My Genealogy Hound

JOHN F. GUENTHER, the popular and genial host of the Guenther House, in Green Ridge, is a native of Ohio, and was born July 18, 1855, in Marion County. His parents, Abraham and Barbara (Wagner) Guenther, reared a family of eleven children, of whom he was the only son and eighth child. Both Mr. and Mrs. Guenther were natives of Germany and were very young when brought by their respective parents to America. They chose Pennsylvania as their future home, and there both Abraham and Barbara Guenther were reared to mature years and married. The father was well educated in his native tongue, and in connection with farming taught the German language. He died in 1861, when the subject of this sketch was a lad of six years. His wife is still living, at the venerable age of seventy-nine years.

John F. Guenther received a good common-school education and attended college for one year. He was thrown upon the world to earn his own living at the age of nine years, and thus early learned to “hoe his own row.” He was a young man of nineteen years when he taught his first term of school, and as this occupation proved a very pleasant and at the same time profitable occupation, he followed it for five winters, employing the summer months in working out on farms. Later in life he learned the carpenter’s trade.

In 1879 Mr. Guenther moved to the state of Kansas, and while there embarked in farming on his own account,, investing the sum which he had saved from teaching in land. His stay there lasted until 1883, when his advent was made into Pettis County, this state. For the following three years he also followed the life of an agriculturist, but at the end of that time came to Green Ridge, where he has since engaged in running a hotel and doing carpenter work. He is recognized by all as an industrious, honest and upright man and one warmly in sympathy with all progressive measures.

Miss Emma M. Chapman became the wife of our subject in March, 1878. She was the daughter of J. D. and Mary (Bougher) Chapman, who were classed among the early residents of the Buckeye State. Mrs. Guenther was born in Athens County, that state, in 1858. With her husband she is actively identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Guenther has been one of the Trustees as well as Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Politically he is a Republican, and always votes for the candidates of that party, taking considerable interest in its advancement. He has served Green Ridge as Alderman and also creditably discharged the duties of Marshal of the city for some time. He is a man eminently worthy of a place in the records of Pettis County, and it is therefore with pleasure that we submit this brief biography.