CHAPTER XXVII (Part 24)
BIOGRAPHICAL
William Daniel Hendrick - To have been one of the first white children born in Henry County and to have fought for the preservation of the Union were two of the honors which fell to the lot of the late William Daniel Hendrick of Bear Creek township. He also bequeathed to Henry county and the nation one of the largest families ever reared in the county. Death called him from his earthly labors too soon for him to rear his large family to maturity and the task devolved upon his noble and capable helpmeet who has achieved one of the most remarkable successes as a successful agriculturist and business woman in this section of Missouri.
William Daniel Hendrick was born November 27, 1841, in the northwest part of Henry County, and was the son of Asa and Martha (Higgins) Hendrick, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, and who settled in Henry County during the early thirties. William D. Hendrick was reared to young manhood in Henry County and enlisted in the Union Army in 1863 as a Government teamster, serving for nearly one year. He was married in 1876 to Miss Margaret Mohler, who was born June 20, 1858, in Dark County, Ohio, the daughter of Rev. John S. and Mary H. (Risser) Mohler, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively, both of whom were descended from Pennsylvania German stock. The Mohlers came to Missouri in 1868 and after spending one year in Johnson County, near Knob Noster, they came to Henry County in the fall of 1869 and settled on a farm three miles northeast of Urich, residing there until 1878. They then moved to a farm near Deepwater. After residing here for some time they removed to Brown County, Kansas, and from there they went to Gove County, Kansas, with their children.
Rev. John S. Mohler was a minister of the Gennan Baptist Church and his whole life was spent in ministerial and agricultural pursuits. He was born May 30, 1831 and died November 1, 1911. Mary H. (Risser) Mohler, his wife, was born November 11, 1852, and died March 17, 1912. They were parents of the following children: Mrs. Nannie R. Benezette, deceased; Martin R., Maurine, Missouri; Mrs. Maggie R. Hendrick; Mrs. Cassie R. Johnson, Kansas City, Missouri; Joseph R., Gove County, Kansas; Samuel R., Montrose, Missouri; Mrs. Rebecca R. Eisenbise, Gove County, Kansas; John R., Preston, Nebraska.
When William Daniel and Maggie R. Hendrick were married they settled on a farm two miles northeast of Urich which Mr. Hendrick had purchased. They lived for two years on this farm and then made a trade with John R. Mohler, sold the place which he obtained to Mr. Hendrick's brother and then bought a farm south of Urich. One year later Mr. Hendrick sold this farm and made his home with his parents until 1881. In the fall of that year he purchased the farm in Bear Creek township which served as their home for six years. They sold this place and moved to a farm three miles of Montrose, remaining there until 1894, when they purchased the present home place of the family, consisting of 220 acres in Bear Creek township. During the dry year of 19Ol, when there was very little to occupy Mr. Hendrick in caring for crops he erected a splendid farm home which has been beautified until it is one of the attractive farm homes in Henry County.
Fourteen children were born to William D. and Maggie Hendrick: Etta May, born July 9, 1877, wife of Thomas Dugan, living near Montrose, and has six children, Emmet, Estell, Robert, Bernard, Margaret, and Dorothy; W. Warren, born August 13, 1880, resides near Maxville, New Mexico, married Viola Nelson and has six children, Deena, William, Ruth, Rachel, Gracie, Mary Margaret; Maude M., born January 6, 1882, wife of Rufus Long, of Walker township, and has two children. Ruby Myrtha, and Roland; Anna M. born March 24, 1883, wife of Elmer Long, of Walker township, has five children, Ewall, Daniel, Estell, Nannie, and Anna Lee; Gertrude L., born December 3, 1884, wife of Robert Skaggs, of Davis township; Grover R., born March 28, 1886, lives in Davis township, married Myrtle Tribble, and has one child, Glenn; Otis M., born April 14, 1888, lives near Manzanola, Colorado, and is a fruit and alfalfa grower, married Dorothy Rodman and has one child. Ruby Lois; Bell, born May 27, 1890, wife of Harry Mason, of near Uneda, Missouri, Bear Creek township; Asa, born November 28, 1891, lives near Manzanola, Colorado, married Golden Hood, and has two children, Carl and Mary; Virgie, born November 12, 1893, at home; Frances, born July 15, 1895, wife of Percy Pinkston, Bear Creek township, has one son, William Lee; Ruby; Ralph; Fern. William Daniel Hendrick, father of this remarkable family of children, died November 19, 1902.
