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| M. Wray Witten, of Versailles, was born December 28, 1877, one and
a half miles south of Versailles. He is the son of John M. Witten
and Sarah Elizabeth Witten. Both John M. Witten and wife were born
in Cold County, Missouri, but after reaching his majority Mr. Witten moved
to Texas and Mrs. Witten’s folks, the Wray family, came to Morgan County
from Cole County. This was in 1873 and in 1874 Mr. Witten and Miss
Wray were married. The following children were born to them:
Montgomery Wray, born in 1877; Ina, now Mrs. Dr. H. N. Lutman, of Versailles,
was born in 1879; Frank M., now marchant of Versailles, was born in Texas,
in 1881; Mary Agnes, now Mrs. A. B. Knipmeyer, of Memphis Tenn., was born
in 1883; John G., now an insurance man of Versailles, was born in this
city in 1886; Rosa, now Mrs. D. C. Hardy, Jr., was born in Versailles in
1887.
John M. Witten died in Versailles in 1888. Mrs. Witten still lives in Versailles. John M. Witten was a farmer and merchant. Montgomery WrayWitten was a born teacher and lover of books. Though his father died when he was ony eleven years old the mother gave her children all of the advantages possible in school work. Before he was old enough to vote by several years Wray was teaching country schools. He was educated in the public schools of versailles and the state University at Columbia. He has been a member of the Christian Church in Versailles for about sixteen years; has been a Mason nine years and a K. of P. fourteen years. In 1903, he was married to Miss Blanch Daugherty, daughter of Judge J. P. Daugherty of north Morgan. This wife died January 22, 1913, leaving the husband and two children, John D., born in 1907; Mr. Wray, Jr., born in 1910. In 1915 Mr. Witten was married to Miss Mabel Livingston of Versaillles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Livingston. One child has been born to them, Livingston, born in 1916. Mr. Witten commenced teaching when he was seventeen years old and taught three years in the county schools. The next twelve years he was a teacher in the Versailles school, several years of which time he was the superintendent. While he was teaching in the Versailles school he was elected county school commissioner and served in this capacity seven years. Since the law established a county board of examiners of teachers, Mr. Witten has been a member of the board, now nearly twenty years. When the new law permitting counties to elect count7 school superintendents came into effect Mr. Witten was county school commissioner and by virtues of this office he became the first county school superintendent the county had, as by the terms of the law the county school commissioners were to be superintendents till such officers could be elected. At the first election of this office Mr. Witten was elected without opposition and he served his first four year term and gave such good satisfaction that he was again elected for another four year term without opposition. He is now in his second term and has been a faithful, Zealous and fruitful worker. He has the name among the educators of the state of being one of the best county superintendents in the state. His record as a teacher and leader in educational work has become known widely among school men and twice he has been called to Montana to assist in the summer school work at the state university. He filled both calls with distinction. He was also called to the State of Virginia to assist in school work in 1916, but he could not accept the work a he had been engaged for the work in Montana. The schools of Morgan County have been improved 100 per cent since Mr. Witten became county superintendent. |
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| W. A. Buell, of Versailles was born in Morgan County, July 21,
1875/ He is the son of Elijah R. and Lucinda Buell. Elijah
was bornin Ohio April 25, 1830, and Lucinda Buell (nee Allison) was born
in Mrogan County, Missouri, October 3, 1842. Elijah Buell died in
Morgan County in February, 1890. Miss Lucinda Buell, mother of W.
A. Buell, is living with her son in Versailles. Three children, two
boys and a girl, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Buell, a boy and a girl
having died in infancy. Elijah Buell was a merchant at Excelsior,
Morgan County, during his residence here.
W. A. Buell was educated in the public schools of Morgan County and the Hooper Institute, at Clarksburg, Missouri. He is a member of he Presbyterian Church and of the A.F. & A.M. Mr. Buell taught school in his early manhood in Morgan and Cooper Counties for a period of about six years, and was successful as a teacher. Receiving an appointment as railway postal clerk he gave up school teaching and took up the postal clerk work in 1898, serving two years on the main line and then on the Boonville and Versailles branch road, where he served ten years. From 1910 to 1912 he resided on a farm northeast of Versailles. He was then elected cashier of the Frist National Bank of Versailles, and after serving the bank in this capacity till November 1914, he was elected president of that thrifty bank, a position he now holds. February 11, 1903, Mr. Buell was married to Loula M. Fluke, of Cooper county. To this marriage two children have been born --- Orville A. Buell, now 12 yers old, and Verna L. Buell, eight months old. Mr. Buell has been successful in allof his undertakings, from school teaching to banking. He is a member of the Versailles school board and is a progressive citizen, standing for the best for the town and community. |
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| Lewis C. Siegel, lives in Versailles and is the present collector
of the county revenue, being in the middle of his four yer term, at the
time this sketch is written, December 1916.
