USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 47
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
management since that time." A friendship between the two men was cemented by this talk and when Professor Osborn died no one felt the loss more keenly than did Ben T. Sams.
After leaving school, Mr. Sams was employed in a hardware store on Holden street, which store was owned by the firm, Magoon & Billingsley. He was associated in business with his father for one year and then, at the age of nineteen years, went on a ranch in Ver- non county, Missouri, with J. P. Christopher. They developed a splen- did farm from virgin prairie land and after two years Ben T. Sams purchased his partner's interest and for two and a half years was en- gaged in farming alone, when he sold the farm and returned to Warrens- burg. Mr. Sams entered the meat business with his father and he later formed a partnership with E. N. Warnick and engaged in the hard- ware business in 1890. The partnership was dissolved in 1902 and for several years Mr. Sams was connected with the Wholesale Grocery business in Warrensburg. He is now employed in looking after his farming interests, owning one farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hickory county, Missouri, one farm of two hundred acres in War- rensburg township, which is known as the Kelley place and an inter- est in two other farms.
May 20, 1882, Ben T. Sams and Roberta Whitfield were united in marriage. Roberta (Whitfield) Sams is the daughter of J. C. Whit- field and Jane ( Holt) Whitfield, both of whom are now deceased. The father died in Warrensburg and the mother in Bates county and both are buried in Bates county. To Mr. and Mrs. Sams has been born one child, a daughter, Myrtle Eleanor, the wife of Leslie L. Lob- han, of Warrensburg. Mr. and Mrs. Sams purchased their present home at 210 West Gay street in 1884, which is one of Warrensburg's beautiful, modern homes, surrounded by a well-kept lawn.
John H. Werling, the well-known grocer of Warrensburg, was born April 28, 1883, in Warrensburg. He is the son of John and Caro- line Werling, both natives of Germany. They immigrated to America in 1877 and located in Illinois, remaining there one year, when they moved to Missouri on a farm four miles southeast of Warrensburg. Mr. and Mrs. John Werling now reside in the city of Warrensburg at 607 East Grover street in the home which has been theirs for nearly twenty- nine years. To John and Caroline Werling have been born the fol- lowing children: Tracer, now deceased; Lizzie, wife of Harvey Eller,
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Warrensburg; John H., the subject of this review; Merritt, with his parents; Edward, married Clara Pouch, and resides in Warrensburg ; and Lawrence. married Mary Pouch, and resides in Warensburg.
John H. Werling attended the city schools of Warrensburg and at the age of eighteen years he began life for himself, in the dairy busi- ness. He was thus engaged for six years and then he learned the shoemaker's trade. Mr. Werling went to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, when the shoe factory of Warrensburg was moved to that place, and remained in that city one and a half years working at his trade. Later, he went to Texas, where he was engaged in the lumber business, having charge of the shipping yards of the C. R. Cummins Lumber Company for six years. In 1909, John H. Werling returned to Warrensburg and entered the grocery business, opening a store in the building, which he bought from N. H. Baxter, which was located at 501 East Market street. The business increased to such proportions that Mr. Werling was obliged to have a much larger building, which he built, and he now is the owner of one of the finest groceries in the city of Warrensburg. The building is a well-built structure, 25 x 50 feet, and the residence adjoining the store has a large concrete basement. which is used as a storage room.
April 20. 1904, John H. Werling was united in marriage with Minnie A. Maledon, daughter of Jacob and Lizzie Maledon, one of the honored pioneer families of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Jacob Maledon died January 24, 1905, and his widow now resides in Ft. Smith. Jacob and Mrs. Male- don were the parents of the following children: Mary, the wife of Hugh Seahorn, a prominent stockman of Holden, Oklahoma: Katie, a sister in St. Benedict's Convent at Clarksville, Arkansas: Ida, the wife of W. L. Glauser, who is foreman of the Southern Pacific machine shops at Houston, Texas: Andrew. employed by Pierce's shoe store at Ft. Smith, Arkansas: Carrie, married Monta Baxter and died June 24, 1895: Lena, the wife of Charles Hatfield, a well-known business man of Dumright. Oklahoma: Minnie A., wife of John H. Werling, the sub- ject of this review: Joe. unmarried, resides at Ft. Smith, Arkansas ; and Bessie, wife of George Harper. a car checker at Houston, Texas. To John H. and Minnie A. (Maledon) Werling have been born three sons: John. Jr .. Harry Lawrence, and Harvey Jacob. Both Mr. and Mrs. Werling are members of the Yeomen lodge. Mrs. Werling a mem- ber of the Knights and Ladies of Security and Mr. Werling a member of the Court of Honor.
