USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 50
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E. B. Stockton is also a member of the firm Stockton & Lowe, which handle building materials, their place of business being located on the switch of the Missouri Pacific railway. Stockton & Lowe manu- facture concrete blocks, steps and many different building materials. A sketch of this firm is given in connection with the biography of Charles Lowe, which will be found elsewhere in this volume.
George M. Boyd, foreman of the Boyd Coal Company of Warrens- burg, has been connected with the coal business in Johnson county since 1878 or 1879. He is the son of Thomas H. Boyd, who was en- gaged in the mining business in Johnson county for many years. George M. Boyd is the oldest child born to his parents, Thomas H. and Jennie (McIntosh) Boyd. The others were as follow: Margaret. wife of L. M. Hare, of Pittsburg. Kansas; Thomas, Jr., died in 1889 at Knob Noster, Missouri: Susie, wife of Tell Zuber, of Knob Noster, Missouri; John, died at Knob Noster. Missouri in September, 1896; and Nettie, the wife of Frank Booth, of Kansas City. Missouri. The mother was born in Scotland in 1844 and with her husband came to America about 1865. Her death occurred January 1, 1880. Thomas H. Boyd was again married, his second wife being Mary E. Clifford, of Wisconsin. To them were born six children: Timothy, superintendent of the brick
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company at Ginger, Texas; Mrs. Rufus Brindle, Knob Noster, Missouri; Mrs. William Connor, Denver, Colorado; William, who resides in Ginger, Texas; Mrs. Arthur Heider, Terbell, California; and Archie, deceased.
Before Thomas H. Boyd came to Missouri, John A. Gallaher was the superintendent of the mines at Montserrat and had been mining coal there for five years prior to Mr. Boyd's coming. In the spring of 1880, Thomas H. Boyd opened a coal mine at Clearfork and the two mines, the one at Montserrat and the other at Clearfork, employed at the time between six and eight hundred miners. In the spring of 1882, five hundred convicts from the State penitentiary were imported for use in the mines by Gallaher, under a four-year contract. A fight was made on the convict laborers by the local miners and the men were returned to the penitentiary in the spring of 1884. During the time the convicts were employed at the mines, the stockade was burned down by a fire started when one of the criminals threw a lighted lamp at the warden. While the stockade was being rebuilt. the convicts were kept down in the mines, which was from seven to nine days. After they were permanently removed, the Clearfork Coal Company assumed control of the mines and operated the Clearfork mine until 1887. Since that time, nothing much in the line of mining has been done there. The vein of coal in the Montserrat mine was from four to six feet in depth. Thomas H. Boyd went from the Clearfork mine to one which he opened at Knob Noster. where the vein was four or four and a half feet in depth, and which he operated for five years. His death occurred in 1905 at Knob Noster and his remains were interred at that place.
George M. Boyd received his education in the public schools of Johnson county, attending school at Montserrat. At the age of four- teen years, he left school and began working with his father in the mines. He has been engaged in the coal and brick business practically ever since he was a lad. Mr. Boyd has literally grown up with the coal business in Johnson county and there is no more capable miner in Missouri. For twenty-four years he conducted the brick plant at Knob Noster, associated with his father in the ownership of the plant, the firm being known as Boyd & Son. In 1912 the plant was incor- porated and the ensuing year Mr. Boyd accepted the position of fore- man of the Boyd Coal Company of Warrensburg.
In April, 1883, George M. Boyd and Louisa Clifford were united
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in marriage. Louisa (Clifford) Boyd is the daughter of 'Timorny and Mary Clifford, of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Both parents of Mrs. Boyd are now deceased. To George M. and Louisa Boyd have been born the following children: Thomas W., married Mrs. Louisa Riggs, Knob Noster, Missouri; John, who married Sadie Brindle, Warrensburg; George E., married Ursa Vickery, Warrensburg; Robert, married Buena Ragner, Knob Noster, Missouri; Timothy, married Ruth Gard- ner, Knob Noster, Missouri; Frances, a graduate of the Warrensburg High School and resides at home with her parents; and William Tell, who is a lad in the grade school of Warrensburg. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd reside at 210 East Gay street in Warrensburg.
