CHAPTER XXVII (Part 97)
BIOGRAPHICAL
John Ream, now deceased, was a prominent farmer and stockman of Fields Creek township. He was a native of Ohio, born in Richland County, October 17, 1839, a son of Henry Ream, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Grundy County, Missouri, in 1853, and here spent the remainder of his life. John Ream received his education in the public schools of Ohio and Missouri. In 1910, he came to Henry County and purchased a farm of one hundred fifty-four acres, about three miles north of Clinton in Fields Creek township. Here, he was engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death. He was a good citizen and held in the highest esteem by all who knew him, and his death was not only a loss to his family but to Henry County. Mr. Ream died May 10, 1917.
John Ream was united in marriage June 29, 1886, with Miss Eleanor Rhea, a daughter of Archibald and Sarah (Sterrett) Rhea, both now deceased. John and Eleanor (Rhea) Ream, were the parents of the following children: Ethel, died at the age of two years; Robert Rhea was born in Grundy County in 1889 and resides on the home place with his mother; John S. was born in 1896, educated in the public schools of Hickory County and enlisted in United States Navy at St. Louis, December 27, 1917, and while at the Great Lakes Training Station on Lake Michigan, contracted pneumonia and died April 21, 1918, his remains being interred in the Rural Dale Cemetery at Clinton, Missouri.
John Ream was first married to Miss Elizabeth Casteel of Trenton, Missouri, who died December 23, 1884, leaving the following children; Mrs. Anna Smith, Lamar, Colorado; J. M. Trenton, Missouri; B. T., Trenton, Missouri; Lafayette, deceased; Mrs. Nettie Ramage, deceased, and Mrs. Katurah Ramage, resides east of Clinton, Missouri.
Mrs. Eleanor (Rhea) Ream is a descendant of a Virginia and Missouri pioneer family. Her father, Archibald Rhea died in 1863, when Mrs. Ream was about one year old, and his remains are buried in the Pickett Cemetery in Mercer County, Missouri. Her mother died in 1896 and is buried in Trenton, Missouri. Mrs. Ream is one of four children born to her parents, as follows: Margaret, deceased; Abriska Stewart, deceased; Samuel, Adairsville, Kentucky; and Eleanor, who married John Ream, the subject of this sketch.
Robert Rhea Ream, son of John and Eleanor (Rhea) Ream, was reared and educated in Grundy and Hickory counties, Missouri, and in 1910, came to Henry County, and since that time, has been engaged in farming and stock raising on the home place. He was united in marriage in 1910 with Miss Addie M. Pierce, a daughter of Charles and Minnie B. Loomis Pierce, who settled in Hickory County, Missouri, several years ago, coming from Iowa. Mrs. Ream was the only child born to her parents, who now reside in Hickory County. To Mr. and Mrs. Ream have been born three children, Lois Louise, Francis Marion and Robert Pierce. Mr. Ream is one of the progressive young men of Henry County and the Ream family are well and favorably known in this section.
Thomas J. Bilderback - The "Walnut Grove Stock Farm," located in Osage township, is owned and operated by Mr. T. J. Bilderback, a progressive farmer who realizes the opportunities of raising and feeding cattle in this section. The ideal conditions of living within a corn-growing district where feed of the right sort is plentiful and easy access to the large city markets offers unusual advantages to the stockman. Mr. Bilderback was born in Laclede County, Missouri, May 7, 1855, and is the son of Thomas B. and Sarah (Rimmers) Bilderback. Thomas Bilderback was born February 3, 1822, in Pennsylvania, the son of Daniel and Sarah (Castleman) Bilderback. His parents moved from Pennsylvania, to Ohio and from there to Illinois and to Laclede County, Missouri, in 1847. They were the first settlers in the vicinity when they settled, the closest neighbor being fifteen miles and the gristmill, twenty-five miles away.
When the Civil War broke out, Mr. Bilderback served in the Union Army for four years, and at its close returned to his farm in Laclede County and farmed until his death, May 19, 1894. Mrs. Sarah (Rimmers) Bilderback was born in November, 1825, a native of Tennessee. She died July 4, 1890 and was buried in Bilderback Cemetery, where her husband was later laid away. They were the parents of seven children: Elizabeth, deceased; Sarah J., deceased; Henry L., Judson, Stephen W., Thomas J., and Elzina.
