History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 28

Author: Cockrell, Ewing
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Topeka, Kan. : Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1234

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Practically all the type is under cultivation. It was originally prairie and was very rich in organic matter when first cultivated, owing to the heavy growth of prairie grasses that had covered it.

Owing to the plastic character of the subsoil, this type is rather cold and wet in the spring, and on this account the seeding of crops is frequently delayed. While most of the type is in fair physical condi- tion, continuous cropping without adequate provision for the mainten- ance of the organic matter has brought about a condition of poor tilth and a decrease in crop yields on many farms.

Summit Silty Clay Loam .- In its typical development the surface soil of the Summit silty clay loam is a dark-gray to blackish silty clay loam, black when wet. This grades at about 15 to 18 inches into a drab to grayish-brown clay. In many places the type occurs in narrow strips at the foot of elevations, sometimes extending considerable distances up the slopes. Usually such areas are poorly drained, and the soil approaches a clay loam in texture, frequently being referred to as "gumbo" land.

Pettis Series .- The soils of the Pettis series are brown to dark brown in color. These soils are residual from shales and the topog- raphy is smooth to undulating. One type, the Pettis silt loam, is recog- nized in Johnson county.

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

Pettis Silt Loam .- The Pettis silt loam typically is a very dark brown to black, mellow silt loam to a depth of about 18 inches, below which it grades into a slightly heavier silt loam of dark reddish brown color. At 25 inches the subsoil is a brown silt loam to silty clay loam, which continues to a depth of 36 inches, becoming slightly heavier in the lower part of the three-foot section. It occupies the level tops of ridges, the topography being more rolling than that of the Summit silt loam. This type differs from the Summit silt loam in having a much more friable subsoil and a lighter color. The type is spoken of locally as "mulatto land." It is considered one of the most productive soils in the county. Its deep, porous nature makes it especially drought resistant, and it is easily maintained in a condition of good tilth.

Crawford Series .- The Crawford series comprises residual lime- stone soils of the prairie regions. They are derived from limestones, often with more or less material from shales. In this county only two members of the series are recognized, the Crawford silt loam and stony loam.

Crawford Silt Loam .- The Crawford silt loam consists of a red or reddish-brown to brown silt loam, underlain at depths of 12 to 18 inches by a reddish-brown silty clay loam. At a depth of about 27 inches the subsoil grades into a red, crumbly clay, which extends to a depth of 36 inches or more. In places along slopes bedrock is encountered within the three-foot section.

This soil is found in practically all parts of the county, but there are no extensive single areas. It occurs on the tops of ridges underlain by limestones.

Crawford Stony Loam .- The surface soil of the Crawford stony loam is a dark reddish brown loam, usually extending to a depth of about six inches. The subsoil is a reddish-brown to red clay extending to a depth of 36 inches or more or to the underlying limestone.

The Crawford stony loam occurs along steep slopes and along the outcrop of the Bethany Falls limestone in the western part of the county and that of the Henrietta limestone through the eastern part of the county.

Most of the type is unfit for cultivation, but much of it supports a good growth of bluegrass and makes good pasture land.

Boone Series .- The soils of this series are of residual origin, being derived from sandstones and shales. principally of Carboniferous age.

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The topography is rolling to steeply sloping. The Boone soils are closely associated with the Bates, but differ from them in containing less organic matter and in being consequently lighter in color. In this county three types of this series are mapped-the Boone silt loam, fine sandy loam, and gravelly loam.

Boone Silt Loam .- The Boone silt loam consists of a grayish-brown silt loam, underlain at a depth of 5 or 6 inches by a layer of gray silt loam. At 15 to 18 inches a yellow-gray to grayish-brown silty clay loam is encountered, and this grades at about 25 inches into a friable clay. This soil is quite variable in texture, especially where it grades into the fine sandy loam.

The Boone silt loam has a wide distribution, occurring along all the streams of the county. It is extensively developed from the vicin- ity of Warrensburg to Knob Noster and Henrietta. The topography is rolling to hilly along some of the streams, notably along Clear creek.

All of this type was originally covered with a forest growth. It is estimated that about 85 per cent. of the type is in cultivation, the remainder being in forest and pasture.

While the type is of lower agricultural value than the soils of the Summit, Pettis, and Crawford series, it can easily be improved. It is naturally low in organic matter and is greatly benefited by the plow- ing under of stable manure or leguminous crops, such as clover, soy beans, and cowpeas, and by applications of ground limestone.

Boone Fine Sandy Loam .- Typically the Boone fine sandy loam is a yellowish-gray to yellowish-brown fine sandy loam, underlain at about 18 inches by a loam stratum, below which the soil usually is a yellowish-brown sandy clay loam, becoming slightly heavier with depth and having a reddish shade in places.

