Gasconade Biographies A-E
Gasconade County
Biographies
A-E
Philipp Apprill, resident and farmer of Roark Township, is the son of
Joseph and Barbara (Schmidt) Apprill, both natives of Alsace, France,
the former born in 1786, and the latter three years later. The father
was a farmer and grain dealer, and lived to be sixty-one years old.
The mother died at the age of eighty, and both passed their entire
lives in their native country. Eight children were born to their
marriage, of whom two sons and three daughters came to America. The
youngest member of the family was Philipp, who was born in Alsace,
France, in 1834, and received a common education. While growing up
he learned the cooper trade, and after coming to America, in 1853,
worked at his trade in Buffalo, until 1854, but went from there to
Ripley County, Ind., and in 1860 came to Gasconade County, Mo., where
three years later, he married Miss Margaret Vogel, who was born in
Switzerland in 1841. By her were born seven children, four sons and
three daughters. Mrs. Apprill died in 1880. Both Mr. and Mrs. Apprill
were members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat in politics.
He has a fine farm of 218 acres, and as a farmer has ever been accus-
tomed to sow wheat.
Joseph H. Barbarick, Sr., farmer of Third Creek Township, of Gasconade
County, Mo., and a native of the same, was born in 1824, the eighth of
nine children of Frederick and Elizabeth (Walter) Barbarick, both born
in Cabarrus County, N. C., in 1785 and 1790, respectively. The father
was left an orphan at an early age, and was reared by strangers. He
received a common school education, and when about twenty-five years of
age removed to Indiana, and about two years later to Illinois. Three
years later he came to Gasconade County, Mo., and located on Crider's
Creek, where her mother and stepfather, Daniel Crider, had previously
located. Daniel Crider was also a North Carolinian, and settled in
Missouri in 1818, where he improved the farm now owned by Henry Bier.
Mr. Barbarick located on Crider's Creek, about three miles above his
father-in-law's, where he lived until 1861, when his wife died. He then
spent the remainder of his life with his children, and died in 1864.
His son, Joseph H. Barbarick, is the only one of his father's family
who is now living. His entire schooling did not amount to over nine
months, and that was obtained with considerable difficulty. He was
reared among the Indians, with whom he played as familiarly as with his
own brothers and sisters, until fifteen or sixteen years of age. Until
he was quite a large boy his sole apparel was a loose deerskin garment.
In all probability Mr. Barbarick is as well acquainted with the early
history of the county as any man now residing there, and is perhaps,
its oldest native inhabitant. February 22, 1849, he was married to
Mrs. Manerva Shockley, who died in 1866, leaving seven children. Mr.
Barbarick married his second wife, Mrs. Hannah M. Shockley (nee Bran-
son) in 1870, and she died in 1885; he then married his present wife in
1887. Since 1849 he has lived on his present farm, and is now the owner
of 400 acres of good land. In 1861 he joined Company A, Missouri State
Militia, and served six months as sergeant. About eight years prior
and during the war he served as justice of the peace. He has always
been an industrious and upright citizen, and is an earnest advocate for
the cause of education. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but
since the organization of the Republican party he has been an earnest
advocate of its principles. He and his last wife are members of the
Christian Church. Mr. Barbarick tells an interesting anecdote, con-
cerning one of his early ancestors. His mother's great-great grand-
mother came to America when about sixteen years of age. While en route
the provisions gave out, and the crew and passengers alike were on the
point of starvation. Lots were cast as to whom it should be who should
give their life to preserve the others, and the lot fell to the girl.
Two hours were given her in which to prepare for death; but before the
time elapsed a vessel hove in sight and rescued the starving people.
Jacob Bareis, a successful farmer of Roark Township, is the son of John
and Elizabeth (Strobel) Bareis, both born in Wurtemberg, Germany, where
they spent their lives. The father was a worthy farmer, and both he and
wife were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He died at the
age of eighty, and she, when a little over seventy. Their family con-
sisted of thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters. Only two
of the children ever crossed the ocean, Jacob and a brother. The former
was born in Wurtemberg, in 1827, and at the age of twenty-one started
for America, and intended to stop at Cincinnati, Ohio, but the cholera
was raging at that place, and he came to St. Louis. Finding it no
better there he came to Hermann, but soon after went to St. Clair Co.,
Ill., where he farmed five years. He then returned to Gasconade County
where he has made his home since 1856. That year he married Dorrettea
Richter, a native of Brunswick, Germany. She came to this country in
1855, and after her marriage to Mr. Bareis they settled upon their pre-
sent property, which consists of forty acres. Their family consisted
of ten children, nine of whom are living, five sons and four daughters.
In politics, Mr. Bareis votes for the man rather than the party. Both
he and wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and he is a
good farmer on a small scale.