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Mr. and Mrs. John H. Werling began business with limited capi- tal and Mr. Werling in very poor health. Mrs. Werling worked in the store and attended to her household duties and cared for their little ones and by careful management and cautious expenditure of their small resources, they in time gained a firm foothold in the mercantile world and began to prosper. Great credit and praise are due Mrs. Werling for her willing and splended assistance, without which all would have ended in failure. The Werling store is one of the best in Johnson county, the stock clean and nicely kept, and Mr. Werling is enjoying a large patronage of well pleased customers.
Thomas Alexander Patterson, Sr., retired farmer and stockman, is one of the oldest citizens if not the oldest citizen of Johnson county, one who has for many years been prominently identified with the varied interests of his community. Mr. Patterson, Sr. was born January 25, 1826 in North Carolina, a son of Joshua and Polly Patterson, who were highly respected among the best families of the early colonists.
Reared on a Southern plantation, the early life of T. A. Patterson, Sr. was marked by no wild, thrilling experiences. The daily routine of his life consisted in a round of honest, rugged toil, varied at intervals by attending such schools as the country at that time afforded. He grew to manhood sturdy and strong and with the earnestness of pur- pose characteristic of his pioneer ancestry. Mr. Patterson, Sr. began life in North Carolina with a determination to succeed if success could be obtained by hard work and conscientious, persistent effort. In 1860, he left the South and came to Missouri, locating in Johnson county. Nearly all his hard-earned savings were exhausted by the time he reached this state, and he began working as a hired laborer on the different farms for the mere pittance of five dollars a week. Mr. Pat- terson, Sr. from his boyhood days always made it a point to lay aside a part of his income, be it ever so small, and thus he always had a surplus, which, when the proper time came, he invested in farm land in Johnson county, land that increased in value in due time and made him a wealthy man. With his first savings he purchased a farm from Mr. Kertley, a place he sold shortly afterward and then bought two hundred ten acres of land and in 1867 purchased his present home place, and to these two farms constantly added additional tracts until at one time he was owner of six hundred acres of excellent farm land in John- son county. Mr. Patterson, Sr. has given tracts of land to his children
THOMAS ALEXANDER PATTERSON. SR .. AND MINERVA (POINDEXTER) PATTERSON.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
at different times and is now the owner of two hundred thirteen acres of his original holdings. At one time, he was one of the most extensive dealers in mules in this part of Missouri and he was widely known also as a successful stockman, a specialist in breeding and feeding Poland China hogs.
Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. Thomas A. Patterson, Sr. was employed as overseer by A. W. Reddings, a wealthy landowner of Johnson county, the proprietor of thousands of acres of land and a colony of slaves. Mr. Patterson was serving the government under a contract to carry the mail in his township and he was exempted from service in the army during the war. In 1863, he drove a herd of one hundred twenty-eight cattle into Lafayette county and there sold them, realizing a good profit. After the war had ended, Mr. Patterson, Sr. again resumed agricultural pursuits in Johnson county and in the years which followed became very prosperous and influential.
In 1868, T. A. Patterson, Sr., and Minerva Poindexter, of North Carolina, were united in marriage. To this union were born eight chil- dren, seven of whom are now living: James M .. Dodge City, Kansas; Mrs. Cornelia Hale, Kingsville, Missouri: Thomas A., Jr .; and John Edwin, who reside with their father and manage the home farm; Will- iam H., Kingsville, Missouri; Wiley R., a banker of Stillwell, Kansas; and Annise, Pleasant Hill. Missouri. The mother died in 1907 at the age of sixty-five years. She was born in 1842. She was a good, religious woman, faithful wife and kind mother, whose assistance to her hus- band was invaluable. She endured hardships with fortitude. She was born in Yadkin county, North Carolina, July 2, 1842 and died October 13. 1907. The "Pleasant Hill Times" has this tribute to her memory in its issue of November 22, 1907:
"She professed faith in Christ when a mere girl living in North Carolina. Coming to Missouri shortly after her marriage she at once united with the Elm Springs Baptist church and later became a charter member of the Forest Grove Baptist church. She lived a beautiful and devoted Christian life until she was called home at the age of sixty-five years, three months and eleven days to join a company of saints on the other side and received her crown of numberless stars.
