CHAPTER XXVII (Part 62)
BIOGRAPHICAL
August W. Pruessner - The successful career of August W. Pruessner of Leesville, Missouri, began in 1885 when he purchased a lease on a tract of Grand River land and for three years tilled the land with fair success. He then bought sixty acres near the New Church in Bethlehem township, upon which he resided for four years and added forty acres during his tenure of the farm.
Since his boyhood days, Mr. Pruessner has known nothing but hard, continuous labor. He resided for three years in Benton County, Missouri, and bought land east of Warsaw, upon which he lived for three years. In 1897, he located upon 200 acres for which he traded. This land was located on the Benton-Henry County line and he cultivated it for three years. He accumulated 400 acres and improved the farm to a considerable extent. In 1905, he moved to Leesville and bought eighty-five acres of his present home place, which consists of 305 acres in all. He owns in addition to this another farm of 400 acres on Tebo Creek, eighty acres of which lies in Henry County and the balance in Benton County. One hundred acres of the Pruessner land were sown to wheat, which has yielded (1918) the splendid crop of fifteen bushels to the acre; 180 acres are in corn, which promises to give a fine yield, and thirty-five acres of oats. The rest of the land is sown to grasses and pasture for the live stock. Twenty horses and mules are kept on the place and from ninety to 100 head of cattle are fattened annually for the markets. The farm produces from fifty to 400 head of hogs annually.
The Pruessner ranch is one of the most modern and best equipped in Henry County. A silo is filled each year with green forage. The plowing and harrowing is done with a modern tractor. A grist mill is also operated by the same power. The ranch is equipped with the most modern farm machinery so as to expedite the farm work and do it more economically with the least labor possible.
August W. Pruessner was born in Germany in May, 1866, the son of Simon and Florence Pruessner, the latter of whom died when August W. was a youth. The Pruessners came to America in 1867 and settled in Osage County, Missouri, and later in Gasconade County. From there, they went to Kansas and settled in Henry County in 1886. The elder Pruessner was a farmer.
In October of 1887, August W. Pruessner and Martha Fisher were united in marriage. Mrs. Martha Pruessner was born in Saline County, the daughter of Christ Fisher, a native of Pennsylvania and one of the old settlers in this county, moving from Saline to St. Clair County and thence to Henry County.
The children born to August W. and Martha Pruessner are as follows: Christ, died when young; Elizabeth, was educated at the Warrensburg Normal School and has taught three terms of school, now a student at Clinton Business College; Albert, born February 15, 1894, is a farmer, married Vivian Swazey; Janie, former student at Warrensburg State Normal School and now student at Clinton Business College; Oscar, born July 27, 1898, is assisting in the home farming operations and is a capable and energetic young man; Ethel, Veda, at home; Everett, died in infancy. In addition to the other conveniences on this splendidly equipped farm the Pruessners have a late "Studebaker Six" which takes the family to town or city in a few minutes.
Mr. Pruessner is a Republican, although he has had little time for political matters. He was reared a Presbyterian but has embraced the faith as exemplified by the Baptist teachings. Of late years, Mr. Pruessner's health has been such that it has become necessary for him to shift the burden of caring for the farming operations to the shoulders of his capable and energetic sons, who are successful farmers. His career has reached its zenith, having achieved wealth and position in the agricultural life of Henry County he can well be content to let others take up the task of carrying onward the work so well done.
Richard W. Edmondson, mail carrier for Rural Route No. 18, Windsor, Missouri, was born March 23, 1876, in Windsor township. He is the son of James W. Edmondson, concerning whom an extended review is given elsewhere in this volume.
Mr. Edmondson was educated in the district school of his home neighborhood and remained on the home farm until April 26, 1898. He then enlisted as a private soldier in Company F, 2nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment for service in the Spanish-American War. He received his honorable discharge from the service on March 9, 1899, and returned to the home farm. He was employed at farm labor near Lewis Station until October 9, 1899, and then enlisted in Company, 40th United States Volunteer Infantry Regiment, for service in the Philippines. He saw much active service in the island and was promoted to the post of duty sergeant. For five weeks he was ill with malaria contracted in the Philippines. He received his honorable discharge from the service at the Presidio, California, June 24, 1901. Upon his return home, his father told him that he had a position waiting for him and he learned that a rural mail route was being organized out of Windsor which would pay a salary of $500 a year. Postmaster George W. Schweer assisted him in obtaining the appointment. On January 1, 1902, he began his duties as carrier. Mr. Edmondson's salary has since been increased to $1,450.
On February 29, 1904, Richard W. Edmondson and Miss Addie Mason were united in marriage. They have one child, Herschel, born January 12, 1905. Mrs. Addie Edmondson was born in Pettis County, Missouri, the daughter of Thomas and Mary C. (Woods) Mason, natives of Illinois, and who were farmers in Benton and Pettis Counties. Mr. Mason is deceased and Mrs. Mason now lives at Vincennes. Indiana, with a daughter.
