Families of Howell County
Francis Marion Horn
Source: "Missouri, the center state, 1821-1915, by Walter Barlow Stevens
Francis Marion Horn, a well known resident of Bakersfield, Ozark county, Missouri, is the proprietor of the Bakersfield Hotel, one of the excellent small hotels of this state. He was born in Howell county, Missouri, on the 12th of December, 1873, and is a son of Louis C. and Margaret Isabelle (Bell) Horn, both natives of Pennsylvania who came to this state with their respective parents in 1868. Both families settled in Howell county and when he grew to maturity the father carried on farming operations there. He passed away in 1903 but his widow lives upon a farm six miles east of Bakersfield. They were the parents of nine children as follows: John, of Mammoth Springs, Missouri; Minnie, the wife of E. R. Buckminster, of Enid Oklahoma; Francis Marion; Amy, the wife of Charles Vanderwork of Lawton, Oklahoma, Claud C. of Arkansas; Essie, the wife of George Potts, of Viola, Arkansas; Louis C. a farmer residing near Bakersfield; Grover C., living upon the home place; and Ida, who lives with her mother.
Francis Marion Horn was reared upon his father's farm and as a boy much of his time was spent in assisting with the farm work. He learned thoroughly the principles of practical agriculture and the best methods of tilling the fields, and attended school two months each year until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1896 he purchased a stock of goods at Bakersfield and is still the owner of a store at that place. For two years he operated a farm which he owned, but he has now sold his land. In 1903 he moved to Bakersfield and rented a hotel, which he has operated since and which is known as the Bakersfield Hotel. It is an excellently managed hostelry and is popular among the traveling men of the state who are sure of good accommodations when stopping there. Before moving to Bakersfield Mr. Horn was engaged for a time in freighting between Bakersfield and Westplains and as he owned his teams he found the business quite profitable. He is now erecting a concrete building, which is the first of its kind in Bakersfield and a distinct credit to the town. In addition to managing his hotel and conducting his store, he is engaged in the stock business to some extent.
Mr. Horn was married on New Year's day, 1896 to Miss Ellen May Nicks, a native of Howell county, this state and a daughter of Charter N. and Sarah Adeline (Britton) Nicks, the former a native of Tennessee. The father was for some years a farmer and is now associated with the subject of this review in business. The mother, who was a native of Pulaski county, Missouri passed away in 1901. Mr and Mrs. Horn have become the parents of six children as follows: Addie Bell, who is at hoe; Frankie May, who was born June 26, 1899; Fred M., who died in infancy; and Homer Jefferson, Gladys Oline and Frank Marcus, aged nine, seven and four respectively.
Mr. Horn is a democrat in his political belief, but has never sought office. Both he and his wife belong to the Knights and Ladies of Security and are popular in that organization. His chief recreation is fishing and he spends much of his leisure time in that way. He is connected with a number of business enterprises and has been successful in all that he has undertaken, as he is a man of excellent judgment and of great energy.