CHAPTER XXVII (Part 104)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Fred Keck, a well known farmer and stockman of Fields Creek township, was born on the old Keck homestead in the township where he now lives December 24, 1872. He is a son of Constantine Keck, who is a pioneer settler of Fields Creek township. He built one of the first brick residences of the county. It is a two story, eight room structure and is still standing, is occupied and in a good state of preservation. It was built in 1877 and the brick were manufactured on the Keck homestead.
Fred Keck was reared on the home farm in Fields Creek township and attended the district schools of his neighborhood. He has followed farming and stock raising in Fields Creek township all his life and has met with well merited success. Mr. Keck is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He specializes in Durham and Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs. The Keck homestead consists of two hundred eighty acres of land and is owned by the Keck estate, there being six children in all.
January 18, 1897, Fred Keck was united in marriage with Miss Emma Dehn, a native of Henry County, born in Honey Creek township April 3, 1875. She is a daughter of Peter and Susan (Nace) Dehn, and is one of the following children born to her parents: Katie, resides in Clinton; John, Clinton township; Lizzie, married John Duerr, Clinton, Missouri; Daniel, lives in Fields Creek township; Anna, deceased; Mary, married Henry Myers, Ashgrove, Missouri; Susan, married W. D. Lloyd; George, lives near Clinton, Missouri; Rosa, married Godfrey Batschlett, La Due, Missouri; and Emma, married Fred Keck, the subject of this sketch. Peter Dehn was born in Germany April 26, 1824, and immigrated to America in 1851, settling at Galena, Illinois. He came to Henry County in 1867 and settled in Honey Creek township, where he died April 27, 1910. His wife was born in Germany in 1839 and died December 24, 1910. The Keck family are well known and highly respected in Henry County and Fred Keck is one of the substantial men of the community.
John McCoy, a prominent farmer and stockman of Bogard township, is a native son of Henry County and a descendant of pioneer parents of this section. Mr. McCoy was born about two miles southeast of Creighton December 29, 1855, a son of Mason Louis and Mary (Baker) McCoy. Mason Louis McCoy was born in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, February 8, 1829, and died at Urich, Missouri, April 15, 1917. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1838, and they settled in Lafayette County and in 1854, Mason Louis McCoy came to Henry County. He was a man who had a vast experience in the new and undeveloped west of the early days. For a number of years, he was train boss for Russell and Major, who were extensive freighters in the early days. Mr. McCoy crossed the plains in the employ of this company many times. During the Civil War, his family lived in Henry County on the old homestead and much of his time was spent in Sedalia, where he was serving as a member of the Home Guards. Mason Louis McCoy was an unusual man in many ways. He was fairly well to do and charitably inclined. Many of the early pioneers owe their success in later life to being assisted at a critical time by Mr. McCoy, whose generosity was one of his leading characteristics. He was enterprising and progressive, and took an active part in all public matters and measures which tended to build up his county and community.
To Mason Louis and Mary (Baker) McCoy were born the following children: John, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Elizabeth McClung, Urich, Missouri; William, died at Premlin, Oklahoma; Mrs. Evaline Peake, Vernon County, Missouri; Mrs. Letitia Johnson, Richards, Missouri; Robert, Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Dollie Hillebrant; George, Urich, Missouri, and one who died in infancy.
John McCoy, the subject of this sketch, received his education, principally, in private school which was conducted by Marcus Hendricks, who settled in the vicinity of Urich in the early days, on a place about half a mile north of town. Shortly afterwards, a small frame school house was built on the McCoy place there. This was destroyed by fire and the next school building was located about one-fourth mile south of there, which was subsequently replaced by the Oak Grove school house, which is still standing. Mr. McCoy remained at home with his parents until he was about eighteen years old. His first independent venture was working as a farm laborer in Cass County, for which he received fifteen dollars a month. Shortly after this, he engaged in farming on his own account and in 1884 bought ninety acres of land. He has added to this as opportunities presented themselves and is now the owner of a good farm of three hundred thirty-five acres. He is a successful general farmer and is extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs, as well as buying and selling stock. He is a self made man and what property he has accumulated is the result of his unaided efforts. When he purchased his first land, he was practically without capital and mortgaged the place for almost the entire purchase price for which he paid eleven percent, interest. At that time, all farm produce was at the low water mark of prices. For instance, eggs sold for three cents per dozen. Mr. McCoy believes that a man can buy a farm today without capital, and pay for it easier and quicker than at any other time in the history of the country.
