My Genealogy Hound

Henry W. Stoenner, dealer in general merchandise and standard farm machinery, carrying a stock of goods to the value of $7,000, annual sales about $15,000 or $16,000, has been engaged in the business since 1878, at Bay Post office, and is one of the county’s leading business men. He is assistant postmaster in the Bay Post office. He was born near Bay, in 1854, and is the son of Casper H. and Mary (Schlienkamp) Stoenner, formerly of Germany, where they were married. They came to the United States in 1840, settled in Gasconade County, being among the first German settlers on Punching Camp Creek, and at a time when there were only a few houses in Hermann. Here the mother died in 1862, and the father in 1883. He was a farmer, and both were members of the Evangelical Church. Henry W. received his education in both the English and German languages, and at the age of seventeen began for himself as clerk at Drake, where he remained one year. After that he was in Osage County two years, then in Hermann for the same length of time, and was in the State of Kansas for three years, engaged in the grain business. He then commenced his present business, which he has continued successfully ever since. In 1877 he married Miss Dora M., daughter of Kasten Buschmann, who is postmaster at Bay, and who is one of the first German settlers of Gasconade County. To this union three children were born, one only living—Annie R. Mr. Stoenner in a Democrat in politics, casting his first vote for S. J. Tilden, and he and wife are members of the Evangelical Church.