USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 21
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The Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized in 1833 by Rev. J. R. Whitsett and J. B. Morrow. The following were among the early pastors to serve this denomination here: Reverends J. R. Whit- sett, J. B. Morrow, S. Finis King, A. A. Van Ausdol, J. W. Means, William F. Gordon, Walter Schenck and S. H. McElvaine. Among the early members were Philip Houx and family. S. C. Graham and family, John S. Graham and family, Rev. J. R. Whitsett and family, James J. Graham and family, Pleasant Carmichael and family.
The Baptist, Brethren, Methodist, Presbyterian and negro Metho- dist churches were all organized before 1880 and are still in existence. They are covered in the general church chapters in this book.
Official Records, Statistics, Justices .- The justices of the peace in Centerview township as far back as the records go. with the dates of their election, are: 1878. George Washington, J. W. Davenport ; 1882, W. L. Shipp, A. M. Repp: 1886, R. B. Wright, J. W. Davenport ; 1890, R. B. Wright, R. C. Brownlee; 1892, H. Jackson: 1894. R. B. Wright ; 1896, J. C. Oliver: 1898, R. B. Wright; 1902, R. B. Wright, A. D. Gowans: 1904, V. D. Washington : 1906, R. B. Wright, John Smith ; 1910, A. D. Gowan: 1914. Howard Graham.
County Officers .- The following county officers have been elected from the township since 1882: 1886, William A. Porter (Republican), recorder: 1898, Robert B. Graham (Democrat), county judge: 1902. W. L. Shipp ( Democrat), appointed school superintendent : 1905-1907- 1909. W. L. Shipp (Democrat), elected school superintendent.
Population .- United States Census statistics for Centerview town- ship are as follow :
White. Colored. Total. 1880
1890 1900 1910
Population 1340 22 1362 1583
1622
1540 1396
Personal Property .- Early products, agriculture and personal prop-
285
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
erty statistics, as given by Missouri state reports for 1877. and Johnson county assessors' lists for 1896 and 1916 are:
1877
1877
1896
1916
Wheat, bushels
32,200
Horses
712
859
1,107
Corn, bushels
252,780
.Mules
296
261
407
Oats, bushels
24.421
Cattle
1,878
1.665
2,781
Barley, bushels
355
Sheep
1,039
845
575
Rye, bushels
1,746
Hogs
3,306
2,947
3,372
Tobacco, pounds
233
Asses
none
11/2
15
Wool, pounds
2,451
Hay, tons
1,085
Molasses, gallons
829
Wine, gallons
none
1896
1916
Notes and money
$ 46,679
$105.465
Bank stock
11,870
13.074
Other personalty
31,889
70.320
All personalty
154,735
269,889
Road Improvements .- Permanent county road improvements made by the township since this system was established, up to January 1, 1918, were twenty-one in number and aggregated $1.159.50 furnished by the citizens of the township, and $1,150 by the county. In the amount of this work Centerview ranks eighth among the townships of the county.
Organizations .- The following is a complete list of all organiza- tions of every kind in Centerview township. Full details of each organi- zation are in this book in separate chapters on the different organiza- tions :
Churches-Baptist ( Vitae Springs), Brethren, Cumberland Presby- terian, Methodist, Presbyterian,
Negro Churches-Baptist, Methodist.
Fraternal Organizations-Modern Woodmen.
1917 War Organizations-Red Cross, Centerview Branch.
Homemakers' Clubs-Briscoe, Glendale, Gowens, Willing Workers. Miscellaneous-Clover Leaf Club, Village Improvement Club.
Business-Bank of Centerview.
Organizations, Families-Much of the history of the township and
286
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
many items of general and personal interest are primarily parts of the history of the families and organizations of the township and will be found in this book under the history of the families and organizations. Both are fully indexed by names and townships.
Total number of organizations in township is sixteen.
CENTERVIEW.
Centerview town is a thriving and progressive village on the Mis- souri Pacific railroad between Warernsburg and Holden. It was founded in 1865, when the Pacific railroad was built. The postoffice here was established with the laying out of the town and Elhanan Roop was the first postmaster.
