History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 49

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

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James M. Hamisfar, proprietor of the "Elmwood Farm" in War-

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rensburg township, was born in 1862 in Perry county, Ohio. He is the son of Dr. L. R. and Mary C. (Williams) Hamisfar, both of whom were born in Perry county, Ohio. Dr. L. R. Hamisfar was the son of Karl Hamisfar, who emigrated in early manhood from Germany to America, and settled in Ohio. Mary C. (Williams) Hamisfar is the daughter of William Williams, of Pennsylvania. Her grandmother, Mary Wright, was an aunt of the renowned Wright brothers, of Day- ton, Ohio, the gifted inventors of the aeroplane. Dr. L. R. and Mary C. Hamisfar were the parents of the following children: J. M., the sub- ject of this review; M. D., a well-known dentist of Warrensburg; Lulu, whose death occurred in Ohio; Charles, who died in 1873 in Warrens- burg; and Florence K., who is a teacher in the city schools of Warrensburg.

Dr. L. R. Hamisfar came to Missouri in the spring of 1860 and bargained for the Wilson Halley place of two hundred eighty-six acres of land in Johnson county. The father of Wilson Halley died before the deal was consummated and Mr. Hamisfar purchased the farm from the administrators of the estate, paying thirteen and a half dollars an acre for the land. Due to the unsettled conditions of war times, Dr. L. R. Hamisfar returned to Ohio and engaged in practice of dentistry, which profession he followed until 1873, when he came with his family to Johnson county and settled on the farm purchased many years prior to their coming. On the Hamisfar homestead in Warrensburg town- ship, Dr. L. R. Hamisfar died in October, 1882. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Mount Zion. Dr. L. R. Hamisfar was a highly intelligent and esteemed citizen of Johnson county, whose loss has long been keenly felt. His widow is now residing in Warrensburg, Missouri.

J. M. Hamisfar obtained his early education in the district schools of Johnson county. He was later a student at the Warrensburg State Normal School for three years. He then engaged in farming and stock raising on the home place and since 1882. has followed farming. The Hamisfar place is known as the "Elmwood Farm," the name having been registered. With the exception of about ninety acres this farm is all excellent, tillable land, one hundred twenty acres of which are in wheat, at the time of this writing, fifteen acres in oats, one hundred ten acres in corn, and the balance in meadow and pasture. "Elmwood

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Farm" is located four miles south of Warrensburg and is one of the best in Johnson county. Three residences have been burned on "Elin- wood Farm" at different times. Two of the homes were burned dur- ing the Civil War, one by the Federals and one by the Confederates. In 1910, the third residence was destroyed by fire, started in some unknown way, as the family were away at the time. In the last fire, there were five hundred dollars in the house, when it was burned, two hundred twenty-five dollars of which were recovered, some of the money being silver and a part paper made good by the United States government.

October 26, 1901, J. M. Hamisfar and Hattie Baker, the daughter of Morris and Sarah (Prince) Baker, of Warrensburg township, were united in marriage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baker were natives of Indiana, who came to Johnson county after the Civil War had ended and settled in Warrensburg township. Both father and mother of Mrs. Hamisfar are now deceased. The father died in March, 1912 and the mother four years later. Mrs. Baker was killed accidentally in a tragic incident in November, 1916, at the crossing on the railway at Lewis Station, Missouri. Mrs. J. M. Hamisfar has five sisters and four brothers now living and three sisters deceased. The living brothers and sisters are as follow: W. T. Baker, Warrensburg; James Baker, a prosperous blacksmith of Post Oak township; Marion White Baker, resides in New Mexico; John Baker, resides in Oklahoma ; Mrs. Della Daugherty, of Lewis Station, Missouri; Mrs. Lottie Kelly, of Lewis Station, Mis- souri ; Mrs. Susie Newland, Cornelia, Missouri; Mrs. Belle Lord, resides in Oklahoma; and Mrs. Mollie Ball, Windsor, Missouri. To J. M. and Hattie (Baker) Hamisfar have been born five children: Lillie, who is now the wife of Clyde Greer, of Warrensburg township; Mary, Nellie M., James M., Jr., and Rosalie, who are at home with their parents. The Hamisfar family has long been prominent in this section of Missouri and Mr. and Mrs. Hamisfar are of the best pioneer lineage and are num- bered among the excellent citizens of Warrensburg township.

In 1900. J. M. Hamisfar was appointed census enumerator of War- rensburg township and again in 1910. In 1902, he was offered a posi- tion in the United States census department, but was obliged from existing circumstances to refuse. Mr. Hamisfar has ever been keenly alert to the interests of his township and county and it was he, who

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circulated the successful petition for the establishment of rural mail routes in this county and it is chiefly due to his energetic efforts that Johnson county now enjoys the excellent mail service it has.

