CHAPTER XXVII (Part 60)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Christian Uhlenbock, a farmer and stockman of Springfield township, owner of 197.5 acres of splendid farm land in sections 26 and 27, land which he has accumulated and paid for since 1887, is a native of Germany, but a loyal, progressive American citizen whose industry and enterprise is worthy of commendation. Mr. Uhlenbock was born in Lippe-Detwold, Germany, the son of Christian and Wilhelmina (Hagemann) Uhlenbock, who spent all of their lives in Germany. A younger brother of the subject, Anton Uhlenbock, lives in Springfield township.
Christian Uhlenbock was reared and educated in his native country, followed the trade of brick mason during the summer seasons and in winter followed the trade of butcher. He left Germany in 1882 and came to Henry County, Missouri. During his first two years in this county he worked ,at farm labor and then rented land for three years. In 1887, he bought his present farm of 197.5 acres and has made many substantial improvements on the place. Mr. Uhlenbock is a breeder of high grade Duroc Jersey hogs and Shorthorn cattle. In addition to his farming interests, he is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Windsor, Missouri.
October 25, 1883, Mr. Uhlenbock was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Griefe, born July 17, 1858, at Lippe-Detwold, Germany, and came to America in 1882 on the same ship which carried her husband.
For further particulars concerning the Griefe family history, the reader is referred to the sketch of Fred Griefe elsewhere in this volume. To Christian and Henrietta Uhlenbock have been born two children: William Frederick, aged thirty-one years, and Henry Christian, the latter of whom is deceased.
Mr. Uhlenbock is a Republican and he and Mrs. Uhlenbock are members of the Baptist Church.
Joseph E. Stringer - Union veteran and retired farmer of Leesville township, is one of the old settlers of Henry County who has lived on his fine farm of eighty acres in eastern Leesville township for the past fifty years. He has, during this long period, built up a very pretty country place which is the acme of comfort for his declining years. Mr. Stringer was born near the city of Alton, Madison County, Illinois, April 26, 1842. He is the son of Levi and Louisa (Donnegan) Stringer, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter of whom was a native of Georgia. Their respective parents were pioneer settlers in Madison County and were there reared, married and spent all of their lives.
Hearkening to the first call of President Lincoln for troops with which to quell the rebellion of the Southern States, Joseph E. Stringer enlisted in May, 1861, in Company I, 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for nearly two years in some of the hardest fought campaigns of the Civil War. He was severely wounded in the left elbow at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, October 3, 1862, and crippled for life. He lost from his left elbow the so-called "funny bone" or point of the elbow and twenty-one pieces of bone were taken from his arm. The result was what is termed by science as a complete "ankelosis" and the arm has never been of much use. He fought at the great battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, prior to receiving his wound.
Returning home he found conditions not to his liking as many thousands of returned veterans discovered on going back to the old home place after years of warfare. His health was impaired and he determined to heed Greeley's advice to "Go West." He came West, traveled over Kansas and Missouri, and like his old neighbor, Andrew D. McQueen, found the likable and health giving spot, the Leesville neighborhood. He bought eighty acres of land and placed all of the improvements upon it. This fine farm has been his home for half a century and he has never regretted coming to Missouri and Henry County, the garden spot of the West.
In November of 1867, Joseph E. Stringer and Miss Louisa Edwards were united in marriage. Mrs. Louisa Stringer was born in 1840 and departed this life in 1908 a well beloved and faithful wife and companion of Mr. Stringer for over forty years of happy wedded life. She was born in Illinois, the daughter of Louis B. Edwards, who was a pioneer of Henry County. Two children blessed this union; Effie L., her father's housekeeper, and Leora, wife of Robert Wilson, who operates the Stringer home place.
Mr. Stringer has always voted the Republican ticket and has filled local township offices, always having taken a warm interest in civic affairs. When a young man, he knew Abraham Lincoln personally and was his warm supporter in the great emancipator's political campaigns in Illinois. He has visited in Lincoln's Illinois home and saw his body after his assassination when the entire state of Illinois and the Nation did honor to his remains. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Dan McCook Post Grand Army of the Republic.
Charles D. George, one of the foremost educators of Henry County, is a native of this county and of Henry County pioneer ancestry. Mr. George, now principal of the Calhoun High School, has for many years been a teacher in the district and high schools of this State, as well as schools in New Mexico and California. He was born June 3, 1869, in Springfield township, Henry County, a son of William G. and Rebecca (Strieby) George. William G. George was born in Springfield township in February, 1847, and received his education in the rural schools of the county and was a farmer for many years. Rebecca (Strieby) George was born in 1848. William G. and Rebecca (Strieby) George were the parents of six children, as follows: The eldest died in infancy; Charles, subject of this sketch; Ida, wife of L. Munday, is deceased; Lewis, lives in Springfield township, Henry County; and two who died in infancy. William George died December 1, 1917, and his wife departed this life in 1914.