Centerview is surrounded on its four sides by some of the best farming and stock raising country in this section.
It has a bank, high school, four churches, two negro churches and houses representing all the leading businesses.
The town is incorporated and the following are its officers since then :
Chairmen .- 1913-14, A. D. Gowans; 1915-16, C. G. Huggins; 1917- 18, J. F. Zoucha.
Trustees .- 1913-14, C. G. Huggins, W: H. Sherrick, E. B. Roop. J. R. Bozarth: 1915-16, J. F. Zoucha. A. G. Middleton, R. C. Hull; 1917- 18, E. C. Smith, A. D. Gowans, Herbert Scott.
Clerks .- 1913-14, R. C. Hull; 1915-16, E. C. Smith; 1917-18, W. B. Gowans.
Collectors and Treasurers .- 1913-16, E. P. Hering; 1917-18, C. G. Huggins.
Marshals .- 1913-14, J. T. Zoucha; 1915-16, W. B. Gowans; 1917- 18. A. G. Middleton.
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CHAPTER XXVII .- SIMPSON TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION, NAMING - GEOGRAPHY - SOIL - EARLY SETTLEMENTS - EARLY PHYSICIANS-EARLY POSTOFFICES-EARLY SCHOOLS-EARLY CEMETERIES -EARLY CHURCHES-JUSTICES -COUNTY OFFICERS - POPULATION - PER- SONAL PROPERTY AND PRODUCTS-COUNTY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS-OR- GANIZATIONS.
Simpson township was organized January 23, 1875. It was named for James Simpson, one of its early settlers. Some of its territory was included in Montserrat township.
Geography .- Area, about 461/2 square miles, or 29,760 acres. Geo- graphically, Simpson township is divided by four streams, running nearly east and all converging on the eastern side into Blackwater. These streams are (Mulkey Creek, Flagstaff. Blackjack, and Blackwater itself.
Soil .- According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Soil Survey of 1914, the chief soils of the township consist of ordinary bottom soil (Osage silt loam), along these streams, then on each side of the bottom an irregular strip from one-fourth to one mile wide of "sandy" soil, and then next to this, "black limestone" soil (Summit silt loam) in the regions between Mulkey, Flagstaff and Blackjack, and "mulatto" soil ( Pettis silt loam) on the upland between Blackjack and Blackwater.
These soils, in detail, are :
Boone silt loam, upland, about 45 per cent. of the township or 201/2 square miles ; lies chiefly next to the bottom, as above indicated.
Summit silt loam, upland, about 7 square miles or 15 per cent .; lies as above indicated, next to and above the Boone silt loam.
Pettis silt loam, upland, about 51/2 square miles or 12 per cent .; lies chiefly in the southwest corner of the township between Blackwater and Blackjack.
Bates silt loam, upland, about one square mile or 2 per cent. ; occu- pies an area of about one square mile with its southwest corner at Foster school house, in section 7, township 47. range 25.
Osage silt loam, ordinary bottom soil, about 111/2 square miles or 25 per cent .; lies along the four creeks.
288
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Miscellaneous, about one square mile or 2 per cent ; (1) upland of small patches of Crawford silt loam; (2) second bottoms of Chariton silt loam, and Robertsville silt loam ; and (3) first bottom of Osage silty clay loam.
Of the foregoing, the Summit silt loam, Pettis silt loam and Craw- ford silt loam are ranked as the best three common upland soils in the county, with the Bates silt loam next, and the Osage silt loam as the best first bottom soil.
For further soil details see chapter on Agriculture and Soils.
Early Settlements .- Stephen Bleirus is said to have been the first settler. He settled about 1830 on Haw branch in the eastern part of section 29. He was described as an "unpolished pioneer, full of viva- city, who cared little for how the world moved, and was generous and kind."
One of the first settlers of Simpson township was James Simpson, from whom it derives its name. He was a native of Virginia and settled in what is now Simpson township with his mother, Mrs. Sarah Simpson, a widow, in 1832. Simpson was a wealthy man for those times and when he and his mother came here they brought with them a number of negro slaves. Mr. Simpson entered something over a section of government land where he followed farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He was one of the first to introduce fine stock in his neighborhood, which he brought from Kentucky.