William Barner, one of the early settlers and influential citizens of
Gasconade County, was born in Prussia, in 1816, and is the son of
William and Christine (Bredemeyer) Barner, both natives of Prussia,
and both born in the year 1789. The father was a shoemaker by trade,
though, after coming to America, he followed farming. They remained
in the old country until 1845, when they came to America and settled
in Missouri, Franklin County, where both died, he in 1874, and she in
1848. He took an active part in the war against France in 1813. Both
parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In their
family were three sons and three daughters, all of whom were born in
Prussia, Germany. William Jr., the second child, also learned the
shoemaker's trade, to which he devoted his time until he came to the
United States. In 1843 he married Christine Ohlemeyer, also a native
of Prussia, born in 1824, and they too came to America in 1853, loca-
ting in Roark Township, on the farm they still own. To their marriage
were born nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom three
were born in Germany, and six in Gasconade County. Mr. Barner has
farmed since coming to this country, and now owns 133 acres of good
land. He and family are members of the Evangelical Church, and he is
Republican in his political belief. For thirty-five years he has been
a resident of this county, and is accounted a good farmer, and an hon-
est, upright citizen. The Barner family is one long established and
well known in Gasconade County.
Frederick Beckmann (deceased), one of the early settlers of Gasconade
County, Mo., was born in Hanover, Germany, where he grew up as a tiller
of the soil. On reaching manhood he married Fredericka Grese, also a
native of Hanover, Germany. He owned and worked a farm until 1846,
when he and wife and five children came to America, and settled in this
county, where two more children were born. They spent the remainder of
their lives here, he dying at the age of sixty, and she at the age of
seventy-three. Both were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The second child, Christian, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1833, and
the greater part of his education was received in his native land.
Having farmed on his father's place until twenty-four years of age, he
purchased his father's farm, and since then has increased it to 200
acres. In 1858 he married Saloame Aberlen, a native of Baden, Germany.
She came here when six years old. To their marriage were born ten
children, six sons and four daughters. All the family are members of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Beckmann is a Republican in poli-
tics, and during the war served in the Home Guards. As a farmer, he
has been quite successful, and is a man well known and highly esteemed,
having been a resident of this county for forty-two years.
William Beckmann is a native of Prussia, Germany, born March 4, 1829.
His father, Henry Beckmann (deceased), was also born in Germany, and
immigrated with his family to the United States. They located in St.
Louis, where the father died in 1851, of cholera. The family then
moved to Warren County, Mo., in 1854. The mother, whose maiden name
was Elizabeth Schmidt, was born in 1801, and died in 1856 in Montgom-
ery County, Mo. In the spring of 1864 William came to Gasconade
County and settled upon his present farm, which consists of 341 acres
and is engaged in farming and stock raising. September, 1855, while
living in Warren County, he was united in marriage to Miss Frederica
Uthlantt, who bore him five children, only one now living; Frederick
W. One son, Henry, died in his twenty-first year in 1876. Mary and
Louis died in Warren County when young, and August died in Gasconade
County in 1867, when three years old. Mrs. Beckmann died in the fall
of 1866, of cholera. Frederick W. married Miss Caroline Biesemier,
daughter of Fritz Biesemier, a resident of Osage County, Mo. Two
children were born to this marriage, who are named as follows: Dinah
and Minnie, aged, respectively, three and one year and six months old.
Frederick and family live with the subject of this sketch. The latter
is no aspirant to official positions, never had but one law suit (and
gained that), and is a member of the Evangelical Church.
August Begemann, a leading merchant of Hermann, was born in Germany in
1838, and immigrated to America in 1852 with his parents, Henry and
Ernestine (Althoff) Begemann, who afterward resided in Warren County,
Mo., until their death. August, after passing his youth like other
boys of the neighborhood, removed to Hermann in 1855, and began his
mercantile experience as clerk, which he continued for about ten years.
He soon became engaged in general merchandising on his own account, and
from that time to the present has conducted an establishment which has
come to be one of the largest in Hermann. In 1882 he was elected as a
Republican to the office of collector of Gasconade County, a position
the duties of which he acceptably discharged for four years. In 1864
Mr. Begemann was united in marriage with Miss Flora Baer, who was born
in Hermann. Three of the five children born to them are living.
Julius Beiermann was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1833, and is the son
of Louis and Wilhelmina (Thofern) Beiermann, also natives of Hanover,
Germany, born in 1788 and 1793, respectively. The father was a farmer
by occupation, and served under Napoleon in his Russian campaign. They
were married in the old country, and five children were born to them,
two sons and three daughters, all of whom were born across the water.
