Looking Back: Minnie Louisa Zohn Sebolt

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society    
 

​     When someone with a connection to Grain Valley moves, we (the Historical Society) get “stuff.” Sad to say, when someone dies, we get stuff.  Within the past month we had gotten lots of stuff.  Some of the items we have received have come from old Grain Valley families; names that will be familiar to some of you.
     Names like Gibler, Williams, Herrington, Sebolt, Stephenson, Baumgardner and Doty. The individuals that go with these names include teachers, college athletes, Hall of Fame coaches, successful farmers and business owners, postmen and policemen, a couple of city mayors  and a veterinarian to name a few.  I look forward to sharing some of their  photos and memorabilia with you.
     The first photo I chose is from Kathy Doty, great, great granddaughter of the lady in the center of this photograph. Her name is Minnie Louisa Zohn Sebolt. She was born in Wurttemberg, Germany in 1837 and emigrated to the United States on April 13, 1860. 
     On March 3, 1861 she married Frederick Sebolt in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  When their son Frederick was born in 1868, they were living in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Their last four children were born in Independence, MO.
     Eight of their ten children survived infancy and seven are in the photograph. Frederick Sebolt, Minnie Sebolt (seated) and Charlie Sebolt are in the front. The second row (left to right) includes Annie Sebolt Stephenson, Christian Sebolt, Bertha Sebolt Hamilton, Luke Sebolt, and Minnie Sebolt Stephenson. Absent from the photograph was another daughter, Julia Sebolt Hawkins.
 
     Charles Sebolt was the father of Hubert Sebolt, a veterinarian in Buckner, Missouri from 1957 to 1993. After his father’s death, when Hubert was about 6 years old, he was raised by his Uncle Luke Sebolt and his wife. Luke’s daughter, Imogene, was the postmaster in Bates City, Missouri through much of the 1950s and 1960s.
     Annie Sebolt Stephenson was the grandmother of Les and Loyd Stephenson, the twin brothers who grew the family apple orchard on Lee’s Summit Road into Stephenson’s Apple Farm Restaurant from 1946 until 2007.  Annie and Minnie Sebolt married brothers.
     Minnie and her husband, Charles Franklin Stephenson located on the family farm, south of Grain Valley on Nebgen Road. I have written several articles about this family which includes Ona Bumgardner, the young teacher that put Oak Hill School on the map.
     Ona’s daughter. Erma Doty, wrote the often copied and quoted “History of Stony Point,” and was a beloved teacher at Grain Valley High School. Minnie and Charles had children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren that have made a contribution to our community.
     Thank you, Kathy Doty for sharing this old family photo.
 
Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society during its Missouri Centennial Celebration through August 15th. The museum, located at 506 Main, will be open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00am—4:00pm, and Sunday from 1:00pm—4:00pm.  For more information on the Grain Valley Historical Society, visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com.