Simpson was a bachelor. He was a great reader and his library and hunting dogs were his principal sources of amusement. He was not the type of pioneer hunter who pursued the chase in the prosaic way but he always kept a pack of greyhounds and hunted the deer and other wild animals in his own original and exciting way. He died in 1861 and his mother departed this life the same year.
Most of the families in this neighborhood were said to be related to the Simpsons in various degrees of kinship. Among them were the Browns, Ramseys, Youngs, Shepherds, Collins, Fosters, Herndons, Rob- erts, Roaches, Hanleys, Cheathams, Offetts, Profitts, Mulkeys and Col- berns.
William Simpson, a brother of James, was a negro slave dealer in Kentucky and was murdered by robbers prior to the Civil War. James B. Simpson, a nephew of James Simpson, was a captain in the Con-
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289
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
federate army during the Civil War. At the close of the war he returned to Johnson county and kept a hotel in Warrensburg for a time. He died in Columbus township.
Judge John Thornton settled here in 1834. He entered government land and built a log house, spending the remainder of his life here. He died in 1845. He was a substantial citizen and served as one of the county judges.
J. M. Wood came here in 1834. He died in 1851 and was buried in the Thornton cemetery. He married a daughter of Judge Thornton. His two living sons are R. H. Wood, former county judge, now living in Warrensburg, and W. W. Wood, former circuit judge, now living in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
Charles Proctor Collins came here from Kentucky in 1835. He was born in Logan county, that state, in 1809. Shortly after coming here he entered a thousand acres of land upon which he built a log cabin. which remained as a relic of pioneer days for a number of years. He was a strong character and a typical frontiersman.
Alexander Greer settled here in 1838 and he and his brother, Jerome. started a store on the Blackwater near what was then Davis' mill. How- ever, they soon disposed of this business and engaged extensively in the stock business and at the time of his death, April 10, 1881, Alex- ander Greer was one of the well-to-do men of the county. He was a native of Berkeley county, Virginia, born August 25, 1810. His wife was a Miss Clay, of Allegheny county, Maryland, to whom he was mar- ried in 1837. They were the parents of fifteen children, ten daughters and five sons. At the time of his death he owned three thousand acres of land.
Other early settlers were George P. Angel, who came in 1836, from Logan county, Kentucky, and entered considerable land; James S. Brown, who built in 1842; Rev. Amos Horn, Baptist minister and first county judge : James M. Foster, Sr .: John Anderson, half brother of W. H. Anderson, who was the father of Dr. James I. Anderson; James H. Narron and W. H. Narron.
Early Physicians .- Among the early physicians of this township was Dr. Hamilton C. Davis. He had a good practice. He also built a grist mill, which for a number of years was known as the Davis Mill. Later it was purchased by William Kirkpatrick and became known as the
(10)
290
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Kirkpatrick Mill. At first this was a water-power mill, but later was converted into a steam mill. Dr. J. T. Case, lately deceased, located in the township in 1876.
Early Postoffices .- Simpson township contains one small village which at first was known as Millford, taking its name from a ford across the Blackwater near the Dayis mill and was the first postoffice. Later the village was known as Grover, and now appears on the map as Valley City. Merchants who kept store here from time to time during the early days were J. Greer, William Kirkpatrick, Ed. A. Strickland, C. Potlett, J. Soister, John Strickland, William Tolbert, William C. Cook, T. M. McDonald and Edward Blake. The voting precinct was here until 1873, when the new township was created, when the voting place of Simpson township was changed to Lynn school house.
A postoffice was established at Millford about 1850, but after the Civil War the name was changed to Grover, in honor of Col. Benjamin W. Grover, an officer who was mortally wounded in the battle of Lex- ington, Missouri. During the Civil War the office was discontinued and re-established in 1870 and lasted till general rural service. William Kirkpatrick, William Cook and Thomas McDonald were early post- masters here.
