USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 15
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City delivery was established in 1899. The first carriers were: William T. VanMatre, Mark Baldwin and Alpheus Adams. The pres- ent carriers are: Aubrey F. Smithson, George F. McMahan. James A. Fickas and Carl L. Schaffer.
County-wide rural delivery was established in 1902. ( Refer to chap- ter thereon.)
The old Johnson County History's comments on the enormous postal business in 1880, as follow : "Eight years ago, 20,000 three-cent stamps were ordered each quarter; now 30,000 is hardly enough." Today, there were sold in 1917 $20,000 worth of stamps, or the equivalent of 660,000 three-cent stamps, besides $9,000 worth of stamps to the other seventeen postoffices in the county. In 1917. 9,000 money orders were issued of $36,699.94, and 4,500 paid of $27,748.88. (The excess repre- sents chiefly purchases of merchandise from houses outside of the county. )
Thrift and war stamps sold in 1918 to March 16 were $20,283.15. The total business of the postoffice has trebled since July 1, 1918.
Incorporation .- Warrensburg was incorporated by the Legislature, November 23, 1855. On the first Monday of April, 1856, the first town election was held. William L. Poston, Sr., Daniel Rentch and Hezekiah E. Depp were judges. The following were elected : John Foushee, mayor ; William H. Anderson, William Calhoun, Alexander Marr, and James M. Bratton, councilmen. The first council meeting was at the court house. April 9, 1856. Dr. William Calhoun was elected president pro tempore. Marsh Foster was appointed clerk and Paschal Cork. constable.
21.4
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
The following is a complete list of city officers from 1856 to the present time :
Mayors .- 1856, John Foushee; 1857, Daniel Rentch; 1858. M. C. Goodlet ; 1859. David W. Reed: 1860, Platt B. Walker (April), George W. Campbell (June); 1861, WV. L. Upton: 1865, D. W. Reed: 1866, G. Will Houts: 1867-68. G. N. Elliott; 1869, George Ryan: 1870. R. Bald- win: 1871, W. O. Ming: 1872, H. Spore: 1873. B. E. Lemmon: 1874, J. H. Smith; 1875-76, Joseph Brown; 1877, George Stepper: 1878-1881, W. L. Hedges; 1882-86, H. F. Clark; 1887, A. M. Greer, E. N. Johnson; 1888, J. D. Eads : 1889-90, George R. Hunt : 1891-94, Theodore Youngs; 1895-98, Charles E. Clark : 1899-1900, John H. Wilson; 1901-02, George W. Houts, 1903-06, W. D. Faulkner; 1907-08, J. P. Ozias: 1909-10, C. D. Middleton ; 1911-12, C. A. Harrison; 1913 to present, W. J. Mayes.
Councilmen .- 1856, WV. H. Anderson, William Calhoun, Alex. Marr, James M. Bratton: 1857, W. S. Hume. W. B. Moody, W. L. Poston, Kas. P. Brooker; 1858, W. H. Anderson. W. B. Moody, W. B. Farmer. James A. Harrison : 1859, W. B. Moody, W. S. Cramnor, W. G. Collins, James P. Brooker: 1860, Ferdinand Ruth, W. M. Collins. J. D. Smith, W. T. Logan : 1861, A. Meyer, W. G. Collins, W. B. Moody, John L. Lobban ; 1865, W. B. Moody, James Gillilan, D. . A Johnson, George Reiter ; 1866, I. C. Bridges, N. Dunbar. Thomas Evans, Charles Snow: 1867, B. E. Morrow. C. W. Robinson, E. A. Blodgett. N. B. Klaine: 1868, H. C. Fike, S. M. Fitch, S. Schmidlapp, H. W. Harmon; 1869, J. W. Brown, G. W. Houts, H. F. Clark, H. C. Fike: 1870, H. C. Fike, F. F. Clark, W. B. Moody. John Brown: 1871, J. W. Rodgers, James Ward. W. L. DeGarmo, F. X. Wagner: 1872. Nathan