History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 89

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

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John Barnhart was reared in Pennsylvania, his native state, and there married Sarah Ashmead, who also was born in that state. Not long after their marriage they moved to central Iowa, where they remained until 1866, when they moved to Missouri and located in Cooper County. Not long after coming here John Barnhart bought a farm south of Boon- ville and he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives there. John Barnhart died in 1894, he then being past 76 years of age. His widow died in 1909, being 76 years of age. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth and three of whom are still living, Mr. Barnhart having two sisters, Matildia, wife of C. S. Phillips and Mrs. Laura Rockwood, near Pilot Grove.

George Barnhart was nine years of age when he came to Cooper County with his parents from Iowa in 1866 and his schooling was com- pleted in the district school. When 22 years of age he rented a farm in Boonville township and continued to make that township his residence until 1899, when he bought the quarter section in Kelly township on which he is now living. Mr. Barnhart has made numerous substantial improve- · ments on his place. In addition to his general farming he has an excellent herd of Hereford cattle. He is a republican.

Feb. 12, 1884, that George Barnhart was married to Susan Wilson, who was born at Adair, Mo., daughter of James T. Wilson and wife, the latter of whom was a Jones, and who died Feb. 24, 1915, at the age of 53 years. To that union was born one child, a daughter, Laura, who married Earl Stahl and is now (spring of 1919) at home with her father during the continued absence of her husband in Europe as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl have one child, a daughter, Ruth.

Thomas G. Hutchison, a successful farmer and stockman of Kelly township was born at Danville, Ky., May 30, 1847. He is a son of John

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

G. and Sallie (Downton) Hutchison, who many years ago became residents of Kelly township, and are buried in the cemetery at Syracuse, Mo. John G. Hutchison was born in Kentucky and there married and became a farmer and merchant. In 1856 he disposed of his interests and with his family came to Missouri, locating in Kelly township, where he became a quite extensive landowner and where he spent the remainder of his life, living to a ripe old age. His wife died at Sedalia, ten years before her husband's death. A couple of years after John G. Hutchison had settled in this county his parents, Elijah and Isabel (West) Hutchison, disposed of their interests in Kentucky and also came here. Elijah Hutch- ison was a Virginian as was his wife. Upon coming here in 1858 he bought several thousand acres of land in Cooper and Pettis Counties and with the 200 negroes which he brought with him from Kentucky started in to create a great plantation with particular reference to the raising of cattle and mules, but the breaking out of the Civil War, a few years later, and the permanent consequences necessitated a complete revision of his plans, though he still maintained a considerable estate. John G. Hutch- ison and his wife lived to ripe old ages. Of the children born to them but two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a younger brother, Elijah Hutchison, now living at Independence, Mo.

Reared on the farm on which his parents had settled when he was nine years of age, Thomas G. Hutchison has continued to make that place his home. He married when twenty years of age and established his home on the place, in time coming into the inherited possession of 300 acres of the same. Of this tract he later sold fifty acres and thus now has 250 acres, the same being well improved and profitably cultivated. In addition to his general farming Mr. Hutchison has for many years given considerable attention to stock raising. In recent years he has been ably assisted in the management of the place by his son, Richard E. For nine years during the educational period of their son,Mr. and Mrs. Hutch- ison maintained a city residence at Sedalia, where their son went to school, . Mr. Hutchison meantime, however, continuing to look after the farm. He is a democrat and he and his family are members of the Methodist Church.

Mr. Hutchison has been twice married. In 1867 he was married to Lucy E. Thompson, who was born in this county and who died leaving two children, Mary E., wife of T. Bradley, of Boonville, and Segis Leslie, deceased. Oct. 17, 1883, Mr. Hutchison married Margaret Lenora Ellis, who also was born in this county, and to this union three children have

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

been born, namely: Margaret, deceased; Richard Ellis, mentioned above, and Thomas G., Jr., deceased. Richard Ellis Hutchison married Julia Bridges and is making his home on the home farm in Kelly township, being able thus to relieve his father of much of the detail of management. Mrs. Margaret Lenora Hutchison was born in Lebanon township Sept. 28, 1849, one of the nine children born to Richard P. and Margaret V. (Fergu- son) Ellis, the eldest of these children having been the late Mrs. Mary E. Harris, mother of Mrs. W. F. Johnson, whose name appears on the title page of this work. Richard P. Ellis was a native of Virginia, born in Orange County, in 1809. Nov. 25, 1830, he married Margaret V. Fergu- son, who was born in Bath County, Ky. In 1836 he came to Missouri with his family and settled in Cooper County, where he was living when the Civil War broke out. During that struggle he was killed. His widow died at Pilot Grove many years afterward.