Simpson postoffice was established January 16, 1880, at the resi- dence of R. H. Wood in the northeast part of section 29 and Mrs. Sarah D. Wood served as postmistress until the office was discontinued in 1881.
The earliest road in the township was from Knob Noster to Inde- pendence and crossed Blackwater at the old Davis mill and then con- tinued westward.
Early Schools .- In Simpson township, the schools probably preceded the churches. Perhaps the first school house within the borders of what is now Simpson township was a log structure located on Simp- son Ridge, near what later was known as the Lynn school house. James Simpson, C. P. and Washington Collins lived in this neighborhood. Children attended this school from a radius of three to five miles. In the early days the school was nicknamed "Flagstaff Academy" by its pioneer patrons. Another early-day log school house was built on the prairie in section 29. This also was a primitive structure, 16 x 16 feet in size with a door which swung on wooden hinges with a wooden latch. The benches were made of split logs and light was admitted
291
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
through a hole in the side of the building and such a thing as window glass was unknown. In 1855, a frame building, with two windows and a door, was erected to succeed the old log structure.
Among the early teachers of this township were Dr. T. Bradford, Dave Horn, W. L. Hornbuckle, J. M. Shepherd, George P. Angel, Z. T. Davis, Alexander Marr, A. B. and James Harrison. Later, the following school districts were established :
Mason, in 1868. Teachers were S. Swan, Lot Coffman, S. H. McElvaine, J. M. Crutchfield, Mollie Fulton, J. W. McGiven, James John- son, W. Riffey, A. J. Sparks, Sallie Young, G. M. Shanton, Lizzie McClung, Peter Lynch.
Lynn, 1868. Early teachers were J. Smith, Henry Harman, J. Pennington, N. McPherson, John M. Christy, Irwin Granger, J. W. Branch, Dora Foster, Mary Brown, Laura Lutz. M. B. Cole, R. Reavis, A. J. Trapp, T. P. Reid, Laura Graham.
Milford. 1875. Early teachers were Ed. Blake, Julia Lutz. Mary Carroll, Isham F. Tanner. M. Fannie Narron, George W. Couch.
Bowman, 1860. School was burned and rebuilt since the Civil War. Early teachers were Major Humphreys, Dr. William Dobson, Jacob Motsinger, Maggie LeMar, L. Rush, Mr. Jones, John W. Christy, William Sharp, James McCluney. George Amick. James Thomas.
At Eureka school on Mulkey creek, J. W. Branch, G. M. Shanton and Miss Fannie Narron were teachers.
A negro school was built in 1870, burned in 1874 and rebuilt in 1878. on Flagstaff creek.
Early Cemeteries .- The following early cemeteries were located in Simpson township: Oak Grove cemetery, which was established in 1855. John Roberts was the first to be interred here. Foster ceme- tery located on section 4. Thornton cemetery, an old family graveyard on the Taggart farm. There were other private burial grounds located in various sections of the township.
Early Churches .- There were few religious organizations closely following the early settlement of this section of the county. However, now and then a circuit rider would preach the gospel in private residences at long intervals. Some of these pioneer preachers were William P. C. Caldwell, Robert A. Foster, one of the early ministers of the Methodist
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292
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Episcopal Church, South; William Duvall, a Baptist; John White and Amos Horn and Reverend Mr. Brooks. John Warder and Robert Morrow also preached here at an early day.
Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized March 30, 1855, by Rev. J. B. Morrow, and other pioneer ministers who preached here were J. H. Houx, Albert A. Moore, J. A. Prather and W. T. Gillam. The following were the first members of this organization here: George Hoffman, Mary Hoffman, Louisa Hoffman, Bedford Brown, Polly A. Brown, Rebecca Walker, Sarah Roberts, John Roberts, James G. Sud- dath, Elizabeth Suddath, Elizabeth Roach, Virginia Hargrave, B. F. Suddath, Caroline Therrington, Margaret Hanley, Nancy Whitsett, Elizabeth Hornbuckle, James S. Brown, John W. Brown and Sarah J. Brown.
