CHAPTER XXVII (Part 100)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Milton Benjamin Merritt - Few pioneers of Henry County did more for the development and up-building of Henry County than did the late Judge Milton Benjamin Merritt, who for over three score years was an influential and widely-known figure in the life of Henry County. Judge Merritt was born in East Tennessee, April 27, 1819; soon after his birth was taken to Gibson County, Tennessee. He died in Henry County, Missouri, March 14, 1906. His parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth (Barnett) Merritt, who had a family of six children, three of whom came to Henry County. Milton B. Merritt came from Tennessee to this county in 1841.
He taught school in Johnson County for some time and after his marriage in 1844, he settled on what is now the Merritt homestead in Tebo township. He was one of the earliest of the pioneers of the Tebo neighborhood. Lexington and Boonville, were the nearest trading points. Ten or more families came from North Carolina about the same time and settled in what is now Tebo township. Milton B. Merritt used horses and later oxen to break up his land. Two things were absolutely necessary to sustain life in those early days. These were wood and water, and the settlers invariably chose a location convenient to both. Mr. Merritt was a Democrat politically and was one of the leaders of his party in Henry County. He was first appointed to the office of county judge and was afterwards elected to this office for two terms.
Judge Merritt was married September 25, 1844, to Susan Fewel, who was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina, June 18, 1825, the daughter of Mason C. and Malinda Lindsey (Wall) Fewel, natives of Culpeper County, Virginia. The Fewels came from North Carolina to Rives County, Missouri, in 1839, and were here when Henry County was formed and organized. Ten children were born to Milton B. and Susan (Fewel) Merritt, as follows: Mrs. Emily D. Gaines, deceased; Mrs. Cerepta V. Amick, deceased; Roschen M., deceased wife of William J. Fewel; Eddith Livania, deceased; Lelia T., wife of Ed Avery, Tebo township; Dr. A. F. Merritt, deceased; Amentha A., living with her aged mother on the old home place; Mrs. R. W. Avery, Tebo township; Mrs. Mary E., Avery, deceased; Milton E., a farmer in Tebo township. The Merritt estate consists of three hundred and sixty acres of productive farm lands and is located in section 21, Tebo township.
Mrs. Susan A (Fewel) Merritt is the oldest living pioneer woman in Henry County. She has 21 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, Emmett Ellis Bagby, Green Ridge, Missouri. She has four grandsons in the National Army, in France, Liland Earl Avery, Lyman Lane Avery, Arthur F. Merritt and Ralph Merritt.
Judge Merritt assisted in the organization of the Primitive Baptist Church and also helped to build the Baptist Church in Tebo township, always having been a liberal contributor to religious works. His liberality in the founding of this church was such that the church congregation donated him two burial lots in the church yard cemetery. His name will always be linked with the early history of Henry County as one of its founders and builders.
Thomas J. Rogers, a progressive druggist engaged in business at Brownington, Missouri, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Marion County, October 17, 1871, and is a son of A. W., and Dona C. Rogers. His father was engaged in the drug business for many years at Lucas and Thomas J. Rogers was practically reared in a drug store. He was educated in the public schools and entered the drug business at Brownington, Missouri, with W. H. Delavergne in 1902 and continued in that connection until the death of Mr. Delavergne in October, 1915, when Mr. Rogers bought the interest of the Delavergne store, and since that time has conducted the business alone. The Rogers drug store is up to date in every particular and Mr. Rogers not only carries a complete line of drugs but in his stock is well represented druggist' sundries and the numerous articles usually found in a modern drug store.
Thomas J. Rogers was united in marriage in 1898 with Miss Bessie Peelor of Brownington, Missouri, a daughter of James L. and Martha Peelor. The father is now deceased and after his death the mother married Jason W. Newell, and now reside at Eldorado Springs, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have an adopted daughter, Lillian Martha.
Mr. Rogers is recognized as one of the leading business men of Henry County. He owns his store building and is one of the valued citizens of Brownington. He takes an interest in local affairs and is one of the boosters of Brownington's enterprise. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Clinton, Missouri, and the Modern Woodmen of America of Brownington.
Arthur Clinton Loudermilk, a well-known stockman and farmer of Fields Creek township, is one of Henry County's leading citizens. He is a descendant of pioneer parents and was born on the place where he now resides, October 12, 1877, a son of Wesley and Minerva (Organ) Loudermilk, the former a native of North Carolina, born September 25, 1838, and the latter of Illinois, born March 20, 1848. Wesley Loudermilk died August 7, 1908, and his remains are buried in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri. His widow now resides with her son Arthur Clinton, the subject of this sketch. Wesley Loudermilk and Minerva Organ were married at Verdun, Illinois, and came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1867. They purchased a farm in Deer Creek township, which they sold two years later and bought where Arthur Clinton Loudermilk now lives. The father was engaged in farming and stock raising here until the time of his death in 1902. To Wesley and Minerva Loudermilk were born the following children: Alice, married Charles Bowles, Beaumont, Texas; Ira, married W. E. Gibson, Bozeman, Montana; Gabriella, married B. J. Hunt, Clinton, Missouri; Arthur Clinton, the subject of this sketch; and Maud, married L. C. Bridges, Bozeman, Montana.