In 1838 they sailed for America, and made their first settlement in
Gasconade County. Both were members of the Evangelical Church, and
lived to be eighty-two and sixty eight years, respectively. The eld-
est son, Julius, was reared on the farm, and during the war served in
the militia. In 1855 he married Miss Mary Vogel, daughter of Joseph
Vogel, and to them were born six children, five sons and one daughter.
Mrs. Beiermann died in 1869, and the following year he married Miss
Caroline Barner, daughter of William Barner, and the fruits of this
union were six children, three sons and three daughters. He owns 240
acres of land, and is a Republican in his political views. He and
wife are members of the Evangelical Church. His first wife was a mem-
ber of the Catholic Church.
Hermann Bensing, of the firm of Klenk & Bensing, contractors and build-
ers, was born in Hermann, December 22, 1838, and is the second child
born to Nicholas and Elizabeth (Bohm) Bensing, both natives of Hesse,
Germany. In 1836 both came to America, were married in Pennsylvania,
but soon after came to Hermann, which was almost a wilderness at that
time, and the father helped survey the town plat. He was one of the
very earliest settlers. After living in Hermann for about two years
they then removed to the country, about three miles from the town. Here
he died March 27, 1886, at the age of eighty. The mother died July 26,
1878. Mr. Bensing was a well-to-do farmer, and has reared five child-
ren, four now living. Hermann was reared on the farm, where he remain-
ed until nineteen years of age. He then learned his trade and has
since lived in Hermann. He was two years and nine months in the United
States service during the war, four months in the Home Guards, and also
four months in the Reserve Corps. He was married in 1864 to Miss Dora
Vollersen, a native of Hermann, who bore him four children: Hermann,
Lizzie, Katie and August. Mr. Bensing is a Republican in politics, and
cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln; is a member of the G. A.
R., of the A. O. U. W., and a member of the Lutheran Church.
William Berger, farmer and merchant of Boeuf Township, is a son of John
C. and Ann J. (Klausemeyer) Berger, natives of Prussia, the father born
in 1796 and the mother about two years later. The father was a farmer
by occupation, and of the eight children born to their marriage only
two came to America; the rest died in the old country. The mother died
at the age of thirty-six, and the father, who came to America about two
years after his son William, died at the age of sixty-five. He was
never called into the regular army as he was the only child, and the
law of Prussia at that time freed an only son. The subject of this
sketch was born in Northern Prussia in 1832, and was about two years
old at the time of his mother's death. Reared without the knowledge
and influence of a mother, his education was neglected to a consider-
able extent, and, although the youngest of eight children, he was the
first to come to America, which he did in 1849. After spending two
years in St. Louis he came to Franklin County, Mo., and in 1852 married
Miss Charlotta Schumacher, also a native of Prussia, born in 1838, and
when a little girl was brought to this country. In 1854 Mr. Berger and
wife came to Gasconade County and settled on the farm where they now
live. Fifteen children were born to this marriage, only six now living,
four sons and two daughters. During the war Mr. Berger was in the Home
Guards. In connection with farming he has been interested in merchan-
dising for the past twenty years, and has an interest now in two stores.
He owns about 600 acres of land, is a successful farmer and business
man, and he and wife are members of the Evangelical Church. He has
held some important official positions; from 1864 to 1868 he held the
office of sheriff and collector, and from 1869 to 1872 the position of
probate judge and ex-officio presiding justice of the county court. In
1873 his successor died and he was again elected to fill the unexpired
term. He is now notary public. He is a Democrat in his political
views, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is accounted one of the
most stirring men of his community.
Theodore Bergner, book keeper at the brewery and malt house of Hugo
Kropp, and a citizen of official prominence in Hermann, is a native of
that place, born in 1850. Gottlob and Christine Bergner, his parents,
came originally from Germany, immigrating to the United States in about
1843, and locating first in Hermann, from which place they subsequently
removed to a farm about four miles from town; they afterward returned,
however, and now reside in Hermann. Theodore early familiarized him-
self with farm experience, and when not occupied about the home place
attended the country schools; in 1869 he taught a six months' country
school, and in 1870 he removed to Hermann and assumed the duties of the
position as deputy sheriff and collector of the county. In 1874 he was
elected sheriff on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected in 1876,
1878 and 1882; such a career needs no additional words of comment. In
July, 1887, he entered the brewery as book keeper, and has since re-
mained occupied in this position. In 1873 Mr. Berger was married to
Mrs. Charlotta Wickers, and to this union four children have been born.