Thomas J. Bilderback was educated in Laclede County schools and previous to his coming to Henry County in 1885, he farmed there. In 1890, he purchased 120 acres and later added 200 more acres, making 320 acres that he is farming. A small two-room house was on the premises at the time he purchased it, which he replaced in 1894 by a seven-room home. He has two barns and a silo. The first barn used for his cattle is 40x100 feet with a silo. A car track conveys the ensilage from the silo to the feeding troughs. The second barn used for the horses is 60x80 feet. Mr. Bilderback ships three carloads of cattle and two carloads of hogs each year.
On August 4, 1885, Thomas T. Bilderback and Nancy C. Stewart were united in marriage and have the following children: Earl C, married Clara Crabtree, Abbey, Canada; Pearl, wife of Claude Joplin, of Kansas City, Missouri; W. M., deceased; Ada, Katryne and Golson, at home. Mrs. Nancy Bilderback was born November 22, 1867, the daughter of Henry H. and Rebecca F. (Curd) Stewart, who were both born in Henry County, the former now living at Albion, Oklahoma, aged 76 years, and the latter died on December 5, 1876. They were the parents of the following: Ada, deceased; Nancy Katherine, wife of T. J. Bilderback; John H., Albion, Oklahoma; William, Deepwater, Missouri; Francis, Seattle, Washington. Henry H. Stewart was married the second time to Mrs. Lizzie (Rickett) Jackson, a widow, who bore him two sons: George, Romona, Oklahoma; and Earl, Albion, Oklahoma.
The Walnut Grove Stock Farm is indeed a credit to the county and Mr. Bilderback and his family are valuable citizens.
John Martin, one of the leading farmers of Fields Creek township, was born in Germany, June 21, 1867, and as he says, he came to America when he was twenty years old to escape Prussian military servitude, and has never regretted the day that he made the decision. He landed in New York City, October 11, 1887. He worked in a cooper shop eighteen months. He then went to Iowa, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1913. During that year, he came to Missouri and bought two hundred forty acres of land in Fields Creek township, four miles northwest of Clinton. He has improved this place considerably since that time, having built a large barn, a silo and other farm buildings and today has one of the well-improved and valuable farms of the county. He follows general farming extensively and is also well-known as a successful stock raiser. He specializes in high-grade Shorthorn and white-faced cattle and Poland China hogs. He makes a practice of finishing for the market all the cattle which he raises on the place and usually markets about two carloads of cattle and two car loads of hogs each year.
Mr. Martin was married in Iowa City, Iowa, February 22, 1894, to Miss Julia Lohrer, a daughter of Lawrence and Elizabeth Rist Lohrer, natives of Germany. Mrs. Martin was born in Germany in 1868 and came to America with her sister, Mary, in 1886. Mrs. Martin has a brother, John, and a sister, Mary, who reside in Lane County, Iowa, and the following brothers and sisters live in Germany, Anthony, Helen, Louise, Leo and Joseph.
To John Martin and wife have been born the following children; Elizabeth, a teacher in St. Matthews Parish, St. Louis, Missouri; Ernest, farmer in Iowa; Herbert, farming in Iowa; George, resides at home and is now a student in the Commercial College at Clinton. Otto, also a student in that institution; Joseph and Lawrence.
Mr. Martin takes a deep interest in local affairs and is always ready and willing to lend his co-operation to any movement for the betterment and up-building of his township and county. He is the present clerk of School District No. 40. When he left his native land and came to this country, he was without capital but the opportunities offered here, coupled with his industry and good management, has won for him a competence and comfortable home. When he left Germany, he had much difficulty in escaping the vigilance of the officers. In order to escape, he made the trip through Switzerland, France and Belgium and in that way, evaded the officers. In order to avoid suspicion, he carried no baggage whatever and all his earthly possessions consisted of the clothes which he wore. His recollection on the military system of Germany is anything but pleasant and he has no patience with any man who has prospered and made a home offered by America that has any vestige of sympathy with any other country. His doctrine is that if they love their native land, that is where they should have remained. In politics, he is a Republican. He and all of his family are members of the Catholic Church. Herbert is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Frank Keck, one of the leading farmers and stockmen of Fields Creek township, is a native son of Henry County. He was born in Clinton, February 5, 1865, a son of Constantine and Amelia (Holly) Keck. The former, a native of Germany and the latter, of Ohio. Constantine Keck came to Missouri in 1836 when he was sixteen years of age and settled in Cooper County. In 1862, he came to Henry County and for a time, carried mail between Clinton and Sedalia, before the railroad was built. Afterwards, he purchased one hundred twenty acres of land to which he added one hundred sixty acres, which now is a part of the Keck homestead. He built one of the first brick residences in Henry County, in the early days. This is now the home of Fred Keck, and is one of the most substantial residences in the county today.
