CHAPTER XXVII (Part 101)
BIOGRAPHICAL
F. L. Fellhauer, the well-known assistant postmaster of Clinton, is one of Uncle Sam's capable and obliging officials. Mr. Fellhauer was born in Henry County March 30, 1881. He is a son of D. V. and Leotie (Elledge) Fellhauer. The father was born in Illinois, February 14, 1865, and is now living retired in Clinton, Missouri. Leoti (Elledge) Fellhauer was born in Henry County, August 20, 1859, and was a daughter of Isaac Elledge, a very early settler of Davis township where he entered lands from the Government. He improved a farm there which he lived upon for several years and in later life, retired and removed to La Due, where he died in 1903, and his remains were interred in Bear Creek Cemetery. His wife departed this life in 1916 and her remains are also buried in Bear Creek Cemetery.
D. V. and Leoti (Elledge) Fellhauer were the parents of the following children, Bertha Susan, married E. E. Graham and resides in Kansas City, Kansas; F. L., the subject of this sketch; Max E., a mail carrier in Clinton, Missouri; Roy V., resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Jay D., a soldier in the United States Army; Ira J., deceased; Elmer B., Clinton, Missouri; Erna, married Roy Todd, Kansas City, Missouri.
F. L. Fellhauer received his education in the public schools and the Montrose High School. He taught school for two years and later attended Colt's Business College at Clinton, Missouri, where he completed the course in shorthand and bookkeeping. He was then employed in Kansas City, Missouri, as a stenographer for two years, when he returned to Clinton. In 1905 he was appointed to a clerkship in the Clinton post office and in 1912 became assistant postmaster, and has served in that capacity to the present time.
Mr. Fellhauer was united in marriage in 1911 with Miss Lee Brandenberg, a daughter of A. Y. and Elizabeth (Layton) Brandenberg. The father was a Union veteran of the Civil War and died in California, and the mother now resides in Clinton, Missouri. To A. Y. and Elizabeth (Layton) Brandenberg were born the following children: Gertrude, married W. Shipley, and lives in Nebraska; E. N., employed in the post office at Clinton, Missouri; Jesse married J. H. Hamilton, Springfield, Missouri; Fred lives at Hamlet, Nebraska; Loretta married C. C. Canan, Clinton, Missouri; John, Clinton, Missouri; Mollie married Charles A. Morton, Kansas City, Missouri; A. Y., deceased; and Lee, the wife of F. L. Fellhauer, the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Fellhauer is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is one of Henry County's most valued citizens.
Eugene N. Brandenburg, an efficient employee of the Clinton post office, who serves in the capacity of money-order clerk, is a native of Illinois. He was born at Pittwood, Illinois, November 24, 1867, a son of A. Y. and Elizabeth (Layton) Brandenburg, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Illinois. The Brandenburg family came to Missouri in 1869, and first settled in Polk County. The father was a Union veteran of the Civil War and served for four years in the capacity of first sergeant in the First Illinois Light Artillery. He died at San Monica, California, and his widow now resides in Clinton, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children: Gertrude, married W. Shipley and lives at Hamlet, Nebraska; Eugene N., the subject of this sketch; Jesse, married J. H. Hamilton, Springfield, Missouri; Fred, Hamlet, Nebraska; Sarah, married C. C. Canan, Clinton, Missouri; John, Clinton, Missouri; Mollie, married Charles A. Morton, Kansas City, Missouri; Alonzo, deceased; and Lee, married F. L. Fellhauer, a sketch of whom appeal's in this volume.
Eugene N. Brandenburg was educated in the public schools of Boliver, Missouri, and when twelve years of age went to work in a printing office to learn the printer's trade, which he followed until he was thirty-one years of age. When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, he enlisted in Company F, Second Missouri Infantry, and was in camp with his command at Chickamauga Park and Lexington, Kentucky. He was mustered out of service and honorably discharged in October, 1898. He then returned to Clinton, where he was shortly afterwards appointed a mail carrier. He was later transferred to the St. Louis office, where he served for eighteen months. Later he returned to Clinton, where he was appointed a clerk in the post office, and has been connected with the Clinton post office since that time, having served as money order clerk since 1914.
January 24, 1889, Mr. Brandenburg was united in marriage with Miss Lola Gray, daughter of C. W. and Anna (Graham) Gray of Clinton, Missouri, both of Mrs. Brandenburg's parents are now deceased, and their remains are interred in the Englewood Cemetery. They were the parents of four children: Mrs. Sarah Jessee, Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Blanche Holmes, Kansas City, Missouri; George, San Diego, California, and Lola, the wife of Eugene N. Brandenburg, the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg have been born two children as follows: Harry Gray, born December 25, 1899, educated in the Clinton High School, enlisted in United States Navy in June, 1917, and is now serving in European waters; Carter Eugene, at home with his parents; and Grace, an adopted daughter, at home with her parents.
Mr. Brandenburg is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Woodmen of the World. Samuel Fox, a well-known and successful stockman and farmer of Bogard township, is a native Missourian. He was born in Vernon County, September 11, 1879, a son of John and Mary (Donaldson) Fox.