Henry Binkhoelter, prominently identified with the mercantile interests
of Morrison, and a member of the firm of Binkhoelter & Co., the largest
business firm in Gasconade County, came originally from Westphalia,
Germany, where he was born June 16, 1848, the third of four children in
the family of his parents, Casper and Sophia (Risse) Binkhoelter, who
immigrated to the United States and located in Gasconade County, in
1853. While living in Westphalia the father was a shoemaker, but since
then has been engaged in farming. His wife, who was born in 1811, died
in 1878. He is now seventy-seven years of age, and a resident of Gas-
conade County. Henry remained at the home place until twenty-three
years of age, then settling at Little Berger, Gasconade County, as a
farmer, and remained on same four years, then moved to Berger, Franklin
Co., Mo., where he carried on an extensive business until February,
1887. Then he moved to Morrison and formed a partnership with J. H.
Schwarze, under the above mentioned name, an association which has
proved a lucrative one. Their stock of goods is worth $15,000, an
annual business of $30,000 resulting. They also own the Morrison Wheat
Elevator, and estimate that 200,000 bushels of wheat have passed
through their hands during the past year. Mr. Binkhoelter is also the
owner of a wheat elevator at Berger, where he handles about 125,000
bushels yearly. In 1869 he married Mrs. Louisa Koeller, nee Meyer,
daughter of Fritz Meyer. She was also born in Germany. They have one
son and three daughters: Alma, Lydia, Oscar and Clara. Mr. and Mrs.
Binkhoelter are members of the Lutheran Church. The former belongs to
Morrison Lodge, No. 390, A. O. U. W.
William C. Boing, agent for Bodine Roofing, at Hermann, was born in
Gernsheim, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, May 9, 1830, the son of Francis
and Louisa (Kohlermann) Boing, both deceased. The father came to the
United States in 1832, and the mother followed with two children in
1833. They settled in Franklin County, Mo., where they began making
themselves a home among the squatters, and went to farming. Two child-
ren were born in Franklin County, making in all two boys and two girls.
Susanna, the youngest, died in 1854; the oldest Emma, died in 1873, and
Charles, in 1879, at the age of forty-four years. In 1842 they came to
Hermann, and here the father died in the fall of 1873, sixty-eight
years of age, and the mother in the summer of 1881, at the age of
seventy-six years. William C. has lived in Hermann ever since, where
he studied practical surveying and engineering when the Missouri Pac-
ific Railroad was building, taking a practical and theoretical course
at the same time, and at which he became quite proficient, following
surveying for many years. In 1859 he was elected county surveyor and
served in that capacity for nine years. He was elected county clerk in
1870, and occupied this position for twelve years to the satisfaction
of all. June 8, 1856 he married Miss Adele Knoche, daughter of Died-
rich Knoche (deceased). No children were born to Mr. Boing's marriage,
but he has reared two of his deceased brother's children, viz.: William
F. and Annie W. Boing. Mr. Boing is a member of the Harmonie Singing
Society, a member of the County Agricultural Society, and a passive
member of the Hermann Fire Company. He is also a member of the Hermann
Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Simon Boeger, merchant of Bay Postoffice, was born in Lippe-Detmold,
Germany, July 21, 1837, and is the son of Simon Boeger (deceased), who
immigrated with his family to the United States in 1855, settled in St.
Louis, where Simon, Jr., attended the evening schools, and acquired a
good English education. He filled the position of salesman in three
different stores in St. Louis, until April, 1862, when he came to Gas-
conade County, settled at Bay, and engaged in merchandising, marrying
Mrs. Charlotte Peters, whose husband, Frank H. Peters (deceased),
established in 1855 or 1856 the business, and where he died in 1860.
Mr. Boeger carries a full line of everything usually kept in a first
class general store, and does an annual business of from $15,000 to
$16,000. He owns 1,018 acres of land, and is carrying on farming in
connection with merchandising. Besides this, he has two other stores,
one at Drake, this county, and the other at Feuersville, Osage County,
each of which is doing a large business. Mr. Boeger was married in
April, 1862, to Mrs. Charlotte Peters, who bore him these children:
Frederica, August, Louis, Emma and Amanda. Frederica married William
Brinkmann, who died in 1887; she has one child, Laura. Mrs. Boeger's
maiden name was Charlotte Peters, and she was the daughter of Jasper
Henry Peters (deceased). She was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to
the United States in 1851, where she married Francis Peters (no rela-
tive) in 1854. To them were born three children, two now living:
Henry W. and Emily. Henry married Annie Stoner, a shoe merchant in St.
Louis, and has two children: Ella and Edwin. Ella married Henry Fink,
a merchant of St. Louis. Mr. Boeger was postmaster at Bay for twenty-
five years, but on account of his Republican principles was removed,
notwithstanding the fact that the people of all parties remonstrated
against his removal by a petition to the department. He is a member of
the Evangelical Church, and his wife and children are members of the
Presbyterian.