James Crutcher, Jr., formerly of Hazel Hill township, Johnson county, was born in 1847 in Hardin county, Kentucky. He is the son of James Crutcher, Sr. and Martha (Riddle) Crutcher, pioneers of Hazel Hill township, the former, a native of Hardin county, Kentucky and the latter, of Ohio. They were united in marriage in Hardin county and in 1856 came to Missouri, and settled on a farm of three hundred acres of land in Hazel Hill township, which James Crutcher, Sr. purchased, paying ten dollars an acre. The tract was fairly well improved for those days, having both a house and barn upon it. James Crutcher. Sr. and Martha (Riddle) Crutcher were the parents of the following children: Rebecca Elizabeth, who was the wife of A. J. Stock- ton and the mother of E. B. Stockton and Mattie B. (Stockton) Bridges, of whom further mention is made in this volume, and her death occurred July 28, 1916, interment being made in the cemetery at Warrensburg: Emma B., who is the wife of Joseph Norris, of Leavenworth, Kansas; James, Jr., the subject of this review; Robert H., who died at Leavenworth, Kansas; Sallie Bell, who was the wife of William Thompson and is now deceased; Kate Clara, the widow of W. F. Kirkland, Leavenworth, Kansas; and E. H., who died in Illinois.
James Crutcher, Jr. came with his parents to Johnson county in 1856. He remained in this county ten years and since he attained maturity has resided in several different states, at one time making his home in Oklahoma, at another in Kansas, and at times returning to Missouri. Mr. Crutcher is a close observer and he has a well stored mind, filled with a knowledge of th estates in which he has resided.
In 1869, James Crutcher, Jr. was united in marriage with Margaret
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Leona McMahan, of Hazel Hill township. To Mr. and Mrs. James Crutcher, Jr. were born seven children : William, Girard, Kansas; Nettie, wife of David Heizer, Columbus township, Johnson county; Mary, wife of Joseph Brown, Girard, Kansas: Lennie, wife of Ed Brown, Girard, Kansas; Alberta, married Neeley Murdock, and she is now deceased; Fred, New South Wales, Australia; and Frank, Seattle, Washington. The mother died in 1900 and is buried at Girard, Kansas.
Charles R. Bridges, an efficient clerk in the Warrensburg post- office, was born March 24. 1874 in Chilhowee township in Johnson county. He is the fourth child born to his parents, James .A. and Nancy Jane (Reed) Bridges, who were the parents of the following children : WV. S., of Portland, Oregon : Lucy J., who was the wife of W. P. Foster, of Chilhowee. Missouri, and is now deceased, her remais are buried in the cemetery at Carlton, Kansas; Vina Prue. Pomona, California; and Charles R., the subject of this review. James A. Bridges was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, on a farm twenty miles east of Nashville, where he was reared to maturity. When he was twenty- one years of age, he came to Missouri and prior to the Civil War settled in Johnson county. At one time, James A. Bridges was tax collector in Chilhowee township. When the county infirmary was located in Chil- howee township, Mr. and Mrs. Bridges were for several years in charge of that institution. Mr. Bridges was an upright citizen, worthy of the highest esteem and his death, which occurred at Warrensburg in 1903, was the source of universal regret in this county. The widow of James A. Bridges now resides in Warrensburg.
Charles R. Bridges received his early education in the public schools of Johnson county. He was later a student in the Warrens- burg State Normal School. Since he was sixteen years of age, he has made his own way in the world. For two years, he was employed in the grocery of C. W. Cord and later, in the grocery of Wheeler & Stockton. After several years service in the latter grocery. Mr. Bridges accepted a position with the J. A. Hamrick & Ditter Medis Mercantile Company. In 1903, he was appointed a rural mail carrier on a route out of Warrensburg, which position he held for five years, when he received the appointment as city mail carrier. Mr. Bridges was thus employed when he was offered the position of clerk in the Warrens- burg postoffice. which he now holds.
In October. 1900. Charles R. Bridges and Mattie B. Stockton were
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united in marriage. Mattie B. (Stockton) Bridges is the daughter of A. J. and Rebecca E. (Crutcher) Stockton, of Warrensburg. A. J. Stockton was the son of William Stockton, who came to Johnson county in 1832. William Stockton spent his first winter in Missouri on the farm of Pleasant Rice, one of Johnson county's first pioneers. The next year, Mr. Stockton entered a tract of land in Hazel Hill township from the government and on this place his son, A. J., was born. William Stockton was the father of thirteen children, only one of whom is now living, Marion Stockton, who resides in Warrensburg in his home on Broad street. Rebecca E. (Crutcher) Stockton came to Missouri with her parents, James and Martha (Riddle) Crutcher, from Hardin county, Kentucky. A biographical sketch of Mr. and Mrs. Crutcher will be found elsewhere in this volume, in the review of the life of James Crutcher. To Charles R. and Mattie B. (Stock- ton) Bridges have been born four children: Russell. Don, Charlene, and Jack Emmett.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bridges reside at 315 West South street, Warrensburg. They are numbered among the county's best families and are highly respected in the city of Warrensburg.