Land, E. L. DeGarmo, C. W. Robinson, F. N. Wagner: 1873, W. B. Moody, Warren Shedd, W. C. Rowland, F. X. Wagner: 1874. J. W. Rogers, J. E. Shockey, M. Shryack, W. D. Buck : 1875, Levi Hyer. J. L. Rob- erts, M. Shryack, J. H. Kinsel: 1876, Levi Hyer, J. L. Roberts, J. ... Shryack, J. H. Kinsel; 1877, Levi Hyer, Josiah Smith; J. A. Shryack, G. F. Heath: 1878, George Reiter, Josiah Smith, W. C. Marlatt, G. F. Heath; 1879, George Reiter, D. T. Faulkner, II. C. Fike, W. C. Mar- latt; 1880, George Reiter, D. T. Faulkner, Il. C. Fike. W. C. Marlatt ; 1881. First Ward, G. N. Richards, J. A. Shryack : Second Ward, Geo. W. Hout. H. C. Fike. 1882. First Ward, G. N. Richards, Jehu H. Smith : Second Ward, George W. Houts, William E. Crissey. 1883, First Ward. G. N. Richards, Jehu H. Smith ; Second Ward, George W. Houts,
215
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
William E. Crissey. 1884, First Ward, G. N. Richards, Jehu H. Smith ; Second Ward. George W. Houts, J. D. Eads. 1885. W. H. Hartman, Jehu H. Smith ; Second Ward, George W. Houts, J. D. Eads. 1886, First Ward, W. H. Hartman, Jacob Hyer: Second Ward, George W. Houts, E. N. Johnson. 1887. First Ward, W. H. Hartman, Jacob Hyer ; Second Ward, George W. Houts, E. N. Johnson. 1888, First Ward, W. H. Hartman, Theodore Youngs; Second Ward. George W. Houts, William H. Anderson, Jr. 1889. First Ward, Aug. Giehl, L. F. Raney: Second Ward, James L. Robinson. G. A. Lobban ; Third Ward, J. A. Drummond, W. H. McMahan ; Fourth Ward, D. J. Clifford, John G. Gilbert. 1890, First Ward, Aug. Giehl. Joseph E. Lightner: Second Ward, James L. Robinson, Jehu H. Smith: Third Ward. J. A. Drummond. W. H. McMahan : Fourth Ward. Daniel J. Clifford. Theodore Youngs. 1891. First Ward, Joseph E. Lightner. M. L. Days: Second Ward, Jehu H. Smith, James L. Robinson : Third Ward, H. W. McMahan. J. A. Drum- mond: Fourth Ward, Adolph Spiess, D. J. Clifford. 1892. First Ward. M. L. Day, Joseph E. Lightner: Second Ward, James L. Robinson, George W. Houts; Third Ward, David Aber, S. P. Williams: Fourth Ward. D. J. Clifford, George W. Fisher. 1893, First Ward. Joseph E. Lightner, H. A. Cress; Second Ward, George W. Houts, G. A. Lobban ; Third Ward, S. P. Williams, W. C. Johnson: Fourth Ward, George W. Fisher. John W. Gossett. 1894. First Ward. H. A. Cress. J. A. Collins ; Second Ward, G. A. Lobban. W. L. Embree: Third Ward. W. C. John- son, Oliver Miller: Fourth Ward. John W. Gossett. George W. Fisher. 1895, First Ward, J. A. Collins, C. W. Cord; Second Ward, W. L. Embree, G. A. Lobban ; Third Ward, Oliver Miller, J. C. Hubbard: Fourth Ward. George W. Fisher, W. L. Hver. 1896, First Ward, C. W. Cord. J. A. Collins : Second Ward. G. A. Lobban, W. L. Embree : Third Ward. J. C. Hubbard, D. S. Redford : Fourth Ward. W. L. Hyer. Albert Owings, 1897. First Ward, J. A. Collins, M. F. Stillwell: Second Ward. W. L. Embree. J. M. Davenport : Third Ward, D. S. Redford. George P. Ebbs : Fourth Ward, Albert Owings. J. A. Hamrick. 1898. First Ward, M. F. Stillwell. W. O. Davis; Second Ward. J. M. Davenport, W. L. Embree: Third Ward, George P. Ebbs. R. L. Denton; Fourth Ward, J. A. Hamrick, W. S. Dunham. 1899, First Ward. W. F. Stewart. W. O. Davis: Second Ward, J. A. Collins, W. L. Embree, J. A. B. Adcock ; Third Ward, George Davenport, R. L. Denton : Fourth Ward, James A. Hamrick, George W. Fisher. 1900. First Ward, M. F. Stillwell, W. F.
