USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 44
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
of the pioneer mercantile establishments of Warrensburg, having con- tinued in business for the past thirty-five years. The Clark Brothers carry a complete line of the best quality of men's, women's, and chil- dren's shoes and they are enjoying an excellent patronage. The stock is always kept up-to-date and in splendid condition and the word of a Clark is as good as gold.
November 26, 1900, Harry T. Clark was united in marriage at Westport near Kansas City, Missouri with Laura C. Orr, the daughter of J. P. and Utilda Orr, of Holden, Missouri. J. P. Orr was a prominent and able attorney of Holden, Missouri. Both parents of Mrs. Clark are now deceased and their remains rest in the cemetery at Holden. To Harry T. and Laura C. (Orr) Clark have been born two children, both daughters: Vera, who was born January 27, 1902; and Laura, who was born May 17, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are held in the highest esteem in Johnson county and they are numbered among the best and most respected families in Warrensburg. The Clark home is located at 309 North Maguire street.
Elmer J. Ozias, a well-known farmer and stockman of Centerview township, commissioner and president of the "From County Seat to County Seat Highway Association," is one of six children born to his parents, J. A. and Lavina Ozias, four of whom are now living: Mrs. Will DeLaney, Centerview; Elmer J., the subject of this review; J. R., Centerview; and A. W., Centerview. The Ozias family came to this county from Ohio, to which state they had moved from Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Ozias came to Missouri with their family in 1866 and settled in Centerview township. He engaged in general farming and stock raising and became very prosperous and influential, owning at one time one thousand acres of land in Johnson county. Mr. Ozias died in 1914 and since his death his widow has made her home with her son, J. R., on the farm north of Centerview.
Elmer J. Ozias was born in Ohio May 8, 1862 and at the age of four years came to Johnson county with his parents. He was reared and educated in Centerview township. From boyhood, he has been interested in farming and stock raising and until he was twenty-one years of age, he remained on the homestead with his parents. At that time, he purchased his first farm of two hundred sixty-five acres of good crop-producing soil, from his father and on which he engaged in rais- ing grain and stock, including hogs, mules, cattle, and horses. Mr. Ozias
ELMER J. OZIAS.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
has from the beginning followed the plan of buying a large herd of cattle in the autumn of each year and feeding them through the winter. At the present time, he has nearly two hundred head of Duroc Jersey hogs. He harvested two hundred twenty-five tons of hay, one thousand two hundred sixty bushels of wheat, five hundred bushels of oats, and in addition had one hundred seventy-five acres of the farm in corn in 1917. Mr. Ozias has sown one hundred fifty acres of the place in wheat this autumn. The Ozias farm now embraces five hundred fifty acres in Johnson county and all the splendid improvements now on the farm he has placed there. When he bought the land there were no improve- ments on it. He has built a modern residence of ten well-lighted and airy rooms, supplied with hot and cold water and all the latest conveniences of a city honic. It is finished with hardwood floors and well heated and lighted throughout. There are four large, well con- structed barns on the farm and other buildings in keeping. In 1916, Mr. Ozias erected a mammoth concrete silo, having a capacity of three hundred seventy tons, ninety feet high, and fourteen feet in diameter, built of reinforced concrete. This silo is probably the best in this part of the country and it has been visited by hundreds of people, who have climbed to the top in order to obtain the wonderful view of the sur- rounding country, which can be had there. From the first, Mr. Ozias has prospered and he has richly merited all the success that has come to him. He still resides in his handsome country home but with his Buick car the city is but a few moments ride from his residence and thus he has all the advantages of the city near at hand while he enjoys the peace and freedom of the country.
In 1909, E. J. Ozias was united in marriage with Bessie Henderson. daughter of W. N. Henderson. of Coffeyville. Kansas. Mrs. Ozias is president of the Home Makers' Club and her home is the center of the social life of their community. She was the organizer of this club. which first 'met about a year ago, the object of which is the mutual benefit and improvement of its members and to study how to make the home and its occupants better and happier. Contests in cooking are frequently a part of the programme. after which the men, guests of the, club, are expected to eat the results of all the experiments. At different times practical demonstrations of the art of cookery have been given before the club by members of the faculty of the State Uni- versity, who have charge of the Home Economics work in that institu-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
tion. At all meetings, a literary programme is given and on special occasions guests are invited and games and a dance are given, to which social events the young people look eagerly forward. There is a fine dance hall in the Ozias home and often a crowd of Warrensburg peo- ple, with whom Mr. and Mrs. Ozias have a wide acquaintance, spend the evening enjoying a delightful dance at the Ozias country home. On last Fourth of July, two hundred guests partook of their hospitality and all seemed to have a very happy time. Mr. and Mrs. Ozias are probably doing more to make home life in the country attractive than any other family in this part of Missouri and there is no more popular family in this county than the Ozias family.
