The Bodenhamer Family of Greene County, Missouri

JACOB E. BODENHAMER.

This gentleman is the son of Jacob and Nettie Bodenhamer, and was born in Giles county, Tennessee, November 20th, 1834. His father came to Greene county, Missouri, when Jacob was six months old. He grew to manhood and received his education in this county. He began teaching at the age of seventeen, and has taught nearly ever since, farming part of the time.. During the war he was in the Home Guards for three weeks, but was always called a " rebel." He was married September 3d, 1867, to Mrs. Sarah A. Neaves, widow of Abel J. Neaves, whose sketch also appears in this work. Since his marriage, Mr. Bodenhamer has been engaged in farming and teaching. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Patrons of Husbandry, Brothers of Freedom, and Good Templars. Politically he is a Democrat.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ANDREW JACKSON BODENHAMER.

The faculty with which the American soldier laid down the implements of war, at the close of the great conflict between the Northern and Southern states, and adapted himself to the pursuits of civil life, has been the wonder of all nations, and scarcely less surprising than gratifying to the American people themselves. While not a few very profound citizens of the Republic were speculating as to what was to become of the thousands of men mustered out of the armies, the question was solved by the ex-soldiers themselves, who quietly stepped into the ordinary walks of life, bent the force of circumstances to their will, and became the chief promoters of a national progress which is without parallel in history. One of these honored veterans is Andrew Jackson Bodenhainer, a venerable farmer of Campbell township, and one of the oldest native-born citizens of Greene county. He has spent his life, which embraces three-quarters of a century, in this locality and has seen many vast changes in that time. He has lived on the same farm over half a century.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ANDREW J. BODENHAMER.

This gentleman is the son of Jacob and Nettie (Goss) Bodenhamer, and was born in that part of Greene county that is now Webster county, Missouri, September 13th, 1839. His parents were from Tennessee, and came to Missouri about the year 1833. Andrew came with his parents to Campbell township, this county, when he was about three years of age, and was educated in the common schools. When quite young he began farming, which occupation he has always followed. In 1862 he enlisted in company A, 8th Missouri cavalry,

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

LOUIS F. BODENHAMER.

Much worthy effort is expended in producing good crops, but often times a gain in the best of crops is lost by feeding to inefficient live stock. T. here is no sure way of losing money than by feeding crops to animals, the products or gain from which do not pay the cost of feeding. Some men attribute their success to the particular kind of crops they grow or the particular way of feeding live stock. More likely their success is due to a good-sized farm business, good or average crops and a superior quality of live stock. One of the young farmers of Greene county who. judging from his success, understands the proper handling of his grains and live stock so as to get the best results is Louis F. Bodenhamer of Campbell township, who lives on the old homestead just east of the outskirts of Springfield.

Mr. Bodenhamer was born on the place where he now lives. Tune 16, 1878. He IS a son of Joseph J. and Laura (Farris) Bodenhamer, and a grandson of Jacob and Nettie (Goss) Bodenhamer. The father of Nettie Goss was a major in the Revolutionary war. Jacob Bodenhamer was born m North Carolina, where he spent his boyhood, and in a very early day immigrated to Greene county, Alissouri. in 1842, settling in what is now a part of Webster county. He was a prosperous farmer and at one time owned seven hundred acres of land. After spending eight years on the first place he settled here, he removed to the place now occupied by our subject, which he improved and on which he spent the rest of his life. He erected the first frame house ever seen in this part of Greene county. He became prominent in public affairs, and was for some time presiding judge of the county court, serving for one dollar per day, riding daily from his home to the court house when there was business to transact. He was a Thomas H. Benton Democrat. His death occurred in 1860 and he was buried in the family cemetery near his home. His wife was a native of North Carolina and they were married there. To them eighteen children were born, only five of whom are living at this writing, namely: Joseph J. and Jacob E., twins, the latter living in California; Martin Van Buren lives at Mountain Home, Arkansas; Andrew Jackson lives in Greene county, and 'thomas H. Benton lives at Rogersville, Missouri.