216
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Stewart ; Second Ward, G. A. Gilbert, J. A. Collins: Third Ward, John A. Miller, B. F. Roby ; Fourth Ward, George W. Patton. J. A. Hamrick. 1901. First Ward, M. F. Stillwell, John V. Brewer; Second Ward, G. A. Gilbert, J. A. Collins ; Third Ward, J. A. Miller, J. P. Ozias: Fourth Ward. George W. Patton, R. R. Cruzen. 1902, First Ward, John V. Brewer, R. A. Breeden; Second Ward, J. A. Collins, E. B. Stockton : Third Ward, J. P. Ozias, David Aber; Fourth Ward, R. R. Cruzen, Louis Fountain. 1903, First Ward, R. A. Breeden, W. B. Russell; Second Ward, E. B. Stockton, W. L. Hickman; Third Ward, David Aber, J. P. Ozias; Fourth Ward, Louis Fountain, J. C. Chambers. 1904. First Ward, W. B. Russell, Henry Love; Second Ward, W. L. Hickman, E. B. Stockton : Third Ward, J. P. Ozias, David Aber ; Fourth Ward, John C. Chambers. L. Fountain. 1905, First Ward. George G. Shryack, Henry Love: Second Ward, W. L. Hickman, E. B. Stockton : Third Ward, T. C. Lauderdale, David Aber : Fourth Ward, L. Fountain. C. Chase. 1906. First Ward. George G. Shryack, Henry Love; Second Ward, F. L. Mayes, W. L. Hickman: Third Ward, T. C. Lauderdale, John A. Miller; Fourth Ward, C. Chase, Fred L. Foster. 1907, First Ward, George G. Shryack. Henry Love : Second Ward, F. L. Mayes, J. V. Murray ; Third Ward. T. C. Lauderdale, J. A. Miller ; Fourth Ward, C. Chase, Fred L. Foster. 1908, First Ward, George G. Shryack, Dr. O. B. Hall; Second Ward, J. V. Murray, F. L. Mayes: Third Ward, T. C. Lauderdale, C. D. Middleton : Fourth Ward, C. Chase, Fred L. Foster. 1909, First Ward. Dr. O. B. Hall, O. H. Brock ; Second Ward, F. L. Mayes. R. L. Campbell; Third Ward, J. M. Caldwell, J. B. Whit- field ; Fourth Ward, Fred L. Foster. J. L. Smith. 1910. First Ward. Dr. O. B. Hall, O. H. Brock: Second Ward. A. Lee Smiser, R. L. Campbell : Third Ward, J. M. Caldwell, J. B. Whitfield ; Fourth Ward, J. L. Smith, L. Fountain. 1911, First Ward. Dr. O. B. Hall. O. H. Brock: Second Ward, A. Lee Smiser, R. L. Campbell: Third Ward. J. W. Whitfield. E. S. Katherman: Fourth Ward. J. L. Smith, L. Fountain. 1912. First Ward, Dr. O. B. Hall, O. H. Brock: Second Ward, A. Lee Smiser, R. L. Campbell; Third Ward, E. S. Katherman, J. B. Baird: Fourth Ward, J. L. Smith, L. Fountain. 1913, First Ward. Dr. O. B. Hall. O. H. Brock: Second Ward, A. Lee Smiser. R. L. Campbell; Third Ward. E. S. Katherman, J. B. Baird : Fourth Ward. J. L. Smith, L. Fountain. 1914. First Ward, S. H. Coleman, O. H. Brock ; Second Ward. J. S. Anderson. R. L. Campbell; Third Ward, E. S. Katherman, .\. D. Redford: Fourth
217
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Ward, J. L. Smith, L. Fountain. 1915, First Ward, S. H. Coleman. J. O. W. Moles; Second Ward, J. S. Anderson, L. F. Hutchens ; Third Ward, F. S. Katherman, A. D. Redford; Fourth Ward, J. L. Descombes, L. Fountain. 1916, First Ward, J. O. W. Moles, S. H. Coleman: Second Ward. J. N. Suddath, L. F. Hutchens ; Third Ward. E. S. Katherman. T. L. Bradley ; J. L. DesCombes, L. Fountain, 1917, First Ward, S. H. Cole- man, L. A. Davis; Second Ward, J. N. Suddath, L. F. Hutchens; Third Ward, C. W. Fulkerson. T. L. Bradley: Fourth Ward, J. E. Six. L. Fountain.