William A. Mayfield, one of the large landowners and best known farmers and stockmen in the county, now living retired at Pleasant Green, was born on a farm in Clear Creek township March 29, 1852. He is a son of James and Elizabeth V. (Linn) Mayfield, both of whom were born in Barren County, Ky., and came to Cooper County nearly 70 years ago and settled in the Clear Creek section.

James Mayfield was born at Glasgow, Ky., March 4. 1815, a son of one of the pioneer families of that section. The Mayfields are an old Colonial family, the first of this name in this country, having come here from Glasgow, Scotland, about 300 years ago, settling on the North Caro- lina coast, whence members of the family drifted into Kentucky in the early days of the settlement of that state. Sept. 3, 1843, in Kentucky, James Mayfield married Elizabeth V. Linn and there continued to reside until 1850, when he came with his family to Missouri and settled on a farm in Clear Creek township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died Oct. 19, 1892. His widow died Jan. 25, 1901. She was born Aug. 28, 1822. They were the parents of six children as follows: Louisa, married Captain Zollinger and is now deceased; Emma, who married W. A. Huyett and is deceased; William A .; Thomas; Vernon County, Mo .: James, deceased, and David B. Mayfield, a stockman, Otterville.

William A. Mayfield was reared on the farm on which he was born in Clear Creek township and received his schooling in the district schools. As a young man he began farming on his own account on rented land owned by his father, but in 1878 he bought a farm on which he made his

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MRS. WILLIAM A. MAYFIELD

WILLJAM A. MAYFIELD

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

home until he later sold it. He has from time to time made some excel- lent investments and has owned a great deal of land. At present he is the owner of 750 acres in this county and 480 acres near Amarillo, Texas. During the progress of the various Liberty Bond sales during the World War Mr. Mayfield bought $20,000 worth of bonds and was in other ways an active factor in promoting the sale of these securities in this county. In 1910 Mr. Mayfield retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Pleasant Green, where he is now very comfortably situated, his house being surrounded by a four-acre tract. He is a democrat but has not been a seeker after office.

Feb. 20, 1878, William A. Mayfield was married to Laura J. Licklider, who was born in Ohio on Oct. 30, 1849, and who died at Pleasant Green Sept. 13, 1917. To that union were born eight children, namely: Maud E., deceased ; Elsie, wife of Doctor Hite, Greenridge, Mo .; James W., farm- ing in New Lebanon township; Cleveland, who is engaged in the hard- ware, grain and live-stock business at Pleasant Green; Laura, at home with her father; Luella, wife of James Algaier, a hardware and imple- ment merchant at Lincoln, Mo .; Ruth, at home, and Anna B., wife of E. Hurt, of Pleasant Green. Ewing Hurt, a corporal in the 89th Division of the United States army, attached to the American Expeditionary Forces overseas, and who is now (spring of 1919) in France with his command, was inducted into the army in 1917, and in 1918 sailed with his division for overseas service. He participated in the great battle of the Argonne Forest and other engagements.

Joseph Clark Cordry, a progressive farmer of Kelly township, was born Nov. 30, 1874, son of Newton and Amanda (Woolery) Cordry, both members of pioneer families in Cooper County. Reared on the home farm, Joseph C. Cordry received his schooling in the district school and from his boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of the home farm. When he had attained his majority his father gave him 80 acres, a part of the home place, and he then began farming on his own account, a vocation he ever since has followed and with considerable success. That was in 1895 and seven years later, he bought an adjoining 80 and has since been engaged in cultivating and improving his place of 160 acres until now he has an excellent farm, among these improvements being the erection of a new house and a new barn on the place. Mr. Cordry has long given proper attention to the raising of live stock and has found

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

that a profitable phase of his agricultural operations. Mr. Cordry does not acknowledge unshaken fealty to any political party, preferring rather to maintain an independent attitude, particularly with respect to local issues.