John McCoy was united in marriage March 2, 1881, with Miss Mary E. Godwin, a native of Indiana, born June 29, 1860. She is a daughter of William and Mary Frances (James) Godwin. The Godwin family resided in Bogard township. The father was born February 3, 1828, and died November 13, 1882. The mother was born January 20, 1838, and died November 14, 1908. They came to Missouri in 1866 and settled in Cass County, where they resided for some time, and later the father bought a farm in Bogard township. William and Mary Frances (James) Godwin were the parents of nine children, as follows: George W., born March 18, 1854; Sarah, born February 4, 1856, married T. S. Clay, Bogard township; Annie E., born March 29, 1858, married Alves Williams, Lodi, California; Mary E., the wife of John McCoy, the subject of this sketch; James F., born February 1, 1863, now deceased; Emeline, born February 16, 1865, deceased; William S., born July 18, 1867, deceased; Amanda J., born November 29, 1870, deceased; and Samuel A., born June 8, 1872, deceased. To John McCoy and Mary E. (Godwin) McCoy have been born the following children: Alford, married Josie E. Crissman of Bogard township, now resides on the home place; Joseph R., married Pearl Williams of Cass County, and also resides on the home place; Mayme Frances, married F. G. Hale. Both she and her husband were teachers in the Centralia public schools, Centralia, Missouri. Mr. Hale is now a private in the National Army, in training at Camp Pike, Arkansas.
Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are both members of the Christian Church of Creighton and are of Henry County's most highly respected pioneer families.
Albert M. Allen, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Fields Creek township, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Cumberland County December 27, 1853, a son of Lewis and Elizabeth F. (Pace) Allen, both natives of Kentucky, who came to Missouri in 1858 and settled in Lynn County. In 1867, the Allen family removed to Henry County and settled in Fields Creek township on a farm which is now owned by Albert M. Allen, the subject of this sketch. The father later went to Oklahoma and in 1912, after a residence there of about twenty years, died at Norman. His wife also died at Norman, Oklahoma, in 1904. They were the parents of two children, Albert M., the subject of this sketch, and James M., a banker at Humansville.
Albert M. Allen got his start in life from his father, who gave him forty acres of land. Mr. Allen has been engaged in farming and stock business for himself since reaching his majority and is one of the successful and prosperous men of Henry County. He has added acreage to his holdings from time to time until he now owns over five hundred twenty-five acres of some of the best land to be found in Henry County. It is all well improved and Mr. Allen is recognized as one of the successful stock raisers of the county. He usually has on hand about one hundred head of cattle and from one hundred fifty to two hundred head of hogs.
February 8, 1877, Albert M. Allen was united in marriage with Miss Nannie E. White, a native of Pike County, Illinois, and a daughter of Joseph and Lavina (Mitchell) White, the former born in Indiana in 1834 and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1835. Mrs. Lavina (Mitchell) White died March 30, 1917, and her remains are interred in the Fields Creek Cemetery. Joseph White now resides in Honey Creek township with his son, Joseph Lee.
The White family came to Henry County in 1869 and settled in Fields Creek township and the place upon which they then settled is now owned by members of the family. Joseph and Lavina (Mitchell) White were the parents of the following children: Nannie, who married Albert M. Allen, the subject of this sketch; John R., lives at Rock Island, Texas; Oliver P., Joliet, Illinois, and Joseph L., a successful farmer and stockman of Honey Creek township, married Anna Ford, a native of Honey Creek township, and they have a son, Joseph G., who is now a soldier in the United States Army in France, a member of the 129th Machine Gun Battalion, and their other children are: Emily M., Ernest F., Frances N., Ruby L., Robert B., Ethel Clare, Anna Evelyn, Lindsay and Nannie May, who died in infancy.
To Albert M. Allen and wife have been born two children: Elmer P., who died when six months old, and Ernest M., a farmer and stockman of Henry County. Mr. Allen is one of the substantial citizens of Henry County and takes a keen interest in local public affairs. He has served as treasurer of Fields Creek township for six years, and is one of its leading citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
John Drach, Jr - There are always in the settlement of every locality, a few men from whom historic points seem to radiate, and who are entitled to the honor and glory of the development of that particular part of a new country. This may be truly said of John Drach, Jr., public administrator and one of the worthy pioneers of Henry County. Mr. Drach was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1842, and is a son of George and Margaret (Kling) Drach, natives of Pennsylvania. The Drach family lived pioneer lives and were early settlers in St. Clair County, Illinois. They saw it in its manifold aspects. They saw the development of the wild and unbroken plains of western Missouri at a time when few folks knew or appreciated what this meant. At the close of the Civil War and for a few years thereafter, George Drach and family made their home in the vicinity of Belleville, in St. Clair County, Illinois, but when John came West and located in Missouri, in the fall of 1867, he left all of his kin and kindred behind, for the time being and was joined by his parents in 1868. He began life in a new locality, under new conditions, where manhood and integrity meant all, and family pedigree nothing. George Drach and the family came to Henry County in March, 1868. The Drachs first located one and a half miles west of Lucas Post office and moved to the Drach home place in the spring of 1871.