Mr. Edmondson is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Windsor and is interested financially in the Farmers Elevator Company. He is a Republican in politics and is a member and deacon of the Christian Church. He is fraternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Bryce F. Richardson, cashier of the Peoples Bank, Calhoun, Missouri, is a native of Henry County. He was born on a farm in Springfield township, October 24, 1873, the son of Francis B. and Mary E. (Holland) Richardson, who were parents of four children: Luther, manager of the Calhoun, Missouri, Telephone Company; Lucian C, a farmer in Tebo township; Clyde N., a farmer of Deercreek township; Bryce F., subject of this sketch.
Francis B. Richardson was born in Monongahela County, West Virginia, in 1837, and immigrated to Missouri in 1869, locating on a farm in Springfield township, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his retirement to a home in Clinton in 1909. Mrs. Mary E. Richardson was also born in West Virginia in 1840.
Bryce F. Richardson is self-made and has accomplished much for a comparatively young man. He was educated in the district school and the Calhoun High School and also studied in Central College, Fayette, Missouri. In 1900 he saw the need of a telephone system for the convenience of the people of Calhoun and vicinity, and accordingly organized and placed in operation the first telephone line ever in operation in this vicinity. This was known as the Tebo Telephone Company and Mr. Richardson conducted the concern until he disposed of it in 1909. He then assisted materially in the organization of the Peoples Bank of Calhoun and became the first and present cashier of this bank, which has met with a gratifying growth during its nine years of operation. The president of this bank is M. D. Finks, the vice-president is W. C. Butler, a substantial merchant of Calhoun.
Mr. Richardson was married April 2, 1901, to Miss Emma N. Finks, who was born in Tebo township, the daughter of Milton D. Finks, a retired farmer of Calhoun. Five children have been born of this marriage: William F., Homer C, Hazel L., Bettie F., and Lillian.
The Democratic party has the support of Mr. Richardson, although he does not take an exceedingly active part in political affairs. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Michael Edwards, a leading merchant of Calhoun, Missouri, is a native of New York, and was born in Monroe County, that State, August 23, 1856. He is the son of Patrick and Ellen (Bowling) Edwards who were parents of twelve children, five of whom are living.
Patrick Edwards was born in County Clare, Ireland, January 8, 1820, and died October 27, 1887. He left his native land in 1848, after having followed seafaring life for a number of years, finally settling in New York, where he engaged in railroad work as trainman and was also engaged in railroad construction. In 1867, he located in Franklin County, Missouri, and followed railroading for three years, coming to Henry County in 1870. He became track foreman for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway at Lewis Station and held this position until his retirement, a short time prior to his death. Mrs. Ellen Edwards was also born in County Clare, Ireland, September 25, 1832, and died in September, 1877. The parents of Michael Edwards were married in New York.
Michael Edwards accompanied his parents to Henry County and also worked on the railroad and followed mining for some years. In 1888, he opened a general merchandise store at Calhoun and has become one of the town's most successful and enterprising business men. He was married October 31, 1882, to Miss Ella Minish, born in Calhoun, daughter of Isaac and Priscilla (Linn) Minish, the former located in Calhoun as early as 1856 and followed the trade of watchmaker for several years, also serving as postmaster of the town, dying in this city in 1905. To Michael and Ella Edwards have been born six children: James W., assisting his father in the Edwards store; Patricia, in Washington; Mary E., wife of D. L. Green, Windsor, Missouri; Thomas, formerly assisting his father, now a private in the National Army, attending the Rahe Army School at Kansas City, Missouri; Margaret, wife of W. L. Graham, St. Louis, Missouri; Arthur, at home.
Mr. Edwards is a member of the Catholic church, as are several members of his family. He has always been a Democrat and is one of the substantial citizens of Calhoun, who has built up an excellent and flourishing trade by the exercise of honest and dependable methods of doing business.
Clyde N. Richardson is manager of the Calhoun Elevator and owner of 200 acres of well improved land in Deer Creek township. Mr. Richardson is a native of Henry County, born February 22, 1875, in Springfield township, and is the son of Francis B. and May E. (Holland) Richardson. See sketch of Brice F. Richardson for complete history of this family.
Clyde Richardson was educated in the Calhoun schools and "Central College" of Fayette, Missouri, and when a lad in his early teens, he left the parental roof to work for himself. For a number of years, he rented the home farm from his father until he purchased 120 acres in 1910 in Deer Creek township. He followed his farming operations exclusively until he was made manager of the Calhoun Elevator Company in March, 1917.
May 28, 1904, Clyde Richardson was united in marriage to Eliza Finks, who taught school for a number of years prior to her marriage.
She is a native of Tebo township, and a daughter of Milton D. and Bettie (Lewis) Finks. They are retired farmers, making their home in Calhoun. One child, Francis Milton, born February 13, 1905, has come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson and he is attending the schools of Calhoun to fit himself for his future life work.
Mr. Richardson's political views are in harmony with the Democratic party, and he has served his community as township assessor for the years 1910 to 1914. He is steward of the Methodist Church, South, and a member of same.