This soil has its most extensive development in a belt about three miles wide extending from Fayetteville to Post Oak. It occurs along the slopes of streams running through the Warrensburg sandstone area.

Most of this soil is in cultivation. It is deficient in organic mat- ter, and less productive than the heavier soils. It is warm and porous, however, and with liberal applications of manure, or with crop rota- tions including leguminous crops, produces good yields of small fruits and fair yields of corn and wheat.

Boone Gravelly Loam .- The surface soil of the Boone gravelly loam is a yellowish-gray silt loam to silty clay loam, carrying about 10

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

to 20 per cent. of gravel derived from shales. It is underlaid by a clay loam to clay, generally of a grayish to mottled yellow and gray color.

This type occurs principally in the section to the south of Mont- serrat, occupying steep slopes along the creeks and ravines. It sup- ports a good growth of grass. Little of the type can be cultivated, on account of its rough topography. It is of practically no agricultural importance.

Bates Series .- The soils of the Bates series are dark gray. The series is of residual origin, and is derived from sandstone and shale with interbedded limestones. The soils of this series are distinguished from those of the associated Oswego series by their pervious subsoils and from the Boone series by the darker color of the surface soils. In Johnson county the series is represented by a single type, the Bates silt loam.

Bates Silt Loam .- The Bates silt loam is typically a dark grayish brown to black silt loam, grading at about 15 inches into a brown to grayish-brown silty clay loam mottled with yellow. The subsoil below about 25 inches is a brown to yellow-brown silty clay loam or clay loam, with yellow and red spots in the lower part of the 3-foot section.

The type has its most extensive distribution in the vicinity of Leeton and Chilhowee. Its topography, except along the slopes of creeks, is smooth to rolling. It is one of the most productive in the county when properly managed. The subsoil is such that the type is especially drought resistant, and the material is sufficiently porous to permit an extensive root development. Excepting the Pettis and Craw- ford silt loams, this type has the best physical structure of any residual soil in the county. Its organic-matter content on many farms is rather low, however, owing to the continuous production of grain crops with- out adequate provision for the supplying of manure to the land.

Oswego Silt Loam .- The soil of the Oswego silt loam is a dark- gray to grayish-brown silt loam, which becomes somewhat lighter in color at a depth of about 10 inches. At about 15 inches a chocolate- brown to drab-colored, heavy silty clay loam is encountered, and at 18 to 27 inches the subsoil is a brownish to drab. impervious, heavy clay which becomes mottled yellow, gray, and brown in color. When dry the surface soil is light gray. The soil is very deficient in organic matter and of low moisture-holding capacity.

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The Oswego silt loam has an extensive distribution in the extreme southeastern part of the county. The topography varies from flat to gently undulating. Subdrainage is generally deficient, owing to the impervious character of the subsoil, which in places approaches the structure of hardpan, and crops suffer from drought. Much of the type is locally called "hardpan land."

Cherokee Silt Loam .- The Cherokee silt loam is light brown to brown in color with gray subsurface material. The subsoil, beginning abruptly at 12 to 20 inches, is a heavy, plastic clay. Below 24 to 30 inches the material is often lighter in both color and texture and more friable in structure.

The Cherokee silt loam is inextensive, occurring in the southeastern part of the county along Muddy creek and other small streams south- east of Knob Noster. The topography is smooth. The soil is poorly drained, owing to its subsoil structure and its topographic position. Most of it is in pasture. Its agricultural value is rather low.

Osage Series .- The Osage series consist of dark-gray to almost black soils composed of alluvial wash from the sandstone and shale soils of the prairie regions. Three types, the Osage silt loam, silty clay loam, and clay, are recognized in Johnson county.

Osage Silt Loam .- The Osage silt loam is variable in color and texture. Predominantly, it is a dark-gray to brownish-black, mellow silt loam to a depth of about 16 inches, below which the color is lighter gray to grayish drab. At about 20 inches the material is a silty clay loam, which grades below into a drab clay.

Along many small streams of the county this type has a surface layer of colluvial material from the Boone silt loam.

Along Blackwater creek, particularly north of Warrensburg, the soil below 12 inches is much heavier than usual, being a heavy silt loam. The subsoil of such areas usually is a drab-colored, tenacious clay to clay loam in the lower part of the three-foot section.

The material of the Osage silt loam consists of alluvium derived from the residual soils of the uplands. In areas of the Crawford and Boone soils the border of the bottom is usually marked by a sharp escarpment, whereas in areas of the Summit soils the rise from the valley to the upland is usually gradual.

