CHAPTER XXVII (Part 45)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Edward B. Delozier, a retired farmer and Union veteran of Leesville, Henry County, was born on a farm nine miles south of Osceola in St. Clair County, Missouri. He is the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Carlton) Delozier, natives of Kentucky, who made a settlement in St. Clair County, Missouri, as early as 1836. The greater part of this county was then a wilderness and the settlers all erected log cabins from timber cut out of the dense forests. The Deloziers lived in St. Clair County until 1862 and then settled in Benton County, just over the line not far from Leesville. Edward Delozier was widely known and prominent in his locality and was familiarly and affectionately called "Uncle Ned." He was father of nine children: James, lives in Oklahoma; Thomas, deceased; Edward B., of this review; Crumblett, Chelsea, Oklahoma; Mrs. Elizabeth Dodson, a widow living in St. Clair County; Mary Jane, deceased; Anne, wife of Isaac Wilson, Henry County; Mrs. Louise Jacobs, Nowata, Oklahoma.
Edward B. Delozier enlisted April 1, 1862, at Warsaw, Benton County, in Company F, in the 8th Missouri State Militia, and served with the Union Army for three years, receiving his honorable discharge at Springfield, Missouri, April 1, 1865. He fought in many battles and engagements in Missouri and Arkansas and took part in the memorable battle of Lone Jack, receiving severe wounds in the face and shoulder, the scars of which show to this day. He received his wounds on August 1, 1862, and was in a hospital for two months. Other battles in which he participated were: Newtonia, Jefferson City (1864), the Battle of the Big Blue, where Price's forces were routed and sent trekking toward Arkansas; battle of Independence, Missouri; Pleasanton, Kansas (1864), and on through Kansas, Missouri and down into Arkansas the army with which his command was a part, performing their duty of driving Generals Price, Marmaduke and Shelby out of the country. His last fight was at Newtiona and arrayed against them were "Fighting Jo Shelby's" famous command, which they routed.
After residing in Benton County one year, Mr. Delozier settled upon a farm just east of Leesville, Henry County. For four years he carried the mail between Clinton and Leesville, making seven years in Government service. He became owner of sixty acres which he improved and to which he has added until he now owns a total of 182 acres. Of late years this aged veteran has turned over the management of his farm to others and is living a comfortable retired life at Leesville, doing all within his power to assist his beloved country to win in the present great World War.
Mr. Delozier has been twice married. His first marriage took place December 28, 1861, with Martha McDonald, who died in 1868, leaving two children: Thomas, Pueblo, Colorado; Lucy, wife of Horace McLain, near Calhoun. One child died in infancy. The second marriage took place in 1875, with Mary Chastain, who was born February 25, 1856, on a farm one mile north of Leesville, the daughter of Jerry and Tabitha (Yoyng) Chastain, the latter of whom is past eighty-three years of age. The Chastains came to Henry County from Clinton County in an early day.
The following children were born to Edward B. and Mary Delozier: Mrs. Laura Kennedy, living near Eldorado Springs, Vernon County, Missouri; Asa, Rockville, Missouri; Rufus and William, farmers living near Leesville; Israel, Rockville, Missouri; Jerry, Benton County, Missouri; Mrs. Lulu Bradley, Leesville; Ada, wife of Homer Carlton, a farmer living near Leesville; Ethel, at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Delozier have thirty grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The Republican party has always had the allegiance of Mr. Delozier, and he and Mrs. Delozier are members of the Tebo Baptist Church. He is a member of the Dan McCook Post No. 312 Grand Army of the Republic.
John Barth - Few pioneer citizens have contributed more to the building up of Henry County than the late John Barth. To the credit of this worthy departed citizen of this county, are many things which can be recorded in the annals of his adopted country. Besides the amassing of wealth, he was a creator and builder, who looked far into the future.
Mr. Barth contributed to the commonwealth, one of the largest and best families in the community. The children of this pioneer, instead of leaving the locality of their births and rearing, chose to remain under the tutelage of a good and wise parent who thoughtfully provided for them a place in the community rather than to see them venture into fields unknown. He lived to see them comfortably situated and earning their way on excellent farms throughout the vicinity of their early home. His liberality to religious and civic works was a proverb; his kindliness was marked and his name will long be revered and respected among the people of Henry County as one who did well his work and who left behind him a record of which his descendants may well be proud.
