John & Louis P. Hooss, dealers in general merchandise at Perryville, Mo., were born in 1848 and 1858 respectively, in the "White House" in Perryville. They are sons of Henry and Barbara (Fath) Hooss [see sketch of Thomas Hooss]. The Hooss brothers were reared and grew to manhood in Perryville, Mo.

On March 16, 1864, John enlisted in Company C, Forty-seventh Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served about seven months in the Army of the Tennessee under Gen. Thomas. After peace was declared he hired to William Litsch & co., for whom he sold goods five years, and the two years following worked in a tin shop. In 1872 he became a retail liquor dealer in the "White House," and sold spirits for fourteen years.

In August, 1886, he and his brother Louis P., bought the general store of J. F. Bey, in Perryville, which they have since managed.

In January, 1870, he married Mary M. Kiesler, a daughter of F. G. Kiesler. Mrs. Hooss was born in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1849, and came to the United States when but an infant. To this union have been born two children: Charles Albert and Mirta Grace.

When seventeen years of age Louis P. began learning the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for nine years. He assisted in erecting the best buildings in Perryville. From 1881 to 1884 he worked at Bay City, Mich., and Chicago, Ill.

In 1884 he opened a furniture and undertaker's establishment in Perryville, in which his brother John, became a partner two years later. They soon disposed of the furniture, and bought the general store as above stated.

On April 15, 1884, Louis P. married Mary A. Koch, a daughter of George Koch. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1861. They have one child, Isabella Mary.

In politics the brothers are Republicans. John is a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Louis P. is a member of the A. O. U. W.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.