H. B. Buente, Buente Town/College Plaza Warrensburg, MO

February 11, 2015

H. B. Buente, Buente Town/College Plaza Warrensburg, MO

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, MISSOURI

May 1, 1918 Warrensburg, MO

by Ewing Cockrell

"H. B. Buente, a capable and industrious grocer of Warrensburg, Missouri, is a native of Gasconade County, Missouri, and of German lineage. He was born in Owensville, Missouri, son of Henry and Louise (Distelkamp) Buente.

Henry Buente (Heinrich Bünte?, b: 4 January 1838 link) gravesite was born in (Lippe - Detmold) Germany

Lippe-Detmold, Germany
Bünte-Buente

and in early manhood emigrated from his native land to America and in 1871 located in Owensville, Missouri.

He later moved from Gasconade County to Moniteau County. In January, 1891, Henry Buente came to Warrensburg, Missouri, where he opened a grocery store on the corner of McGuire and Jackson streets. Louise "Minnie" (Distelkamp) Buente was a native of Missouri. Minnie gravesite

To Henry and Louise Buente were born the following children: Mrs. James O. Cull who is the wife of John B. Cull's son, James O. Cull, who was born and reared in Johnson county, Missouri, where his father was an honored and highly respected pioneer, and they now reside in North Yakima, Washington; H. B., the subject of this review;

Mrs. W. A. Crockett, the wife of W. A. Crockett, who is a relative of David Crockett, the famous pioneer scout, and they reside in St. Louis, Missouri; E. H., who is engaged in the real estate business in Los Angeles, California; and Mrs. Robert Millard, Kansas City, Missouri. Louse (Distelkamp) Buente died in Moniteau County, Missouri. Later Henry Buente was married to Mrs. Minnie Borgman, of Kansas City, Missouri, and to them was born one child, a daughter, Mrs. Robert Willard. The death of Henry Buente occurred June 18. 1916, and burial was made in the cemetery at Warrensburg, Missouri. H. B. Buente attended the public schools in Warrensburg, Missouri, and the Warrensburg High School. When he was but a child of six years he assisted his father in the grocery store and he has literally grown up in the business. For twenty-six years he has been engaged in the grocery business in Warrensburg. His first business venture in 1889 was a success. The little store in the resident district received a hearty welcome and was exceedingly well patronized by the families in the vicinity. In 1909. H. B. Buente purchased his father's store and continued the business until March, 1916. He sold the stock at that time and for a year was out of the business. In the spring of 1917, Mr. Buente erected a brick building, 30 x 60 feet in dimensions, at 523 South McGuire street and May 1, 1917, opened a grocery store in the new building.

The Buente Grocery Store was at 523 South Maguire, to the left of center in this picture. "South Side Drug Store" is on the right at 535 South Maguire, later Ike Martin Music and today Planet Sub is in that building. This picture from the Johnson County Historical Society collection and is of a fire in Buente Town September 4, 1913 that burned Williams Grocery, VanMeters Barbershop and M. J. Riggles Barn.

Sept 4, 1913 Buente Town Fire, Warrensburg, MO

138 West Pine, Warrensburg, MO Fire Department #1 circa 1890

Warrensburg Fire Department

Warrensburg Fire Department 1890s?

The store is a model of its kind and has had a large patronage from the day of opening. Low prices and goods of a reliable and uniformly high quality, are said to be the two chief fundamental reasons for the success of Mr. Buente and of his father. In 1903, H. B. Buente was united in marriage with Emma L. Whitman, daughter of George A. and Ellen Whitman, of Warrensburg, Missouri. George A. Whitman was engaged in the hardware business in Warrensburg in the early days. He is now deceased and Mrs. Whitman resides in Warrensburg. To H. B. and Emma L. (Whitman) Buente have been born three children: Leonard, Ellen Louise (Houx), and George Henry." H. B. Buente Gravesite Link

1907 Buente Town (College Plaza) Warrensburg, MO

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Henry Buente, merchant at McGirk, Mo., was born in Lippe Detmoldt, Germany, Detmold Link in 1838, being the second of twelve children born to Henry C. and Charlotte Buente. He attended the schools of his native land and did some farming until twenty-two years of age, when he located in the city of Bremen, from which place he immigrated, in 1868, to the United States. Soon after landing he came to Gasconade County, Mo., and after clerking for some time in a store in Drake went to Woollam, where he remained two years. After attending school one year he opened a store in Owensville, where he continued to hold forth until 1880, then came to what is now McGirk, and purchased ten acres of land and opened his present establishment, which he has conducted quite successfully up to the present time. At the time of his locating, there was not a house in sight, but it has continued to build until it is now quite a promising little town. February 2, 1881, he became postmaster, and January 22, 1883, he became ticket agent at that place, and sold the first ticket on the 29th of the same month. He keeps a general line of merchandise, and in addition to his store is engaged in buying grain, wood and produce. In 1888 he shipped from his station over 1,000 cords of wood, and about fifty car-loads of grain. He takes an active interest in aiding enterprises for the good of the town, and is public spirited and enterprising. February 21, 1874, he was married to Miss Louisa Distelkemp, a native of Germany, who came with her parents to the United States in infancy, and by her is the father of four children: Emma, Bismark, Laura and Eddie. December 11, 1887, his excellent wife died. He and family attend the Lutheran Church. This family biography is one of 187 biographies included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published in 1889. For the complete description, click here: Moniteau County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