John W. Bowman, the widely-known merchant and blacksmith, whose store, shop, and residence constitute the little town, on the Leeton-Warrensburg road, which the people of Johnson county call Bowmansville, is a native of Wisconsin. He was born in 1859 in Rich- land county, Wisconsin, the son of John Bowman, Sr. and Lucinda (Shepard) Bowman. John Bowman Sr. was born in Ohio, and in early manhood moved to Wisconsin, thence to Illinois and from Illinois to Johnson county, Missouri, with his family, in 1867. The Bowman family settled on a farm, known as the Adam Fickas farm, after having lived one year on a place south of Warrensburg, and three years on the Oskeday place, now owned by the Mohlers, which is located south of Warrensburg. Mr. and Mrs. John Bowman, Sr., resided on the Fickas farm for twenty years. At the time of his death February 1, 1911, Mr. Bowman was with his son, John, Jr. The mother died on August 12 of the same year. The remains of both parents were interred in the cemetery near Warrensburg, known as the Dunkard cemetery. John Bowman, Sr., and Lucinda (Shepard) Bowman were the parents of the following children: Lizzie, the wife of Finis Faubian, Warrensburg township; Anna, the widow of Alfred McDonald, Post Oak township; Christian, deceased; John W., Jr., the subject of this review; Daniel, Warrensburg: Mary, the wife of John McGirl. Hazel Hill township; and Lydia, the wife of Thomas Myers.

John W. Bowman, Jr. received his education in the district school in Johnson county, at Possum Trot schoolhouse. He remained with his parents as long as they lived and until he was thirty years of age, he was engaged in farming. At that time, he began blacksmithing on the farm. In 1896, he erected his present shop. Mr. Bowman's black- smith shop is equipped with all the latest and modern machinery and tools, being supplied with a triphammer, woodworking machine with band saw, boring machine, planer, cold tire setter, plow welding ma- chine, and power punching machine, all of which are operated by a gasoline engine. . Mr. Bowman sharpened plows with an iron wedge for an anvil, when he began business more than a score of years ago. In 1905, he opened a general store in addition to his shop of which his

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older son, James, has charge while the younger son, Joseph, assists his father in the blacksmith shop. The store and shop constitute Bow- mansville's principal and only business establishments and there is probably not another town in Missouri where all the citizens are con- genial members of one family. all cooperating as harmoniously as do the citizens of this little town.

In 1890, John W. Bowman, Jr. and Mary Miller were united in marriage. Mary (Miller) Bowman is the daughter of John and Emily (Miller) Miller, who were the parents of the following children: Ed, Ft. Smith, Arkansas; Arthur, Ft. Smith, Arkansas; Mrs. Lydia Ohmart, who resides in Oklahoma; Mrs. Effie Galion, of Siloam Springs, Ar- kansas; and Mrs. John W. Bowman, the wife of the subject of this review. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have been born two sons: James F. and Joseph E., both of whom are associated with their father in conducting the business interests of Bowmansville. They have estab- lished a splendid reputation in Johnson county and the name of Bow- man is the synonym for honest, honorable, upright dealings. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are numbered among the county's most substantial citizens.

Erskine McClean, manager of the McClean & Elliott Stock Farm, vice-president of the Johnson County Purebreds Breeders' Association, is one of the progressive stockmen of Johnson county. He was born in 1869 on the homestead of the McCleans in Johnson county, son of William and Mary Jane ( Robinson ) McClean. William McClean was born in Ross county, Ohio in 1827, the son of John and Sarah McClean. John McClean was a tanner by trade and he and his wife resided in Chillicothe, Ohio, their two sons, William and Samuel. having com- plete charge of the home farm in Ross county. Mary Jane (Robinson) McClean was the daughter of Joshua and Hannah Robinson, of Chilli- cothe, Ohio. William McClean and Mary Jane Robinson were united in marriage in Ohio and to them were born the following children. who are now living, two having died in infancy: Henry, Los Angeles, Cali- fornia : Lucy, Warrensburg; Mary, wife of James B. Elliott, with whom Erskine McClean is associated in stock raising: William, Jr ... of Eti- wanda. California; Erskine R., the subject of this review; and Eliza- beth, wife of Mr. Clark, of Canon City, Colorado.

