CHAPTER XXVII (Part 102)
BIOGRAPHICAL
W. F. Lear, a native son of Henry County and a prominent farmer and stock raiser in Bogard township, was born in this township, April 30, 1861. He is a son of Christopher and Minnie (Blazer) Lear, early settlers of Henry County. Christopher Lear was a native of Holland, he came to America when he was eighteen years of age. His method of obtaining passage to America from his native land was considerably out of the ordinary. He arranged with some companions of his to put him in a barrel and place him on board the vessel as freight. After the vessel had put to sea, his companions were to open the barrel and let him out, which they did. After the commanding officer discovered him, young Lear was required to work to pay his passage until the vessel reached New York, when he was permitted to go his way. This was exactly what he had planned on and in this way succeeded in reaching America. From New York, he went to St. Louis and shortly afterwards came to Henry County, and bought land in Bogard township, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising until his death in 1901. He was an industrious man and a good citizen. His widow now lives at Anadarko, Oklahoma. They were the parents of the following children: John, deceased; Henry, deceased; Lizzie married J. H. Tabor. Carbondale, Kansas; W. F., the subject of this review; and Charlotte, who died in infancy.
W. F. Lear was reared in Bogard township and educated in the district schools. He remained at home with his parents until he was married in 1885. In 1887, Mr. Lear purchased a farm in Bogard township, and since that time has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising. The Lear place contains one hundred twenty acres of valuable and well-improved land, which is located in Bogard township four miles north of Urich. The place is well kept and the farm buildings are in good condition and altogether presents an appearance indicating the thrift and industry of the owner.
Mr. Lear was united in marriage February 3, 1885, to Miss Belle Hendricks, a daughter of M. L. and Nancy (Tabor) Hendricks. He was born in Kentucky in 1834, and came to Henry County with his parents when he was about one year old. M. L. Hendricks was the son of Asa Hendricks, who was truly one of the pioneers of Henry County, and experienced the hardships and vicissitudes incident to pioneer life. He came to Henry County from Kentucky in 1835. He made rails in Lexington one winter for twenty-five cents per hundred, while his wife remained at home in Henry County and cared for the children. Mr. M. L. Hendricks died December 13, 1882, and his wife died November 3, 1911, and their remains are buried on the old Hendricks homestead. To M. L. and Nancy (Tabor) Hendricks were born three children, the oldest of whom died in infancy and the others are: Mrs. W. F. Lear, the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. H. E. Huffman, of Warrensburg, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Lear have been born four children, as follows: Alice married R. C. Spry, Bogard township, Henry County; Clarence N., married Zonie Depew of Bogard township and resides on the home place; Loy H., now in the service of the United States Navy and after a period of training at the Great Lakes Training Station near Chicago, Illinois he went to France and is stationed at a naval aviation base; and Dora E., who resides at home with her parents.
Mr. Lear is one of the progressive men of Bogard township and one of Henry County's substantial citizens. He is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Lear is a member of the Urich Christian Church, as are Mrs. Alice Spry and Mrs. Dora E. Lear.
John B. Gamlin, proprietor of the "Highland Stock Farm" in Bogard township, is one of the leading farmers and stockmen of this county. Mr. Gamlin is a native of Illinois, born in 1871, a son of John and Elizabeth (Baker) Gamlin, both natives of England. They were married in Illinois in 1866, and ten years later, came to Missouri and settled in Pettis County. They resided in that county from 1876 until 1889, when they came to Henry County and settled on a farm in Bogard township, near Blairstown, and they now reside at Raymond, Illinois. They were the parents of the following children: Kate married W. H. Rector, Bogard township; John B., the subject of this sketch; William H. lives at Urich, Missouri; Matthew resides in Illinois; Mrs. Mary Burke, deceased; Joseph lives in Illinois; Mrs. Virgie Gamlin lives in Illinois; Nellie married Ray Henry and lives in Illinois.
John B. Gamlin received his education in the public schools. In 1909, Mr. Gamlin purchased his present place of two hundred acres, which is located about four and one-half miles north of Urich. It is one of the valuable places of western Henry County with a splendid residence and other farm buildings. The place is well watered and adapted to stock raising as well as general farming. Mr. Gamlin raises horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. He keeps a good grade of Shropshire sheep and Durham and white-face cattle. He is also an extensive breeder of Poland China hogs. Mrs. Gamlin has built up an extensive reputation as a successful chicken raiser. She specializes in White Leghorns, and at this writing has about eight hundred chickens. She has been interested in this line of work for the past five years.
March 16, 1898, John B. Gamlin was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Eller, daughter of H. P. and Martha (Hendricks) Eller of Bogard township. Mrs. Gamlin was born in Bogard township. Her mother is now deceased and her father, who was a native of North Carolina, resides at Urich. To H. P. and Martha (Hendricks) Eller were born the following children: Thomas, deceased; Louisa, wife of John B. Gamlin, the subject of this sketch; Annie, married W. H. Gamlin and resides at Urich, Missouri; Jessie, married Emmett Meinert and lives in Montana; Albert H., now a soldier in the United States Army, a member of Battery A, 348th Field Artillery and located at Camp Lewis, Washington. He enlisted in Montana in the autumn of 1917. To Mr. and Mrs. Gamlin has been born one son, Ray L., who resides at home with his parents, and is one of the competent stockmen of Henry County. He thoroughly understands the stock business and is recognized as one of the competent judges of stock in the county. The Gamlin family rank as one of the leading representative families of this section.