June 5, 1900, Joseph C. Cordry was married to Ella May Brumaker, who also was born in this county and to this union four children have been born, Cletus Daniel, Jessie F., Agnes E. and Joseph C., Jr. Mrs. Cordry is a daughter of Daniel R. Brubaker and wife, members of pioneer fam- ilies in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Cordry are members of the Baptist Church and have ever taken an interested part in church work.

William H. Cordry is one of the well fixed farmers of Kelly township and he has a pleasant home where he and his family are very comfort- ably situated. The youngest member of that household is Mr. Cordry's grandson, Arthur William Putman, a representative of the Cordry family in the fifth generation since that family came to Cooper County from Kentucky, the Cordrys being one of the real "old families" of this com- munity. William H. Cordry was born on the old Cordry home place in Kelly township, on a part of which he still resides. He was born Sept. 27, 1870, his parents being James Newton and Amanda L. (Woolery) Cordry. James Newton Cordry gave his son, William H., 80 acres of the home place when the latter attained his majority and that property not only has been carefully conserved but added to, the present owner long having been looked upon as one of the substantial farmers of that neigh- borhood. He had grown up on the home farm. had received his schooling in the public school and had from the days of his boyhood been a valuable assistant on the home place. When he took possession of his farm there was no improvement save an old house which had been erected there many years before, thus all the present improvements, including the comfortable farm house, the ample barn and other buildings have been placed by the present owner. In 1904 Mr. Cordry bought an adjoining tract of 35 acres and now has an excellent farm of 115 acres, well improved and profitably cultivated.

Sept. 5, 1893, William H. Cordry was married to Nora May Davis, who also is a member of one of Cooper County's pioneer families, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Mary G., who married A. W. Putman, who is living on the Cordry place, assisting in the operations of the same, and has one child, Arthur William. representative in the fifth generation of the Cooper County Cordrys. Mrs. Cordry was born in this county in Aug., 1872, daughter of George W. and Matilda (McMahan)

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

Davis, both now deceased. George W. Davis in his younger days was a Santa Fe "trailer", an Indian fighter and a man thoroughly conversant with the hazard of Western frontier life, having often faced the most imminent peril and come through the same safely. But death came to him at last amid the calm pursuits of peaceful agricultural life at home. One day he was riding horseback across the fields when a prairie chicken whirred up from the grass directly in front of his horse. The frightened animal whirled and threw its rider. Mr. Davis' back was injured and he died from the effects. The Cordrys are members of the Baptist Church and Mr. Cordry is affiliated with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America.

James M. Corson, who died at his farm home in Kelly township in the spring of 1911 was born in Madison County, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1845. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Blizzard) Corson, and was one of the eight children born to them.

Reared and schooled in his native county, James M. Corson learned the trade of blacksmith and upon finishing his trade came to Missouri and located in Henry County, where he had relatives. There he remained until 1876, when he came to Cooper County and took employment on the farm of the Mrs. Varner, a widow, in Kelly township. A few months later he married the youngest daughter of Mrs. Varner, established his home on the place and thereafter continued in proprietory management of the same, spending the rest of his life there. He died April 12, 1911, he then being past 66 years of age. During his many years of residence in Kelly township, Mr. Corson did well his part in the work of community betterment. He was a member of the Baptist Church and was a demo- crat.

Aug. 12, 1876, James M. Corson was united in marriage to Rose Varner, who was born on the farm on which she is still living and which she owns, Jan. 17, 1856, daughter of Daniel A. and Eustatia (Cordry) Varner, both long since deccased. Daniel A. Varner was a Virginian who came to Missouri and entered government land in Kelly township, a part of his original tract being the farm which Mrs. Corson now owns. Here he married Eustatia Cordry, who was a member of the pioncer Cordry family from Kentucky, and was getting a good start along the lines of development on his home place when he died in 1861, he then being but 40 years of age. His widow maintained the home place and survived him for many years, her death occurring on May 4, 1898. Of the six chil- dren born to Daniel A. Varner and wife, Mrs. Corson was the youngest,

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

the others being as follows: Charles N., Benton County, Mo .; Asa, de- ceased; Barbara, married William Smith and is now deceased; John T., deceased, and Mary R., wife of Charles Hassett, Syracuse, Mo.

