CHAPTER XXVII (Part 112)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Thomas M. Swindell, a prominent farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native of this county, and comes from a pioneer family. He was born in Shawnee township in 1857, and is a son of William D. and Anna (Freeman) Swindell, the former, a native of Kentucky and the latter, of Shawnee township, Henry County. William D. Swindell was a son of J. B. Swindell, one of the earliest settlers of Shawnee township, and the second merchant to have a store at Huntingdale. He conducted a mercantile business there for many years, and was also engaged in farming in that vicinity, where he spent the latter part of his life. William D. Swindell always made his home in Henry County, although his death occurred at Mounds, Oklahoma, in 1913. His wife died in Shawnee township in 1878. William D. and Anna (Freeman) Swindell were the parents of the following children: T. M., the subject of this sketch; James W., Mounds, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Sallie Rucker, deceased.
T. M. Swindell was reared and educated at Huntingdale. He has made farming and stock raising his principal occupations and has met with well deserved success. He owns a well improved farm of 326 acres in Big Creek township, and is one of the well-known and successful stock men in that township.
Mr. Swindell was married in 1889 to Miss Ida Fisher of Big Creek township. She is a daughter of Cunningham S. and Jane (Miller) Fisher, pioneers of Big Creek township, who came here in 1856, and settled on the farm the south half of which is now owned by Mr. Swindell. Mr. Fisher died in 1901 and Mrs. Fisher now lives near Blairstown. They were the parents of the following children: Ab, Urich, Missouri; Ida, the wife of T. M. Swindell, the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. Susan Shepherd, of Blairstown, Missouri.
To Mr. and Mrs. Swindell have been born the following children: Beulah, married Ray Butcher, Junction City, Kansas, who is now a private in the National Army; Rolla A., resides at home with his parents, now in training at Camp Funston; Orvil, a manual training teacher and athletic director in the public schools at Cape Girardeau, enlisted in United States Navy and now at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. All the Swindell children are graduates of the consolidated high school and the State Normal School at Warrensburg. Roy W., a student and graduate of the high school and Warrensburg Normal College.
Mr. Swindell has always taken an active interest in the betterment and up-building of the public school system and was one of the promoters of the Norris High School, which for a number of years, played an important part in the educational sphere of Henry County and was later merged in the first consolidated high school district of Henry County. Mr. Swindell is a progressive and public-spirited citizen and ranks as one of the leaders in Henry County.
John M. Bennett, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Osage township, was born December 27, 1855, in Benton County, Missouri, the son of John and Martha (Ham) Bennett. John Bennett, Sr., was born 1820 in Logan County, Kentucky, where, with his parents, he shared the pioneer hardships and experiences. In 1856, he moved to West Point, Bates County, and engaged in farming. While conducting his peaceful occupation of tilling the soil until the Civil War broke out. Mr. Bennett joined the Confederate Army, enlisting at West Point, Missouri, in Raines' Division of Price's Army. Four years of warfare brought many experiences to the men who fought under starry skies and the bright glaring sun, but soon, the dove of peace had again spread her wings over our nation and the boys in blue and grey resumed their peaceful occupations.
Mr. John Bennett, Sr., and Martha Ham were married and ten children were born to their union, all of whom are living. They are as follows: William F., residing at Orange, California; Green L., a merchant of Green Ridge, Missouri; James E., ex-sheriff of Henry County, now living at Clinton, Missouri; Susan, the wife of Judge Milton Burrell of Pettis County, Missouri; John M., subject of this sketch; Martha J., wife of Robert Mayfield of Little Rock, Arkansas; Mrs. Lillie Schnabel, judge of Benton County Court; Harrison, Spokane, Washington; Walter L., Rockville, Missouri; Edward, operating the home farm in Pettis County, Missouri. In 1830, when the Ham family moved from Franklin, Howard County, the Indians were still among his native haunts and resented the coming of the white man upon his hunting grounds. Mr. Ham located near Windsor and for many years worked hard to reclaim the virgin soil to civilized fertility. His daughter, Martha (Ham) Bennett, was born in 1822 in Howard County and died in 1906. Her husband had been laid to rest in 1883.
John M. Bennett, the subject of this sketch, received his education in Pettis County and until 1901, he followed farming pursuits in that county. In 1901, he came to Henry County and purchased the present farm and has successfully conducted his business here since then. He owns 342 acres of land and raises cattle and sheep, as well as carrying on general farming.
March 15, 1863, John Bennett and Willie S. Hines were united in marriage. They are the parents of five children, as follows: Virgil, a soldier in the National Army, now at Camp Funston; James R., Jewel Ruby, Grace, and Naomi, who continue to make their home with their parents. Mrs. Bennett was the daughter of Brantley and Margaret (Douglas) Hines. Brantley Hines was a member of the Confederate Army and upon returning to his home was drowned as the boat "Kentucky," sank in the Red River. Mrs. Hines lived to a good old age and is now laid to rest in the Windsor Cemetery.
Mr. Bennett and his son Virgil are members of the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Bennett affiliates with the Royal Neighbors, also a member of the Christian Church.
Jacob F. Snyder, a prominent farmer and stockman of Osage township, is a native son of Henry County. He was born in this township September 10, 1869, and is a son of Rudolph and Mary Snyder. The Snyder family came to Henry County from Ohio in the early fifties. They came by steamboat as far as Warsaw and from there walked to their future home in Osage township. The father died about 1889, and the mother departed this life in 1903. Their remains rest side by side in Mount Zion Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, deceased; Mary, married Lawrence Acker and resides in Hickory County, Missouri; Philip, deceased; J. D. lives at Lowery City, Missouri; M. R., Johnson County, Missouri, and Jacob F., the subject of this sketch.