Mr. Siegel is the son of John Peter and Magdalena Siegel and was born in Morgan County, Missouri, June 5, 1870. Both of his parents were born in Germany. John Peter Siegel was born June 1, 1821 and Magdalena Siegel was born April 15, 1831. They came to the United States to Morgan County in the fifities and lived here the remainder of their lives, near Florence. John Peter died in March 1903, and his widow died in March 1913. To John Peter and wife were born the foloiing children: Mrs. William Schlichtig; Mrs. M. E. Schupp; W. P. Siegel, of Syracuse; H. F. Siegel, of Glensted; Mrs. Annie M. Draffen, of Versailles; Mrs. Louisa Hess and Lewis C. Siegel. The father of the children was a farmer and carpenter. Lewis, about whom this sketch is writeen, was educated in the publis school of his school district. He lived on a farm all of his life till he was elected county collector in 1914, when he moved to Versailles to take up his official duties. He has been a member of the Methodist church five years and is a member of the M.W.A. and K. of P.lodges. August 7, 1889, he was married to Sallie J. Houchin and to them the following children have been born: Irwin, now 26 years old; Jesse F., died in 1894, when about two and a half years old; ClarenceF., now married and living on his fathers farm, near Stover; Lewis Edgar, now clerking in the Bremer & Todd dry goods store in Versailles, aged 18. Irwin is deputy collector in his father’s office. ` Before he was elected collector Lewis Siegel was farming and live stock buying. Most of his life was spent in the Florence neighborhood but during the last few years, prior to his election to office he lived at Stover where he was worth much to the community as a stock buyer. Mr. Siegel is amking a good collector and has always proven himself a good and useful citizen. |
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| J. Forney Berkstresser is at present in the middle of his first term
as clunty clerk of Morgan County, having been elected in 1914. He
lives in Versailles and owns a farm northwest of town. He was born
September 16, 1875, near Versailles, Mo. His father William Berkstresser,
was born in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1824. His mother,
Cathorine Berkstresser, was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania,June 22,
1843. William Berkstresser and family came to Morgan County, Missouri
in December 1867, from Indiana County, Pa. Mrs. William Berkstresser
died October 9, 1910, and William Berkstresser died May 24, 1914, both
died at Versailles. To William Berkstresser were born the following
children: Daniel, Mary, Sarah Jane, Henry, Francis, Amanda, Lincoln, Jennie,
Rebecca, Clara, Olive Georgia, John Adam, J.Forney, and Jay S. William
Berkstresser was a farmer by occupation after coming to Missouri, but while
he lived in Pennsylvania he was largely engaged in the lumber traffic and
spent many years rafting logs down the river. After coming to Missouri
he served his community as road overseer and Justice of the Peace.
J. Forney Berkstresser, the subject of this biography, is a member of the Church of God and holds membership at Antioch, a church four miles northwest of town and near the Berkstresser homestead. He has been a member of this church 22 years and a member of the Odd Fellow lodge six years. On February 28, 1900, he married Miss Fannie Taylor, daughter of d. P. Taylor, who lived southwest of town. Fannie died at Versailles January 12, 1901, and on April 4, 1905, Mr. Berkstresser married Miss Augusta Temme, daughter of Hon. Chris Temme, of Excelsior. To this marriage five shildren have been born, ther names and ages follow: Audrey aged 7; Mildred, 5; Temme, 3; Forney William, 1; Leland, born November 16, 1916. Priou to his election as county clerk Mr. Berkstresser was assistant postmaster ten years, eight years under postmaster J. W. Mills, and two years under postmaster A. G. Baker. He is making a good record as county clerk and has always been a substantial, progressive citizen. |
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| John William Holloway, of Versailles, was born in Hart County,
Kentucky October 21, 1842. His fathe rwas Garrett Holloway, born
January 1, 1812, in Halifax County, Virginia. John Holloway came
to Morgan County from Benton County, December 7, 1883. His parents
had settled in Benton County at an early date and his mother died there
in September 1878, and his father died in the State of California in 1882.
John Holloway had two brothers and seven sisters – Elizabeth Susan, born August 30, 1838; Nancy Harriet, born about 1840; Eliza Frances, born May 6, 1844; Mary Ellen, 1849; Stephen Judson, February 15, 1847; James Robert, December 24, 1851; Sarah Angeline, September 1854; Matildo Jane, March 21 1857; Emma Alice, September 2, 1861. The father of these children was a farmer by occupation. John Holloway, the subject of this biography, was educated in the public schools of Hart County, Kentucky, and Benton County, Missouri. Mr. Holloway became a member of the Baptist church many years ago and is a member of the Masonic lodge of Versailles. He was made a Mason in 1873. He was twice married, first to Cathorine Elizabeth Miller, January 19, 1868. The second time he was married to Mary Ann Carson, October 24, 1873. His first wife died December 23, 1871, in Benton County. His children are as follows: Rebecca Ann, aged 47; Stephen James, 44; Eliza Jane,41; William Robert, 39; Clark Alonzo, 33; Sarah Elizabeth 37; Stella May, 36; Charles Blaine, 31; Evelyn, 29; John Letts, 26; Garrett Blaire, 23. Mr. Holloway was a farmer all of his life till the time of his retirement. He served his country as road overseer and five years as constable in Benton County, and as justice of the peace and public administrator in Morgan County. Several years ago Mr. Holloway retired from the farm and lived at Warrensburg a few years where he could give his children the advantage of the state normal school there. He always sent his children to the public schools and was a great advocate of good schools. Most all of his children became leading school teachers and two of them are now in the civil service in Washington D.C. at this time and they are all making their mark. Mr. Holloway was a soldier in the Union army and is very proud of the fact that he was Uncle Sam’s soldier. He and his wife now live alone in Versailles spending a happy and comfortable evening of life. |
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