William Braendle, of Hermann, Mo., was born in Wurtemberg, Germany,
November 1, 1855. His father, Jacob Braendle, was a native of Germany,
and came to the United States in 1870, locating first in Allegheny City,
Penn., and after a residence there of seven months removed to Gasconade
County, Mo. He located eight miles west of Hermann, where he died in
1872. After the father's death, William left the farm and went to St.
Louis, where he labored by the day. He returned to Hermann in 1882,
where in March of that year he married Elizabeth Trechmann, daughter of
John Trechmann (deceased). Mrs. Braendle was born in Hermann, and she
and Mr. Braendle became the parents of three children, two of whom are
living: John and Grover Cleveland. Mr. Braendle belongs to the I.O.O.F.
in St. Louis, and the K. of P. in Hermann. He conducts a quiet and
orderly beer and wine saloon, and is an honest citizen of the county.
Dr. Francis William Brinkmann, a practicing physician and surgeon of
Bay Postoffice, Mo., was born in Gasconade County, in 1859, being the
third of ten children born to Francis William and Wilhelmina C. (Geh-
ner) Brinkmann. The father was born in Prussia in 1820, and about
1849 came to the United States. He was married the same year, and
for some time after coming to Missouri carried produce to St. Louis.
He afterward dealt in stock and real estate. He spent the latter
part of his life on Third Creek, where he had improved a good farm,
one of the beest in the county. It contained 700 acres. He also
built a fine stone dwelling house, which is, without doubt, one of
the most convenient in the county. His death occurred in 1874, just
after the finishing of his house. He was an esteemed citizen and
exercised the right of franchise, but was far from being an active
politician. His widow is still living on the old farm, and is sixty-
eight years of age. Mr. Brinkmann was one of the founders of the
Presbyterian Church in his neighborhood, and he and wife were con-
sistent members of the same. Dr. Francis W. Brinkmann was educated
in the common schools of the county, and attended one year and nine
months at Bryant & Stratton's Business College in St. Louis, graduat-
ing in 1879. He was intending to fit himself for general business,
but soon after turned his attention to the study of medicine. In
1882 he graduated from the Homoeopathic Medical College of St. Louis,
Mo. He practiced one year at Swiss Postoffice and then came to Bay
Postoffice, where he has since had an extensive practice. He is one
of the first physicians of the county, and his practice extends into
the neighboring counties of Franklin and Osage. April 20, 1887, he
was married to Mary, daughter of Henry and Charlotte Sunderwirth,
and by her is the father of one child, Florence L. The Doctor is a
Republican in politics, and his first presidential vote was cast for
Garfield, in 1880. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian
Church, and he is considered one of the first citizens of the county.
Mrs. Brinkmann was born in the county. Her father is deceased, but
her mother is yet living.
Frederick William Brinkmann was born in the county and township where
he now resides, in 1841, and is the only child born to Henry and Mary
Brinkmann, who came from Prussia to the United States. They were
married in one of the Eastern States, and after residing for some time
in Ohio and Indiana, came to Missouri and settled on a branch of Second
Creek, they being the second German family to locate there. There the
father still resides, being eighty-six years of age. His wife died
when their son, Frederick W., was an infant, and he has lived with his
present wife for over forty years. They are members of the Evangelical
Church, and he helped to build the first German Church in Boulware
Township. He was the second of eleven children, and the only one now
living. Frederick W. Brinkmann was educated in the common schools, and
during the war served in Company E, Missouri State Militia. In 1867 he
was united in marriage to Henrietta, daughter of Charles Blinne. She
was a native of Lippe-Detmold, and came with her parents to the United
States when a child. She died in April, 1876, leaving two children:
Frederick William and Henry August. The same year Mr. Brinkmann marr-
ied Rebecca, daughter of Bernhardt Sulthaus. She was born in Gasconade
County, and died November 26, 1887. Their children are Mary, Hermann,
Louis and Benjamin. Since his first marriage, Mr. Brinkmann has resid-
ed on his present farm of 280 acres. He has a commodious stone resid-
ence and is a prosperous farmer. He is a Republican in politics, and
his first presidential vote was cast for Lincoln. He is a member of
the Methodist Church, as were both his wives.
Fred W. Brueggemann is a carpenter by trade, and was born in Hanover,
Germany, in 1846. His parents, H. H. and Margaret Brueggemann, started
to immigrate to the United States in 1858, but the father died in mid
ocean while en route. The rest of the family came on, and located in
St. Louis County, Mo., where the mother died in 1862. The father was a
farmer, and during 1813 and 1815 served in the war under Napoleon Bona-
parte. Fred W. Brueggemann received the principal part of his education
in his native land, and after coming to this country learned the car-
penter's trade in St. Louis. This occupation he has since followed.
