Pettis County, Missouri, A Portrait & Biographical Record - Johnson and Pettis Counties , July 1895 Page Two --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Contributed by: Vesta L. DeRiso ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE, this record is not alphabetized, nor indexed. To locate a family name you would like to read about hold down - CRTL + F - type the name - you are looking for - Enter - and if that name is in this record your computer will locate it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Portrait & Biographical Record - Johnson and Pettis Counties , July 1895 Page Three on this site, ------------------------------------------------ "Peter Pehl, the proprietor of the Fulton Market Bar, is a man who is well known all over the state. He has been very successful in his business, and has accumulated a comfortable living in this line of trade. His birth occurred in Ems, province of Hesse-Nassau, July 27, 1855. His father, who was also a native of the same town, was a manufacturer of building materials and also erected factories. His entire life was passed in his native land. The mother of our subject, who was formerly Kathrina Wagner, and also died in Germany, was the daughter of Philip Wagner. The latter, who was in Napoleon's army, made the march to Russia with his soldiers and was wounded during his service. In civil life he was a fancy weaver by trade. In the parental family were ten children four of whom are still living. Peter is the eldest and the only one in America; William is an officer in the German navy; and two sisters are living in the Fatherland. Our subject's boyhood years were passed in Ems, and he later spent some time in Stuttgart and Freiberg. For four years he was apprenticed to learn the hostel and restaurant business, and in 1874 came to America, leaving Hamburg on a vessel bound for New York. September 2 of that year he arrived at Sedalia. In 1879 he went to Parsons, Kan., and opened a place, but returned to this city in 1882 and opened the Faust Restaurant on Osage Street, taking Charles Kobrock into partnership. In 1889 Mr. Kobrock and our subject dissolved partnership, the latter establishing the business which he now carries on January 6, 1895. The Fulton Market Restaurant, Oyster-house and Bar occupies a building with a frontage of seventy feet on Second Street, near Ohio, and is a place which receives liberal patronage. July 1, 1894, Andrew Gardella took charge of the restaurant. He is very popular and quite well known all over the state, and the house in consequence does quite an extensive business. Our subject is also interested in Pehl & Riley's Bar, on Ohio Street, between Third and Fourth, and also owns considerable valuable real estate. He owns seventy feet fronting on Second Street, occupied by three storerooms, about seventy feet on Osage Avenue, occupied by a livery, and a fine property on Wilkerson Street and Harrison Avenue. In Sedalia, September 15, 1886, occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Augusta Bartel, a native of Pomerania, Germany. Two children have come to bless their home, to whom have been given the names of Carl and Otto. Mr. Pehl is a charter member of the Liquor Dealers' Benevolent Association, and is a member of the Supreme Council of the State Liquor Dealers' Association, acting as delegate to their convention held in St. Louis in 1892. Politically he is a member of the Democratic party, in whose ranks he is an active worker. Socially he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the D. O. H., in which he is past officer, and the Sons of Herman, in which he has also held office." -------------------------------- "Henry K.Bente, senior member of the firm of Bente & Wilson, was born in Coooper County, Mo., July 8, 1866, being a son of Henry and Dorothy (Kropp ) Bente. The former, a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, emigrated to America in 1845, and settled near Greenville, Ohio. Ten years later he commenced farming in Heath Creek Township, Pettis County, and at the time of his retirement, in 1860, his property was very valuable. He died in 1891, when nearly seventy years of age. Though he was a cripple, he volunteered for service in the Union army, but was rejected. His wife, a native of the same German province, died in January, 1893, when in her fifty-eighth year. They were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their eldest son, Rev. C. H., is a minister in a Congregational Church in St. Louis, Mo., while the others, W. A., John M., J. Y., George and Charles, are farmers near Otterville, Mo., and the only daughter, Minnie, also resides in that vicinity. The early years of H. K. Bente were passed on a farm and his education was completed in Otterville College, from which he graduated in 1890, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. For a time he was Principal of Otterville Public School, but in 1891 he entered the University of Michigan, graduating from the legal department two years later, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. After practicing for six months in the office of Judge Shirk, he became a member of the firm with which he is now identified. He owns a share in the old homestead of three hundred and twenty-five acres in Cooper County. In politics Mr. Bente is a Democrat, and fraternally is a charter member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph. He is also a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is