First Families of Jasper County

Ansel & Elizabeth Sidenstricker

1879
Written by: Leon Sidenstricker

Ansel Bailey Sidenstricker was born March 16, 1851 in Athens County, Ohio. His parents were David A. Sidenstricker and Elizabeth Knoling (Knowling). David died in December 1852 when Ansel was 10 months old. Ansel later moved to Johnson County, Missouri, where he met Elizabeth Jane Young. Elizabeth was the daughter of Michael and Mary Ann Walls Young. She was born December 16, 1851 in Putnam County, Missouri. Ansel and Elizabeth were married on July 19, 1870 in Johnson County, Missouri. They had four children there before moving to Jasper County, Missouri in 1879. Ansel and Elizabeth bought a parcel of land for $50.00 in the Purcell-Neck City area on April 1, 1879. Elizabeth's parents, Michael and Mary Ann Young, bought adjoining land the same day.

Ansel and Elizabeth built a log cabin on North Fork River, near Neck City, Missouri. They farmed the land and had four more children there. Their children grew up on the river, swimming, fishing and hunting for squirrels in the Missouri countryside. There were apple trees and good ground, so the family prospered.

In 1897, lead and zinc was discovered in the surrounding area and the area became quite a boomtown. The area between the rivers began producing the finest zinc in the world bringing miners and new businesses to the region. Ansel would begin to sell farm goods to the miners and allow them to live on his land in tents. Ansel did not allow mining on his land. His land was rich in corn and hay as well as apple and walnut trees. Ansel also had a ford, or crossing point, on the river that was called Sidenstricker Ford. It later would have a walking bridge, then a wagon bridge put across it.

On March 10, 1922, Elizabeth Jane Sidenstricker passed away. Elizabeth and Ansel had been married for fifty-two years. Ansel continued to live a life of patience and endurance, doing the best he could to be a Christian and father to the large clan of his. He died April 13, 1933. Ansel and Elizabeth are buried in Friends Cemetery, Purcell, Missouri.

The children of Ansel and Elizabeth are: Mary Ellen, married Alexander Spencer; Michael David, married Chloe Morgan; Isaac Milton (Milt), married Jida Holcomb; Charles Albert, married Maud Rowland and Minnie Conrow Eagle; Alta Lee, married Robert Johns, J. W. Costley and Charles E. Richardson; Letha Ann, married Millard Sloan and Charles Lake; Aaron Monroe (Jack), married Erma Jane Bullin; Josiephine Edna, married Joseph Lydiatte.

This is the old homestead, located west of Purcell on Spring River. Rusty and I went looking for the foundation about 12 years ago and could not find anything. I believe this site was farmed. We did find a few tombstones in what is supposed to be the Sidenstricker cemetery. They had been cast aside by the farmer to make way for the plow. No Sidenstrickers are buried there that I know of.
Submitted by: Kathy Sidenstricker