William McClean came with his family to Johnson county, Mis-

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souri from Ohio in 1867. In the spring of 1868, he purchased the farm three and a half miles northwest of Warrensburg, which is now owned and conducted by his son, Erskine, and son-in-law, James B. Elliott. In that year from a very humble start with a pure-bred Shorthorn bull and cow, which he brought with him from Ohio, William McClean began the stock business, which has been continued since his death by McClean & Elliott and which has attained in recent years mammoth proportions. He was a breeder of pure-bred Shorthorns in Ohio and he brought to Missouri in 1868 "Cherokee," a registered bull, Number 6536, red, which was purchased from Morgan Hayes in February, 1868 at Jeffersonville, Fayette county, Ohio and brought to Johnson county in March of that year, and "Highland Belle," a pure bred red cow, which was purchased from Thomas Kirk at Washington Court House, Ohio.

From the stockbook kept by William McClean, showing the name, date of purchase, place of purchase, and the record of each pure bred animal on his farm, from the time he bought the place in 1868 until his death in 1902, the following record was taken: In 1871, Mr. McClean purchased "Derby," a red roan bull, Number 9740. from Jesse Hagler, of Fayette county Ohio; in May, 1871, "Kitty Clover," a roan cow; in September, 1881, "Blushing Maiden," a red cow and "Lelia Major" was purchased from C. E. Leonard, of Cooper county, Missouri; in April, 1883, two red and two roan cows were purchased, namely: "Angelica, 28," "Rosamond of Rovenswood," "Blushing Beauty," and "British Girl."

William McClean owned five hundred fifty acres of land in one tract, a portion of which is the present McClean estate. He was one of the very first successful breeders in Johnson county. He sold all his stock at private sales and in the early days of the seventies, when cattle sold at a low price, Mr. McClean suffered all the ill luck in com- mon with the other stockmen of that time, but he never became dis- couraged or lost faith in high grade cattle. He believed firmly that Johnson county would be one of the best stock counties in the state and that to win a place for the county the quality of the stock must be kept up to the highest standard. He was a careful, conscientious, capable business man, one whose methods are well worth emulating. He did more, perhaps, than any other one man to place Johnson county

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in the front rank in stock raising. His death, which occurred in March, 1902, has long been lamented in this section of Missouri. Mrs. McClean joined her husband in death in July. 1915 and both were interred in the cemetery at Warrensburg.

Erskine McClean attended the public schools of Warrensburg and later was a student in the Warrensburg State Normal School prior to 1891. He was reared on the farm and has from boyhood days been interested in stock raising. After his father died in 1902, the original herd of cattle, consisting of forty-five head, was sold and Erskine McClean and James B. Elliott formed a partnership and began the breeding of Scotch and Scotch Topped Shorthorns. They established the herd on the McClean estate, which comprises four hundred thirty acres of the original farm purchased by William McClean in 1867, by the purchase in 1905 of an "Orange Blossom Cruickshank" bull, "Orange Lad." three Scotch cows, two "Orange Blossoms" and a "Marsh Violet," two Scotch Topped "Charming Rose" cows, and an eighteen hundred pound Scotch Topped "Harriet," with a few of the cows left on the farm after the dispersion of the herd of Shorthorns owned by the William McClean estate in the autumn of 1904. McClean & Elliott have had but one public sale and this was held only for the reason that the herd had outgrown the capacity of the farm. At the time of this writing in 1917, McClean & Elliott have fifty head of Shorthorns on the farm, the herd headed by "Our Red Choice," a pure- bred Scotch bull. Number 420533, which is considered the best that has ever been on the farm. The firm has had splendid and deserved success. They sold three carloads of stock in the spring of 1917, ship- ping cattle to Texas, New Mexico, Alabama, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, and even to Canada. Fifty years of straight, honorable business methods, as strictly adhered to by William McClean and continued by McClean & Elliott have given this firm an enviable reputation, which is country-wide.

October 1, 1902, Erskine McClean was united in marriage with Viola D. Drummond, the daughter of Albert and Eliza Drummond, of Warrensburg. To Erskine and Viola McClean has been born one son, Albert Erskine. Mr. McClean is a "booster" for pure-breds. Probably two-thirds of the breeders of Shorthorn cattle in Johnson county obtained their foundation stock from the herd owned by McClean & Elliott.