J. B. H. Howerton, a well-known and highly respected farmer and stockman of Chilhowee township, is a native of Johnson county. He was born in 1875, a son of Dr. R. H. Howerton, who was a prominent physician of Cass and Cooper counties, a native of North Carolina. Dr. Howerton was a son of Heritage Howerton, a veteran of the Revo- lutionary War. The doctor read and studied medicine under the instructions of his uncle, Dr. R. Z. R. Wall, and later took a course of lectures in the medical college at Cincinnati and then began the practice of medicine in Johnson county, associated with his uncle, Dr. Wall. For several years, he practiced medicine in Cass and Cooper counties but returned to Johnson county to spend the remainder of his useful and successful career. Dr. Howerton was one of the most worthy and intellectual men who settled in this section of Missouri. He died May 6, 1905.
Mr. Howerton, whose name introduces this sketch. attended school at Elliott school house, where at different times while he was a school- boy the following men and women were employed as teachers: Mr. Hamshaw, Dr. McGurk, and Miss Lutie Umstadt. The first preacher, whom Mr. Howerton recalls hearing in the old days, was Reverend J.
DR. R. H. HOWERTON.
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H. Houx. He also attended services held by Reverend Corder and lie tells an amusing story at the expense of the preacher who would accept no money for his work as minister. J. B. H. Howerton is a graduate of Eldorado Springs High School.
After completing high school, Mr. Howerton returned to the old homestead and for two years was engaged in farming when he left Missouri for the Northwest Territories of Canada, where he engaged in mining and prospecting. Mr. Howerton located in Yukon Terri- tory, and in the country rich in minerals, where vast deposits of gold, coal, petroleum, iron ore, and lignite exist, he made a small fortune- and spent it. He was in the gold fields four years and then returned to the farm in Johnson county, Missouri, where he has ever since been engaged in farming and stock raising.
Mr. Howerton owns a splendid tract of land, which comprises two hundred acres, of which sixty are in pasture. He is devoting more and more of his farm to grass land, in order that it may be restored to its original fertility. He is a well read and intelligent agriculturist and employs all the progressive methods of the best and most experienced farm experts in the endeavor to build up the productiveness of his soil. He is an enthusiastic advocate of crop rotation and clover growing for soil improving purposes and he, himself, makes excellent and constant use of the manure spreader. Mr. Howerton raises grade Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and has had uniform success with his stock. Mr. Howerton is beginning the breeding of Hereford cattle. His farm is splendidly improved and neatly kept, one of the fine country places in Johnson county. The residence is a large structure of eleven rooms, built by Dr. Howerton several years ago, a home of pleasant yet commanding appearance.
In 1907, J. B. H. Howerton and Margaret C. Little, daughter of J. A. and Sadie (Mullens) Little, were united in marriage. The Hower- tons are highly regarded in their community and one of the county's most substantial families.
C. C. Tevis, president of the First National Bank of Holden, Mis- souri, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in 1845, a son of C. C. and Elizabeth (Stone) Tevis, who were members of old Kentucky families. The Tevis family were from Tennessee, whence the father of C. C. Tevis, Sr. migrated to Kentucky, during the pioneer era of settlement and development of that state. The mother of C. C. Tevis, subject of this review, was a native of Virginia.
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C. C. Tevis was reared and educated in his native state and received his classical education in Center College, Danville, Kentucky. He graduated from this institution in 1867. For two years following his graduation, he taught Latin in Center College. In 1869, he left his native state and came to Johnson county, where he taught for a short time in the public schools of this county. Mr. Tevis followed the teaching profession but a short time. Opportunity beckoned to him and he engaged in banking not long after his arrival in this new and growing county. He began his banking career as cashier in the Bank of Holden and served in this capacity for six years, after which he became president of the bank. He then sold his interest in the Bank of Holden to Samuel Jordan, who became president. His next successful venture in the realm of finance was to organize the First National Bank of Holden in 1913. This concern is one of the most flourishing banking institutions in Johnson county and has enjoyed a wonderful growth since its organization. The last official statement issued on June 20, 1917, gives the bank's capital stock as thirty thou- sand dollars ; surplus ten thousand dollars : deposits one hundred eleven thousand nine hundred eighty-two dollars and forty-five cents; with total resources of one hundred eighty-four thousand three hundred nineteen dollars. The present officers and directors are as follow: C. C. Tevis, president ; J. H. Tevis, cashier ; S. R. Sankey, R. L. Whit- sett, R. F. Tevis, W. S. Farnsworth. S. W. Raber, directors.