"The beautiful funeral services were held at Elm Springs Baptist church by her pastor, Rev. C. P. Jones of Liberty, Missouri, after which she was laid to rest in the Elm Springs cemetery.
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"While in her earthly home she was a faithful wife and a sweet and devoted mother. Her home was ideal. It with her church and loved ones was the especial object of her love and care. In this home she was loved and trusted, honored and obeyed. Her children took the greatest possible delight in pleasing her, and precious in her memory is the thought that not one of them ever brought grief to her heart or life."
In former days, Thomas Alexander Patterson, Sr., was considered an expert and authority as a stockman. He was asked once to select from a large number of hogs enough which when sold would bring one thont- sand dollars. He made his selection. The hogs were sold and they brought the owner one thousand eight dollars. Besides an established reputation as an exceptional judge of livestock, Mr. Patterson was con- sidered one of the best and most intelligent wheat and corn producers in the state. His sons, Thomas A., Jr., and John Edwin, now manage the home place. They, too, are successful farmers and stock- men. This past season of 1917, they harvested eight hundred bushels of oats, ninety tons of hay, and have sixty head of cattle and twenty- five head of horses and mules on the farm at the time of this writing. Politically, the Patterson brothers are affiliated with the Republican party.
From a very humble beginning, by practicing prudence, industry, and thrift, T. A. Patterson, Sr. forged to the front among the most suc- cessful men of Johnson county. He has carved a name his sons may well be proud to bear. And now in the eventide of life, safely over the hilltop and bravely, cheerfully facing the Valley, T. A. Patterson, Sr. can cast a retrospective eye back over his active career and with complacency know that all that he is and all that he has is the well merited result of his own honest, honorable exertions. For ages the chivalry in battle and the clash of arms have been the themes of song and story, but the man who quietly remains in the humble walks of life, performing each day's duties the best he can, promoting the gen- eral welfare and prosperity by his individual efforts, is no less a hero than he who wins the Iron Cross on bloody battlefields. For more than a half century, the career of T. A. Patterson, Sr. has been insep- arably interwoven with the growth, development, and prosperity of Johnson county.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
John Frizzell Elliott (better known as "J. Lell Elliott"), proprietor of the "Walnut Hill Stock Farm," was born February 5, 1864, in Holmes county, Ohio, a son of Moses and Martha ( Frizzell) Elliott, the former, a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and the latter, of Maryland. Moses Elliott was born in 1826 and he was reared and educated in Holmes county. He was united in marriage with Martha Frizzell and to them were born the following children: Elmira, married James Reid, and they are both now deceased: Mary J., Warrensburg; James B., a sketch of whom appears in this volume: Emma, married Adolph Spiess, and is now deceased; John Frizzell, the subject of this review, and Martha A., wife of J. A. Statler, Akron, Ohio, who are twins; and Cora W. died in 1916. All the children of Moses and Martha Elliott were born in Holmes county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott moved from Ohio to Johnson county, Missouri, in 1872 and settled on a farm in Warrensburg township, which place is now owned by their son, James B. . Elliott. The death of the father occurred in the spring of 1895 and the mother died in 1909. The remains of both parents were interred in the ceme- tery at Warrensburg.
John F. Elliott attended the public school of Warrensburg and the Warrensburg State Normal School. His three sisters were teachers and both Emma and Cora were graduates of the Normal School. Cora Elliott was a graduate in the class of 1885 and Mrs. Adolph Spiess graduated prior to that date. All taught in their home district school, the Union Prairie district. Mr. Elliott remained at home with his par- ents until his marriage in 1897.
In 1897, John Frizzell Elliott and Anna Thompson were united in marriage. Mrs. Elliott was a student in the Warrensburg State Normal School at the time of her marriage. She is a graduate of the C course in that institution. Anna (Thompson) Elliott is the daughter of M. J. and Rhoda ( Hart ) Thompson. Mrs. Thompson was born in Cole county, Illinois, and is now deceased. Her death occurred in 1914 and inter- ment was made in Carthage cemetery. Mr. Thompson is a retired merch- ant, now residing in Joplin. Missouri. M. J. and Rhoda ( Hart ) Thompson were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary Belle Eckert, Wasco. California: Aura, who lives at home with her father: E. W .. Joplin, Missouri: and Edward, who was an engineer employed by the Missouri, Kansas & Topeka Railway Company, and in 1909 was acci- dentally killed at Chaffee. Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have been
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born three children: Ruth, James Elward, and J. Lell, Jr., all at home. Ruth is a student in the Normal School.