John Barth was born in Wertemberg, Germany, January 10, 1838, and died at his home near Lucas, Missouri, June 6, 1917. When a lad of fourteen years of age, he came to America and was reared to young manhood in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. During his boyhood days, he worked hard and often for a wage of fourteen cents per day. His early life's experiences taught him the value of a dollar. He was married in Ohio to Maria Lebold, on September 21, 1862. This marriage was blessed with five children, as follows: John W., Mrs. Dora Gretzinger, Mrs. Helen Doll, Mrs. Lizzie Doll, and Jacob S. Barth. Mrs. Maria Lebold Barth died January 12, 1874. On November 4, 1875, Mr. Barth was married to Sophia Rombold, who died May 27, 1911. Ten children were born of this marriage; nine of whom are living: Albert H., Maggie, deceased; Mrs. Clara Sevier, Josie, George, Tressie, Mrs. Ida Henny, Robert, Walter, and David.
Mr. Barth left his Ohio home and came to Henry County in 1868, settling in this county. The beginning of the Barth family fortunes in Missouri was a gift of a tract of 487 acres of land which came from John Lebold, father of Mrs. Maria Lebold Barth. Mr. Lebold had previously invested in this land which was unimproved and was bought at a time when much of the area of northwestern Henry County was undeveloped prairie. Mr. and Mrs. Barth soon created a home in Henry County and prospered as the years passed, John Barth becoming one of the large land owners of western Missouri and a prominent and influential figure in the life of the county. Mr. Barth first settled in White Oak township and in later years erected a splendid farm home which is now owned by his youngest son, David Barth.
During his long and active career he accumulated an estate of over 2,280 acres of land, all of which he divided among his fourteen children as they became of age and desired to make homes of their own. His estate was valued at over $100,000. Mr. Barth was one of the promoters of the town of Urich and gave land for a part of the Urich townsite.
He was president of the Farmers Bank of Urich, and was always found in the forefront of all worthy movements tending to advance the interests of his home community and county.
Mr. Barth was a Lutheran in his religious belief and he was known as an honest, dependable, and upright citizen. His place in the history of Henry County is assured for all time to come as one of the pioneers who had a broad and comprehensive vision of the development of this section of the Middle West and who profited through his confidence in the ultimate prosperity of the neighborhood in which he created his home.
William F. Smith - The store of William F. Smith, located at Coal, Henry County, Missouri, is, without doubt, the finest country merchandise store in western Missouri. Taking charge of this establishment in 1906, with very little previous training or experience in merchandising, the proprietor built up the business and placed this store upon a plane far ahead and above the average of general country stores. The spick and span appearance of the store interior, the modern fixtures bright with paint and varnish, attract the eye and please the patrons and visitors who stop to admire the extraordinary appearance, as contrasted with the usual cluttered up and untidy appearance of the average country store. When Mr. Smith took charge of the business the stock of goods would not exceed over $475 in value by the actual invoice. Mr. Smith moved the old building, cut an arch and built over the main store room. The main floor is 22x58 feet with two store rooms in addition. The stock of goods carried is valued at $10,000, and only the best of merchandise is carried.
The Smith store is also an exchange depot, and large quantities of produce are taken in exchange for goods which are hauled to Clinton for shipment. The goods are all arranged on the departmental plan and the Smith store will compare favorably with the best in the cities.
The Smith store at Coal, Missouri, was first established in 1890 and known for a time as the Wheeler store. The location is an excellent one but for some reason or other the venture did not prosper and was losing money for the owners when Mr. Smith took charge in March, 1894. For four years he operated the business as manager and then, in partnership with his father, George F. Smith, purchased the business. Father and son owned the store together until 1906, when the present proprietor took charge as sole owner of the business. No greater success is recorded in mercantile circles in the rural districts of Henry County or western Missouri than that of W. F. Smith, the merchant at Coal. The fame of this store has spread far and near.
William F. Smith was born four and a half miles south of Coal, on his father's farm in Leesville township, January 3, 1870. He is the son of George F. Smith, a pioneer settler of Henry County, concerning whom an extended review is given in this volume. Mr. Smith received his education in the district schools and when twenty-four 'years of age he engaged in the mercantile business with hardly any intention of remaining in the business indefinitely. His practical intention was to close out the business later, but as the years passed he found that he was adapted to the business and has achieved a marked success. At first, he and his brother bought the store in partnership and planned to close out the stock. The following February, his brother George was accidentally shot, and William F. took hold as related in a preceding paragraph.
November 27, 1894, William F. Smith and Mary E. Parks were united in marriage. Mrs. Mary E. Smith is the daughter of J. T. Parks, a resident of the village of Coal. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children: Flossie May, wife of Clyde H. Tope, and has one child, Pauline; Ura V., a pupil in the eighth grade of the public schools; and Erie H. Smith. Mr. Smith has always been a Democrat and served as trustee of Leesville township when the present system of township government was instituted. He served two terms in this office. He and Mrs. Smith are members of the Presbyterian Church.