Jacob F. Snyder was reared to manhood in Henry County and received his education in the public schools. He has followed farming and stock raising since early life and is one of the successful farmers and stockmen of southern Henry County. His farm is known as "Grand View Stock Farm," and is one of the ideal places of Osage township. It is located about eight miles south and east of Brownington, on the Warsaw and Brownington road. Mr. Snyder owns 1,040 acres of some of the most valuable land in the county. The place is well improved and all modern farming methods are in vogue here. Mr. Snyder is one of the extensive stockmen of this section and ships from three to five carloads of cattle and hogs annually. He also raises horses and mules on an extensive scale.
July 23, 1890, Jacob F. Snyder was united in marriage with Miss Emma E. Knisely, a daughter of Joseph and Affia (Hopple) Knisely, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were early settlers in Henry County, coming here about 1868. They are both now deceased and their remains are buried in the Mount Zion Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Alta Ann, deceased; Emma E. married Jacob F., Snyder, the subject of this sketch; M. R. resides in Osage township, and Mrs. Bertha Stewart, Osage township.
To Jacob F. Snyder and wife have been born the following children: Ruby married Claud Greenwell, Osage township; Don R. married Lena Stewart and lives in Osage township; Lena, at home with her parents; Florence married Perry Barker, Osage township; Jacob F. Jr.; Audra Earl and Violet B. The three last mentioned reside at home with their parents. Mr. Snyder is one of the substantial men of Henry County and the Snyder family are well known and highly respected.
Henry C. North, a progressive and enterprising farmer and stockman of Osage township, is a native of Iowa. He was born in Franklin County, July 14, 1861, a son of Thompson and Anne E. (Brough) North, natives of Ohio. The mother died in 1910 and the father now resides near Lowry City, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children: Henry C., the subject of this sketch; Emerson lives at Stafford, Kansas; Stella, a teacher residing at Spokane, Washington; Mrs. Cora Browning, Stafford, Kansas.
Henry C. North received his education in the public schools and has followed farming all of his life. He bought his present place in 1903. It consists of 240 acres of well-improved and valuable land in Osage township, where he carried on farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale. Besides this farm, Mr. North owns 160 acres near Lowry City, Missouri. He is known throughout Henry County as one of the successful stock breeders. He raises cattle, horses, mules and hogs and is regarded as one of the successful men of the county in this field of endeavor. He also raises grain extensively.
Mr. North was united in marriage in 1888 with Miss Alma Gilkey, a daughter of Joseph and Susan (Richmond) Gilkey, both of whom are now deceased. The mother died in 1883 and her remains are interred in the Mount Zion Cemetery and the father died at Eugene, Oregon, June 1, 1918. They were the parents of the following children: Henry, who resides at Deepwater, Missouri; Winn lives in St. Claire county, Missouri; Mrs. Hannah Goncer, Garfield, Washington; and Alma, the wife of Henry C. North, the subject of this sketch.
After the death of Mrs. North's mother, which occurred in 1883, the father married Anna Dean and the following children were born of that union: Joseph, Eugene, Oregon; Dr. Dena Gilkey, now a surgeon in the United States Army; Lillian and Sadie.
To Mr. and Mrs. North have been born three children, as follows: Lula married James Foster, Lowry City, Missouri; Austin, who resides at home with his parents and Audrey married John Shaffner, Deepwater, Missouri.
The North family have an extensive acquaintance in southern Henry County, and Mr. North is regarded as one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of this section of the State.
Dennis Simms - The Simms Motor Company, located on North Main street, Clinton, Missouri, is owned and operated by Dennis Simms, who established this business October 1, 1917. Mr. Simms was born January 1, 1894, on a farm near Norborne, Carroll County, Missouri. His parents, John and Sarah (O'Connell) Simms, of Kentucky and Ireland, located in Carroll County, Missouri, in 1860, and made their home in her environs all of their days. Mrs. Simms was laid to rest in 1901 and John Simms is still farming his land where he has lived so many years. They had four children: Dennis was the first born; Mary, now Mrs. Holder, lives in Sisson, Illinois; William, of Butte, Montana; and James, of Norborne, Missouri.
Dennis Simms received his education in the high school of Norborne, Missouri, and the Chillicothe Normal School, Chillicothe, Missouri, graduating from the latter institution in 1907. After finishing his education, he was employed by the Ford Motor Company in Kansas City as assistant bookkeeper. He was employed in many different capacities while with this company, becoming familiar with all lines of their business. Just before coming to Clinton, he was personal supervisor of territory of Missouri local managers.
Dennis Simms was married June 18, 1914, to Zetta Arvin and they have a family of two children, Dennis J., and Eunice.
The building in which Mr. Simms has his business has a frontage of 53 feet and it is 125 feet deep. He has an up-to-date service where he is able to meet the needs of his patrons. He has the agency of the Fordson Tractor, which is to have a great future after the war.
Mr. Simms and his wife are members of the Catholic Church and Mr. Simms is a member of the following organizations: The Holy Rosary Council, the Knights of Columbus, the Marguerite Council at Kansas City, Missouri. He is also a member of the Salesmanship Congress of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