The Methodist Episcopal church, South, was organized about 1855, with the following members: Mrs. E. Fitzpatrick, John McCluney, Charity Atherton, Sarah Simpson, Mrs. S. Brown, Jacob L. Neff, Cathe- rine Neff, John Atherton and Margaret Dobson. This place was in what was known as Columbus circuit as early as 1843, and was one of the preaching points of the circuit riders of that day. The following are some of the early circuit riders who preached here: Robert A. Blakey, W. M. Pitts, Josiah McCary, John Bond, L. P. Siceloff, J. P. Gibson, W. S. Woodard, E. W. Woodard, L. Phillips, L. H. Vandiber and L. W. Pierce.
Mount Herman Disciples church was organized in 1878 by C. A. Hedrick and the following year the building was dedicated by him. The first pastor here was C. A. Hedrick, who visited the place once a month for the first year. G. R. Hand, well known in the pioneer days as one of the ablest preachers of this section, then took charge.
The Baptists and Methodist Episcopal church also had small organi- zations here in the early days.
The Disciples organized a Sunday school in 1880. In 1870 a union Sunday school was organized in this township. G. W. Shanton, Robert Miller, Mr. Wriston, A. J. Sparks, and Martin Huston were superin- tendents.
Lynn School Sunday school was organized in 1876 by A. J. Sparks and conducted for two years, with fine results.
Justices .- The following are the justices of the peace of the town- ship as far back as the county records show, with dates of their election.
293
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Earlier justices are said to have been Frank McChurey, from 1865 to 1876; James Simpson, A. Kirkpatrick, E. A. Strickland, and M. E. Donaldson; 1878, T. F. McDonald, William F. Wriston; 1880, R. Stosberg; 1882, A. D. Blake, R. J. Pool; 1886, James Narron, R. J. Pool; 1890, William Lazenby, R. J. Pool; 1894, William Lazenby, J. H. Narron; 1896, William Lanham; 1898, B. L. Riley, Joe E. Johnson ; 1902, B. L. Riley, Joe E. Johnson ; 1904, William Lazenby ; 1906, William Lazenby, T. J. Foster; 1908, James H. Cantrell, B. L. Riley; 1910, B. L. Riley, T. H. Myers; 1912, Ben F. Bell; 1914. J. H. Reggers, T. H. Myers.
County Officers .- The following are the county officers who have been elected from the township since 1882, with the dates of their elec- tion :
1890-92-William H. H. Collins (Democrat ), sheriff.
1890-James H. Parker (Democrat), representative.
1904-06-R. H. Wood (Democrat), county judge.
1916-R. F. Boone (Democrat), assessor.
Population .- The population of Simpson township, by United States Census, was:
1880
1890
1900
1910
978
1,055
1,127
1,106
Personal Property and Products .- Agriculture and personal property statistics for Simpson township, as given by Missouri State Report for 1877, and Johnson county assessors' lists for 1896 and 1916 are:
1877
1877
1896
1916
Wheat, bushels
21,057
Horses
459
486
657
Corn, bushels
100,816
Mules
154
213
395
Oats, bushels
3,476
Cattle
1.832
1,099
1,691
Tobacco, pounds
18,142
Sheep
630
47
211
Wool, pounds
1,328
Hogs
1,761
1,513
2,438
Hay, tons
276
Asses
none
7
11
Molasses, gallons
18,040
1896
1916
Notes and money
$ 6,085
$ 27,750
Other personalty
13,010
17,120
All personalty
57,895
124,355
294
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
County Road Improvements .- County road improvements made by Simpson township since this system was established in 1911, were up to January 1, 1918, eighteen in number, and aggregated $963 furnished by citizens of the township, and $940 furnished by the county.
Organizations .- The following is a complete list of all organizations of every kind in Simpson township. Full details of each organization are in separate chapters on the different organizations.
Churches-Baptist, Mt. Zion; Christian, Valley City; Cumberland Presbyterian, Oak Grove; Methodist, Oak Grove; Union, Fair Oak; Mt. Olive (colored).