Residing in an agricultural community, it is only natural to find that Mr. Tevis became interested in farming and stock raising. He is a large land owner in the county and has been engaged in stock raising while a resident of the county. For nearly a half century. he has been active in farming and banking in Johnson county and has materially assisted in the development and upbuilding of the county, witnessing, during that time. the wonderful growth which this section of Missouri has enjoyed. Coming here when a young man. full of virility, ambition, and energy, he has "made good" in practically every undertaking with which he has been connected.
Mr. Tevis was married in Kentucky to Mary Hawthorne in 1869. and to this union have been born six children, as follow: Una. wife of W. W. Tevis, Holden, Missouri; James H., cashier of the First National Bank of Holden: Ruth, widow of Clande Scott and now liv-
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ing in Kansas City; Rose, married D. McLain and is also a widow residing in Holden; Mary, wife of Louis Gray, Aurora, Missouri; Annie, wife of R. J. Erwood, New York City. Mrs. Mary ( Haw- thorne) Tevis was born and reared in Kentucky and was a daughter of Rev. Dr. James Hawthorne, a Presbyterian minister of Kentucky. Mrs. Tevis departed this life in 1879. Later, in 1884, Mr. Tevis mar- ried Miss Sophia Fleming, a daughter of James Fleming, of Lexing- ton, Missouri. One son has been born to this union, Robert, who is engaged in farming and stock raising on one of his father's farms. The mother of Robert, the second wife of C. C. Tevis, died in Oc- tober, 1916.
Mr. Tevis has always been a Democrat and has taken a very active part in his party's policies in Johnson county and this section of Missouri. During the many years in which he has been a resident of this county, he has been closely identified with party organization. He has served two terms as a member of the state Legislature and was one of the influential members of that body during Governor Harden's term of office. He served two terms in the Legislature after the new constitution for Missouri was adopted. He has always taken a keen interest in educational matters. Believing that the public school system should be of the very best in order to properly equip the young men and women of to-day, he has spared no effort in assisting to build up the schools of his home city. He has served the city as a member of the school board. Mr. Tevis is religiously affiliated with the Presbyterian church.
Emery Thompson, M. D., a leading physician of Holden, former county coroner of Johnson county, mayor of Holden, was born in Wayne county. West Virginia, in 1868. He is a son of Laban and Martha (Bartram) Thompson, both of whom are natives of Wayne county, West Virginia and are worthy descendants of old American families, their ancestors having settled in Virginia in the early period of this country's settlement. The parents of Dr. Thompson resided in their native state until their removal to Holden in 1904, where they are now living retired at the respective ages of seventy-seven and seventy-five years. They have reared five children, as follow: Andrew, residing in Wayne county, West Virginia : Wilburn. Russellville, Mis- souri; Laban, Jr., Des Moines, Iowa: Martha. wife of M. Ferguson. a conductor on the Missouri. Kansas and Texas railway out of Sedalia.
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and whose residence is at Holden; Dr. Emery, subject of this review.
Dr. Thompson was reared in Wayne county, West Virginia and received his primary education in the public schools of his native county. He completed a course in the Effie High School, and in 1891 entered the E. & M. Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio. After studying for one year in this college, he entered the Louisville Medical College and studied there for two years. He returned to the Eclectic Medical Col- lege of Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from this institution in 1893 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon receiving his degree, he returned to Genoa, Wayne county, West Virginia and practiced there for fourteen years. In 1904, Dr. Thompson pursued a post- graduate course in the Barnes Medical University and in the following year, 1905, he located in Holden and began the practice of his pro- fession. Since this time, Dr. Thompson has been engaged in general practice in Holden and vicinity and has met with splendid success. Dr. Thompson ranks among the leading physicians of this section of Mis- souri and he keeps abreast of all discoveries and developments, in his exacting profession, which are intended for the alleviation of the suffer- ings and ills of mankind.