To Constantine and Amelia (Holly) Keck were born the following children, Frank, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. George Russell; Herman; John; Fred; who reside on the old home place; and Arthur. Frank Keck was reared and educated in Henry County, and has made farming and stock raising his life work. He has succeeded in his well-directed efforts and today is one of the well-to-do and substantial citizens of Fields Creek township. His farm is located three miles northwest of Clinton, and was known as the Waddell place. Since purchasing this place, Mr. Keck has rebuilt the residence and also erected a large barn and made other improvements, which places his farm in a class among the well-improved and valuable places of Henry County. He is extensively engaged in stock raising and general farming, making a specialty of registered Shorthorn cattle.
On March 20, 1895, Frank Keck was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Smith, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of George and Cathryn (McVay) Smith; the father died in Iowa in 1866, and the same year, the mother came to Henry County, Missouri, where they had purchased a place prior to Mr. Smith's death. Mrs. Smith spent the remainder of her life in this county, and died September, 1910, and her remains are interred in the Englewood Cemetery. Mrs. Keck is the oldest of a family of three children, the others being James J., and Edgar, who reside on the old homestead.
To Frank Keck and wife have been born the following children: Anna Belle, George C., James H., and Robert H., all residing at home with their parents.
The Keck residence is one of the modern homes of Henry County. It is equipped with an acetylene lighting system and he has installed a water system and other conveniences which furnish all the conveniences of a city with the freedom of the country.
William M. Meredith, a farmer and stockman of Fields Creek township is a native of Missouri and a descendant of a pioneer family. He was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, November 22, 1854, and is a son of William Dangerfield Meredith and Sarah J. Meredith. The former was a native of Virginia and located in Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1833. He was a carpenter and worked on the old State Capitol building at Jefferson City. He also donated to the State a part of the Capitol grounds; he died in Jefferson City in 1860 and his remains are buried there. Sarah J. Meredith was a native of Franklin County, Virginia. She died in 1856. They were the parents of the following children: Henry, died in California; Ed; Mrs. Susan Collins; Mrs. Mary Knisley; Peter; Louis, all deceased; and Mrs. Sally Woody, Clinton township, Henry County; and William M., the subject of this sketch.
William D. Meredith, the father of William M., crossed the plains in 1849, when gold was discovered in California. He sold lots in Jefferson City for $2.50 each to raise money with which to make the trip to California. His sons, Ed and Henry, accompanied him on the trip, which was made with ox-teams. Henry died in California.
William M. Meredith, in early life, worked as a farm laborer in Calloway and Maries County, and in 1882, came to Henry County and bought a farm of eighty acres in Fields Creek township, which is now owned by his son, Dangerfield Meredith. In 1916, Mr. Meredith bought his present place in Fields Creek township, which is located one and three-fourths miles northwest of Clinton, where he has a nice home with pleasant surroundings.
Mr. Meredith was united in marriage in 1871 with Miss Emma Woody, a daughter of Rev. Davis Woody and Parthenia Isabell Woody. Rev. Davis Woody was a Baptist minister and came to Missouri in 1830, and first located in Osage County, later he went to Maries County. He died September 21, 1878, and his wife, Parthenia Isabell, died at the age of fifty years. Their remains are interred in the Wilde's Cemetery in Maries County, Missouri. Rev. Davis Woody and Parthenia Isabell Woody were the parents of the following children: Camilais V., deceased; Sally Ann, married Richard Warren, and died in Oklahoma at the age of seventy-four years; Andrew K., resides in Miller County, Missouri; Constantine died at the age of eighteen; Davis lives in Clinton, Missouri; Emma, married W. M. Meredith, the subject of this sketch; and Lewis L., died in infancy.
To William M. and Emma (Woody) Meredith have been born the following children: Dangerfield, a farmer and stockman of Fields Creek township, married Stella Harris; Virginia, married Jack Pendleton, Fields Creek township; Sally, married Arthur Keck, Fields Creek township, and Mary S., married Charles Arnold, Honey Creek township. Mr. and Mrs. Meredith have ten grandchildren, the names of whom are Mabel, Jesse, Emerson, Lucile, Walter, Elmer and Hazel Meredith; and Meredith and Mary Keck, and Emma Pendleton. Mr. Meredith is one of the substantial citizens of Henry County.
