CHAPTER XXVII (Part 39)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Ethelbert Lampkin - Down in the extreme southwest corner of Henry County, in Deepwater township, is one of the most beautiful estates in western Missouri, which shows the handiwork of lovers of the best which Nature can produce if the land receives the proper care. The Lampkin estate of 400 acres, which was built up during fifty-two years of residence and tenure by Ethelbert Lampkin and his wife, Emma, is a splendid homestead. The pretty cottage residence occupies the crest of a rising slope, down which is spread an attractive and well kept lawn which is shaded by evergreens and deciduous trees. Mr. Lampkin took up his residence on this place in 1866 and Mrs. Lampkin has lived there since 1871. A large orchard flanks the grove and lawn and an abundance of all kinds of fruit are supplementary products of this large farm.
The late Ethelbert Lampkin was born in Northumberland County, Virginia, April 14, 1832, and departed this life in Henry County, February 16, 1895. He was the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Kenny) Lampkin, both of whom were of English parentage. During the fifties, Mr. Lampkin went to Pettis County, Missouri, and followed his trade of brick mason at Sedalia until 1861. In that year, he journeyed west to Colorado and engaged in mining. In this venture, he was successful and became owner of a valuable mine. The Colorado trip and his work as a gold and silver miner netted him a sufficient amount of money to enable him to purchase his land in Henry County in 1866.
November 29, 1871, Ethelbert Lampkin and Emma Hutchinson, of Pettis County, Missouri, were united in marriage. This marriage was blessed with children as follows: Rose, wife of Dr. J. R. Hampden of Shawnee Mound, Henry County; Lena, wife of David Atchison, residing on the adjoining farm; William T., married Susan Wilson, daughter of Joseph H. Wilson and lives at Payette, Idaho; Claude, married Maud Oliver, daughter of the late Henry Oliver and resides on a farm just across the road; Harry E., lives at Portland, Oregon; Cline Y., a merchant at Decatur, Illinois; Louise, wife of E. D. Smith, resides on an adjoining farm; Mrs. Ethel Farber, Payette, Idaho; Ben, resides on a farm two miles north of the home place; Roland, born June 11, 1892, resides upon the home farm, which he has been operating. He is now m training for war service in the National Army.
The mother of this family of children was born in Pettis County, Missouri, August 7, 1852, and is the daughter of William T. and Martha (Porter) Hutchinson, both of whom were natives of Kentucky and Virginia, who emigrated from their native States to Pettis County via the overland wagon route in the early thirties. Her grandfather, Belfield Porter, entered Government land in Pettis County about 1831. He was an extensive farmer and stock man and brought with him many slaves from Virginia. William T. and Martha Hutchinson were parents of the following children: Bellfield Hutchinson, living at Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. Emma Lampkin; Mrs. Hattie Cline, Sedalia, Missouri; Louise, Nannie and Mattie, residing in Sedalia.
The Democratic party always had the support of Ethelbert Lampkin, but he was never an office seeker. He was a member of the Baptist Church and took a lifelong and abiding interest in religious works. He assisted materially in the building of Union Church and Presbyterian and the Mount Hope Church and helped to build the Appleton City Baptist Church. He was a liberal giver to all religious and charitable causes and never let a worthy call upon his purse go unheeded. Mr. Lampkin was one of Henry County's best known and most highly esteemed citizens, whose place in the history of his county is assured for all time.
Herman Henry Willenbring - Just south of the flourishing city of Montrose, in Deepwater township, is one of the finest farms in western Missouri, consisting of 480 acres in a high state of cultivation, owned and operated by Herman Henry Willenbring, one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of Henry County. Since Mr. Willenbring took possession of this farm in 1905 he has been constantly improving it and has erected a new granary and made other substantial improvements. The large farm residence sets back from the highway and presents a striking appearance when seen from the roadway.
Herman Henry Willenbring was born September 30, 1868, in Germany, the son of Anton and Josephine Willenbring, who emigrated from Germany in 1871 and settled in Nemaha County, Kansas, purchasing a farm just northeast of the town of Seneca. They resided on this farm until death called them, the father dying in 1886 and the mother departing this life in 1888. Herman H. is the only living child of his parents.