Mr. Ozias has spent much time and considerable money in promot- ing good roads and is especially active in the building the Southern Highway from Kansas City to St. Louis. He is president of the High- way Commission of the County Seat to County Seat Highway, con- necting all county seats adjoining with Warrensburg. He assisted in laying out all the connecting highways. He is a Democrat in politics and is active in political affairs, one of the leaders, and is treasurer and member of the Democratic County Central Committee. He is a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. and Mrs. Ozias are members of the Progressive Dunkard church.
Dougald Steele, of Warrensburg. could well have served as inspiration for Longfellow's immortal poem, "The Village Black- smith," for he was Warrensburg's blacksmith more than a quarter of a century ago. He was born in Scotland in 1848, the son of Alex and Catherine (Morrison) Steele, and came when eight years of age with his parents to Canada, where they located in 1856 in Glencoe. His mother died in Canada and the father, after remaining twelve years in America, returned to Scotland, where his death occurred. Alex and Catherine (Morrison) Steele were the parents of the following chil- dren : Donald, who died in Canada: Michael, who died in Canada: Mrs. Charlotte Gorman, who died at Hillman. Michigan, where her husband. John Gorman, was judge of Montmorency county for twenty-five years: and Dougald. the subject of this review.
Dougald Steele received his education in the schools of Canada. At the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed to a blacksmith in Canada, whom he served three years, receiving for his services only his food and clothing. When eighteen years of age he had learned the
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
blacksmith's trade, and in those days the blacksmith was obliged to make both his nails and horseshoes. In 1866 Dougald Steele left Canada and located in Pennsylvania, where he remained one year. He went from Pennsylvania to Saginaw, Michigan and for three months was fireman on one of the lake steamers, when he left Michigan and went to Illinois, remaining there one year. In 1869 Mr. Steele came to Missouri and located temporarily at St. Joe, coming from that place to Warrensburg in the fall of 1869. For two years Mr. Steele worked at his trade in the employ of J. K. Miller, a pioneer blacksmith of Warrensburg. Four years prior to opening his own blacksmith shop. Dougald Steele was employed in the stone quarry. He opened his first shop on the present site of Magnolia Mills and later moved to his present location, where he has been for the past thirty-five years, at 143 West Pine street in Warrensburg. Mr. Steele has carried implements in addition to doing the work of the shop and nine years ago he sold his forge and blacksmith business and now continues the implement business alone. In addition to his store building Mr. Steele owns his residence, rental property. and several lots in Warrensburg.
In 1870. Dougald Steele was united in marriage with Anna Baylers. and to them were born three children: Dougald. Jr., salesman for the International Harvester Company at Topeka, Kansas, who first mar- ried Bernice Higgins, now deceased, and he has remarried: Lula, who is the wife of George Wyatt, of Adrian, Missouri; and Edna, who is a graduate of the Warrensburg High School. the Warrensburg State Normal School, and the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri. and is now engaged in teaching in the Warrensburg High School. Mr. and Mrs. Steele reared and educated children of whom to be proud. Mrs. Steele died in December. 1906.
Mr. Steele is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with whom he affiliated thirty-three years ago. He is also a member of the Royal Arch and the Blue Lodge.
W. S. Clark, president of the Warrensburg Wholesale Grocery Company and vice-president of the Commercial Bank of Warrens- burg, was born March 15, 1865 in Warrensburg. He is the son of H. F. and Rosetta (Goff) Clark, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. H. F. Clark is an ex-mayor of Warrensburg and an esteemed pioneer of Johnson county. He was born in 1836 in Virginia and in 1861 was united in marriage with Rosetta Goff in Muskingum county. Ohio, and
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
to them were born the following children: John, who was a pharmacist in Warrensburg, and is now deceased; Rose, the wife of Ed Bradshaw, a broker of New York City; Mary, who died in girlhood; Stanton, who was a pharmacist at Norman, Oklahoma and died at the age of twenty-three years ; two children died in infancy; H. C., who is engaged in the mercantile business in Warrensburg; W. S., the subject of this review; and Mrs. Charles Houx, wife of a well-known and leading stockman of Johnson county. Mrs. Clark's death occured in 1907 and she was laid to rest in the cemetery at Warrensburg. H. F. Clark now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Charles H. Houx.