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Oren J. Bush, one of Johnson county's leading agriculturists, is a member of an old family in the history of this country. He was born May 19, 1866 in Warrensburg township, the son of Andrew Jackson and Mary (Fuller) Bush, both natives of New York. A. J. Bush was born December 18, 1832 in Chautauqua county, New York, the son of Stephen Bush, Jr., whose father entered four hundred acres of land in Chautauqua county from the government. Stephen Bush, Jr. was the son of Stephen Bush, Sr., a veteran of the Revolutionary War, who took an active and prominent part in the campaign around New York, in the struggle of the British for the Hudson river and the middle states in 1777. He was present at Burgoyne's surrender, October 17, 1777, when six thousand regular troops, his entire army, were marched off the field by the Americans, who proudly unfurled their new flag, which had been adopted by Congress on June 14, 1777. Burgoyne's army had been suffering terribly from lack of food, as the Americans had cut off all the British supplies from Canada, and Stephen Bush, Sr. often stated that although the English felt the disgrace of surrender to the raw American troops, the Hessians did not care at all. Mr. Bush used to say emphatically, "The English were mad." Stephen Bush, Sr. was the son of Ashal Bush, who emigrated from England to Massachusetts probably in 1750. Ashal Bush was the father of two sons : Ashal, Jr., who was lost at sea, while serving in the navy during the Revolutionary War; and Stephen, Sr., of whom mention has been made.

A. J. Bush, the father of the subject of this review, was born and reared in Chautauqua county, New York. March 5, 1863 he was mar- ried in Wisconsin to Mary Fuller, who was born in New York in 1841. In the spring of 1865, they came to Johnson county, Missouri, where they located on the Dalton place in Warrensburg township. Mr. Bush's first acquaintance in Johnson county was the father of John Gilkeson. In 1867, he purchased his first land owned in the new Western home, fifty-five acres, for which he paid nine dollars an acre, and later, forty acres, which he bought from the Colberns. At a still later time, A. J. Bush further increased his holdings, by purchasing twenty acres of land in Johnson county. He then engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, which vocations he has followed ever since his coming West, until quite recently, when he became interested in bee culture. Mr. Bush died July 20, 1917 at eighty-four years of age. His widow is seventy-

MARY M. (FULLER) BUSIL.

ANDREW JACKSON BUSH.

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five years of age and still active. A. J. and Mary M. (Fuller) Bush were the parents of one son, O. J., the subject of this review, who lived with his parents on the home place, having the active supervision of the farm work.

A. J. Bush came to Missouri from Wisconsin, where he had been engaged in teaching school and in conducting a mercantile establish- ment. He was a gentleman of the old school, highly intelligent and possessing kindly and courtly manners, whom to know was to respect and admire. Both he and Mrs. Bush were highly valued in Johnson county, where they resided so many years.

A. J. Bush, Judge Burford, and "Uncle James" Fickas organized School District Number 55, which is now known as the Oakland dis- trict, and here O. J. Bush received his early education. He was later a student in the Warrensburg State Normal School for four winters. O. J. Bush has always remained on the home place with his parents and practically all his life has been interested in farming and stock raising. He has devoted his attention largely to raising stock, although he has fed some. He handles a good grade of Hampshire hogs, some of which are purebred, and fine cattle.

February 15, 1898, O. J. Bush and Mary E. Neet were united in marriage. Mary E. (Neet) Bush is the daughter of Jacob and Hester Neet, who reside in Warrensburg, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Bush are parents of seven children, six of whom are now living: William, who was born December 25, 1898; Mabel, who died at the age of eighteen years; Bessie, Hester, Clark. David, and Glenn.

O. J. Bush is farming the home place, which comprises two hun- dred forty acres of excellent farm land in Johnson county. In addi- tion, Mr. Bush is owner of a tract of timber land, embracing four and a half acres, which land was entered by Allie Marr, a son of "Uncle David" Marr, who with Judge Morrow, was one of the charter mem- bers of the Warrensburg Presbyterian church. O. J. Bush is one of the seven members of the County Defense Committee in Warrensburg township. He and his wife are worthy and consistent members of the Houts' Chapel Methodist church.

A. J. Bush was one of the oldest members of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Johnson county. He was affiliated with the Corinthian chapter.

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James Harvey Lampkin, of the firm Stockton & Lampkin of War- rensburg, was born in 1854 in Osage county, Missouri. He is a mem- ber of a prominent colonial family, the son of Andrew Jackson and Rosanna E. (Adams) Lampkin. The father of Andrew Jackson Lamp- kin took an active and prominent part in the battle of New Orleans, on January 8, 1815, serving under General Andrew Jackson. Both parents of Andrew Jackson Lampkin died when he was but a little child and he was reared by an uncle, Alex Gray, who lived near Nash- ville, Tennessee. The lad was reared to maturity in Tennessee and in early manhood came to Missouri, locating in Osage county in 1854. Rosanna E. (Adams) Lampkin was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of Jesse Adams, of Baltimore. The genealogy of Jesse Adams traces back to the same ancestors as those of John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts, president of the United States from 1825 until 1829. They were distant cousins. Mrs. Jesse Adams was a mem- ber of the royal family Ayers, and because of her marriage with one not of noble birth, she was disinherited by her father. The father of Jesse Adams was a wealthy shipowner, operating a line of vessels on the Chesapeake. Mrs. Lampkin died in Osage county in 1879 and her remains were interred in the cemetery there. In 1882, Mr. Lampkin moved to Johnson county and settled in Kingsville, later moved to Warrensburg, where his death occurred in 1897. Interment was made in the cemetery at Warrensburg.