To James M. and Rose (Varner) Corson were born seven children, namely: Jesse B., who is now living in Canada; Elizabeth, of Kansas City ; Levi, of Sedalia ; Etta, of Kansas City ; Nettie, wife of Cyrus Decker, of Morgan County ; Marsh, deceased, and Bertie, at home with her mother. Mrs. Corson has a well improved farm of 80 acres and a very pleasant home. She is a member of the Baptist Church and has ever taken an interested part in church work.

James Henry Gunn, cashier of the Bank of Otterville, is one of Cooper County's well known and successful business men. He was born on a farm in Morgan County, Nov. 1, 1875, son of Judge Ephraim F. and Sallie A. (Madale) Gunn, both members of pioneer families.

Judge Ephraim E. Gunn was a native of Tennessee, born in Cum- berland County, Nov. 7, 1838, and in 1840 his parents, Starling and Jemima (Marshall) Gunn, came to Missouri and settled near Versailles, Morgan County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. On that farm Ephraim F. Gunn grew to manhood and became a farmer and landowner, a man of influence. An earnest member of the primitive Baptist Church, he was licensed to preach and became widely known exhorter of the faith. He also took an active interest in political affairs, was one of the leaders of the Democratic party in his home county and for some time served as judge of the eastern district of Morgan County. He had a good farm and in addition to his general farming, for 21 years operated a threshing-rig. Judge Gunn died on Jan. 1, 1889, and his widow died Jan. 2, 1910. She was born in Kentucky May 5, 1837, and was but a child when her parents, Samuel and Sarah (Ross) Madale, also natives of Kentucky, came to Mis- souri and settled in Morgan County. Judge Gunn and wife were the par- ents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth and six of whom are still living.

James H. Gunn was reared on the home farm in Morgan County and received excellent schooling, completing his studies in Barnett Academy and in the high school at Versailles, after which for four years he was engaged during the winters as a teacher in the public schools of his home county. He early began to turn his attention to commercial pursuits and in 1899, in association with his brother, John R. Gunn, who then was cashier of the Bank of Otterville, became engaged in the agricultural implement business at Otterville. In 1902 he was elected assistant cashier

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

of the Bank of Otterville and in 1909 was elected cashier of that institu- tion, a position he since has occupied, one of the best known bankers in Cooper County. Mr. Gunn also is a stockholder in the Boonville National Bank and in the Boonville Trust Company. He owns a tract of 40 acres of land in this county and has other investments. He is a Democrat and is a member of the board of directors of the Otterville public schools. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the chapter at Sedalia and of the council, Royal and Select Masters, at Centralia of the Order of the Eastern Star, of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of the Maccabees. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) at Otterville and he is a member of the board of stewards of the same. Mr. Gunn also has long been interested in Sunday school work, is superintend- ent of the Sunday school of his church and is vice-president of the Cooper County Sunday School Association. He has for years given much earnest thought to local historical matters and is an active member of the Mis- souri State Historical Society, in the affairs of which society he takes a warm interest, a valued contributor to its archives.

Dec. 4, 1912, James H. Gunn was married to Ida May Potter, who was born at Otterville. Mrs. Gunn is a daughter of Samuel W. and Ida May (Amick) Potter, both now deceased. Samuel W. Potter was a graduate of the University of Missouri and was for years engaged in the drug business at Otterville, one of the most influential factors in the com- mercial life of that town. He also owned an excellent farm. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn have a pleasant home and take an active interest in the general social affairs of their home town.

Edwin Price Harned, manager of the Bunceton Telephone Company, a director of the Bunceton High School, owner of a fine farm of 230 acres in Palestine township and in other ways interested in the affairs of Cooper County, is a native son of this county. He was born on a farm in Kelly township Dec. 8, 1865, son of George and Marcia A. (Pash) Harned, natives of Kentucky, who became residents of Cooper County in Civil War times and whose last days were spent here.

