Biographical Sketch of James H. Hering, Johnson County, Missouri, Centerview Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** James H. Hering, late prominent hardware and lumber merchant of Center- view for a quarter century, was a native of Maryland. He was born in 1838 in Frederick county, a son of Joshua and Susanna Hering, both of whom were members of leading colonial families of Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Hering were the parents of the following children, who are now living: Mrs. Joseph C. Martin, Thurmont, Maryland; Mrs. F. A. Norris, Steelton, Pennsylvania; Dr. D. W. Hering, New York City; F. E., Willimington, Delaware; and John M., the well known citizen of Johnson county, of the realty Securities Corporation. Both father and mother have long since been deceased. The Herings resided for many years in the city of Baltimore and there James H. Hering spent most of his boy- hood days and early manhood. During the Civil War, Mr. Hering enlisted with the Army of the Potomac and served throughout the four years of conflict, being mustered out and honorably discharged in 1865, with the rank of first lieutenant. In the year after the war had ended, in 1866 James H. Hering came to Warrensburg, Missouri two or three weeks after the Repp family had moved from Maryland to Johnson county. Mr. Hering located at Centerview a few years later and engaged in the hardware and lumber business, following this vocation for nearly 26 years. In 1867 James H. Hering and Sarah Repp, daughter of Ephraim B. Repp, of Warren- sburg, Mo., but a former resident of Maryland, were united in marriage. To this union were born nine children, six of whom are now living: Mrs. Mary S. Hunter, Newton, Kansas; Mrs. Jessie Delaney, Centerview, Mo.; J. Clinton, Washington, D.C.; Margaret E., the wife of Rodney Hull, of Centerview, Mo.; Elizabeth, the wife of Raymond Graham, Los Angeles, California; and E. P., Centerview, Missouri, who is one of the owners now of his father's hardware establishment. For four years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hering resided at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Mr. Hering was a carpenter by trade and he was engaged in this occupation many years. He purchased 80 acres of land south of Warrensburg, when he first came to Missouri, and four years later sold this tract and settled in Centerview. He succeeded well in the mercantile business and was known all over Johnson county. Mr. Hering was active in the ranks of the Republican party. He was a member of the Colonel Grover Post of the Grand Army of the Republic and he had been an earnest and consistent Christian, a member of the Baptist church for 40 years. As there was no Baptist church in Centerview, Mr. Hering worked with the Presbyterians. He was deeply interested in educational and all public matters and in the advancement of his community and his long life of 72 years and six months was spent in nobly doing his part in aiding the growth and development of his chosen county. The following is an ex- tract copied from an article, relative to the loss of James H. Hering, which appeared in the local paper at the time of his death in 1911: "Mr. Hering was a man of irreproachable character, with a circle of friends as large as his acquaintanceship, and he will be sadly missed, by Centerview and Johnson county." "The funeral of J. H. Hering at Centerview, Wednesday, was attended by an immense concourse of people, gathered to pay the last sad tribute to a beloved citizen. The stores of Centerview were all closed, the merchants and clerks attending the funeral. A touching sermon was preached by Reverend J. O. Staples and the body of a good man was laid to rest. Mr. Hering made no claim to greatness and was a man of unostentatious disposition, but he left the greatest memorial of all, an unsullied reputation." The widow of James H. Hering owns the homestead and her son, E. P., and his family make their home with her in Centerview. In 1911, E. P. Hering and Edward Repp formed a partnership and assumed charge of the hardware and lumber business formerly owned by Mr. Hering's father. They are at this time carrying a stock valued at $20,000. Their business slogan is, "Every- thing with which to build." Mr. Hering and Mr. Repp are both excellent business men and have a host of friends, who desire that the new firm succeed as well as did the old in the mercantile world. In 1907, E. P. Hering was united in marriage with Harriet Cecil Gowans, daughter of A. D. and Mary Gowans, pioneers of Johnson county. To this union have been born two children: Pauline and James, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Hering are highly regarded in Centerview, where they are numbered among the best citizens. ==================================================================== 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: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================