The "Walnut Hill Stock Farm," of which John F. Elliott is the owner, is a beautiful place, comprising two hundred acres of valuable land, forty acres of which are in timber and one hundred sixty acres of splendid, well-watered upland. Five acres of the farm are in alfalfa, which has a remarkable record of standing eight years. Many farmers in this section of the country have tried alfalfa and have failed. The "Walnut Hill Stock Farm" was formerly the James Shumate place. Mr. Shumate purchased the land from Mr. Adams, who entered it from the government. James Shumate came to Johnson county in the early thirties. About 1875, Moses Elliott purchased the farm from James Shumate and for nearly twenty years the place was known as the "Elliott Ranch" and the two boys, James B. and John F., were engaged in raising stock on the place, coming from their home two miles away to attend to their interests on the "Ranch". The present residence was built in 1897 and the three barns in 1897, 1904 and 1913. Mr. Elliott de- votes most of his attention to stock raising, handling for the past ten years purebred Shorthorn cattle for which he has ever found a ready market. Mrs. Elliott raises purebred Barred Plymouth Rock chickens. She has complete charge of the poultry industry on the "Walnut Hill Stock Farm" and her success is sufficient proof that the industry is in competent hands. Both Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are widely known and esteemed in Johnson county.
There is no better view of the surrounding country than the one from "Walnut Hill Stock Farm." For twenty miles or more, one can scan the country from this old, historical place. Charming as is the location and view, the farm has other attractive features for the historian. The old Shumate home is still standing, a house which was built in the thirties or forties. It was originally a log cabin, but many years after it was erected the logs were covered with native lumber. The house is' now deserted. There are five tombstones in the old family burial ground of the Shumates and they tell the following somber facts :
"James Shumate. Born in Henry county, Virginia. October 13, 1813. Died December 9, 1883."
"Susannah, the wife of James Shumate. Born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, November 27. 1815. Died February 24, 1882."
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"William D. Shumate. Born in Johnson county, Missouri, May 9, 1836. Died January 20, 1875."
"Nancy J., daughter of J. and S. Shumate. Born February 9, 1850. Died November 24, 1854."
"Isaac, son of J. and S. Shumate. Born November 9, 1852. Died May 25, 1853."
Lingering beside the stones, which mark the last resting places of a family who lived and moved amid the scenes of the long ago, one receives the impression that a spirit of weird melancholy pervades the spot.
John Shumate now resides on part of his father's homestead, where he was born seventy-five years ago.
G. F. Burkarth, one of Johnson county's progressive farmers, is a native of Ohio. He was born near Washington, Fayette county in 1861, the only child of Frederick and Elizabeth (Saltzman) Burkarth, both of whom are natives of Germany. When their son was five years of age, they moved from Ohio to Johnson county, Missouri, Novem- ber 11, 1866, the Burkarth family settled on a farm west of Warrens- burg on Bristle Ridge. Mr. Burkarth purchased a prairie farm, com- prising eighty acres of land, paying eighteen dollars an acre and later. he increased his holdings by purchasing another farm at the same price. At one time, Frederick Burkarth was owner of four hundred fifty-two acres in Johnson county. He came from Ohio to Missouri in a linchpin wagon, drawn by a team of horses. His son, G. F., recently sold the wagon to a junk dealer. Mr. Burkarth spent the active years of his life in improving his farm, which he sold in 1903 and he is now living retired in Warrensburg, at 204 West Gay street. He is eighty-two years of age and his wife, one of the noblest women of the early settlers of Warrensburg. is seventy-seven years of age.