George Harned was born in Nelson County, Ky., April 8. 1829. He was a son of Benjamin Harned and wife, the latter of whom was a Blan- ford, both of whom were born in Christian County, Ky., who spent most of their lives in Nelson County, where they died and are buried. Benjamin Harned and wife had a large family, but of their numerous children George was the only one who located in Cooper County. Two of the latter's

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HISTORY OF COOPER COUNTY

brothers, Lee and Ack. L. Harned, served as soldiers of the Confederacy during the Civil War, the former losing his life at the battle of Shiloh and the latter being so seriously wounded that one of his arms had to be amputated. In 1859 George Harned and wife came to Missouri, locating in the southeastern part of the state, where they remained until Feb., 1865, when they came to Cooper County, where he bought 1,000 acres of land in Kelly township and establishing there in that same year a great herd of Shorthorn cattle, being the third person in this county to under- take the breeding of Shorthorns. For ten years he maintained this herd and became widely known among stockmen as an exhibitor at county fairs, his herd attracting much attention. He developed a fine farm and lived to be past 70 years of age. He died in 1900. His widow died March 24, 1912. She was born at Cox's Creek, Nelson County, Ky., April 11, 1832. George Harned and wife were the parents of four children: Wil- liam P. Harned, living on the old home place in Kelly township; Benjamin Harned, who lives five miles east of Bunceton; Edwin P. and Huldah, who married Walter Williams and is now deceased.

Edwin P. Harned was reared on the farm on which he was born near Vermont and received his schooling in the Bunceton schools. As a young man he became engaged in mercantile business at Vermont and was thus engaged for nine years. In 1900 he began farming two miles west of Bunceton on a farm which his father had given him and has thus occu- pied that place for nineteen years, making his home there during the summers and living at Bunceton during the winters. This is an excel- lent farm of 230 acres, well improved and profitably cultivated. In 1913 Mr. Harned became one of the leading stockholders in the Bunceton Tele- phone Company and in 1915 was made manager of that concern, a position he has since occupied, his administration of the affairs of the company having done much to extend the service of the telephone plant through- out the territory it covers. Mr. Harned is also a member of the board of directors of the Bunceton High School. He is a democrat and he and his family are members of the Christian Church.

Nov. 8, 1894, Edwin P. Harned was married to Harriet McDonald and to this union four children have been born: Virginia, Howard, Mc- Donald, Harriet H. and William S., all at home. Mrs. Harned was born in Howard County, a daughter of Strother and Virginia (Turner) Mc- Donald, natives of Virginia, who came to Missouri many years ago. Strother McDonald died in 1876 and his widow resides with her daughter, Mrs. Harned.

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John Leonard Spillers, former county collector for Cooper County and a well known business man of Otterville, is a native of Cooper County. He was born on a farm in Lebanon township, May 23, 1876, son of Henry T. and Nancy E. (Thomas) Spillers. Henry T. Spillers was born in Ran- dolph County, Ind., Aug. 6, 1850, and was but a boy when his parents, William and Mary (Harris) Spillers, came to Missouri with their family and settled on a farm in Lebanon township, where they spent the re- mainder of their active lives, moving to Otterville upon their retirement from the farm and there spending their last days. William Spillers was born in Ohio and his wife in Indiana. Henry T. Spillers grew to manhood in Lebanon township and followed farming until about 1906, when he moved to Otterville and there became engaged in the implements business. He died June 24, 1913. His wife died Jan. 18, 1901. She was born in Ken., March 27, 1848. To Henry T. Spillers and wife were born five chil- dren as follows: John L .; William, Kansas City; Thomas O., Otterville ; Margaret, wife of Solomon Rothgeb, Lebanon township, and May, wife of Jesse Favorite, Blairstown.

John L. Spillers was reared on the home farm in Lebanon township and completed his schooling in Otterville College. He married when 21 years of age and thereafter continued farming until his election in 1903 to the office of county collector. He was re-elected to that office and thus served for two years. In 1909, he moved to Otterville and engaged in the hardware business, buying a store which had already been estab- lished for some time. In 1915 he sold that store and opened a furniture store and undertaking establishment and has since been engaged in this business. In order properly to prepare himself for the exacting profession of funeral director, Mr. Spillers entered the Williams School of Embalming at Kansas City and after a full course at that institution was graduated and was then licensed under the laws of the state. Mr. Spillers has for years taken an earnest interest in the cause of education in that state and is a member of the board of regents of the Missouri State Normal School at Warrensburg. He is a Republican and is one of the leaders of that party in Cooper County. He is a York Rite Mason, affiliated with the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Boonville, and the Commandery, Knights Templar, at Boonville; is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Otterville and of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Woodmen of the World. He and his family are members of the Baptist Church and take a proper interest in church work.

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History of Cooper County, Missouri, Part 89

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861 Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Johnson, William Foreman, b. 1861
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1464