James Harvey Lampkin received his education in the public schools of Osage county, Missouri. At the age of seventeen years, he began life for himself, engaged in farming in Osage county. When twenty- one years of age, he entered the contracting business, furnishing ties for. the Missouri Pacific railway, in which work he was employed for three years. Mr. Lampkin came to Kingsville in 1881 and entered the grain business. For fifteen years, he was engaged in the grain business at Kingsville, Missouri, where he also bought and sold stock. In 1889, he accepted a position as traveling salesman with Langenbarg Brothers & Company, grain commission men, of St. Louis, which posi- tion he held for three years. Mr. Lampkin then moved to Leeton, Missouri, where he was in the grain business for one year. From Lee- ton he came to Warrensburg and in 1907 became associated with the firm Stockton & Lampkin, wholesale and retail dealers in coal, grain, feed. and flonr. Mr. Lampkin is a "hustler" and he is the buyer for

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the firm, purchasing much of the hay, grain, and other produce loaded at stations outside Warrensburg. The firm's business is increasing each year for they are well known all over the country in this section of Missouri for their prompt, honorable, and fair dealings. No contract has yet been made with Stockton & Lampkin, which has not been satisfactorily fulfilled to the letter. James Harvey Lampkin and E. B. Stockton are numbered among the county's most valued and substan- tial citizens.

February 22. 1880, James Harvey Lampkin and Julia Ann Agee, of Osage county, Missouri, were united in marriage. The marriage ceremony was performed about four miles east of Lynn on the state road leading from St. Louis to Jefferson City and was performed by Captain Kidd, a justice of the peace. Both the bride and groom and the witnesses were on horseback in the road in front of the "squire's" residence during the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. James Lampkin were the parents of three sons: Ralph, who is now deceased; Cland, who is now deceased; Clay, who married the daughter of W. J. Snoddy, of Warrensburg, and they reside in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he is employed as extra dispatcher for the Missouri Pacific railway. The mother died in 1905. In 1907, Mr. Lampkin was married to Mrs. Eliza- beth Fristoe, of Warrensburg and they reside at 106 Broad street in that city.

Stockton & Lampkin, dealers in Feed, Coal & Aristos Flour, War- rensburg, have been in business in this city for the past twenty-two years. They began business together in 1907 on North Holden street. where they erected a mill from the very foundation. The framework of the mill building is of native humber, which was cut and sawed on the banks of Blackwater and hauled to Warrensburg in wagons. The original building. which was destroyed by fire was 28 x 32 feet in dimensions. New buildings have since been built and the present building is 40 x 60, with an office and storeroom 20 x 60, and a shed 25 x 60 feet. A hay barn, used in connection with the feed business. is 50 x 50 feet and located at the rear of the mill lot.

This business firm is engaged in the work of grinding mill feeds of all kinds. They also buy and ship grain and hay. Storage capacity of ten thousand bushels. Coal sheds on "Quarry switch." Also handle field seeds and clean grain and seeds for farmers. Employ about six men at present, sometimes more-ship large quantities from various

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stations along road. The capacity of the mill is one hundred twenty bushels of meal daily and about three hundred bushels of chop feed. Stockton & Lampkin are also interested in the Boyd Coal Company, operating two coal mines located one and a half miles east of War- rensburg. The mines are on the Burkarth place. The firm has just completed a shaft thirty-two feet in depth running to a vein of coal twenty-two to twenty-six inches in thickness and of excellent quality. Near this mine is the mine operated by the twenty-thousand-dollar stripping machine, put in operation in September, 1916 by these enter- prising men. Six men are daily employed in operating this stripping machine. The dirt, rock, soapstone, twenty-five feet in depth, are shoveled from the vein of coal. Above the coal, about eight feet, is a layer of flint rock, which is utilized by being crushed. A stone crusher has been installed at the mine for this purpose. The crushed stone from the Stockton & Lampkin mine has been found to be of the best quality for concrete work and as good as any in the state. It is being used in the foundation work for the new Normal building and has given perfect satisfaction. The demand is far greater than the supply.

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History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 49

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