Assessors .- 1856-57, William Upton; 1858, William M. Poston; 1859. Alex. Marr; 1861. A. M. Christian: 1865, John Cheek; 1866, J. I. Clouch; 1867, W. S. Snow: 1868, W. C. Rowland: 1889. G. E. Bell : 1891-92, Rolla G. Carroll: 1893-94. Jesse Baker: 1895-98, G. F. Savage; 1899-1900. Rolla G. Carroll : 1901-02, J. M. Hill: 1903-06, J. W. McFar- land: 1907-1910, E. A. Williams: 1911-14, T. J. Summers: 1915-16, O. L. Peters.
Attorneys .- 1856, Charles O. Silliman: 1857. M. C. Goodlett: 1858, F. M. Cockrell: 1859, Robert L. Brooking: 1860, John Hollowell: 1861. O. A. Wadell and G. W. McMurran: 1866, A. R. Conklin: 1867. H. H. Harmon; 1868, J. P. Heath; 1869-70, S. T. White: 1871, Henry Neill ; 1872. A. B. Logan: 1873. A. C. Baker: 1874, A. R. Conklin: 1875-76, Henry Neill: 1877, J. M. Crutchfield: 1878, Garrett C. Land: 1879-1880, S. T. White: 1881-83, R. M. Robertson; 1884-85, J. M. Crutchfield ; 1886, John J. Hyer: 1887-88. Henry Neill; 1889-1890, A. M. Greer ; 1891-92, R. M. Robertson: 1893. F. B. Fulkerson; 1894, F. B. Fulkerson and M. D. Aber: 1895, N. M. Bradley : 1896, N. M. Bradley and M. D. Aber: 1897-98, M. D. Aber: 1899-1900, Harry G. Hart: 1901-02. Bow- man Jarrott : 1903-04. Victor Gallaher: 1905-06. W. C. McDonald: 1907- 1908, J. K. Tuttle: 1909-12, W. C. McDonald: 1913 to present. S. J. Caudle.
Clerks .- 1856. Marsh Foster: 1857. Aikan Welch and F. S. Pos- ton : 1858, David W. Reed and F. S. Poston: 1859. F. S. Poston : 1860-61. Alexander Marr: 1865. G. W. Houts: 1866, C. M. Leet. J. W. Brown; 1867, J. W. Brown; 1868-1870, J. R. Heath: 1871. J. M. Hustel, Joseph Zoll: 1872. Joseph Zoll: 1873. B. A. Fickas: 1874, H. M. Overmyer; 1875-76. Joseph Zoll: 1877. N. B. Klaine, Joseph Zoll: 1878-79, Joseph Zoll: 1880-81. Ira A. Day: 1882-1890, W. C. Marlatt: 1891-94; W. S. Clark; 1895. F. G. Lunbeck ; 1896. C. D. Middleton: 1897, H. A. Neill,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
R. E. Jones, 1898, C. W. Cord: 1899, C. W. Cord, F. G. Lunbeck; 1900, F. G. Lunbeck : 1901-1912, S. P. Tyler: 1913 to present, D. P. Woodruff.
Collectors .- 1874, Eli Allman; 1881-82, W. C. Rowland; 1883, J. W. Kerr: 1884, T. B. Montgomery; 1885, W. H. Bunn; 1886, Marcellus Shryack : 1877, John H. Wilson; 1888, W. H. Bunn: 1892, W. L. Hick- man: 1893-96, O. H. Brock: 1897-1900. James M. Shepherd: 1901-04, George A. Thurber : 1905-09, Harry Jennings: 1910-12, S. H. Coleman ; 1913-16, L. C. Gore; 1917 to present, O. L. Peters.
Engineers .- 1899-1904, George S. Brinkerhoff: 1905, J. H. Scar- borough; 1906, George S. Brinkerhoff: 1907, George S. Brinkerhoff and H. W. Sanders : 1908, George S. Brinkerhoff : 1909-10, J. S. Scarborough ; 1911. R. P. Fitch: 1912 to present, C. L. Johnson.
