Springfield-Greene
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EMSLEY L. BODENHAMER. By a life consistent in motive and action and because of his many commendable personal qualities, Emsley L. Bodenhamer, for many year's a successful farmer and stock raiser in Greene county, who is now connected with one of the leading implement houses of Springfield, has 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, globe-girdlers and zone-conquerors. His progenitors were courageous, large-muscled, a stolid 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 cast 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 f or 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 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.
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