William G. George was a son of William C. and Eliza (Collins) George, the former born in West Virginia September 25, 1806, the son of John George, born in Pennsylvania in 1770, who moved to Madison County, Virginia, in 1821 and there remained the rest of his life. William C. George came to Lincoln County, Kentucky, in 1816 and in 1835 came to Henry County, Missouri. He homesteaded in Springfield township and followed the life of the average pioneer farmer. November 21, 1839, he married Eliza Collins, a native of Missouri. Three sons and two daughters were born to this union. William C. George was a soldier in the Mexican War and endured all of the privations incident to the pioneer life. He was a successful tanner and stockman and at the time of his death he owned 620 acres of land.
Charles D. George was reared on the farm and received his early education in the district schools of Henry County and afterwards, in 1889, he entered the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri, where he was graduated in 1896. Previous to graduation he spent four years in teaching the district schools. He was principal of the Urich High School, Urich, Missouri, for one year and principal of the Osceola schools for three years, and for four years was principal of the Schell City schools. He then became principal of the Jefferson City High School, Jefferson City, Missouri, and held that position for three years. During this time he served as school commissioner of Cole County, Missouri, for two years. He then became principal of the Otero County Union High School at Alamogordo, New Mexico, and he also was superintendent of the schools at that place for five years. For a time he was instructor of agriculture and manual training at Silver City, New Mexico, Normal School. Later Mr. George went to Los Angeles, California, where he was graduated from the Los Angeles State Normal School. He also was principal of the Beverly Hills schools of Los Angeles. In 1917 he was principal of a ward school in Joplin, Missouri, and in 1918 he accepted his present position as principal of the Calhoun High School.
Mr. George returned to Missouri on account of his father's ill health and since that time has resided on his farm near Calhoun. Here he enjoys his vacations between his years of school work. He is interested in blooded stock and owns a fine herd of Aberdeen Angus registered cattle, which is a source of great interest to him, both from the standpoints of recreation and profit.
On September 7, 1892, Mr. George was united in marriage with Miss Kathleen O'Bannon, of Cooper County, Missouri, born June 23, 1873, and one daughter has been born to this union, Kathleen, who was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California, November 5, 1913.
Mr. and Mrs. George are members of the Baptist Church and Mr. George belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He supports the policies and principles of the Democratic party.
Daniel P. Griffith, proprietor of a fine farm of 196 acres located in sections 27 and 22 of Springfield township, is one of the successful live stock producers and feeders of Henry County. He was born in Louisa County, Iowa, March 30, 1855, the son of Isaac and Rebecca (Parris) Griffith, to whom nine children were born.
Isaac Griffith was born in West Virginia in 1813 and went to Ohio when a young man. Not long after settling in Ohio he located in Iowa, where he was married. In 1868, he came to Missouri and bought a farm in Benton County, becoming owner of 200 acres of land which was his home until his death in 1878. The youthful days of Isaac Griffith were spent in poverty and he made his own way in the world. Having been left an orphan when a child, he was reared by a colored woman until he was able to make his own way. Mrs. Rebecca Griffith was born in New Jersey in 1821 and departed this life in 1877.
Daniel P. Griffith was reared to young manhood on the farm in Benton County and he purchased a part of the old home place. His start in life was not auspicious, having began his career with a team of horses purchased on time and no money. He sold out his holdings in Benton County in 1885 and came to Henry County, where he purchased his farm and made good improvements thereon. For a period of ten years he operated the Thrush Mercantile Store.
Mr. Griffith was married on March 2, 1884, to Mollie Strader, who was born in Tennessee March 2, 1863, the daughter of Jesse Strader, an early settler in Henry County, who later went to Oklahoma and died in that State. Four children have been born to Daniel P. and Mollie Griffith, as follows: Mrs. Ethel Cheatham, Buckner, Kansas, is the mother of two children, Paul and Uel; Sherman, was born February 15, 1888, married February 17, 1913, to May Schoonover, and has one child. Alma, resides on the home place; Horace, born April 16, 1892, a soldier in the National Army, member of the 110th Ammunition Train, now on the western front in France, and Leota, at home.
Mr. Griffith is a Republican and has served as justice of the peace in Springfield township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Griffith's success has been mainly due to the feeding and raising of live stock, his annual sales of live stock fed on his place exceeding three carloads. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen who stands high in his community.
