William Henry Drury Family History

William Drury

William Henry Drury was born, 1857, in London, England. His family migrated to the
United States when he was 10 years old, settling near White City. Emma Minnie Brussow of German descent, was born in 1867, near Herington, where she grew up. In August, 1894, William and Emma married. They farmed in Cherokee Strip, settling near Oxley, Oklahoma. Dessa was born, 1896, in a "Sodie." William was a blacksmith, but finally gave up the trade because the coal cinders hurt his eyes. The family went east in a covered wagon to Neosho, Missouri. They traded the Oklahoma Strip land for a Missouri farm. Here they established a country store and Post Office in a corn granery with $17. He named the Post Office "Dessa" after his daughter. The school across the road was called Dessa School. Later, William opened stores in Seneca and Neosho, Missouri. They later moved to Worland, Missouri, where William went into partnership with Allen Lasswell. After the store burned, they moved to Medicine Lodge, where William and Allen opened a mercantile business in the old Opry Block. In 1904 Lasswell and Drury dissolved the partnership. Allen opened Lasswell Store and Post Office, and William established Deerhead Store and Post Office. Since Deerhead was 25 miles from the railroad, grocery supplies were shipped in by team and wagon. Deerhead School was the site of frequent ice cream socials. William furnished the ice, ladies brought eggs and cream, and made ice cream. They also brought cakes and pies. In 1911 Drury's Store sold to Deerhead School teacher VFemon Gibbs. For about a year the Drury family farmed 2 places near Deerhead but William was not satisfied in farming. From there he went to Forest City, buying the land where Ralph Nurse's Store had burned. William Drury never owned a car, feeling he could get anywhere he needed by having someone drive him. A friend, Grant Shigley, ran the Lake City Store; both bought groceries from the same suppliers. In 1912, George Lukens and Mabel Garten, and brother Claude Garten and Ida Rhodes were married in a double wedding ceremony at Forest City Church. Riley Hester and Dessa Drury married there in 1914. These are believed to be the only weddings ever held at Forest City. Riley and Dessa ran the Forest City Store. They bought and weighed thousands of bushels of wheat on the wagon scales. A daughter, Roma, was born in 1916. William went to Davenport, Iowa, to Chiropractor College, 1916. Emma, helped run the store. In 1918 Dessa and Riley went to Palmer School. After they graduated from Chiropractor College, they practiced in Hartford and Fon du Lac, Wisconsin (a son Riley was born there), near Maryville, where Dessa's parents lived. A son, Russell, was born in St. James, Missouri, where the Hester's lived, before moving to Salem, Mo., in 1922. Dessa has resided in Salem, since in later years Riley and Des were divorced. Christmas, 1952, Dessa married George Lukens, the old friend, who had married in Forest City, 40 years before. George and Dessa lived in Barber County and Salem. George passed away, Christmas, 1966, on their 14th anniversary.
Source: Chosen Land – Barber County, Kansas, pg. 160
Submitted by: Kaye Kuhn
Handwritten note at bottom left:
Deerhead store
cornplant corn
& hungary

William Henry Drury front row middle in the light suit. 5th from left. The soapbox is Peet Bros soap.
Woman in background is Emma Brussow Drury his wife-she said "I got in the picture anyway". The lapel pins are socialist workers pins.
Kaye Kuhn is related to George Lukes that was my grandmas second marriage.
Some Barber county info came from her.
Dessa Mae Drury m. John Riley Hester (my paternal grandfather), divorced and then married George.
I have a few more photos, likely from Kansas because they are flat. The store he had in Dessa Missouri was likely hilly-er. William Drury was also a postmaster and had several general stores. Maybe you can help piece some information on this photo or others. One seems to be a corn mill or depot.

The above 2 images were shared with us by Lisa Zoet - lasweet@live.com.au

Lisa also sent us photos of Dessa (Drury) Hester (below):

Dessa loved horses. She returned to George Lukens family now again to compete and wore amazing costumes which I saw hanging in her closest as a child. I wish I could have gone through her things but I(Lisa Zoet) was laid up with a premature baby when she died. She had boxes and boxes of postcards that someone in Salem would have ended up with. So much historical records of buildings and places no doubt. I am living in Australia since 1983 so all my research is on ancestry or google. Dad, Roma, even cousins from Aunts and Uncles all gone.

If I had record of where they lived it's likely John Riley Hester and Dessa Drury's home. Forest City because they married there, looked after the store then studied Chiropractic and moved away. They ended in Salem, Mo.

If you recognize anyone in these photos please contact Lisa Zoet lasweet@live.com.au or our County Coordinator!!

Luther C Drury