Hart County Genealogy Trails
Biographies
Henry C.
Pepper was born in Hart county, Kentucky, August 13, 1851. He grew
up on a farm in the state of his birth, where he learned the habits of
industry which he still follows closely. He attended Normal school three
years at Canmer, Ky., also attended Classical and Military College,
Gallatin, Tennessee. He studied law at Cumberland University, Lebanon
Tennessee, where he graduated in 1879, receiving the degree of L. L. B.
Having thus made a thorough preparation for entering the
battle of life, he started out on that all important struggle. Being without
means, he began by teaching school which he followed for some time. After
coming west he was in Kansas a short time, then in the North part of this
state. He located at Pineville in 1882 or 1883, since which time he has
confined himself exclusively to the law practice. Being a strong Democrat
and good worker in the ranks of the party, he soon came into prominence. In
1886 he was nominated on that ticket and elected prosecuting attorney. At
the end of his first term he was again elected. From the time of taking
charge of that office he rapidly rose in the estimation of our people as a
man and as a lawyer, and at the close of his second term ranked among the
leading lawyers of this judicial circuit. In 1891 he went to Cassville where
he is now living. He was soon recognized as the head of the bar in Barry
county, and his business extends to all the counties of this judicial
circuit, and considerable in other counties, besides an extensive practice
in the St. Louis Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. He is always
pronounced in upholding right and denouncing wrong, and his influence in our
county was such that the entire moral standard was raised. In other words,
while public prosecutor he sought the influence of and set to work the
better element in each community.
He was married to Miss Adrenna Wilson of Pineville, October
5, 1890. They have two children, Henry W. and Lura D.
(Source: History of McDonald County, Missouri, by Judge J. A. Sturges, 1897; Transcribed by Linda Rodriguez, July 2010)