Marshals .- 1868-1870, WV. S. Snow: 1871, J. K. Miller: 1872, E. H. Shotwell; 1873, L. Collins: 1874, Eli Allman ; 1875. O. A. Redford: 1876, S. J. Jackson : 1877-1880, H. F. Clark: 1881-82, P. A. Matthews : 1883-84, P. A. Magoon : 1885-86, D. R. Smith : 1887, R. F. Dalton : 1888. R. F. Dal- ton, Thomas H. Dillard: 1889-1894, J. E. Morrison: 1895-96, George W. Warnick; 1897, W. H. Welch : 1898, W. H. Welch, George F. Fisher, K. G. Tempel: 1899-1900, K. G. Tempel. 1901-02. Carlisle Chase; 1901-07, James Ryan: 1908. William Ogle: 1909-12, W. A. Gaubert: 1913 to present, B. G. Brown.
Assistant Marshals .- 1892, Charles Morrison: 1893, Lewis Davis; 1894, J. A. House: 1895, W. C. Johnson: 1896, R. H. Davis: 1897, K. G. Tempel: 1898-1900, J. P. Hampton: 1901, J. A. Burnett and James Ryan: 1902, James Ryan; 1903-06. B. G. Brown; 1907. James Basham ; 1908. George W. Howard: 1909-12, B. G. Brown: 1913 to present, J. W. Quarles.
Police Judges .- 1895-96. W. C. McDonald: 1897-98. J. K. Byers; 1899-1900, Jehu H. Smith: 1901-02. M. J. Staley: 1903-06, W. H. Bunn ; 1907-08, W. K. Morrow: 1909-12, John W. McFarland: 1913-14. Price B. Robinson ; 1915-16, J. Raymond Rothwell: 1917-18. John W. McFar- land.
Sextons .- 1881-1895, Green B. Lannom: 1896-1900. R. H. Crook: 1901-02. T. C. Lauderdale: 1903. A. H. Spitser: 1904-1916, C. W. Stew- art: 1917. Neal Harmon.
Street Commissioners .- 1856, Daniel Rentch: 1857, O. S. Heath ; 1858-59, Robert Sharp: 1860, C. F. Heath: 1861, William Upton: 1866, S. J. Burnett : 1867, W. S. Snow, O. S. Heath: 1868, O. S. Heath; 1869,
219
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
W. Jollandsworth; 1870, J. D. Morris; 1871, Joel P. Johnston; 1872, Adam Howenstein: 1873, John Watson: 1874, L. Collins: 1875, J. P. Johnston : 1876, Hugh McCoy ; 1877, Peter Koontz; 1878, R. L. Richey, John Opp: 1879-1882. J. D. Morris; 1887-88, D. R. Smith; 1889, Clifton Thompson: 1890, J. H. Alspaugh: 1891-94, John Scott: 1895, Orlando Willis: 1896, John M. Davidson: 1897, L. E. Hawk; 1898, Z. T. Col- lins, J. M. Davidson: 1899, J. A. Johnson: 1900, Frank Cole; 1901-06, J. E. Ridge : 1907, Stephen Tompkins, Henry Whiteman : 1907-08, Henry Whiteman; 1909-10, J. E. Ridge: 1911-12, John Burnett; 1913-14. W. A. Gaubert: 1915-16, Frank Hiebler: 1917, A. Gaubert.
Treasurers .- 1856, John G. Davis: 1857-1861. John Foushee: 1865- 1866, W. R. Wood; 1867-1870, A. W. Ridings: 1871-72, J. P. Henshaw ; 1873-76, H. D. Russell: 1877, N. B. Johnson: 1878-1882. W. H. Lee ; 1885-87. Marcus Youngs: 1888. John Davis; 1889-1891, O. S. Wadell ; 1892-94, Jo. H. Smith; 1895-96, H. A. Neill: 1897-98, Alpheus Adams ; 1898, Alpheus Adams and E. N. Johnson : 1899-1900, Fred C. Whitman ; 1901-04, Earl Coffman: 1905-06. T. P. Valentine : 1907. T. E. Cheatham, G. C. Gillum; 1908. G. C. Gillum; 1909-12, C. A. Owings: 1913-16, Nick Greim: 1917 to present, Joseph E. Belt.
Early Men and Things of Warrensburg Living Today .- Careful inquiry seems to give the honor of priority to the following of War- rensburg's institutions and people.
