PUTHOFF BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== PUTHOFF, Frank - b: 1866 Deepwater Twp, Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 871 residence: Deepwater Twp Frank Puthoff - There is one thing which Frank Puthoff of Deepwater township can boast of that most of his neighbors lack, and that is a splendid view of the surrounding country from his dooryard. Mr. Puthoff selected the highest place on his land, the topmost part of a high hill, for his home, affording a view of the surrounding country for many miles in every direction. He is owner of eighty acres of land upon which he was born March 5, 1866, in a log house. Mr. Puthoff is the son of Joseph (born October 26, 1826; died March 7, 1916), who was a native of Germany and the son of Henry Puthoff, who came to America in 1858 or 1860, and was an early settler of the Germantown neighborhood. Joseph Puthoff was twice married, his first marriage taking place in Germany with Clara Harmon, who died leaving three children: Henry, Kansas City, Missouri; Theodore, living on a farm near Germantown, whose daughter, Margaret, is housekeeper for Frank, subject of this sketch; Joseph, lives near Germantown, Missouri. His second marriage was with Mary Hake, born in Germany in 1850 and died December 11, 1888. This marriage took place at Boonville, Missouri, and was blessed with ten children: Frank; Anton, Kansas City; Mary, wife of Anton Rotert, Walker township; Kate, wife of William Rotert, Deepwater township; Minnie, wife of John Grabel, Walker township; Mrs. Josephine Kalwei, Deepwater township; John, Kansas City; Mrs. Elizabeth Sickman, Deepwater township; Theresa and Annie, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Puthoff were devout members of the Catholic Church and so lived their lives that they left an indelible imprint upon the community which will endure forever. Joseph Puthoff became owner of 160 acres of land and thirty acres of timber which his son Frank has managed for the heirs for some years. Frank Puthoff has purchased eighty acres of this land from their heirs, in addition to becoming owner of the timber tract. He erected his handsome home of eight rooms in 1914. Mr. Puthoff is a Republican and is a member of the Germantown Catholic Church. ==================================================================== PUTHOFF, Joseph H. - b: 1868 Deepwater Twp, Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 473 residence: Deepwater Twp Joseph H. Puthoff, progressive and successful farmer of Deepwater township, proprietor of a well-improved farm of 140 acres, is a native of Henry County and comes of an old pioneer family of the Germantown neighborhood. Mr. Puthoff was born November 27, 1868, about one-eighth of a mile west of his present home. Henry Puthoff, his father, was born in 1839 and died in 1906. He was a native of Germany, and was a son of Henry Puthoff, who accompanied his son to America in about 1860. Mr. Puthoff settled southeast of Germantown where he purchased 160 acres of land, improved it and increased his holdings to 240 acres. He was married in Germany to Theresa S. Schaffermeier, who was born in 1842 and died in 1909. Henry and Theresa Puthoff were parents of six children: Henry, living in Kansas; Mrs. Mary Meier, also living in Kansas; Joseph H., subject of this sketch; Herman resides on the home place; Mrs. Theresa Jergen died in Canada; Anna lives in St. Louis. Joseph H. Puthoff was educated in the Germantown schools and began farming on his own account in 1897. He then located on his present place which he improved and built up to suit his needs and requirements, making it one of the best farms in this neighborhood of rich and productive farmsteads. In November of 1896, Joseph H. Puthoff and Frances Witzel were united in marriage. Mrs. Frances Puthoff is a daughter of John Witzel, one of the old settlers of Germantown, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To this marriage have been born five children: Norbert, born January 16, 1898; Clements, born May 5, 1900; Elizabeth, born August 31, 1901; Agnes, born November 5, 1904; Josephine, born October 24, 1907. Mr. Puthoff is a Republican and he and his family are members of the Germantown Catholic Church. He is an industrious, intelligent, hard working citizen who has the respect and esteem of all who know him. Henry Puthoff served for three years in the German army before leaving the old country to find a free home in America. He served as a member of Company H, Seventh Missouri Cavalry during the Civil War and was a comrade of John J. Cook of Germantown. He saw about three years of hard service in Missouri and Arkansas during the rebellion and served his country until the war ended in 1865. Bushwhackers constantly harassed the settlers of his neighborhood during the war and would carry off provisions, live stock and anything that took their fancy. Joseph Puthoff, his brother, had suffered severely from their depredations. When Henry was on furlough and hiding out at home, the Rebels had taken the last horse which his brother owned. He determined to get even and stop them from taking away the animal that night. He said "They'll not take the horse away tonight," and hiding down by a rail fence he made up his mind to shoot them down as they came past his hiding place. The odds were much against him, but seasoned and brave soldier that he was, he was brave enough to attack the company of marauders in defense of his brother's property. As he lay in wait with his gun at his shoulder ready to fire, his brother came to him and said: "Henry, don't shoot; let them take the horse; don't kill a man for a horse." Joseph Puthoff lived to the great age of eighty-eight years and often told the story of how his brother Henry tried to fight a company of bushwhackers in defense of his last horse. Henry Puthoff was the bugler of his company and a great friend of Captain Box, who came to see him while attending a reunion at Urich. ==================================================================== 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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