W. S. Clark attended the public schools of Warrensburg and the Warrensburg State Normal School. After leaving school Mr. Clark engaged in the shoe business in partnership with his brother, on Holden street in Warrensburg. For a few years, he was employed as travel- ing salesman for the Standard Shoe Company of St. Louis, Missouri. W. S. and H. C. Clark were in business together for twenty-five years, when W. S. Clark accepted his present position with the Warrensburg Wholesale Grocery Company six years ago. For the past fifteen years he has been a director of the Commercial Bank of Warrensburg and vice-president of that institution for the past two years.
November 27, 1890, W. S. Clark was united in marriage with Hattie Holliday, the daughter of Thomas G. and Auline (Phillips) Holliday, of Paris, Missouri. Auline (Phillips) Holliday is a sister of Colonel John F. Phillips, ex-United States District Judge of Kansas City, Missouri and a half-sister of Clay C. Arnold, now deceased, for- merly a Kansas City, Missouri druggist, who was president of the election board of Kansas City under the administration of Governor Stevens, a member of the district board and a director of the National Bank of Commerce of Kansas City. Both parents of Mrs. Clark are now deceased. To W. S. and Hattie (Holliday) Clark has been born one child, a daughter, Marian, who is a graduate of the Warrensburg State Normal School and a graduate from the State University of Missouri at Columbia, where she is specializing in History and Languages.
The Warrensburg Wholesale Grocery Company was organized in 1901 and incorporated November 9, 1904 by J. J. Lobban and the store was first located on North Holden street in Warrensburg. This mam- mothi institution, with more than three thousand feet of floor space,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
is a business concern in which the people of Warrensburg feel a special pride. The organizer, James L. Lobban, was one of the hustling young men, who was reared in Warrensburg and with a vision which would have placed him in the front ranks in Kansas City or St. Louis, began the wholesale business in a country town, having but one railroad as an outlet, and in a remarkably short time saw his mercantile venture grow by leaps and bounds. His untimely death in February, 1905, at the age of forty-two years, was the source of deepest regret to the people of this community, who admired and respected him greatly for his aggressive, undaunted spirit, intense enthusiasm, marked capabili- ties, and manly character. The present officers of the company are keeping the pace set by J. J. Lobban and under the management of W. S. Clark the business has made steady and healthy growth. He gives it the closest and most careful attention at all times. The officers at the time of incorporation were: H. T. Clark, president; Mrs. Lulu Lobban, vice-president and W. S. Clark, secretary, treasurer and manager.
Mrs. Nancy B. (Warren) Thomson, one of Johnson county's pioneer women, was born March 6, 1848 in Warrensburg township. She is the daughter of Thomas C. and Elizabeth (Reavis) Warren, the former, a native of Kentucky and the latter, of Boone county. Missouri. To Thomas C. and Elizabeth (Reavis) Warren were born the following children: Mrs. R. M. Box, Lamar, Missouri; Dr. James T., a graduate in the old College of Medicine at Philadelphia. after graduating at St. Louis in 1869. valedictorian of his class, who was a prominent physician near Rich Hill, Missouri. where he was engaged in the practice of medicine, and at Lone Jack, in all for forty-nine years, and widely known as one of the best read and most thoroughly posted men of his profession, his death occurring in 1916: Mrs. Martha Prigmore, Sweetsprings, Missouri: Mrs. Nancy B. Thomson, the sub- ject of this review; Mrs. Angeline Thomson, deceased; Mrs. Caroline Ashley, deceased : Mrs. Frances Yardley, who died at Lamar, Missouri; Mrs. Emma Cones, who died at Lamar, Missouri: Mrs. Ella Carter, deceased; Mrs. Laura Roark, Mountain View, Oklahoma: Mrs. Mary Tuck, Houstonia, Missouri: Mrs. Ida May Thomson, Lamar, Missouri; and Thomas, Jr., Sedalia, Missouri.