George F. Burkarth received his education in Long Prairie school. Until he was thirty-two years of age he remained at home with his parents. He is now the owner of eighty acres of the home farm in Centerview township and in 1906 he purchased one hundred twenty- three acres of land adjoining the city limits of Warrensburg. He has rebuilt the residence on this place, which is his home, and erected a barn, 34 x 52 feet, which was built for dairy purposes. Mr. Burkarth keeps pure-bred Jersey cattle, though not registered. and has been engaged in the dairy business practically ever since owning this farm.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
In 1892, G. F. Burkarth and Kate Scheidenberger were united in marriage. Mrs. Burkarth is the daughter of John and Margaret Schei- denberger, who came to Warrensburg in 1869 from Pennsylvania. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scheidenberger were born in Germany. In 1884, the father was killed in the explosion at the Eureka Mills in Warrensburg and his widow is now living in Warrensburg. John and Margaret Schei- denberger were the parents of the following children: George, Leaven- worth, Kansas; Mrs. Lizzie Schaffer, Warrensburg; Mrs. Sarah Lowe, deceased; John, Jr., Springdale, Arkansas; Mrs. Kate Burkarth, wife of the subject of this review; William, Palo Alto, California; Mrs. Mar- garet Gable, Holton, Kansas; Gustavus, deceased. To G. F. and Kate Burkarth have been born two children: Margaret, who lives at home with her parents; and Lawrence, who is employed as fireman on the Santa Fe railway. Mr. Burkarth is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, affiliating with this lodge in 1902, and of the Sand- stone Lodge No. 137, of Warrensburg. Both Mr. and Mrs. Burkarth are held in the highest esteem in this community.
James P. B. Shepherd, proprietor of "Honey Creek Ranch," is a native of Tennessee. He was born in December, 1849, in Overton county, near Livingston, the son of George Washington and Elizabeth (Taylor) Shepherd, the former, a native of Virginia and the latter, of Tennessee. The father died in Tennessee and the mother in Johnson county, Missouri. Her remains were interred in Liberty cemetery.
In 1863, J. P. B. Shepherd enlisted at Jacksonville, Illinois, in the Seventh Illinois Infantry, serving with Company K. He was first sta- tioned at Rock Island, guarding prisoners and later saw active service with his regiment in Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. He was for a time with "Fighting Joe Hooker" and in many battles and skirmishes. His two brothers, Moses and Thomas, served in the Union army, answering Lincoln's first call for volunteers. J. P. B. Shepherd was mustered out and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, in 1865.
In 1873, Mr. Shepherd came to Johnson county and for a short time was located at Valley City. He was engaged in farming there on the place owned by Charlie Sellers. Among the first pioneers of Val- ley City, who were there in 1873 and are still with us. are Perry Bold and "Willy" Maddox. In 1880, J. P. B. Shepherd purchased his present home from Mrs. John Powelson and the land adjoining her
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place, a farm which now comprises two hundred forty acres. All the improvements upon the place, Mr. Shepherd has himself placed there. He is giving most of his attention to stock raising, handling Berkshire and Poland China hogs and Aberdeen Angus cattle. The males only are registered. About one hundred acres of this place are in corn, thirty- five acres in oats, and ten acres in alfalfa. Near the drainage ditch, which crosses the southwestern end of the farm, is a ridge underlaid with the best quality of firing clay, five per cent. iron. Mr. Shepherd has a sample brick made from the clay, showing its excellent quali- ties. There is not a rock on the entire place which was not placed there by Mr. Shepherd. He had a well dug, near the house, and after digging down fifty feet with a spade no rock was found. The farm is exceedingly well watered and is an ideal stock ranch.
March 15, 1873, J. P. B. Shepherd was united in marriage at Gales- burg, Missouri by Elder D. F. Warnkey to Dora McDowell, of Crawford county, Kansas. Mrs. Shepherd is a native of Iowa, born March 3, 1856, daughter of J. A. and Eleanor McDowell, natives of West Virginia and Belmont county, Ohio, respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd have been born four children: Minnie, the wife of J. V. Woolsey, of Pueblo, Colorado, has two children, James Walter and Dora Ruth; Nellie, the wife of Roy Parsons, and they reside at home with her parents, has one child. Nellie May: William, who married Elvina Cameron, the daughter of Alexander Cameron, of Hazel Hill township, and they reside on a farm in Warrensburg township, has four children, Glenn Wil- liam, James Russell, R. Alexander, and Nellie Elvina: and James A., who married Bettie Morris, and they reside on a farm in Warrensburg township, has three children, Alta May, Morris Hadley, Mary Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd are numbered among the best and most re- spected families of Johnson county.
The Holden Milling & Elevator Company, one of the live and important manufacturing concerns of Johnson county, is the out- come of forty-five years growth in the milling business in Holden. Its predecessor was the Smith & Conner Mill, established in 1872 by J. H. Smith and H. C. Conner, the former of whom is deceased and the latter is located in Wichita, Kansas. The first milling machinery to be placed in operation in the mill was brought from Warrensburg in charge of a colored machinist and engineer named Columbus Dower. This mill was operated by Smith & Conner. a firm until 1890. when Mr. Conner purchased the interest of Mr. Smith and then formed a part-
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