My Genealogy Hound

William H. Hauenstein, farmer, and one of the prominent steamboat men of Tuscumbia, was born in 1846, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Steigelman) Hauenstein. William Hauenstein was born in Bavaria, and was an officer of the State. He came to the United States about 1852, remained in New York about two years, and then went to Michigan, settling in Monroe County, on the river Kaisin. He was engaged in farming and stock raising, and this continued for some time in that State. He then moved to Missouri, settling at California, where he entered business as a general merchant. He continued in business there until 1865, when he came to Tuscumbia, Miller Co., Mo. In 1864, during Price’s raid, Mr. Hauenstein’s store was entered and despoiled of all its contents. William H. Hauenstein, subject of this sketch, attended the common schools of Michigan, and upon his arrival in Missouri entered his father’s store. He enlisted in the army in the Second Missouri Artillery in 1864, entering special service in 1865. After the war he again entered his father’s store, but later his father purchased the steamboat “Alice Gray,” in 1870, and this he ran on the Osage River between Tuscumbia and Osage. William H. Hauenstein thus learned the steamboat business, often running out in the Missouri River and down to St. Louis. In 1883 he built the steamer “Frederick,” which is now doing all the Osage River business. Mr. Hauenstein was married in 1872 to Miss Lizzie Goodrich, who bore him one child, a son. Mrs. Hauenstein lost her life by accidentally falling from the steamer “Tuscumbia,” in March, 1881. Mr. Hauenstein was married the second time in 1884, to Mrs. Martha Henley, by whom he has two children: Lela and an infant son. Mr. Hauenstein owns a fine river bottom farm of about 300 acres and a large tract of upland. He makes a specialty of raising fine stock, and has a fine imported Scotch Galloway bull. He also has a herd of fine high-grade cows, and his influence will improve the stock greatly in Miller County. In September, 1887, he disposed of his interest in the store, and he is devoting his time to the farm and to the rearing of stock. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 437, and is also a member of Chapter No. 87, Tuscumbia. Mr. Hauenstein is a generous, public-spirited gentleman, and his influence has done much to develop the interests of Tuscumbia.