Mrs. Hendrick was left with their care and upbringing. She has accomplished the task in a most capable and really praiseworthy manner. Every child has been reared to become a good and worthy citizen and Mrs. Hendrick has ably managed her affairs so as to excite the admiration of those who know her. The farm improvements have been kept to a high standard; she has educated everyone of her fourteen children and assisted those who have left home to get a start for themselves and led them all to lead upright and worthy lives so that every child is a valued member of society in their respective communities.
Politically, William D. Hendrick was a supporter of the Democratic party although he was never active in political affairs. He was reared a Baptist by his parents, but Mrs. Hendrick and her children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was a member of the Agricola Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Henry County and the State of Missouri has benefited by his sojourn upon this earth and his life was within blemish; his place in the history of Henry County is well deserved.
H. Bryant Hollopeter - Born and reared upon the farm in Henry County, H. B. Hollopeter of Bear Creek township, achieved a success as a railroad man, and then returned to his first love, after having accumulated sufficient funds to purchase a splendid farm near his old home in this township. Unlike many of those who have been employed in salaried positions for a number of years, he carefully saved his earnings, always with a view to becoming a tiller of the soil and thus be independent of the tenure of a railroad job, and to become his own boss on the farm. Mr. Hollopeter was born in 1859 in York County, Pennsylvania, the son of Frederick (born July 4, 1808; died March 3, 1893) Hollopeter, the son of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. Frederick Hollopeter was reared in Pennsylvania and was there married in 1858 to Christian Troy, who was born August 26, 1836, in Clearfield County Pennsylvania, the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Miles) Troy, natives of Pennsylvania.
Frederick Hollopeter came to Henry County in 1871 and purchased an eighty-acre tract of prairie land upon which he erected his permanent home in this county. Here he tilled his acres and lived to a good old age, surrounded by the comforts of his industry and thrift. He was father of four children: H. Bryant, subject of this review; Mrs. Phoebe Catharine Etter, Kansas City, Missouri; Mary, deceased; Irvin, Kansas City, Missouri; Lydia, deceased; Nellie, at home with her widowed mother, who has three grandchildren. Mr. Hollopeter was a Republican in his political faith and a member of the Brethren Church.
Bryant Hollopeter attended the Glenwood district school and also studied at Lamkin's Academy at Clinton. Like the greater number of Prof. Lamkin's students he has achieved a success of his life. Prior to his marriage, in 1887, he had purchased a forty-acre tract of land which formed the nucleus around which he has built up his splendid 200-acre farm. When he was twenty-one years of age he began teaching school and continued teaching and farming until his marriage. In 1890 Mr. Hollowpeter engaged in railroad work with the Ft. Scott & Memphis Railroad Company and followed the profession of telegraph operator and station agent for twenty years. He was stationed at Deepwater, first as a helper, and then transferred to Cherokee, Kansas.
Later he had charge of the railway station at Aldrich, Missouri; then he went to Creighton, Missouri, and after a term of service at Garden City, Missouri, he returned to his farm in 1910. During his career as a railroad man he purchased an additional 160 acres of land. In the year 1903, he erected a handsome brick residence upon his farm. Mr. Hollopeter has 120 acres in his home place, and an eighty-acre tract located two miles east of his home which he uses for pasture land. During this year (1918) he is cultivating twenty acres of corn, twenty acres of oats, and has seventy acres in grasses. Mr. Hollopeter is using fertilizer for his crops with the idea that it is his duty to raise bumper crops in this year of all years for the good of the country. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of La Due and served as cashier of the bank for some time, and is now a director and the assistant cashier of this bank.
The marriage of Bryant HoUopeter and Miss Ella Varner took place in 1887 and has been blessed with four children, two of whom are living: Freddie and Edith are deceased; Paul, is railroad agent for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company at La Due and is making a success of his profession, being one of the youngest agents of the line; Ray is at home with his parents. Mrs. Ella (Varner) HoUopeter was born in Ohio and is the daughter of Daniel and Mary Varner, who came to Henry County from Ohio in 1885.
The Republican party has generally had the allegiance of Mr. Hollopeter. He is a member of the Brethren Church and is regarded as a highly desirable and progressive citizen of Henry County and ranks among the successful men of this county.
