St. Clair County and thence to Henry County. The children born to August W. and Martha Pruessner are as follows: Christ, died when young; Elizabeth, was educated at the Warrensburg Normal School and has taught three terms of school, now a student at Clinton Business College; Albert, born February 15, 1894, is a farmer, married Vivian Swazey; Janie, former student at Warrensburg State Normal School and now student at Clinton Business College; Oscar, born July 27, 1898, is assisting in the home farming operations and is a capable and energetic young man; Ethel, Veda, at home; Everett, died in infancy. In addition to the other conveniences on this splendidly equipped farm the Pruessners have a late "Studebaker Six" which takes the family to town or city in a few minutes. Mr. Pruessner is a Republican, although he has had little time for political matters. He was reared a Presbyterian but has embraced the faith as exemplified by the Baptist teachings. Of late years Mr. Pruessner's health has been such that it has become necessary for him to shift the burden of caring for the farming operations to the shoulders of his capable and energetic sons, who are successful farmers. His career has reached its zenith, having achieved wealth and position in the agricultural life of Henry County he can well be content to let others take up the task of carrying onward the work so well done. ==================================================================== 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. 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