During the late war he served six months in Company C, Third Missouri
Volunteer Infantry. In March, 1870, he was united in marriage to
Augusta, daughter of Henry Bueker. She was born in St. Louis, and is
the mother of seven children. Mr. Brueggemann is the owner of 200
acres, all of which he obtained through his own industry and economy.
From 1872 to 1876 he held the office of justice of the peace, and since
1882 has filled the same office. He has been a member of the school
board ten years, and at one time practiced law. Politically, he is a
Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for Lincoln. He
is a member of the Protestant Church. He has a sister living in St.
Louis, a brother in Illinois, and another brother in this county.
James W. Bullington, a farmer of Brush Creek Township, was born in
Spartanburg District, S. C., in 1840, the eldest of nine sons and one
daughter born to Absalom and Oney (Tinsley) Bullington, natives of
South Carolina, born in 1813 and 1819, respectively. They were married
in 1839, and in 1857 removed to Independence County, Ark., where the
mother died in 1873, and where the father still lives. The latter's
father was Samuel Bullington, and his grandfather, Robert Bullington,
who lived to be one hundred years old, and who was a native of Virginia
his father being among the first English colonists of that State, and
one who purchased his wife at the price of the passage. Absalom Bull-
ington was a farmer, and served as sergeant in the Fourth Arkansas
Cavalry during the war. He was justice of the peace several years, and
has been postmaster at Walnut Grove. He is now living with his second
wife, is a member of the G. A. R., and of the Baptist Church, and is a
Mason. James W. received a very limited education in the subscription
schools, and being the eldest child much of the hardest work fell upon
his shoulders. He went with his parents to Arkansas, and began business
for himself by farming. In June, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, First
Arkansas Volunteer Infantry for six months, and served eight months. He
was discharged at St. Louis, after which he started home, but got as
far as Rolla, when he thought it unsafe for Unionists to travel through
that country, and consequently gave up the idea of going home, but
began working for Henry Souders, of this county, and here remained five
years, in the meantime purchasing eighty acres of land. In 1868 he
married Miss Rachel N., daughter of Christian and Rachel Souders, for-
merly of Indiana, but early settlers of Gasconade County, where Mrs.
Bullington was born. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bulling-
ton, four now living: Laura, John, Martha and Jacob. Since his marriage
Mr. Bullington has lived on his good farm of 360 acres, all the work of
his own hands, and is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers
of the county. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the G.A.R.,
and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
George H. Buschmann, postmaster and merchant at Owensville, is a native
of this (Gasconade) County, born December 13, 1852, being the eldest of
ten children (nine living) in the family of his parents, Kasten and
Rebecca Buschmann, nee Eitmann, natives of near Bremen, Germany. The
father, when a boy of fourteen years of age, immigrated with his par-
ents to America, settling in Gasconade County, where he remained until
twenty-one years of age. Following this for several years he carried
on a store in St. Louis, but finally returned to his adopted home and
engaged in farming. He has become one of the most prominent men in the
county, having filled nearly every position within the gift of the
people, including those of justice of the peace, collector, sheriff,
representative, county and probate judge, and others, sufficient testi-
monial of his popularity. He is postmaster and notary public at Bay,
near which place he now resides upon his farm. Himself and wife are
members of the German Evangelical Church. George H. Buschmann remained
at home with his father until twenty years of age, receiving the rudi-
ments of a liberal education in the common schools, which he finished
at Hermann. During the winter seasons for six years following he taught
school, clerking during the summer months, until, in company with a
brother-in-law, H. W. Stoenner, he started a store at Bay, also conduc-
ting a store at Owensville, where a brother, F. H. Buschmann, was also
associated with him. In two years the establishment at Bay was taken
charge of by Mr. Stoenner, and two years after that Mr. Buschmann pur-
chased the interest of his partners, and has since been sole proprietor
of an establishment doing from $18,000 to $20,000 worth of business
yearly. The stock is a general one, and well selected. October 2, 1882
Mr. Buschmann married Emma Colling, daughter of Jacob Colling. She was
born near Hermann, and has become the mother of two daughters: Emma and
Flora. Mr. Buschmann and wife are members of the Evangelical Church;
in politics he is a Democrat.
Dr. Frank H. Caughell, a well known practitioner of Morrison, was born
at Chamois, Osage Co., Mo., September 1, 1861, the eldest of four
children in the family of his parents, Dr. D. M. and Sarah (Burnett)
Caughell, now residents of Ashland, Kas. The former was born at St.
Thomas, Ontario, March 3, 1834, subsequently graduating from the medi-
cal school of Albany, N. Y., after which he came to Missouri in 1858.