Thomas C. Warren, the father of Mrs. Nancy B. Thomson, was
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
born in Kentucky in 1805. He came to Missouri with his father, Martin Warren, and they settled on a farm in Johnson county, land which is now the site of the city of Warrensburg. This city was named in honor of Martin Warren. Their home was the home now occupied by Miss Grover and her brother, who are engaged in the real estate business in Warrensburg. Martin Warren was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. His death occurred in Warrensburg and his remains were interred in the Warrensburg cemetery. His son, Thomas C., was a prosperous farmer residing on the Cliff Baile farm, which is located three miles south- east of Warrensburg. Thomas C. Warren was united in marriage with Elizabeth Reavis in 1841 and to them were born the thirteen children named in a preceding paragraph, and lived to see all the children grown, married, and all members of the Christian church. Mr. Warren sold his farm to James L. Hickman and moved to Pettis county, then to Cedar county, where his death occurred May 5, 1890. Four years later he was followed in death by his wife, who died February 13, 1894.
Nancy B. (Warren) Thomson received her education in a "sub- scription school" in Johnson county. There were no public schools in this section of the country until after the Civil War. The school was held in an old log house, having puncheon benches and floor. There were no bells in those days but the "master," as the teacher was called, would call the children from play at recess time by shouting, "Books." Educational advantages were few and not easily obtained in the early days. In the pioneer homes, there was always much work that could be done by the older boys and girls and they were obliged to remain at home much of the time, when school was in session, which was only for a few months each year.
September 2, 1868, Nancy B. Warren and Clifton Thomson were united in marriage. Clifton Thomson was born in Pettis county, Mis- souri, a son of Milton Thomson. He was the great-grandson of. Gen. David Thomson, who was lieutenant-governor of Kentucky. Prior to coming to Missouri, Milton Thomson was engaged in farming on the Thomson homestead in Kentucky, where Generai Thomson is now buried. The old Kentucky home place of the Thomsons was near Georgetown, Kentucky, and when Milton Thomson came to Missouri in 1818 and settled in Pettis county, the town which grew from the settlement where he lived, was named Georgetown in honor of Milton
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HISTORY OF JOIINSON COUNTY
Thomson's old home. Gen. David Thomson was a veteran of the Revo- lutionary War. To Clifton and Nancy B. (Warren) Thomson were born the following children: R. M., who is a well-known and highly respected attorney at Ravenna, Nebraska: Mrs. J. W. Dunlap, Fort Worth, Texas; James R., who died in childhood at the age of three years; Clifton, Jr., who died in childhood at the age of four years ; Wil- liam, who died in infancy; Mrs. W. C. Barron, Kansas City, Missouri; W. F., who is a prominent merchant of Warrensburg, Missouri; Marian B., who died in childhood at the age of five years; and Frank J., who is a prosperous and influential banker of Kansas City, Missouri. Mrs. J. W. Dunlap, nee Grace E. Thomson. the oldest daughter of Mrs. Nancy B. Thomson, was born in Pettis county, Missouri. She was a graduate of the Warrensburg State Normal School, and for a number of years engaged in teaching in the public schools of Farmington. Mis- souri, and of Texas. She was united in marriage in 1899 with Prof. J. W. Dunlap, a distinguished professor of the state of Missouri, who filled various positions in the state as superintendent of schools and insti- tute instructor at St. Joe and Bethany, Missouri. Mr. Dunlap is at present engaged in the mercantile business in Fort Worth, Texas.
Mrs. Thomson has lived in Johnson county all her life and she has witnessed many changes in the county during the past half century. She possesses a remarkably retentive memory and a great fondness for history. Mrs. Thomson recalls that the city of Sedalia. Missouri, was named in honor of Mrs. Sarah E. Cotton, who is now eighty-six years of age and is residing in Sedalia. Mrs. Cotton was known famil- iarly as "Seddy" and the name "Sedalia" was derived from the "pet name." She is a first cousin of Mr. Clifton Thomson.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Thomson resided on a farm six miles west of Sedalia, Missouri, where they remained seven years. They then moved to a farm six miles northeast of Warrensburg. which was the Thomson home for nine years. From the place north- east of Warrensburg. the Thomsons moved to one just east of the city. where Mr. Thomson was engaged in farming for three years. About 1884, they moved to Warrensburg from the farm and Mr. Thomson entered the real estate and life insurance business in this city. He was a capable, industrious, highly esteemed citizen and his death in 1899 was the source of deepest regret in this community. His remains were interred in the Warrensburg cemetery.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
H. L. Pemberton, the widely known and prosperous farmer and stockman of Rose Hill township, is a member of a pioneer family of Johnson county. He was born August 29, 1858 in Johnson county, son of L. W. and Rebecca (Davis) Pemberton. The father was born in Virginia in 1819. L. W. Pemberton was a son of Henry Pemberton, who came to Missouri from Virginia in 1833 and settled on a vast tract of land comprising one thousand acres in Rose Hill township, which farm he purchased for twenty-five cents an acre. The elder Pemberton built a rude, primitive log cabin of three rooms, having an old-fashioned fireplace and chimney, and this was the Pemberton home for many years. He engaged in general farming and became well known as a very wealthy man for his time. His son, L. W., was at one time sent to Kentucky to settle an estate the father had there and the young man made the round trip on horseback. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Johnson county and he, too, became known as a very successful and enterprising farmer and stockman.