Dr. Emery Thompson was married in 1891 to Elizabeth Matthews, of Wayne county, West Virginia and to this marriage have been born seven children: Elsie, wife of O. F. Weir, Des Moines, Iowa; Ruth Baird, wife of Robert E. Hall, Des Moines, Iowa; James Corbett, Edgar Allen, and John, the latter three in school at this time.
Dr. Thompson is financially interested in the local ice manufac- tory and other Holden industries and takes an active and keen interest in local and county affairs. He was elected coroner of Johnson county on the Democratic ticket and has now served one term in this official position. Dr. Thompson was elected mayor of Holden in 1913 and is now serving his second term. Upon his second election in 1915, he was endorsed by all political parties and had no opposition over re- election. Since he attained the age of twenty-two years, he has been affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World. and other local organizations. He is religiously allied with the Latter Day Saints.
Frank D. Ball, postmaster of Holden, Missouri, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Bloomingburg, Fayette county, Ohio, October 14, 1866.
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Mr. Ball is a son of John C. and Anna M. (Davidson) Ball, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey and the latter, a native of Penn- sylvania and both parents were descended from old American stock, the Ball family being one of the oldest of the American families, tracing their ancestry back to colonial times. Members of this family have figured prominently in the history of America for more than three hundred years. John C. Ball died in Ohio in 1871 and the mother of F. D. Ball died in 1891, the death of the former parent taking place at the old home at Bloomingburg, Ohio, and the latter departing this life in Kansas City, Missouri. John C. Ball was a Union soldier during the Civil War.
F. D. Ball, with whom this review is directly concerned, received his education in the public schools of his native city, Bloomingburg, his early schooling being supplemented by advanced courses of in- struction taken at the summer normal schools where he prepared him- self for the profession of teaching. He went to Nebraska in 1884, with his mother, and filed on a homestead claim, in Custer county, which he improved. He taught school in fall of 1883, and continued teaching for three years while farming. In fall of 1887, he took a busi- ness course in the Omaha Business College.
In the spring of 1888, Mr. Ball removed to Kansas City, Missouri and was employed as stenographer and typist for a period of one and a half years, following which he received an appointment to a position in the Kansas City postoffice, which position he held for three and one-half years. About 1893, he came to Johnson county and settled on a farm located five and one-half miles from Holden. Mr. Ball followed general farming and stock raising with his father-in-law until his death, and operated the farm until he was appointed postmaster of Holden in 1915. He received his commission as postmaster on January 12, 1915 and took up the duties of his office February 2. 1915. Mr. Ball is still interested in farming and supervises his well-improved farm near Holden. The consensus of opinion among the patrons of the Holden postoffice is that he is an ideal public official, that he con- ducts the affairs of his office and manages the six rural routes, which serve the contiguous territory, in a capable and painstaking manner for the best interests of hundreds of patrons.
Mr. Ball was married October 5, 1892 to Etta May Graves and to this marriage have been born four children: John G., a student in
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the Kansas City College of Pharmacy; Lora D., general delivery clerk ; Homer B., postoffice clerk; Helen E., who is a sophomore in the Holden High School. All the children are graduates of the Holden High School, excepting Helen E. The mother of these children was born and reared in Johnson county, a daughter of John S. and Jane A. (Bailey) Graves, who were pioneer settlers of Johnson county. Mr. and Mrs. Graves came from their native state of Kentucky to the farm, which Mr. Ball now owns, in 1856. They drove through from Kentucky to Missouri in 1854 and saw the country in all its primitive wildness. Mrs. Graves was accompanied on the trip by a great-uncle. While Mr. Graves went to secure an inheritance of $600 with which to begin life in the new country, Mrs. Graves and her kinsman came on and Mr. Graves followed, traveling the long distance on foot. They bought land from the government at seventy-five cents an acre and were among the first comers to settle in the Holden neighborhood. The land warrant issued to Mr. Graves was destroyed by fire a few years ago. Mr. Graves died in 1907 and Mrs. Graves departed this life in 1914. They endured all the hardships of the pioneer era and nobly did their part in preparing the way for the settling and building- up of a great state and county. Mr. Graves served in the Confederate army. During the war, the Graves home was burned to the ground and the mother and family were left homeless. Mrs. Graves took her few belongings and went to the home of an uncle in Henry county where she remained until the conflict was over, after which Mr. and Mrs. Graves returned to the site of their former home, rebuilt the house, and made a new start which ended in prosperity and well-being for them and theirs. Mr. Graves was a carpenter and builder by trade and many houses which he erected in his home township are still standing.
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