My Genealogy Hound

Henry Varbel, farmer of Lancaster Township, was born in Oldham County, Ky., in 1831, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Walker) Varbel, natives of Kentucky, where they lived until about 1835. They then removed to Buchanan County, Mo., and from there to Platt County, where the father died about 1844, and the mother about 1870. They were members of the Methodist Church, and were engaged in agricultural pursuits all their lives. Henry is the second child of a family of seven, and when young received a common-school education. In 1851 he married Catherine Richardson, of Platt County, Mo., who died in 1862, leaving two children. In 1865 he married Mary E. Goodman, by whom he has had twelve children, ten of whom are living. After his first marriage Mr. Varbel went to Bates County, Mo., and the following year went to Kansas, where he remained nine years. He then returned to Platt County, Mo., and after 1864 spent three years in Iowa. He then returned to Missouri, and in 1872 came to Crawford County, Ark., settling upon his present place, which then contained but five or six acres of cleared land, but to which he has added until he now has eighty acres. In 1881 he built a gin and corn mill, which he operated five years in connection with his farming. He is a member of the Five Springs Masonic Lodge, and is one the enterprising men of his township. In politics he is a Democrat. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.