L. W. Pemberton bought the homestead from his father and was in turn an extensive landowner. He was a quiet, unobtrusive, but genial man, one who was strictly honorable and honest in all his deal- ings with his fellowmen and he was justly esteemed and popular throughout this section of Missouri. Several years prior to the Civil War, L. W. Pemberton was united in marriage with Rebecca Davis, of Virginia and to them were born two children: Mrs. Ella F. Wood, who is now deceased; and H. L., the subject of this review. The mother died in 1862 and the father in 1897. They were numbered among the county's most valued pioneer citizens.
Mr. Pemberton, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Pemberton and the sole survivor of his immediate family, was reared and educated in Johnson county. He attended the public schools of Rose Hill town- ship and in 1875 was a student at a select male school, which was taught by Professor George Catron, and later, in the Warrensburg city schools. He began life for himself engaged in farm work on his father's place and the first money he made was made in selling wheat for one dollar a bushel. Mr. Pemberton invested his savings in land, the first tract which he owned comprising one hundred fifteen acres for which he paid twenty-seven hundred dollars. He has maintained the unbroken record of his predecessors and has prospered. At one time, he was the owner
1. W. PEMBERTON.
H. L. PEMBERTON.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
of sixteen hundred acres of land in Johnson county and he has always had splendid success in stock raising. At the present time, he has ninety-three head of fine cattle. of the white face Hereford breed, and more than one hundred head of hogs. H. L. Pemberton now owns seven hundred acres of choice land. a well watered and equipped farm. He is a capable agriculturist. No machinery is ever seen standing out in the rain on the Pemberton place. Mr. Pemberton has a machine shop and he never fails to put the machinery away immediately when he has finished using it.
In 1884. H. L. Pemberton was united in marriage with Litey E. Baker, daughter of Nathaniel and Louisa (Scott) Baker, early settlers of Johnson county. Mrs. Pemberton and Mrs. Mary H. Arnold, of Kansas City. Missouri were sisters. To H. L. and Lucy E. (Baker) Pemberton were born four children: Lilly L., San Diego, California; Una. San Diego, California : Louisa, Kansas City, Missouri ; and Harry, Holden, Missouri. Mrs. Pemberton, the mother of his children, was burned to death and in January, 1913, he was again married. his sec- ond wife being Mrs. Clara Shoup, born in Franklin county, Missouri, a daughter of L. W. and Caroline (Lawson) Bird, natives of Tennessee, pioneers of Franklin county, came to Johnson county in 1891, both now deceased. By her first marriage with Richard Shoup she is mother of two sons: Marvin. and Mark, who are living with Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton. Mrs. Pemberton is a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Pemberton is an energetic poultry raiser and at the time of this writing. in 1917. has almost one thousand chickens. The Pembertons reside in the same home, where Mr. Pemberton first started keeping house thirty-three years ago. The beautiful maple trees which shade the lawn of the Pemberton home were planted by Mr. Pemberton in 1885.
When H. L. Pemberton was a youth, the country was unbroken prairie from his father's home to Holden and fences were few. Deer, prairie chickens, and wild ducks were here in abundance. Oxen were used to break sod. Mr. Pemberton states that in the spring of the year the roads became practically impassable. He has always been a firm advocate of good roads for he well knows the inconveniences and hard- ships imposed by bad ones. Mr. Pemberton has been an active worker in the Democratic party but he has never aspired to hold office.
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