My Genealogy Hound

Gustavus A. Seyffert, proprietor of the Barton County Wagon and Carriage Works, was born in Saxony, Germany, July 12, 1845, being a son of William F. and Joanna (Knauf) Seyffert, who were also born in Germany, and resided in their native land until 1854, when they came to America, and located in St. Louis. The father was a turner of iron and brass, but the latter part of his life followed the occupation of farming, and died in Moniteau County when about sixty-six years of age. His wife was over seventy at the time of her death. He was in the Revolution of 1848, being against the German Government. Gustavus A. is one of the three surviving members of their family of eleven children, and is the only one residing in Barton County. He was educated in Germany, and in the district schools of Missouri, and at the age of fifteen years went to St. Louis and served an apprenticeship at his present trade. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company G, Forty-third Enrolled Militia, but at the end of about four months his company was disbanded. He then worked in St. Louis and Sedalia until 1866, when he loaded a wagon with material for business, and came to Lamar, which then consisted of about a dozen houses. He built him a shop eighteen by thirty feet, and went to work, doing his own cooking for three years in a little room over his shop. His business steadily increased, and he now has an excellent two-story shop, with two rooms below, one for woodwork and the other for iron. His paint and storage rooms are above, and adjoining is his commodious sales-room. He has the largest manufacturing establishment in Lamar, and furnishes employment to eight men. In 1870 he was married to Miss Amelia Blethroad, a native of Alleghany County, Penn., by whom he has four children: Linnie A., August H. H., Clara M. and Simon A. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a stanch Republican in politics. He has been a member of the board of aldermen and the school board.