1917 War Organizations-Red Cross, Hoffman Branch.
Total number of organizations in township is seven.
CHAPTER XXVIII .- MONTSERRAT TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION-GEOGRAPHY-SOIL-EARLY SETTLEMENTS-EARLY CHURCHES -EARLY CEMETERIES-EARLY MILL: GALLAHER'S MILL-EARLY SCHOOLS -JUSTICES-COUNTY OFFICERS-POPULATION-PERSONAL PROPERTY AND PRODUCTS-COUNTY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS-ORGANIZATIONS-MONTSER- RAT.
Montserrat township, the last political subdivision of Johnson county to be organized. was created by county court order of August 6, 1890. The territory comprising this township was taken chiefly from the town- ship of Washington and a small portion from the townships of Simpson and Grover.
Geography .- Area, about 41 square miles, or 26,240 acres. Geo- graphically, Montserrat township is composed of the body of upland, lying between the two streams of Clear Fork and Bear creek, as both flow north toward Blackwater. According to the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture's Soil Survey of 1914, the north third of this upland is smooth "black limestone" soil (Summit silt loam), extending from Montserrat town north to Blackwater bottom. The south two-thirds are chiefly broken ridges of "sandy" soil ( Boone silt loam), with strips and patches of Summit silt loam, Crawford silt loam ("red limestone" soil) and Oswego silt loam (gray soil).
Soil .- The township's soils in detail are:
Boone silt loam, upland, of sandstone origin : about 221/2 square miles or 55 per cent. of the township: the largest proportion of this soil of any township in the county. It lies over the whole township. but chiefly in the south two-thirds.
Summit silt loam, upland : about 81/4 square miles or 20 per cent. It lies chiefly in the north third of the township.
Crawford silt loam, upland: about 11/2 square miles or 4 per cent. It lies chiefly in a quarter mile wide strip, running about one mile north from Bristle Ridge store (which is one-third of a mile west of the south- east corner of section 3, township 45, range 27), and in a slightly nar- rower strip running from one-half mile southeast of Montserrat town southwesterly about 3 miles.
296
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Oswego silt loam, upland; about 11/4 square miles or 3 per cent. It lies in an irregular strip about one-quarter mile wide running from one- quarter mile south of Bristle Ridge store, south about two miles.
Osage silt loam, the ordinary bottom; about 6 square miles or 15 per cent. It lies chiefly along Clear Fork in the southeast and Bear creek in the northwest.
Chariton silt loam, second bottom ; about three-quarters square mile or 2 per cent .; lies in a body one-half mile wide and about one mile long, north and south on west side of Clear Fork, running north from where public road crosses Clear Fork about one and a quarter miles northeast of Montserrat.
Miscellaneous, chiefly upland; 1 per cent. This is chiefly Boone gravelly loam (rough and gravelly) joining the east side of the Craw- ford silt loam strip by Montserrat and joining both sides of the Craw- ford strip by Bristle Ridge store. Aggregates about three-quarters square mile.
Of the foregoing the Summit silt loam and Crawford silt loam are ranked in the best three common upland soils of the county.
For further soil details see chapters on Agriculture and Soils.
Early Settlements .- One of the first settlers in what is now Mont- serrat township was John Mayes. He was a Pennsylvanian, born in that state December 19, 1791, and in early life removed with his parents, to Virginia and later to Kentucky. He settled at what is now Mont- serrat town in 1835. No improvements had been made in this section of the country up to that time and even the county had not been organized. He remained here about three years, during which time this county was organized and the county seat located at Warrensburg. In 1838 he went to Warrensburg, where he operated a wool-carding machine for a time, and also conducted a hotel. In 1840 he returned to Montserrat township, where he spent the remainder of his life and died March 4, 1881. County Judge J. B. Mayes and A. S. Mayes, both deceased, were his sons, and Mayor William J. Mayes and Presi- dent F. A. Mayes, of the Commercial Bank, are grandsons. He was one of the substantial citizens of that section of the county which now comprises Montserrat township and had much to do with the develop- ment of this part of the county.
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