Until 1885 he was actively engaged in practicing his profession in
Osage and Gasconade Counties, then moving to Kansas. For two years
during the war he served as surgeon. He has always been a prominent
Mason, and for a number of years was master of Chamois Lodge. Mrs.
Caughell's birth occurred in Campbell County, Va., May 1, 1843. She
is a descendant of the famous Tucker family. The subject of this
sketch was reared in the county of his nativity, receiving his educa-
tion in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he went into the
Missouri Pacific Railroad Hospital at Sedalia, and during his term of
service for the railroad graduated from the Kansas City Medical Univ-
ersity. In 1885 he withdrew from the employ of the railroad company,
at which time he was acting as second assistant surgeon, and located
at Morrison, where he has succeeded in building up a good practice.
October 12, 1885, Dr. Caughell married Miss Alice Buente, daughter of
Fred. Buente, a deceased merchant of Morrison. They have one daughter,
Alma. Mrs. Caughell is a member of the Catholic Church. The Doctor
is a Democrat, and belongs to the A. O. U. W.
Squire Christian Danuser. Among the German settlers that came to Gas-
conade County at an early day may be mentioned Thomas and Barbara
(Bantly) Danuser. The father was born in 1802, and the mother in 1805,
and both were natives of Switzerland. They were married in 1825, and
the result of this union was the birth of ten children, two of whom
died in the old country, and one on shipboard while crossing the ocean
to America in 1846. They located on the place where Christian now re-
sides, the father having purchased the property of David McKinney, the
original settler. Here they passed the remainder of their lives, the
father dying in 1871, and the mother ten years later. Squire Christian
Danuser, the youngest of the five sons, was born in Switzerland in 1840
but received his education in Gasconade County, or what little he did
receive, not having attended more than twelve months altogether. By
observation and reading he has become one of the well informed and wide
awake men of the county, and is so considered. October, 1861, he en-
listed in Company E, of the Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, United
States army, and served eighteen months as teamster. Since the war he
has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has been quite success-
ful in this occupation. In 1864 he married Miss V. Christina Botter-
mann, who was born in Gasconade County in 1846. Nine children, four
sons and five daughters, were born to this union. All are members of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Squire Danuser has held the office of
justice of the peace for four years, is a Republican in politics, a
member of the G. A. R., and of the Agricultural Association, of which
he has been director. He takes much interest in schools and in improv-
ing the public roads, and is an intelligent farmer, standing high in
the estimation of those who know him. He owns 160 acres of good land,
of which 100 acres are under cultivation, which he has made by his own
industry and good management.
Louis Dieckgraefe was born in Westphalia, Germany, in 1825, the second
of eight children born to Peter Casper and Christina (Stein) Dieck-
graefe, both native Germans, born in 1801 and 1795, respectively. They
were married in 1821. The father was a needle maker by trade, and the
last twenty years of his life was a forester. He died in 1873, and his
wife in 1856. Their son, Louis, attended school until thirteen years
of age, and then worked with his father until 1848. From that time
until 1851 he served in the regular army in Germany, and in 1854 came
to Gasconade County, Mo., with a company of eighty persons, including
Henry Brandenburger, who afterward became his father-in-law. In 1855
he married the latter's daughter, who died in 1863, leaving four child-
ren: Louis H., Rudolph E., Albert W. and Alvina. In 1863 he took for
his second wife Catherine Niebruegge, and by her became the father of
nine children, six of whom are living: Lena, Lydia, Fred, Henry,
William and Emma. Owing to industry and economy Mr. Dieckgraefe is
now the owner of 300 acres of good land. He is the only one of his
people who came to the United States, with the exception of one brother
who came in 1863, and is now deceased. Mr. Dieckgraefe is a fine
scholar, and when he came to the United States he bought a dictionary,
and very readily acquired the English language. He served in the State
Militia during the late war, and from 1868 to 1882 was postmaster of
Woolam. In 1880 he was the census taker of Third Creek Township, and
has several times served as deputy assessor. Politically, he was
formerly a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln
but he now affiliates with the Democratic party.
William Doerman is the son of Frederick W. and Catherine M. (Ahlemeyer)
Doerman, both natives of Prussia, Germany, the former born in 1801, and
the latter in 1795. The father was a farmer by occupation, and, on
account of having lost the sight of an eye, escaped a soldier's life.