Arthur Clinton Loudermilk was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools of Henry County. Since boyhood, Mr. Loudermilk has been engaged in farming and stock raising, and is one of the practical farmers and stockmen of Henry County. He owns and operates a well-kept and attractive farm of two hundred thirty-five acres in Fields Creek township, which is located about two miles north of the public square. The place is well improved and the farm buildings are in excellent condition, which bespeaks the painstaking and careful management of Mr. Loudermilk. He is a practical farmer and stockman and well posted in the various intricacies of what is recognized as America's leading industry of today - agriculture. It has been well said that "Food will win the war," and Mr. Loudermilk is one of the food producers to whom this great country has turned in its hour of need and peril. Arthur C. Loudermilk was united in marriage in 1910 to Miss Mabel Padfield, daughter of J. H. and Amanda Padfield of Clinton, Missouri.
To this union have been born three children, as follows: Bertha, married John Biggs, Clinton, Missouri; Mrs. Carrie Todfield, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mabel, wife of Arthur Clinton Loudermilk, the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Loudermilk is one of the substantial men of Henry County. His doctrine has been that a "rolling stone gathers no moss," and in accordance with that precept he has cast his lot with Henry County and stuck to his original plans and today he is regarded as one of the successful men of this county.
Grady Spangler, a progressive young farmer of Fields Creek township, is manager of 900 acres of land, six miles north of Clinton. Mr. Spangler is an extensive breeder of hogs and cattle for the market. He was born October 15, 1894, in Clinton, Missouri, and is the son of James M., and Alice Houston Spangler. James Spangler is a native of Illinois who came to Henry County in 1866, purchasing land here. From time to time, James Spangler has increased his land holdings until he is now one of the large land owners of the county. He is also the president of the Peoples National Bank at Clinton, holding a controlling interest in same. Mr. Spangler's beginning of his successful farming and business relations was in the employ of Captain Curtis of the Curtis Ranch, where for a number of years, Mr. Spangler was its manager. He is now making his home in Clinton, still ably looking after his business affairs. His wife, Mrs. Alice (Houston) Spangler was born near Lewis Station, Missouri, the daughter of Bayard and Catherine (Adamson) Houston, the former deceased and the latter living on a farm near Lewis Station, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. James Spangler are the parents of the following children: Georgia, deceased; Catherine E., a teacher in the high school of Clinton, Missouri; Lewis Young, operator of coal mines at Lewis Station, Missouri; David Crockett, near Huntingdale, Missouri, whose sketch appears in this volume; and Grady, the subject of this sketch.
Grady Spangler was educated in the Clinton public schools and Missouri University, at Columbia, Missouri. After his return from the University, Mr. Spangler assumed the management of the present farm and is successfully conducting the same.
May 31, 1917, Mr. Spangler was married to Frances Willard Marseilles a daughter of Drs. W. M. and Myrtle (Pickett) Marseilles of Clinton, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Mrs. Spangler was born February 10, 1898, Brookfield, Missouri, and educated in Clinton High School. Grady Spangler is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Clinton and his wife are members of the Eastern Star.
William Childers, is a well-known and prosperous farmer and stockman of Fields Creek township. He is a native son of Henry County, and was born in the township where he now resides, June 14, 1882, a son of W. H. and Martha (Webster) Childers. The father was also born in Henry County, the date of his birth being December 30, 1842. He is a son of Washington Childers, a native of Kentucky, who settled in Henry County in 1842. He spent the remainder of his life here and his remains are interred in a private cemetery on the old Carr homestead. W. H. Childers now resides in Clinton, Missouri, and is seventy-seven years of age. He was a soldier in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, enlisting January 1, 1862, in Captain Beaty's Company. He took part in a number of important engagements and served until the close of the war. He then returned to Henry County and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until 1917, when he retired and removed to Clinton. His wife died in April, 1898. They were the parents of the following children: William, the subject of this sketch; John H.; Mrs. Lillie Burton and Mrs. Mollie Burton, all of whom are deceased, except William.
William Childers was reared on his father's farm in Fields Creek township, and received a good common school education in the district schools.
Since reaching his majority he has been engaged in farming and stock raising and is now the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred seventy-two acres in Fields Creek township, about six and one-half miles north of Clinton on the Warrensburg road. The place is well improved with good farm buildings which are modern and commodious. Mr. Childers was married in 1901 to Miss Bessie Dean, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Woodruff) Dean, natives of Virginia, and they are both now deceased. They were the parents of the following children: George Edward, Wayside, Kansas; Daisy, married G. A. Lile, Clinton, Missouri; Charles Wallace, deceased; Otis, Nowata, Oklahoma; Earl, Bigheart, Oklahoma and Bessie, married William Childers, the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Childers have two children: Andie Otto and Vera Pansy.
Mr. Childers takes a keen interest in local public affairs and has been a member of the school board for a number of years, and a member of the township board. At present, he is a member of the Council of Defense. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and Mrs. Childers are members of the Knights and Ladies of Security. The Childers family belong to the Baptist Church, and Mr. Childers is clerk of the local organization, and also a deacon.