The Osage silt loam occupies stream bottoms varying in width from a few rods to a mile or more. The topography is smooth.

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This soil is much more easily maintained in a productive condition than the upland types because of the deposition of material rich in plant food by the occasional overflows. The porous nature of the soil and subsoil favors good drainage and the soil is ready for cultivation soon after overflows. It is a better drained soil than either the Osage silty clay loam or clay.

The agricultural value of this type, as well as that of the other first-bottom soils, has been greatly enhanced in recent years by the construction of an extensive system of drainage ditches.

Osage Silty Clay Loan .- The surface soil of the Osage silty clay loam is a dark-gray to almost black silty clay loam, underlain at 18 to 20 inches by a drab to black clay loam, which changes into a drab. heavy, plastic clay in the lower part of the three-foot section. Brown and gray mottlings sometimes appear in the lower subsoil.

The type occurs in close association with the Osage silt loam. It is a first-bottom soil derived from the upland soils of the Summit. Bates, Oswego, Crawford, Pettis, and Boone series. It has its most extensive distribution along Big creek in the southwestern part of the county. although other important areas are found along Blackwater creek and other streams.

The type is generally best developed near the outer margin of the bottoms. Although its position is lower than that of the silt loam, the difference in elevation is not marked by terraces; the slope to the silt loam is almost imperceptible.

The type is subject to overflow from the streams along which it occurs. It is not so well drained as the silt loam, and on account of . its heavier texture is not so easily worked. It is greatly benefited by fall plowing and the incorporation of large quantities of organic matter.

Osage Clay .- The Osage clay consists of a black, heavy, plastic clay or clay loam, grading at about 12 inches into a bluish-black to drab- colored plastic clay, which continues throughout the three-foot section. It has been formed by deposition from overflows and backwater, the currents of which carry only the clay and finer silt particles.

This type is inextensive and occupies depressed areas in the bot- toms of Big creek and Blackwater creek, which usually occur away from the channels of the streams at the foot of the upland.

Chariton Silt Loam .- Typically, the Chariton silt loam is a dark- gray to black silt loam, underlain at about 12 inches by a grayish-brown

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silt loam to silty clay loam, which grades at a depth of about 18 inches into a dark-grayish or brownish-drab mottled with brown, compact silty clay loam or clay.

The Chariton silt loam is a terrace or second-bottom soil occurring along the various creeks of the county, and occupying former flood plains of the streams. The largest area of the type occurs along Black- water creek, in the extreme northeastern part of the county. Many smaller areas occur in other sections. The topography is flat. The type has an elevation generally of 15 to 20 feet above the level of the first bottom, and only a small part of it is subject to overflow. In some places, however, the difference in elevation is not over 5 or 6 feet as shown at the margin of the terrace.

This soil is very productive, and more drought resistant than the upland types. With proper management, including the frequent work- ing of the surface soil in order to conserve the moisture, this type is easily maintained in a high state of productiveness.

Robertsville Silt Loam .- The soil of the Robertsville silt loam is an ashy-gray silt loam, grading at a depth of about 15 inches into a grayish-brown, compact silty clay loam. At about 25 inches a brown- ish, heavy, plastic clay, containing mottlings of gray and yellow, is encountered.

This is a terrace or second-bottom soil occurring along the creeks of the county. It usually occupies a lower level than the Chariton soils. Parts of it are subject to occasional overflow. It is derived from wash from the upland soils and, like the associated Chariton series, repre- sents abandoned flood plains.

The topography is flat, except where there are slight undulations that represent old stream or overflow channels. Most of the type is poorly drained, and the establishment of artificial drainage is difficult.

The Summit and Pettis soils, derived from shale and limestone, represent the black prairie soils. They include the best land in the county. are very productive, and are suited to all the staple crops, of which corn, wheat, and grass are the most important.

The Crawford soils comprise the red limestone land. and are char- acterized by their reddish color and mellow structure. They are natur- ally productive, and well adapted to wheat, clover, and fruit.

Shale and sandstone give rise to the Boone and Bates series. These

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

soils are used for the production of staple crops, but require careful farming in order to produce large yields.

The Oswego and Cherokee soils, derived from shale, are charac- terized by light-colored surface soils and compact subsoils. They are somewhat inferior agriculturally to the black prairie soils.

The lowland or alluvial soils are composed of alluvium from the uplands. They are grouped in three series, the Osage (first-bottom) soils and the Chariton and Robertsville (second-bottom) soils. The first-bottom soils are generally subject to overflow, but comprise some of the most productive land in the county. They are used largely for corn and grass. The second-bottom soils of the Chariton series are characteristically black as distinguished from the gray second-bottom soils included in the Robertsville series. The black soils are above ordinary high water and are highly productive. The gray soils are mostly above overflow. It requires more careful methods of manage- ment to maintain them in a productive state.