in every respect a young man of sterling character." ------------------------------------ "George E. Hollenbeck is one of the enterprising farmers of Pettis County, owning a fine estate of two hundred and eleven acres, located on section 1, township 44, range 23. Since attaining manhood he has given his energies and industry to agriculture and is thoroughly practical and well informed on every subject pertaining to the best methods of conducting a farm. He is a splendid judge of animals, and has perhaps bought and sold more live stock than any other man in Pettis County. Our subject was born in Ohio, November 27, 1850, and is the eldest member of his parents' family. Alphonso and Amanda (Archer) Hollenbeck, the parents, were also natives of the Buckeye State. The father traveled a great deal, visiting South America and the states on the western coast of America. He died in the Golden State, June 26, 1872, while his good wife passed away in Missouri in May, 1889. George E. Hollenbeck had very few opportunities for gaining a good education, for at the time when he should have been in school the Civil War broke out and the schools over various portions of the country were closed. He came to Missouri when a lad of eight years, at a time when this now thickly populated county was a vast wilderness, and but little improvement had been made on farms which had been taken up. The father went to South America when our subject was eighteen years of age, and the latter looked after affairs at home. He remained under the parental roof until a year prior to reaching his majority, when he began farming on his own account, and in this venture has been greatly prospered from the first. His estate adjoins the beautiful little village of Green Ridge, and the buildings which adorn the place are substantial in character and aid in making this one of the most attractive homes in Pettis County. The farm is a valuable one, and is devoted to raising both grain and stock. Mr. Hollenbeck was united in marriage, in December, 1885, with Miss Minnie, daughter of Dr. W. H. Flesher, a prominent physician of this county, who makes his home in Green Ridge. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three daughters, Eula, Mary A. and Elizabeth. In politics our subject is a Democrat at all times and under all circumstances, therefore is opposed to monopolies. He is President of the Farmers and Merchants' Bank at Green Ridge. At all times he gives his influence to support measures calculated to benefit the community at large, and is a shrewd business man. By those who are well acquainted with him he is held to be a man of sterling worth and strict integrity." --------------------------------- "Edgar P. Ford is First Deputy Clerk in the County Clerk's office, and was formerly Deputy Internal Revenue Collector of the Sixth District. He received his appointment to his present position in January, 1895, and in the intervals of his regular duties is pursuing law studies, which he took up first two or three years ago, and for nine months was in the office of Messrs. Sangree & Lamm. Numbered among the active young Republicans of this section, he was at one time Chairman of Cedar Township Central Committee, and is now Treasurer of the County Central Committee. While he was a student in Drury College at Springfield, Mo., he was Second Sergeant of a militia company, and at present is a member of Company D, Second Missouri National Guards. Mr. Ford is a native of Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, born October 12, 1870. His father, William R., was born in Rumley, Harrison County, Ohio, July 2, 1833, and his grandfather, Henry Ford, was also a native of the Buckeye State. The latter was a merchant, farmer and Miller in Monroe County, whither he moved about 1839, and was a hero of the Mexican War. William R. Ford was reared in Monroe County, and though he studied medicine, did not practice, preferring to engage in merchandising. In April, 1861, he raised a company, of which he was made Lieutenant, and six months later was promoted to be Captain of Company E, Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry, the regiment which was formerly commanded by Colonel Crook. Captain Ford served for three years, during which time he was under General Hayes, General Crook and Colonel Devol. At Winchester he was shot through the temples and was left for dead on the field, being reported as such. This was not the case, however, and he was taken captive by the Confederates, lying for six weeks in Libby Prison before being exchanged. Thus incapacitated for service, he was obliged to resign in 1864. In 1866 he moved to Pettis County, Mo., but for a few years traveled back and forth between his new home and his former one, while engaged in the sheep business. At first he lived on a farm south of Sedalia, and later on one north of the city, and subsequently moved to a farm near Georgetown. In July, 1889, he was appointed Deputy Revenue Collector by Gen. H. F. Devol, of Kansas City, his old army colonel. His health failed in a short time thereafter, and his son, Edgar P., took charge of the office. The father died August 31, 1893, aged about sixty years. April 26, 1866, William R. Ford was married, in Woodsfield, Ohio, to Ann E. Hunter, who was born in that village, January 18, 1837. Her father, Hon. William F. Hunter, who was born in Virginia, was an attorney-at-law in Woodsfield, and for two terms