J. O. Cunningham, owner and proprietor of the "Valley Farm," is one of the extensive farmers and stockmen of Henry County. Mr. Cunningham is a native of Illinois. He was born in McLean County, November 30, 1864, a son of J. W. and Rachel Elvina (Shaw) Cunningham. The father was a Union veteran of the Civil War and now resides in Iroquois County, Illinois. The mother died in October, 1917. They were the parents of the following children: J. O. Cunningham, the subject of this sketch; Emery, Sikeston, Missouri; John S., Iroquois County, Illinois; Eva May, married Clarence Hollister, Sikeston, Missouri; Elma, married John Whitlaw, Hastings, Nebraska.
J. O. Cunningham was reared in Illinois and educated in the public schools and Eureka College at Eureka, Illinois. He engaged in farming in early life in his native State and followed that occupation there until 1901, when he came to Henry County, Missouri, and bought one hundred sixty acres of land in Bogard township. He improved this place and added eighty acres to his original purchase. He also owns a farm of two hundred acres near Blairstown. He built a fine residence on the home place in 1912. It is a two story, modern residence with sixteen rooms and is equipped with hot and cold water and modern heating and lighting systems. The barns and other buildings on the place are in thorough keeping with the residence. Mr. Cunningham is one of the successful stockmen of the county. He is well known as an extensive breeder of registered Poland China hogs. He raises as many as one hundred head of these hogs annually, all of which are eligible to registration. He also raises high grade cattle. The "Valley Farm" is well adapted to general farming purposes as well as being one of the ideal stock farms of the county. To supply the place with water, Mr. Cunningham has drilled a well three hundred feet deep, which furnishes an inexhaustible supply of water for the place.
February 17, 1896, J. O. Cunningham was united in marriage with Miss May Center, daughter of H. C. and Hattie (Hall) Center of Watseka, Illinois. Mrs. Cunningham's mother died February 14, 1914, and the father died March 9, 1918. To Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have been born two children: Dewey C, a graduate of the Blairstown High School, and Eleanor Eachel, who married Paul H. Allen, of Urich, Missouri, May 8, 1918. Mr. Cunningham takes a deep interest in local public institutions and has been especially active in the betterment of the public schools. He was one of the strong supporters for the Blairstown High School district, which is one of the best schools of the county. He is now serving his second term as secretary of the consolidated school district, number two. For six years he was president of the township board, and during that time much excellent road work was done, many concrete culverts being constructed and other road improvements made. He is one of Henry County's progressive citizens who stands ever ready to support any worthy public enterprise.
Eugene W. Costley, a well known representative citizen of Urich, is a native Missourian. He was born in 1857 in St. Charles County, a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Stone) Costley. The mother was a second cousin of the late Senator William J. Stone. She and her husband are both now deceased and their remains are interred in Darden Creek Cemetery, St. Charles County, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children: Edward C., deceased; William M., lives in St. Louis, Missouri; Eugene W., the subject of this sketch; John D., deceased; Katurah, Howell, Missouri.
When E. W. Costley was a child his parents removed to St. Louis, where he attended the public schools until he was sixteen years of age. He then attended the University of Missouri for three years. After leaving college, he returned to St. Louis, where he was engaged in the boot and shoe business for a time. On account of failing health, he went to Natchez, Mississippi. Later, he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and from there to Texas, then to Holden, Missouri, and shortly afterward, during the seventies, he went to Clinton, where he was engaged in the boot and shoe business for a number of years. He also served as deputy sheriff of Henry County under Sheriff A. B. Hopkins. In 1882, he settled in White Oak township, where he bought a farm and engaged in general farming and stock raising, to which he has devoted his attention ever since. He owns seventy-five acres of land in Bogard township, eighty acres in White Oak and fifty-seven acres adjoining the town of Urich, where he makes his home.
Mr. Costley was married in 1882 to Miss Millie A. Moler, a daughter of Charles H. and Phoebe (Hendricks) Moler, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Henry County.
Charles H. Moler was an early settler in Bogard township and entered Government land here. His wife was a daughter of Asa Hendricks, who was one of the very early pioneers of this section. Mrs. Costley died in 1898, aged forty years, leaving the following children: Wade, who was born November 14, 1882, and is now at Dallas, Texas, in the employ of the United States Government as a constructor, he married Lula May Newcomb and they have four children, Harry H., Eugene, Laura May and Wade H., Jr. The second and youngest child born to Mr. and Mrs. Costley is Hoyland L., born February 20, 1887. She was educated in Stevens College, Columbia, Missouri, and now resides in Kansas City, Missouri. Wade was educated in the public schools of Henry County and the Central College at Fayette, Missouri.
Mr. Costley is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights and Ladies of Security.