Joseph T. Bodenhamer was born on November 20, 1834, in North Carolina and there he spent his early childhood, being eight years of age when his parents brought him to Missouri and here he grew up on the farm, working hard in helping clear and improve the wild land and he received a meager education in the early-day schools. He has devoted his life to general farming and is still active, living on the homestead east of Springfield. He has managed well and has made a success. During the Civil war he enlisted in the state militia, and served in the federal ranks under General Holland, being in the same regiment with his twin brother, but the rest of his living brothers were in the regular Union army. After the war he returned to his farm and has since lived a quiet uneventful life. On January 6, 1859, he married Elizabeth W. Steele, of this county, and to them three children were born, namely, John A., James E., of Eldorado, Oklahoma, and Elizabeth E. The wife and mother died on December 10, 1870, and on November 13, 1871, he those for his second wife Laura Farris. This union resulted in the birth of only one child, Louis E., subject of this sketch. The death of Mrs. Laura Bodenhamer occurred on January 19. 1898. Joseph J. Bodenhamer was in his earlier life a Democrat, but is now a Socialist. He is a member of the Christian church. He is a well-read man and an intelligent conversationalist. He is widely known and has friends all over the county, having lived here over three-score and ten years, and during this long period saw many important changes in the county and city.

Louis F. Bodenhamer was reared on the home farm and he received his education in the country schools, later taking a two-year academy course. On October 3, 1909, he was united in marriage with Tva Gerhardt, a daughter of Fred J. and Mattie (Molder) Gerhardt. She was born in Camden county, Missouri, and was educated in the common schools. Her father is a prominent man in that county and holds the position of judge of the first district there. His wife is a native of Tennessee.

Louis L. Bodenhamer has remained on the home farm and is success fully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to Mumford lodge No. 738, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is past grand knight. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EMSLEY L. BODENHAMER.

By a life consistent in motive and action and because of his many commendable personal qualities. Emsley L. Bodenhamer, for many years a successful farmer and stock raiser in Greene county, who is now connected with one of the leading implement houses of Springfield, lias earned the sincere regard of all who know him. He came from an ancestry that distinguished itself in pioneer times, having had in them that unrest of the old world races that drives humanity ever westward on its great adventure, globegirdlers and zone-conquerors. His progenitors were courageous, large-muscles, a solid sort of people, in whom acute imagination was coupled with immense initiative, and who possessed, withal, loyalty and affection as sturdy as their own strength. He has inherited many of their commendable attributes.

Mr. Bodenhamer was born on December 27. 1872, five miles east of Springfield, on the old homestead. He is a son of Andrew J. and Charlotte Elizabeth (Wharton) Bodenhamer, the former a native of Greene county and the latter of South Carolina, from which state she came to Missouri overland in an early day with her parents. The parents of Andrew J. Bodenhamer were among the pioneer settlers of Greene county, locating on a farm which they developed by hard work, enduring the usual hardships of life on the frontier. On the farm our subject's father grew up and worked when a boy, and he attended the early-day schools in his vicinity. He has devoted his life successfully to general farming, in which he is still engaged. He and his wife are both now advanced in years. His farm formerly consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, but is now only one hundred acres, he having disposed of the balance, not caring to be burdened with so much land in his old age. During the Civil war he enlisted, in 1861. in the Eighth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, in Springfield, and he served three years in a faithful and gallant manner.

Six children, all living, have been born to Andrew J. Bodenhamer and wife, namely: Alice, William. Tenny, Josephine, Emsley L. and Ira G.

The subject of this sketch grew up on the home farm and there he assisted his father with the general work when a boy, and in the winter months he attended the common schools in Seymour and his native vicinity. He made his start in life on the farm. When twenty years of age he went to Tulare, California, where he spent three years, then returned to Greene county and resumed farming on a place containing two hundred and ten acres, near the old homestead. He continued general farming and stock raising on a large scale for eight or nine years, then sold out and moved to Springfield, in 1906, bought city property and went to work for the Diffenderffer Implement Company, at Market and Walnut streets, and has been employed by this firm continuously to the present time. He has proven to be a most energetic, capable and trustworthy employee and has drawn a great deal of trade for the firm.

Mr. Bodenhamer was married on December 18, 1895, to Mattie L. Quisenberry, who was born in Greene county. Missouri, June 10, 1878, and here she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of Elcano and Ellen ( Vandergrift) Quisenberry.

One child has been born to our subject and wife, Minnie K. Bodenhamer, whose birth occurred on June 28, 1897. She is attending the State Normal School here and is taking a course in music, having decided natural ability in this line.

Politically, Mr. Bodenhamer is a Democrat, and, fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.