was a Member of Congress. He was called to his final rest in 1873, leaving a wife and three children. The former, who is now living in Georgetown, and whose birth occurred in Pittsburg, Pa., was Miss Mary Kincaid before her marriage. Her only brother, William F., Jr., is President of the Ohio State Law School at Columbus. Mrs. Ford is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she has been identified for many years. Her three children are Edgar P., Frank F. and Mary R. One child died at the age of seven years. Edgar P. Ford was reared to manhood in this county, and until fourteen years of age attended the district schools. Then, entering the Sedalia High School, he graduated from there in 1890, and entered Drury College at Springfield, Mo., but in the sophomore year was obliged to return home to take charge of his father's office, on account of his failing health. The father having resigned in October, 1892, our subject was appointed Deputy Revenue Collector of the Sixth District, on the 17th of the same month, by Colonel Devol. He had full charge of fourteen counties in the center of the state, namely, Cole, Miller, Johnson, Camden, Cooper, Hickory, Benton, Henry, St. Clair, Bates, Cass, Pettis, Morgan and Monteau, and held the office satisfactorily until December 5, 1893, when there was a change made in the office force on account of political influence. During the next year our subject turned his attention to law studies, and taught one term of school near this city. Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph, and religiously is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church." ------------------------- "Daniel E. Kennedy, of Sedalia, is a successful and rising young attorney-at-law. He opened an office for practice here December 1, 1891, choosing this enterprising and progressive city on account of the great faith he had in its future, and believing, with many others, that it would eventually be made the capital of the state. Since the organization of the Midland Savings and Loan Company, he has been their legal adviser. Mr. Kennedy is a native of Keokuk, Iowa, his birth having occurred in that beautiful little city January 6, 1865, but his father, John, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland. The grandfather, Patrick, a practical accountant, emigrated to America with his family, first locating in New York, and later moved to Keokuk, where his death occurred. John Kennedy was a mere lad when he reached the shores of the New World, and grew to manhood in Troy, N. Y., there learning the trade of stone-cutting. In 1856, he went westward to Keokuk and engaged in contracting and building. Subsequently he aided in the construction of the Des Moines Rapids Canal, on the Mississippi River at Keokuk, having a contract for part of the stonework. In 1876 he took up his abode on a farm in Clark County, Mo., but a few years afterward retired from business and returned tto his former home in Keokuk. His wife, who before her marriage was Julia C. Coughlin, was likewise born in Ireland (in the city of Waterford), and was left an orphan in childhood. D. E. Kennedy is the youngest in a family of five children who grew to maturity and are still living. He was reared in Keokuk and Clark County, Mo., and was given the advantages of a good common and high school education. After completing his studies he engaged in farming and stock-raising in Clark County, and besides did a general merchandise business for several years. He also traveled to some extent, and in February, 1888, was appointed Postmaster of Revere, Clark County, by President Cleveland. This position he resigned September 12, 1888, in order to devote his time exclusively to the study of law. Going to Kahoka, Mo., he entered the office of J. M. Wood and T. L. Montgomery. The same year Mr. Wood was elected Attorney-General of Missouri, and in the fall our subject was appointed Deputy-Sheriff by Sheriff Fletcher, of Clark County, and served as such until the close of his term in January, 1889. The spring he was made Deputy Circuit Clerk under B. F. Waggener, remaining in that capacity until the fall of 1891. In less than two years after he had first taken up his legal studies, he was admitted to the Bar at Memphis, Scotland County, Mo., the date of the event being August 14, 1890. In the spring preceding he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for nomination to the office of Probate Judge of Clark County, and was defeated by only one vote. He commenced his future work in Kahoka, where he conducted a general practice until the close of 1891. His present office is centrally located, in the Ilgenfritz Building. In his social relations Mr. Kennedy is a member of Fleur De Lis Division and Queen City Lodge No. 52, K. of P., and the order of Elks. He is a charter member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph (his name having been the first one placed on the list of its founders in this city), and is Chancellor of Sedalia Council No. 25, St. Louis L. of H. Moreover he is Chief Sir Knight of the Knights of Father Mathew, and is Secretary of the local branch of the Catholic Knights of America. A member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, he has been one of its Trustees, and is Secretary of the Sedalia Free Library Board of Trustees. He is recognized as a leader in the ranks of the Democratic party and is very popular with all." ----------------------------------