Buildings .- The oldest building is the old court house in Old Town, now occupied as a residence by Mr. W. O. Davis, the best-known citizen of Old Town. It was completed about 1842. The next was the next house west of the Reese school, a two-story frame house, which Daniel Rentch had built. Then came the brick house just south of the court house on the west side of Main street, built by William Harri- son Anderson; then the brick house on the north side of Gay street just east of Main street, now the residence of Mr. S. B. McMahan; then the brick house on the east side of Main street just north of Gay street and once occupied by W. H. Colbert, and then the brick house just opposite on the west side, formerly occupied as a dentist's office by Doctor Williams. The above order is given by Miss Catherine Rentch, daughter of Daniel Rentch, who remembers the building of all these houses except the court house and the frame house, and is confirmed by Mr. W. O. Davis, Mr. Moody and others.
In New Town, William Zoll built what is now the first frame house
220
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
on the north side of Gay street east of Holden street (now the resi- dence of Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Griffith), in 1858. Other houses built before the war were Capt. H. C. Fike's house ( which was used as a smallpox hospital during the war), and also the second and third houses west from Holden street on the north side of Gay street (now occupied by Messrs. Joseph McMeekin and Leslie Hutchens, respectively), and the house at 310 West Gay street, built by old Mrs. Marr.
There is not an old church building in town. The Christian is the oldest, and the Cumberland Presbyterian next.
Men and Women .- Of the business men "Ike" Rogers and Dan Wil- liams are the oldest. They were both here before the war. Mr. Wil- liams came in 1857 and Mr. Rogers in 1858. (The fact that both are pioneer harness men seems to indicate a distinct advantage in associating with good leather). Those after the war are given in Mr. Lowe's interview preceding.
The person who has resided in town the longest seems to be David P. Woodruff. who was born in Warrensburg. August 12, 1842. He is now city clerk and active and well. Mrs. Martha Statley, now aged eighty-five years, came here with her father, Daniel Rentch, about 1845 or 1846. Mrs. Nannie Rose, widow of Lafayette Rose, is seventy-six years old and remembers coming here when she was six years old, which would make her advent 1848. Mrs. A. H. Gilkeson ( mother of Mrs. W. L. Hedges, Dr. H. P. Gilkeson, and John M. Gilkeson, all living in this county ) came here in 1851, and is now over eighty years of age.
In the younger set of genuine natives, come Mel. P. Moody and John M. Crutchfield. Mr. Crutchfield was born here in 1858. and Mr. Moody claims he chose Warrensburg as his birthplace in 1854, though he refuses to confirm this by his actions or looks. Those two remarkable women, Miss Kitty Rentch and Miss Lizzie Grover, both arrived in this world in Warrensburg before the war. Miss Lizzie remembers going to Doctor Williams' office to have a tooth pulled before the war, and Miss Kitty was an associate of Mr. Moody's, and John J. and William S. Cockrell (the writer's half-brothers), who were born in 1855 and 1857, respectively. These two spinsters, both of unusual character and ability, have (possibly through keeping themselves clear of incumbrances ) for a long time been, and still are, two of the town's most capable and cheerful citizens.
221
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Population .- The following is the population of Warrensburg from 1850 to 1910 by official United States Census:
1850-White, 194; colored. 47. 1860-White. 858; colored, 124. 1870-White, 2.447 ; colored. 498. 1880. 4.049: 1890, 4,706; 1900, 4,724; 1910, white, 4.278; colored, 411.
Additional, and very interesting detailed information about the town is given by the United States Census for 1910. According to it, there were 1,209 dwellings in town and 1.236 families living in them. There were 144 people ten years old and over who could not read or write. These were chiefly negroes-92 negroes, and 52 whites. Among the 144 were 66 men over 21 years old. There were 1,289 persons between six and twenty years of age, of whom 1.012 were attending school. The following are the tables in full :
Warrensburg, 1910-Sex, Color and Nativity.
Total population, 1910 4,689
Total population. 1900 4,724
Male 2,125
Female 2,564
3,842
Native white, native parentage
Native white, foreign or mixed parentage 331
Foreign-born white 105
Negroes
411
Dwellings and Families.
Dwellings, number 1,209
Families, number 1,236
Illiteracy.