Buente Brothers Drug Company, Warrensburg, MO
J. A. "Jay" and Leonard "Dutch" Buente
photo courtesy of Bill Petty

H. B. Buente, from 1930 WHS Yearbook, Warrensburg, MO

REV. JAMES H. HOUX, was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, April 7, 1827; his father, P. S. Houx, was a native of Kentucky, who came and settled in Howard county Missouri, in 1817. When about eighteen years of age, the subject of this sketch entered Chapel Hill College; after completing his four years college course he took charge of the C.P. church at Independence, for about four and a half years. He was then appointed to the mission work in Bates, Henry and St. Clair counties; from 1860 to 1867 hepreached to different churches of his denomination, in Johnson county; from 1867 to 1875 Rev. Houx was pastor of the Warrensburg Cumberland Presbyterian church. He has grown up here and has become as highly respected as he is well known throughout the county. He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Wilson, a native of Virginia; their family consists of Charles H., Edwin W., Susie E., Mary M., Roberta M. and Samuel B. Rev. Houx has a good property and comfortable home on South Holden St.,



in Warrensburg.  He is a man of talent and culture in his calling and highly esteemed.

Kansas City Times

March 9, 1974

Mrs. Ellen Houx, Banker's Wife, Dies

By The Star's Own Service Tucson— Mrs. Ellen Louise Houx, 61, wife of Edwin C. Houx, president of the United Missouri Bank of Warrensburg, Mo., died Friday at a hospital in Tucson after apparently suffering a stroke. Mr. and Mrs. Houx maintained a winter home in Tucson. Mrs. Houx was a lifelong Warrensburg resident. Her husband is also a director of United Missouri Bancshares, Inc., and the United Missouri Bank of Kansas City. Mrs. Houx formerly served as a committeewoman from Johnson County, Missouri, on the Missouri Democratic Committee. She also leaves two sons, Phillip C. Houx, Chico, Calif., and James Henry Houx, Warrensburg; two daughters, Mrs. Nancy Houx Smith, Warrensburg, and Mr«. Sarah Houx Stratton, Montrose, N.Y.; two brothers, Jay A. Buente and Leonard Buente, both of Warrensburg, and eight grandchildren. Services and burial will be in Warrensburg. The family requests no flowers.

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South Side Drug Store - Warrensburg, MO

Submitted by Jeannine Smith Harber

WILLIAM R. SMITH from The Weekly Standard Herald, Feb 8, 1918

WELL KNOWN CITIZEN KILLED WHILE HUNTING (Owner of South Side Drug Store)

Wm. R. Smith, One of Our Well Known Citizens, Accidentally Shot While Hunting Last Friday. It brought sorrow to many hearts when it was learned that Wm. R. Smith had met his death while out hunting Friday afternoon of last week on the farm of his son, Loren Smith, five or six miles south of this city by the accidental discharge of his gun.

Mr. Smith left town that morning to go to his son's farm to hunt. He rode out to the place with R. C. McVay, who had business there. Before leaving town he was in the implement establishment of Cash & Boyer and urged Mr. Cash to go with him. But Mr. Cash could not get away from his business. In the afternoon about 3 o'clock Mr. Smith took the gun and left his son's house. That was the last seen of him alive. About 5 in the evening his little grandson went to drive home the cows and found his grandfather dead. John Fickas, one of the first to arrive at the scene of the tragedy, was a caller at this office Tuesday noon. He informs us he came to the body west of Loren's house. The body was on one side of the wire fence and the gun was leaning on the wire pointing towards the body. It was evident Mr. Smith had crawled through the fence and attempted to pull the gun after him or had attempted to put the gun through the fence when it was discharged. The charge of shot penetrated the left breast, passing entirely through the body, evidently killing the victim instantly. When found Mr. Smith had on both gloves also his cap.
The funeral was held Sunday afternoon from the Brethren church south of Warrensburg, the funeral being in charge of Rev. J. E. Hampton, assisted by Elder Jesse D. Mohler. The body was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. William R. Smith was a native of Henry County, Missouri, having been born near Montrose October 19, 1858. He was married December 24, 1877 in Warrensburg to Miss Mary J. Reins of Bates County. The widow and five sons survive the husband and father, Loren, Ernest, Russell, Millard and Byron. All of the sons reside in this immediate vicinity.
MARY RAINS SMITH
MRS. W. R. SMITH DEAD
Mrs. Mary Jane Smith, widow of the late W. R. Smith, commonly known as Billy Smith, died at the residence of her son, Loren Smith Saturday morning at two-thirty, after an illness of five weeks with Bright disease. Mary Jane Rains, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Rains, was born in Bates county, July 4, 1859, the family consisting of thirteen children. The Bates County family was one of the most prominent families of that county. After her marriage to W. R. Smith they made their home on a farm south of this city, where they lived until Mr. Smith's death seven years ago. To this union were born eleven children, six of whom died in infancy. Five sons survived, who are Loren of south of town, Millard, proprietor of the South Side drug store;

South Side Drug Store, Warrensburg, MO
Corner of Maguire and Clark

Russell of north of town, Ernest, who resides northwest of Warrensburg and Byron who lives on Gay street of this city.
Mrs. Smith was a member of the Market Street Methodist church, which she always attended, and was a consistent worker in that church. She had many friends who will miss her presence.
Funeral services were held from the Market street Methodist church at two o'clock Monday afternoon, conduct by Rev, W. S. Welsh.  Burial was in the Brethren cemetery, south of this city.
(Mary Jane Rains Smith died 6 Mar 1925)