CHAPTER XXVII (Part 59)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Henry Slack, a retired merchant and real estate dealer of Calhoun, Missouri, was born in Linn County, Missouri, January 5, 1843, a son of James C. and Caroline (Humphrey) Slack. James C. Slack was born in Henderson County, Kentucky, in 1815 and in 1817, his parents left their home in that State and came to Boone County, Missouri. In 1838, James Slack moved to Linn County, Missouri, where he farmed until he came to Henry County in 1867. He lived three miles south of Calhoun until his death in 1872. Mrs. Caroline Humphrey Slack was born in Kentucky in 1825 and died in 1910. They were the parents of nine children: John of Tulsa, Oklahoma; William B., died in 1862 while serving in the Civil War in the Confederate Army; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mary E. Bentley, deceased; Alfred, a carpenter, Calhoun, Missouri; Mrs. Lydia Whitley, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Lucas, Webb City, Missouri; Thomas G., lives one mile northwest of Clinton; Virginia, married C. Ford, Windsor, Missouri.
Henry Slack was reared on the farm and when twenty-one years of age clerked in a general store at Ashland, Nebraska. He was employed in this work until 1867, when he returned to Calhoun, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming until 1873. He then purchased a general merchandise stock in Calhoun, Missouri, and continued that business until 1900, when he engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He owns eighty acres of well improved land east of Calhoun and also real estate in Calhoun.
Henry Slack has been twice married. October 1, 1873, he was married to Martha Carter, a native of West Virginia. The following children were born to this union: James E., a sketch of whom follows this article; one died in infancy, and George, a contractor in New York City.
Some years after the death of his first wife Henry Slack was married in 1881 to Betty (Calvert) Gray, who was born in Pettis County in 1856. She was the widow of John Gray and a daughter of Nod Calvert.
Two children, Alice and Clifton, were born to this union. Both are deceased.
Mr. Slack is a member of the Baptist Church and a thorough business man, enjoying the respect and honor of those who know him.
Oley Johnson, farmer and stockman, Springfield township, Henry County, is a native of Sweden who came to America and made good in the land of his adoption. Mr. Johnson was born in Hudixwahl, Sweden, March 23, 1848, the son of Jonas and Christina (Pearson) Johnson, who were parents of two sons. The parents of Oley Johnson came to America in 1868 and made a settlement in Cooper County, Missouri, where Jonas Johnson died. His wife, Christina Johnson, died in Springfield township, Henry County, Missouri, May 7, 1901.
When he had attained the age of twenty years, Oley Johnson with his parents and brother decided to come to America in search of a home and fortune. He crossed the ocean and made his way to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1868, there finding employment on the railroad and any honest labor he could obtain. In 1873, he located upon a farm of eighty-two and one-half acres owned by Captain Henry in Springfield township, Henry County, and has prospered as the years have passed. During that same year, he invested his savings in a fine farm of 160 acres in Benton County, Missouri. Mr. Johnson is recognized as one of the progressive and enterprising farmers of his township and is well-to-do.
Mr. Johnson was married December 16, 1903, to Mrs. Maude Johnson, widow of his brother, Perry, who prior to her marriage was Miss Maude Rogers, born in Columbia, Missouri, August 16, 1876, the daughter of Robert C. and Maria (Clay) Rogers. Robert C. Rogers was a native of West Virginia and his wife was born at Carlisle, Kentucky, a daughter of John W. Clay, first cousin of the great statesman, Henry Clay, of Kentucky. Robert C. Rogers was a brick mason by trade and came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1880, locating in section 9 of Springfield township upon an eighty acre farm. In 1892, Maude Rogers and Perry Johnson were married. Perry Johnson was born in Sweden on April 2, 1849, and accompanied his brother Oley to America. He died June 17, 1901, leaving three children: Edgar O., in the National Army, was married to Lena Bullock June 23, 1918; James Clay, now a soldier in the National Army, fighting in behalf of the free peoples of the world against the military oppression of Germany; Mary Christina Johnson, the only daughter, was married to Logan Taylor July 18, 1918.