Of their five children, all were born in Prussia. After living in
their native country until 1840, they came to America, locating in Gas-
conade County, Mo., and here the parents passed the residue of their
days. Both were members of the Evangelical Church. The mother died in
1859, and the father afterward married Mrs. Louise Tappe, previous to
his marriage to the mother of William, he had been married, and was the
father of one son. He died in 1881. The subject of this sketch was
born in Prussia, Germany, in 1836, and was reared in this county. Dur-
ing the war he served about seven months in the militia, but, previous
to this, in 1858, he had married Miss Henrietta Brandenburger, who was
born in Westphalia in 1838. She came with her parents to this country
in 1854, and was here married to Mr. Doerman. To them were born six
children, five now living. Mr. Doerman is a Republican in politics, as
was his father before him, and he and wife are members of the Evangeli-
cal Church. For forty-eight years he has been a resident of this county,
is a good farmer and an intelligent citizen. He has 656 acres of good
land, which he has made by his own exertions and with the help of his
wife.
Christian Eberlin (deceased), who was one of the early settlers of Gas-
conade County, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1819. After reaching
manhood he married Christina Wiedermann, also a native of Baden. After
living in the old country until 1847 they then sailed for America, re-
maining in Philadelphia a short time, and then came on to Gasconade
County, where the father passed the remainder of his days. He was a
life long farmer, and during the war served about fifteen months in a
company of artillery, being discharged at the end of that time on
account of sickness. He was a member of the Evangelical church, as is
also his wife, who is still living and sixty-one years of age.
Christian, Jr., was born in Roark Township, in 1849. He received both
an English and German education to a limited degree. In 1873 he marri-
ed Miss Annie Michaelis, also a native of Gasconade County, born in
1856, and to them were born three children, two sons and one daughter.
Mr. Eberlin is a Republican in politics. In 1887 they settled on their
present farm, which consists of eighty acres of fine land. He commen-
ced with a very small capital, and has made the most of his property
by hard work and economy.
Charles D. Eitzen, one of the oldest merchants and conceded to be among
the most influential citizens of Gasconade County, was born in Bremen,
Germany, August 20, 1819, and immigrated to America and located in Her-
mann in 1838, a short time after this town was laid out. For three
years he clerked in the first and only store in the town, and in 1841,
when but twenty-one years of age, purchased the store and began on his
own account, a business in which he has continued to the present. In
1855, before the completion of the railroad to Hermann, he engaged
largely in the lumber business, meeting with success, and shipping
great quantities of yellow pine to points up the Missouri River. At
the same time, as agent for the Meramec Iron Company, he shipped iron
to different places on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. In all public
affairs Mr. Eitzen has taken a prominent part. Politically he is a
stanch Republican, and during the war firmly supported the Federal Gov-
ernment, and part of the time was captain of a company of militia in
active service. In 1861 he was elected from his senatorial district
(comprised of the counties of Franklin, Osage and Gasconade) a member
of the Constitutional Convention, in which body he labored in opposi-
tion to secession; in 1875 was elected to the State Constitutional
Convention, and in 1876 was elected to the Twenty-ninth General Assem-
bly of Missouri. In 1871 he became identified with the public schools
of Hermann, which were at that time in poor condition, but under his
management and inspiration a two-story commodious school building was
erected, an ornament to the city. Since then educational interests
have constantly increased. Mr. Eitzen is now a member of the board of
trustees. For twenty-five years he has been connected with the town
board of trustees, during most of which time he has served as mayor.
In April, 1844, he was married to Miss Jane Kehr, who has borne him
seven children, three of whom survive.
George Eppler, cabinet maker and farmer of Roark Township, is the son
of Christian and Beda (Kommer) Eppler, both born in Wurtemberg, Germany.
When a young man the father served under Napolean in his Russian camp-
aign, and after his return married; and of the four sons and eight
daughters born to this marriage only three came to the United States.
The father was a weaver by occupation, and died while still a compara-
tively young man, being only forty-eight. The mother died at the age
of eighty-seven. George was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1828, and
received a good education. At the age of fourteen he began learning
his trade, and after having worked in the old country until 1856 he
came to America, and after following his trade until 1857, came to
Gasconade County. The same year he married Miss Sothie Hof, a native
of Prussia, born in 1830, and who came across the ocean in the same
ship that he did. On coming to this county he located where he now
lives, owning eighty acres. To his marriage were born ten children,
eight of whom are living, three sons and five daughters. Mr. and Mrs.
Eppler are both members of the Evangelical Church. In 1861 Mr. Eppler
enlisted in Company E, of the Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and
served eighteen months. In 1865 he was called out in Company C, of the
Fifty-eighth Ohio Regiment, and was released in October. Besides, he
was lieutenant of the Home Guards, and quartermaster-sergeant of the
militia; also first sergeant in the Fourth Missouri. In politics he
was formerly a Republican, but for the past few years has been Indepen-
dent. He is a member of the G. A. R., and is an excellent citizen. He
is a first class cabinet maker, and has some specimens of his workman-
ship that are very fine.