CHAPTER XXXVII .- CHURCHES.

CHRISTIAN-BAPTIST-METHODIST EPISCOPAL-BRETHREN-THE REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS-CUMBERLAND PRES- BYTERIAN-PRESBYTERIAN-METHODIST EPISCOPAL, SOUTH-CATHOLIC- MISCELLANEOUS-GERMAN LUTHERAN-NEGRO.

CHRISTIAN.

There are twelve churches in Johnson county, with about 2,122 members. There are thirteen Sunday Schools, with 1,230 members.

Mount Zion Christian church was organized May 31, 1840. The charter members were: Charles Thornton, George Thornton, Grandi- son Thornton, Mary Thornton, M. G. Thornton, Theodocia Thornton, Nancy L. Thornton, James W. Jones, Margaret Jones, Larkin Hocker, Eliza Jane Hocker, A. W. Huff, Lucy B. Fuqua, Ann Eastham, Sarah Eastham, Nancy Vigus, Elizabeth Tebbs, and two colored men-Charles Thornton's Andrew and James W. Jones' Joseph. In 1845, there were upward of one hundred communicants. About 1850, the church build- ing became unsuitable for use and this congregation and the Baptist worshipped in a house, partly log and partly frame, until 1858, when the Mount Zion church building was erected. Some of the early minis- ters were: Thomas Mulkey, Thomas McBride, Duke Young, Elder Price, Allen Wright, Thomas Hancock, James Randall, C. A. Hedrick. B. C. Stephens, and Samuel McDaniel. Since 1881 the ministers are as follow: J. B. Wright, J. C. Reynolds, Adam Wright, J. H. Crutcher. Phil Stark, "Old Brother Stark," C. W. West, W. M. Thomas, W. S. Trader, L. B. Coggins, Rev. Heins, J. W. Fewel, R. M. Shelton, A. E. Hervey, and R. E. Alexander. The present membership is 155. There has been a Sunday School in connection with the church since 1881, the attendance averaging sixty members.

The Christian church at Fayetteville was organized about 1842. A frame building was erected in 1846. The following is a list of the pastors: Hiram Bledsoe, James Randall, D. M. Grandfield, G. W. Longan, William Jarrett, G. R. Hand, William Roe, C. A. Hedrick, and Samuel McDaniel. The church was reorganized probably in 1876 with

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the following charter members: William Trapp, John Trapp, Jesse Trapp. M. Trapp, Thomas Collins, Elijah Young, John Seigfield, Hiram Kelso, William Jones, William Lemmon, Samuel Guinslead, Noah Dyer. The present membership is fifty. The superintendent of the Sunday School is Elmer Pollock. There are thirty members.

Warrensburg Christian church. (By Mrs. Virginia Gilkeson Hedges). The organization of the Christian church in Warrensburg was effected in 1855. This congregation built a large brick church structure in 1859. During the Civil War the members were scattered. A. H. Gilkeson and J. P. Henshaw were among the few remaining together, who, with others, who moved here after the war, met at the home of A. H. Gilkeson. January 11. 1866, and reorganized. A. H. Gilkeson bought and donated a lot on the south side of Gay street. It was during the pastorate of J. A. Lord, that the building now owned and occupied was built. It was dedicated January 12, 1890. W. L. Hedges was chairman of the official board and of the soliciting com- mittee and he, A. C. Griggs and A. H. Gilkeson led in the work of raising funds for the new building. The following pastors have served this church: David Nation, George W. Longan, John R. Reavis, J. M. Lennison. J. W. Monser. Joseph H. Foy, J. H. Hughes, John A. Brooks, J. A. Lord, S. M. McDaniel, A. W. Davis, J. J. Morgan, H. A. Denton, W. N. Briney, J. T. McGarvey, George B. Stewart, S. B. Moore, Charles A. Jackson. George E. Prewitt. the present pastor, has been serving since February 24. 1918. The present membership is nearly 700. The Bible School's enrollment is 400. Professor E. B. Brown is superintendent.

