Henry W. Githens was born in Decatur county, Indiana, in 1823, and is the son of Samuel and Jane Githens. His father was one of the pioneers of Indiana. Mr. Githens received a limited education in the schools of his native county. He moved to Daviess county, Missouri, in 1844, where he resided eight months, when he was attacked with the ” Grand River Ague,” which so discouraged him that he left Missouri in disgust, returning to Indiana, where he remained five years, when he again moved to Missouri, and has lived here most of the time since, and owns a fine farm of 160 acres.
Mr. Githens married, in Indiana, in 1843 to Miss Eveline Higgins, before he had attained the age of twenty years, and with whom he lived twenty-six years. They had seven children, four of whom are now living; namely, Samuel, Rebecca J., Mary Ann, and George. Three are dead: Lucinda B., and two infants. Mrs. Githens died in 1868. Mr. Githens was married, in 1869, to Miss Justina Nash, by whom he has the following children: Lucinda E., Clara May, Emma, Anna L., and John W., deceased.