George Drach labored to make a home for his family and before this end was accomplished he died in 1883. His wife, undismayed by misfortune, continued to make her home in this county and rear her family, all of whom practically reached the age of maturity. She died in 1892. To George and Margaret Drach were born the following children: John, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Annie M. Kruse, St. Louis, Missouri; George Drach, who died at Girard Illinois, May 6, 1917; Julius, born August 6, 1859, and died at Glenwood Springs, Colorado; Harry, died at Cripple Creek, Colorado; Catharine C., housekeeper for John Drach; Edward E., born December 6, 1850, and now resides at Denver, Colorado, and Alfred Edward, who died in childhood.
Mr. Drach is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers and stockmen of the county and is the owner of one of Henry County's best farms, owning altogether 135 acres, located four miles north of Clinton on the Warrensburg road. Since coming to Henry County he has made many improvements and today ranks as one of Henry County's most progressive citizens and fearless voters. Mr. Drach is regarded as one of the most progressive citizens of Henry County, and has done his part ably and well in the furtherance of progress. In politics, he is a Democrat.
William R. Duck, proprietor of the "Woodland View Stock Farm," one of the leading farmers and stockmen of Bogard township, belongs to a pioneer family of this section. He was born in Stark County, Ohio, March 13, 1861, a son of Benjamin and Martha J. (Latimer) Duck, the former a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. The Duck family moved from Starke to Ashland County, Ohio, when William R. was a child and in 1868 they came to Missouri and settled in Henry County. Here the father bought one hundred twenty acres of land, to which he later added eighty acres, owning two hundred acres at the time of his death. He improved the place and built a home, hauling lumber from Holden, Missouri. Rev. Benjamin Duck was a United Brethren minister and preached in Henry and Bates Counties on numerous occasions. He was a Christian gentleman and a good citizen. He died in February, 1891, and his wife departed this life in 1904. Their remains rest side by side in the Grant Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary E. Eyster, Ashland, Ohio; Joseph H., deceased; Mrs. Rebecca A. Creveling, a widow, lives in Ashland County, Ohio; Daniel 0., Hartwell, Arkansas; Benjamin A., Johnson County, Missouri, and William R., the subject of this sketch.
William R. Duck was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools, attending school at Bee Branch in District No. 26. The schoolhouse here was built by his father, Rev. Benjamin Duck, who hauled the lumber from Holden, Missouri, and the first teacher here was Hattie Carpenter. Mr. Duck has always made farming and stock raising his occupation, and is recognized as one of the successful stock breeders of western Henry County. He raises Shorthorn cattle and has on hand about fifty head, most of which are registered. He also breeds Poland China hogs, eligible to registration, and also raises quite a number of mules and Percheron horses. Mr. Duck's place is one of the ideal farms in the county and is located two and one-half miles south of Quick City and six miles from Blairstown and consists of four hundred acres in the home farm, besides one hundred thirty acres in Johnson County, northeast of Quick City.
Mr. Duck was united in marriage in 1897 to Miss Ida F. Farnsworth, a daughter of Lot and Caroline (George) Farnsworth, natives of Tennessee, who settled in Cass County in 1856 on a farm four miles southeast of Garden City. Later the Farnsworth family removed to Johnson County, when order No. 11 was issued. The parents are now both deceased. The father died in 1909 and the mother August 21, 1917. The following children were born to Lot and Caroline (George) Farnsworth: Robert, Quick City, Missouri; Mrs. Lou Fowler, Enid, Oklahoma; Mrs. Helen Hall, Longston, Kansas; Mrs. Laura Parkhurst, Kinsley, Kansas; Mrs. Lucy Parkhurst, Los Angeles, California; A. A., Marble Hill, Missouri; Ida F., wife of William R. Duck, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Edna Farnsworth, who resides in Johnson County, Missouri, and Cyrus L., Quick City, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Duck have been born the following children: Carrie Lee, Cyrus W. and Lottie Helen, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Duck is one of the representative citizens of Henry County, who has made good and the Duck family are well known and prominent in the community. Mr. Duck is a Republican and a member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Duck is a member of the Christian Church.