John Fox was a native of Virginia and settled in Vernon County, Missouri, about 1866. He now resides at Eldorado Springs, Missouri. To John and Mary (Donaldson) Fox were born the following children: Lee lives in Kansas; Charles, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Harve, Corder, Missouri; Edward, a soldier in the United States Army, having enlisted in September, 1917, and after a period of training at Camp Funston, Kansas, he was sent to France in the spring of 1918; Ivan, in West Virginia, in United States service; and Dewey, who resides on the home place, and Mrs. Mary Rix, now deceased.
Samuel Fox was educated in the public schools and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He has been engaged in farming and stock raising all his life and has resided on his present place in Bogard township, which was the old Thomas McClung homestead. It is a valuable farm of one hundred seventy acres, one mile north of Urich. The place is well improved with a splendid two-story frame residence of eight rooms which was built in 1915. Mr. Fox is quite extensively engaged in the stock business and besides raising cattle and hogs he has a reputation of being one of the leading Shropshire sheep raisers of Henry County. He has a herd of sixty-seven of this breed of sheep and is one of the successful sheep men of this section.
Mr. Fox was married in August, 1905, to Miss Bessie McClung, a daughter of Thomas and Lizzie (McCoy) McClung. The father is now deceased, and the mother resides at Urich, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children: Minnie; Wallace, a soldier in the United States Army; and Bessie, wife of Samuel Fox, the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. Fox have been born two children, Ruth and Thomas. The Fox family are prominent in the community and numbered among Henry County's progressive and enterprising citizens.
Robert W. Avery - The Avery family is one of the oldest and best-known of the pioneer families in Henry County, their coming to this county dating in the forties. The late Robert W. Avery of Tebo township was a sterling and worthy representative of this old and prominent family. He was born on the old Avery home place in Tebo township June 14, 1851, and was the son of Judge William L. and Sophronia Caroline (Williams) Avery, who were among the earliest of the pioneer families of Henry County.
Mr. Avery was reared to young manhood on the parental farm and received a good education in the district school and was brought up to believe in the best principles of good citizenship. During his entire life he practiced the precepts of honesty and high morality taught him by his excellent parents. He always made his home upon the Avery home place and came into possession of this fine farm through inheritance and purchase. He was a successful live stock dealer as well as a splendid farmer, becoming the owner of three hundred and ninety-nine acres of good land in Tebo township. Mr. Avery departed this life April 27, 1907, sincerely mourned throughout the county as a splendid and upright and industrious citizen who left the community a better place in which to live through the example he set of industrious and right living.
On December 10, 1884, Mr. Avery was united in marriage with Serena Merritt, and to this union were born five children, as follows: Walter C., Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Sidney R., at home; Lyman L., a soldier in the National Army, was in training at Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas, and is now in France; Susan C, at home. The first son of the family died in infancy, born May 1, 1887. Walter C. was born October 28, 1888, married Miss Ethel Woodard, and has three children, Lucille, Louise, Irene: Sidney R. was born August 7, 1893; Lyman was born March 3, 1896; Susan C. was born February 7, 1902.
The mother of the foregoing children was born in Henry County, March 28, 1861, the daughter of Judge Milton B. and Susan A. (Fewel) Merritt, who were parents of ten children. Judge Milton B. Merritt was born in Tennessee, April 27, 1819, and was an early pioneer of Henry County. He served as county judge for a number of years and was one of the best known men of his day in Henry County. He died March 24, 1906. His widow is now living on the old Merritt home place. She is one of the oldest pioneer women in Henry County, if not the oldest; she is well past ninety-three years of age, having been born June 18, 1825. Mrs. Avery was educated in the district schools and the Warrensburg Normal and is a capable and well-informed lady.
Mr. Avery was a Democrat but took little active interest in political matters. He was contented to strive and create for his family and his home, his interests in life being manly with his home and family to whom he was very devoted, no sacrifice being too great and no endeavors being too much for him to attempt in their behalf.
Benjamin F. Spry, a representative citizen of Bogard township, is a native of Missouri, and a descendant of pioneer parents of this State. Mr. Spry was born in Howard County, September 19, 1881, son of George W. and Elzerne (Shipp) Spry, both natives of Howard County. The father was born in 1851 and died October 7, 1915, and the mother was born in 1856 and died February 29, 1916, and their remains rest side by side in the Hickory Grove Cemetery. They were both descendants of pioneer families of Howard County, Missouri. To George W., and Elzerene (Shipp) Spry were born the following children: Cowin lives at Macksville, Kansas; Corbin died at age of thirteen years; Ludie May married William Mendenhall, Urich, Missouri; Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch; Fern W., Rolla C., Bogard township; and Bessie L., married J. Kellison, Blairstown, Missouri. Fern W. Spry resides with his brother, Benjamin F., his wife having died June 27, 1915. She bore the maiden name of Olive B. Stewart. They were married October 2, 1917, and two children were born to this union: Mary Louise, who died in infancy, and Harold F., who is a bright and intelligent little boy of three, and makes his home with his uncle and aunt, Ben and Maude Spry.
Benjamin F. Spry was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he engaged in farming and stock raising for him self. He now owns a farm of two hundred acres in Bogard township, which is one of the well-improved and productive farms of Henry County. In addition to being a successful general farmer he is also engaged in stock raising extensively, and is one of the successful stock feeders of the county.
Mr. Spry was married September 28, 1904, to Miss Maude E. Simpson, a daughter of George and Annie (Kepner) Simpson of Bogard township. To Mr. and Mrs. Spry has been born one daughter, Clara Lee. Mr. Spry is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Bogard township.