Holden Christian church. (By Mrs. Walter Wallace.) The First Christian church of Holden was organized February 9, 1869. The church building was erected in 1870 with the following charter mem- bers: Mr. and Mrs. J. W. C. Hulse, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Gaunt, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Mize, Mr. and Mrs. B. Hulett, Mrs. Pruitt, Robert Pruitt, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilkerson, Mrs. W. F. Flynn, Mrs. L. Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hulse, and Misses Mattie and Sallie Hulse. The ministers have been: G. W. Longan. Elder Smart, James Randall, J. A. Lord, A. F. Smith, F. E. Meigs. Elder Mitchell. S. G. Clay, D. C. Peters, J. W. Boulton. H. F. Burns, S. H. Givelor, R. H. Murphy, George E. Dew. F. H. DeVol, Dean W. H. Llamon. H. L. Davenport, G. S. Birkhead. B. D. Gillispie began his work with this church in January,

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1917. There are 280 members of the church.

Knob Noster Christian church. (By W. C. Knaus.) The Chris- tian church was organized at Knob Noster in 1866 by Elder James A. Randall. The first church building was erected in 1870, in spite of embarrassing difficulties. The charter members were: Dr. J. H. Warren, Sarah Warren, George Courtney, Sarah Courtney, Polly A. Carpenter, Colonel R. Wells, Lucinda McAdoo, Sarah Wells, Margaret Oglesby, Mrs. M. Southey, Margaret Carpenter, Sophia Knaus, W. C. Knaus, W. D. Carpenter, and Adam Carpenter. The ministers have been: J. H. Randall, O. Spencer, C. A. Hedrick, Robert Dorsey. Charles Laycock, J. H. Vance, John Claypool, A. Stirling. The present pastor, in 1918, is J. M. Harris. Sunday School was organized in 1881 with Mr. Schultz as superintendent. A. M. Craig is now superintendent and the enrollment is 160. The church membership is 307. The church at Knob Noster experienced many bitter and trying trials in the early days and it was with much difficulty a church building was at last obtained. A brick structure, erected at a cost of $15,000. has supplanted the old frame house and the church is now in a most prosperous condition.

Prairie View Christian church was organized in 1872 and a church building was built very soon afterward and the original building is still occupied by this congregation. The chief organizers were: Marion Todd, Mr. and Mrs. John Barnett, Mr. and Mrs. Reavis, Mr. and Mrs. William Wiley, Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Marr, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Nash, Dr. Ward, and his son, James. The first minister was Reverend Marion Todd and the first services were held at Reavis school house. After Reverend Todd, the ministers were: George W. Longan, Ben Stephens, Blaylock, Burnett, Birge, Meigs, Reid, Creager. Garrett, Faught. Smith, Ford, Trundle. Coffee, Gilbert Park. G. W. Phillips, A. Stirling, J. W. Fewel, Allen Bridges, A. Stirling, C. W. West, R. Wilson, R. M. McCormick, Coggins, C. W. West, Kinney. R. M. McCormick,-the last named being the present pastor, in 1918. The first Sunday School was held in 1884 and 1885. The present enroll- ment is forty-two and the church membership is fifty-eight.

Cedar Grove Christian church. (By N. T. Collins.) The Chris- tian church at Cedar Grove was organized in 1874. The organizers were: Reverend N. M. Hendrickson, Noah T. Collins, and H. T. Anderson. The charter members were: Noah T. Collins, H. T. AAnder- son, Mrs. Martha Dalhouse, Mrs. Rebecca Buchanan, Warren Ander-

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son, Mr. and Mrs. James Matthews, and Mrs. Nancy Myers. The min- isters have been: Reverend Meigs. Reverend Dawson, Reverend Jarrett, E. Wilkes, J. E. DeJarnett, W. W. Blaylock, Robert Howell. Alonzo Stirling, Ollie Davis, J. I. Orrison, Ed. Wilkes, L. B. Coggins, J. E. DeJarnett. L. B. Coggins, Charley West, and Egan Herndon, the last named having been pastor from 1912 until the present time, in 1918. and is still serving this congregation. The present church structure was erected in 1883 and dedicated in June, 1884. There are now 107 members of this church.

Valley City (formerly Mount Hermon) Christian church was organized in 1878 by C. A. Hedrick. Some of the first members were: George Marshall and family, W. S. Foster and family, Mr. and Mrs. Isham, F. Tammer, A. J. Bozarth and family, and William Foster (the last named a colored man). The ministers since 1901 have been: C. W. West, Alva Blaylock, A. Stirling. J. H. Shelton. The present pastor is C. W. West and the church membership is now 150. Some of the Sunday School superintendents have been: G. W. Shanton, Robert Willes, Mr. Wriston, and Martin Houston. The present Sunday school superintendent is Everett Davis and the enrollment at the time of this writing is seventy-five.

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History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 28

Author: Cockrell, Ewing Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Topeka, Kan. : Historical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1234

Author: Cockrell, Ewing
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Topeka, Kan. : Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1234