Total number 10 years old and over 4,072
Number illiterate
144
Native white 10 years old and over 3,617
Number illiterate 48
Foreign-born white 10 years old and over 105
Number illiterate 1
Negroes 10 years old and over 350
Number illiterate 92
Illiterate males of voting age 66
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
School Age and Attendance.
Total number 6 to 20 years inclusive 1,289
Number attending school 1,012
Persons 6 to 14 Years, Inclusive.
Native white, number 623
Number attending school 585
Foreign-born white, number
Number attending school
1 1
Negroes, number
64
Number attending school
55
Males of Voting Age.
Total number 1,375
Native white, native parentage 1,074
Native white, foreign or mixed parentage 112
Foreign-born, white 59
Naturalized 50
Negroes
130
Illiterate males of voting age.
66
The Warrensburg Commercial Club prior to 1910 had existed for sixteen years, under the name of the "Warrensburg and Johnson County Board of Trade." Its first president was Charles Shepard, who continued in that capacity until the re-organization. The first secre- tary was Frank Lunbeck. The minutes of the "Board of Trade" have been lost and definite information as to the work of the body cannot be given, but it may be claimed that it was responsible for the building of the present court house. It was composed of the leading men of Warrensburg and labored for the best interests of the city. The Board of Trade was re-organized in January, 1910, its name was changed to the Warrensburg Commercial Club and the following officers and direc- tors were chosen: John Thrailkill, president : Jesse J. Culp, vice-presi- dent ; George G. Gilkeson, treasurer: W. E. Suddath, secretary, and J. H. Scarborough, P. D. Finch, Theo. S. Shock, John Thrailkill, Jesse J. Culp, George G. Gilkeson and W. E. Suddath, directors. New and commodious rooms were fitted up in the second story of the Johnson building on the corner of Holden and East Pine streets. During the past year the club has stood behind all worthy enterprises of the city.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
It helped in the organization of the Johnson County Poultry Show and was instrumental in securing the meeting of the Grand Army of the Republic in Warrensburg. Its most important work has been that of encouraging street paving, four miles of which have been accomplished through its efforts. It has been behind all beneficial legislation and has taken the initiative in many improvements. The success of the "Korn Karnival" was mainly through its efforts.
The club is now fighting the increase of light rates, making the telephone companies lay the wires underground, and have made the railroads keep up the bridges, paving and crossings. They helped get the county farm agent by pledging themselves for his salary and guar- anteed the support of Miss Moreland, the new food demonstrator.
The membership of the club embraces the leading business men of Warrensburg and it is a power for the upbuilding of the city. There are 100 members. The present officers are: President, Harvey Clark; secretary, Chester Ossingham; treasurer, E. N. Johnson.
CHAPTER XIX .- POST OAK TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION, LOCATION, NAMING-GEOGRAPHY-SOIL-EARLY SETTLEMENTS -MILLS-EARLY CHURCHES-EARLY CEMETERIES-EARLY SCHOOLS-EARLY POSTOFFICES-JUSTICES-COUNTY OFFICERS - POPULATION - PERSONAL PROPERTY AND PRODUCTS-COUNTY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS-ORGANIZA- TIONS-LEETON.
Post Oak township was organized February 14, 1849, off of the south end of Warrensburg township. It was named from Post Oak creek, which received its name from the abundance of post oak timber adjoin- ing the creek.
Geography .- Area, about 69 square miles, or 44,160 acres. Geo- graphically, Post Oak township composes the upland between Post Oak creek and its tributaries on the west and Clear Fork on the east, both these streams heading in a water shed running east and west across the south end of the township. The M. K. & T. and Rock Island railroads occupy this water shed, and Leeton and Post Oak towns are situated on it.
Soil .- According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Soil Survey of 1914, Post Oak township contains more different types of soils in considerable amounts than any other township, and also con- tains less of any one type in a solid body than any other township. The following are the chief soils and their approximate proportions in the township: Bates silt loam (dark gray-brown soil ), 30 per cent .; Boone silt loam ("sandy" soil), 25 per cent .; Oswego silt loam (gray soil), 121/2 per cent. : Summit silt loam ("black limestone" soil), 10 per cent. ; Craw- ford silt loam ("red limestone" soil), 71/2 per cent .: Boone fine sandy loam (with more sand than Boone silt loam), 5 per cent .. and Osage silt loam (ordinary bottom soil), 6 per cent.
The details of these soils are:
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