Mr. Johnson is a Republican and has served as school director of District No. 7. He is a stockholder in the Windsor and Calhoun Elevator Companies and takes an active and influential part in all civic movements.
Joseph W. Gray - The Gray family in Henry County is one of the oldest and most distinguished in this section of the State, and was founded here in 1836 when the grandparents of Joseph W. Gray came to Henry County and entered the land where the old Gray homestead is now located and which the subject of this sketch is now cultivating. This old family has also contributed a descendant to the service of the Nation in the great World War, a son of Joseph W. Gray having been the first private soldier from Henry County to die at Camp Doniphan.
Joseph W. Gray was born at Windsor, Missouri, October 15, 1871, the son of Dr. J. W. and Clara E. (Head) Gray, who were parents of six children, as follows: Effie E. Cecil, Springfield township; Dr. Alfred A., a practicing physician, Calhoun, Missouri; Joseph W., of this review; Charles V., Hollister, Missouri; Harry P., a veterinarian at Chilhowee, Missouri; Mrs. Clara Bennett, Long Beach, California.
Dr. J. W. Gray was born in Henry County February 20, 1840, the son of Rev. W. A. and Mary (Loftis) Gray, both of whom were born in Kentucky. Rev. W. A. Gray first came to Missouri in 1835 and taught school. In 1836, Rev. W. A. Gray removed with his family to Henry County and entered land in sections 14, 15, 22 and 23, Springfield township. He followed farming during the remainder of his life while preaching as a minister of the Baptist Church. Nine children were born to Rev. W. A. and Mary Gray, of whom Dr. J. W. Gray was the eldest. Doctor Gray was educated in the St. Louis College of Medicine and began the practice of his profession in 1863 near Lincoln, Benton County, Missouri.
He located in Windsor in 1865 and practiced in this city for a period of twelve years. He then, in 1876, came to the Gray homestead and practiced his profession while looking after his farming interests, retiring from active practice in 1913. He made his home on the old homestead until his death on June 17, 1918. Mrs. Clara Gray was born March 22, 1845, in Benton County, Missouri, the daughter of Dr. Alfred and Rhoda (Vincent) Head, natives of Virginia. Doctor Head was practicing his profession in Benton County during the Civil War.
Joseph W. Gray received his education in the district school and the Clinton Academy, taught by Professor Lamkin. He began for him self in 1891 and was engaged in farming until 1901. He then went to Montana and spent a year there, after which he purchased a general store at Roseland, Missouri. He conducted this store until 1906 and then sold out. He clerked in the Red Front Dry Goods Store at Clinton until 1907 and was then engaged as traveling salesman with the George W. Perry Rubber Company until 1909. Since 1909, he has been engaged in tilling the home farm of 240 acres.
Mr. Gray was married October 26, 1893, to Miss Ruth A. Phelps, who was born August 1, 1875, in Henry County, Missouri, the daughter of David and Louise (Moore) Phelps, natives of near Belleville, Illinois.
The Phelps family came to Johnson County in 1872 and came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1874, and Mr. and Mrs. Phelps now reside in Calhoun. Seven children have been born to Joseph W. and Ruth A. Gray, as follows: Guy P., born May 19, 1895, and departed this life at Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma, November 30, 1917, while an enlisted soldier in the service of the National Army, his life being the first to be given by Henry County in defense of the freedom of the world - he died a soldier; Ruth, born January 20, 1900, and died January 28, 1900; Joseph, born April 9, 1902; Eugene, born April 14, 1904; Mary L., born November 17, 1905; Wilma, born March 4, 1909, died May 16, 1918; Clara B., born August 29, 1910.
Mr. Gray is a Democrat and has long been prominent in the affairs of his party in Henry County. In 1912 he was elected to the office of township tax collector and served for two years. In 1915, he was elected township assessor, an office which he is now capably filling. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Cooperative Company and is keenly interested in all worthy civic movements. Mr. Gray is a Mason, his father before him having been a charter member of the Windsor Masonic Lodge. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He and Mrs. Gray are members of the Baptist Church.