Mr. Willenbring was married in Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, to Miss Anna Rottinghaus, who was born in Germany, the daughter of Bernard Rottinghaus, an early settler of Nemaha County, Kansas. Mr. Willenbring resided in Nemaha County, Kansas, until 1900 and then went to Garfield County, Oklahoma, purchased a farm, which he improved and sold. Mr. Willenbring bought and sold four different farms in Oklahoma, clearing $4,000 on his various transactions. In 1905, he came to Henry County and purchased one of the finest farms in the vicinity of Montrose, in a region noted for its fine farms. Although he has been a citizen of this county for but a few years Mr. Willenbring has taken his place as one of the leading agriculturists of the county and he and his family are well established in the community.
The children born to Herman Henry and Anna Willenbring are as follows: Mary, Sister Meleta, a teacher in the parochial school at Ottawa, Ohio; Joseph, a soldier in the National Army at Camp Funston; Louis, also a soldier in the National Army stationed at Camp Funston, where he went April 2, 1918; Alphonse, a student at St. Benedict's College, Atchison, Kansas; Martha, in school at Clyde, Missouri; Frank, Lawrence and Paul, at home with their parents.
Mr. Willenbring is a Republican and he and the members of his family are members of the Catholic Church at Montrose.
John Swaters - The little Kingdom of Holland has furnished thousands upon thousands of sturdy immigrants to this country since the first great immigration of the Hollanders occurred in the seventeenth century when the Dutch made the beginning of one of the world's greatest cities on the Island of Manhattan. The Hollanders make excellent American citizens, and are noted for their industry and proverbial thrift and honesty. John Swaters, wealthy farmer of Deepwater township, is a splendid type of American who was born in Holland. Since coming to Henry County in 1893, he has accumulated 909 acres of land. He made his first purchase of land in 1893 in Bear Creek township consisting of 320 acres, but he did not make his permanent home here until 1901, when he built a fine, large residence of nine rooms and erected other necessary buildings on the home place. 829 acres of the Swaters land is located in Bear Creek township.
John Swaters was born in Holland, October 29, 1838, the son of John and Antoinette (DeHeer) Swaters, who came to America in 1848. The father of Mrs. Swaters, John DeHeer, died on the voyage. The Swaters family settled in Clinton County, Illinois, where the father died in 1853, and the mother died in 1873.
John Swaters began life in humble circumstances in Clinton County, Illinois, and shortly after his marriage, he removed to Effingham County, where he became owner of a farm of 320 acres which he cultivated until his removal to Missouri. Land was constantly rising in value in Illinois and Mr. Swaters with characteristic shrewdness and by the exercise of good, sound business judgment based upon the idea that a man could not lose money by purchasing good farm lands, bought and sold farms in his vicinity and thus made a great deal of money. Of late years he has deeded outright, three quarter sections to his sons.
April 18, 1871, John Swaters and Elizabeth Wekamp were united in marriage. Mrs. Elizabeth Swaters is the daughter of J. B. Wekamp and was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1855, emigrating from her native land to America when fifteen years old. Her mother died in 1865. The children born to John and Elizabeth Swaters are as follows: Anna, Elizabeth, Henry, Bernard, John H., Margaret, Maria A., Rosa, George A., Francis Louis, and Ann Leonora. Ann married Fred H. Heiman and has children as follows: Regina, Pernelia, Leo, Martha, Rosa, Ferdinand, Loretta, John and Helen. Regina Heiman married John Nold and has one child, Morena. Elizabeth, wife of H. W. Schmidt, lives in Illinois, and has six children: Gertrude, Clarence, Vincent, John, Loretta, and Lawrence. Henry married Elizabeth Richter and resides in Bear Creek township, has children as follows: Irene, Gertrude, Nettie, Bernard, Helena, Raymond, and Leonard. Bernard married Catherine Heiman and resides on his father's farm in the adjoining house, has four children: Mary, Hildegarde, Catherine, and Maurice. Francis Louis, married Caroline Cole and has one son, Robert Louis. John H., Jr. and Margaret Sawters are at home with their parents. Marie A. died in infancy. Mrs. Rosa Lee Nold lives in Bear Creek township. George A. is at home.
Anna Leonora, married William Nold and lives in Bear Creek township.
Mr. Swaters is a Democrat and he and all of his family are devout Catholics, being members of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Montrose. He is one of the kindest of men, and he and Mrs. Swaters are jolly, wholesouled people who have good and just right to be proud of their accomplishments and of the fine family which they have bequeathed to their adopted country.
