Nodaway County, Missouri History of 1882 Biographicals

(transcibed by Pat O'Dell: genpat@netins.net)

[page 777] M. Hilgert, proprietor of billiard hall, is a native of Belgium, and was born July 3, 1845. He was reared and educated in his native country, and in 1868 he emigrated to the United States, and traveled throughout sixteen states and territories. In the spring of 1869 he selected Nodaway County, Missouri, as the most desirable place to settle for a home. He purchased a farm in Jackson Township, and engaged in farming, stock raising, stock feeding, and stock dealing, and continued this business until February, 1880, when he settled in Maryville and embarked in his present business. He married Miss Josephine Schmiedeler. Their family consists of four children: Christian, John B., Mary, and Roseline.

[page 793] Kuenster, G., wholesale dealer in coal oil, is among the prominent business men of Maryville. He is a native of Germany, and was born in County Coblenz, December 25, 1837. He was there reared to manhood, spending his youthful days in agricultural pursuits, and obtaining his education from the schools in that vicinity. At the age of nineteen years he immigrated to America and settled in Monroe County, Illinois, where he resided three months, and then went to Quincy, Illinois. A short season afterwards he removed to Grant County, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming. He subsequently returned to Illinois and engaged in clerking at Liberty, where he remained one year. We next find him situated at New Orleans, Louisiana, where he resided six months, and from there he settled in Kansas City, Missouri, and embarked in mercantile pursuits until the breaking out of the war. In 1861 Mr K. returned to Illinois and enlisted in Company B, Twenty-second Illinois Regiment, serving three months, and upon obtaining his discharge he re-enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteers, serving three years and one month. He took an active part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chickamauga, Tennessee, and others of lesser note. He was for three months steward of the hospital at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and had under his command a small body of troops for the defense of that institution. After obtaining his discharge in 1864 he returned to Grant County, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming, and at the expiration of a four years' residence there he removed to this county, engaging in the grocery business in Maryville in 1868. Five months later he went to the county of his nativivty on a visit, which lasted seven months. At the end of that time he again came to Maryville, and in 1870 established the business now conducted by Wray & Moore. Mr K. was united in marriage, April 10, 1865, with Miss Elizabeth B. Hollauer, a native of Germany. They have six children: Joseph F., Mary E., Ferdinand T., Melie, Nettie and Chloe. They are members of the Catholic Church. He has been city tax collector one term, and was also for a like period county supervisor under the old system.

[page 793] Polk Township - N.B. Lamar, was born in Anderson County, Tennessee, March 13, 1829. His father, John M. Lamar, was also a native of Tennessee, while his mother, whose maiden name was Miss Hannah Smith, was from Virginia. When ten years of age N.B. accompanied his parents to Hendricks County, Indiana, and after remaining there two years, they moved to Platte County, Missouri, arriving in 1841. One year later they came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled on the Nodaway River, in the North-[page 794]western part of the county, there taking up a claim. A log cabin was erected, there being not a nail nor a pane of glass in the house. It contained a puncheon floor, the cracks between the logs were daubed with mud, and the chimney was made of sod. N.B. was a good shot with his old flint-lock rifle, and spent many pleasant hours in hunting. Roving bands of Indians infested the country on hunting expeditions. It was on this frontier that the subject of this sketch was reared. He received a common school education, and has taken a deep interest in the improvement of this county, having cultivated several fine farms. He now owns two, one in Nodaway and one in Atchison County. During the war he served in the Enrolled Missouri Militia. He has at present retired from active business life. Mr Lamar is the owner of a handsome residence in Maryville, besides other town property. He was married in June, 1857, to Miss Martha A. Seevers, a native of Tennessee, born November 18, 1835. They have two children: Sarah K., born March 27, 1858, (now Mrs Virgil W. Teeme, of Mexico, Missouri), and John J., born November 13, 1860.

[page 797] Howard McCommon, stock dealer, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1848. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth McCommon, were both natives of Pennsylvania. Howard was brought up at his birthplace on a farm, and received a common school education. In February, 1868, he came west and settled in the southern part of Nodaway County, on the old Sixteen Mile or Half-way House, between Maryville and Savannah. There he remained a short time, when he came to Maryville in the spring of 1869 and has made this his home since. He has improved several farms in the neighborhood. He was also in the lumber business one year with Mr Williams, under the firm name of Williams, McCommon & Co. Mr McC. has been in the stock business more or less since he resided here, and at present gives his attention principally to that occupation. He is the owner of a residence in this city. He is a member of White Cloud Lodge, No. 92, I.O.O.F., of Maryville. He was married October 16, 1876, to Miss Laura Jester, daughter of S.M. Jester, of Saline [page 797] County, Missouri. She was born in Maryville, Nodaway County, Missouri, March 14, 1850. They have one child, Frank H., born May 22, 1878. Mrs McCommon is a member of the Christian Church, of Maryville.