History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 51

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

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Prior to 1896, Mr. Ball was a Republican in politics, but since that time he has espoused the cause of the Democratic party and has been active in the councils of his party. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Holden and is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. Ball are members of the Christian church of Holden and take an active and influential part in the civic and social affairs of their home community.

Bradford Harmon, widely-known druggist of Holden, Missouri, is descended from one of the oldest pioneer families of Johnson county,

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the coming of which family to Missouri dates back to the year 1837, when Mr. Harmon's father and grandfather drove across country from Cooper county and made a settlement in the vicinity of Holden. Brad- ford Harmon was born on a farm just two miles north of Holden, December 1, 1869. He is a son of James and Margaret (Roberts) Harmon, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively.

James Harmon was born on a farm near Richmond, Virginia, a son of William and Mary (Hill) Harmon, both natives of Virginia and members of noted American colonial families. Mary ( Hill) Har- mon was a second cousin of Thomas Jefferson and a cousin of General A. P. Hill, of Virginia. James Harmon accompanied his parents to Cooper county, Missouri in 1833 and four years later, 1837, the family came farther west to Johnson county and made a permanent settle- ment on a pioneer farm near the present city of Holden. They drove from their former home to the new location in Johnson county via the ox-team route and upon his arrival here William Harmon pre-empted government land. On this pioneer farm the grandfather of Bradford Harmon spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1866 at the age of seventy years. James Harmon died on the home farm in 1872. During the Civil War he served with the Confederate army under General Price and fought at the battles of Lonejack, Pea Ridge, Mine Run, and Wilson Creek. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner during his arduous years of service. After the close of the war, he returned to Johnson county and followed farming in connection with plying his trade of carpentering and building. He erected a number of houses located on the countryside north of Holden. Mrs. Margaret Harmon died in 1901. James and Margaret Harmon were the parents of two children: Bradford, the subject of this review; and Rena, wife of William Surber, residing near Pittsville, Johnson county.

Bradford Harmon is "self-made" and self-educated, having worked and made his own way from his boyhood days. He was reared on the farm amid pioneer hardships when there were few luxuries. In those days there was not a great deal of money with which to educate the children of the pioneer families. Early in life he decided that a good education was a necessity and he worked his way through the Holden Seminary and the Warrensburg State Normal. He worked as a farm hand until eighteen years of age and then entered Holden Seminary, where he worked his way through in preparation for the

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normal course. His next step was to enter the drug store of Dr. Day, where he learned the art of compounding prescriptions and became thoroughly versed in the mysteries of the drug business. In 1894, he located at Sweet Springs and was there employed and also married. Following a brief residence at Sweet Springs, he bought the J. V. Murray Drug Store in partnership with Mr. Hibbs and the firm has since been known as the Hibbs & Harmon Drug Store. Since the death of Mr. Hibbs, Mr. Harmon has'assumed full charge of the busi- ness but the old firm name has been retained.

Mr. Harmon was married in 1894 to Florence Hibbs at Sweet Springs, Missouri. Florence (Hibbs) Harmon is a daughter of J. W. Hibbs, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Johnson county in 1895 from Saline county, Missouri, where he had settled as early as 1867. He was engaged as a stock buyer in this county until his death. His wife, Henrietta (Greggs) Hibbs, was born and reared near St. Joseph, Missouri and is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Harmon.

Mr. Harmon is a Democrat in politics and has taken an active and influential part in political affairs in Johnson county. He has served as a member of the Democratic County Central Committee and as its treasurer. He is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

James E. Hutchinson, a former postmaster and successful merch- ant of Elm, Missouri and now a retired farmer and stockman, is a Union veteran and one of the best known pioneers of Johnson county. Honored and respected by all, no man in Jackson township occupies a higher standing in agricultural and financial circles than Mr. Hutch- inson, not solely because of the splendid success he has achieved in life but on account of the honest, straightforward policy he has pur- sued. J. E. Hutchinson was born in Kentucky in 1842, a son of James and Catherine (Rouse) Hutchinson. James Hutchinson was a son of Joseph Hutchinson, a prominent and patriotic citizen of Kentucky, who laid down his life for his country in the War of 1812. Catherine (Rouse) Hutchinson was a daughter of Aaron Rouse. who was also a native of Kentucky and one of the leading citizens of his community in that state. To James and Catherine Hutchinson were born eleven children, three of whom are now living: Mrs. Mary J. Lale, Odessa, Missouri: J. E .. the subject of this review; and Mrs. Sallie Lale, Odessa, Missouri.

The Hutchinsons came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1858 and

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JAMES E. HUTCHINSON.

MARY HUTCHINSON.

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settled on a farm of two hundred sixty acres of land located near Odessa, which tract the father purchased at that time. At the out- break of the Civil War, both father and son. James and J. E. Hutchin- son, enlisted with the Federal army in the Fifth Missouri cavalry, their division being known as the Fifth Provisional command. They saw active service in several states, took prominent parts in countless battles and skirmishes, and experienced many narrow, hairbreadth escapes. J. E. Hutchinson was serving at the time of Price's raid.

After the Civil War had ended and Mr. Hutchinson had received his honorable discharge, he returned to his home in Johnson county and later was employed in a sawmill at Lexington, Missouri. While he was thus occupied, he was appointed deputy-sheriff of Lafayette county by Thomas Adamson, the acting sheriff of that county. Mr. Hutchinson faithfully performed his duty while an incumbent in office and the future awaited him with much that was encouraging and full of promise politically, when he resigned his position after one year of service.

In 1866, the marriage of J. E. Hutchinson and Mary Newman, daughter of Jonathan Newman, who settled in Johnson county in 1858, was solemnized. Their marriage was the outcome of a war-time romance. Mr. Hutchinson was introduced to Miss Mary by her brother, who had been a comrade in the Civil War and had fought by the side of Mr. Hutchinson in many hard-won battles. To this union were born four children, three of whom were reared to maturity and are now living: Mrs. Nellie Davidson, Savannah, Missouri: Wilhelmina J., who is familiarly known as "Willie," the companion of her father: and J. M., Kingsville, Missouri. The mother died in 1902 and Mr. Hutchin- son and "Willie" are residing alone at the old homestead in Jackson township. Mrs. Hutchinson was, and Mr. Hutchinson is, a worthy and valued member of the Baptist church, of which she was one of its most earnest and beloved workers. Since Mr. Hutchinson erected his pres- ent home in 1882, he has always had a special room called the "preacher's room" and intended for the use of the local ministers. Mr. Hutchinson, at his advanced age, has bought a Ford and is now learning to run it.

During Grover Cleveland's administrations J. E. Hutchinson was postmaster at Elm, Missouri. Later, he entered the mercantile busi- ness there and for several years was one of the leading and most pros-

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perous merchants of this county. At one time, Mr. Hutchinson was the owner of six hundred ten acres of valuable land, but he has divided the greater portion of his holdings among his children and now has. two hundred fifty-four acres of his original farm in his name. He has. been one of the extensive stockmen of Johnson county and in former years dealt largely in Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. In recent years, he has rented his land and is now living in quiet retire- ment. In 1874, Mr. Hutchinson was elected tax collector of Jackson township, under the township organization, and he received every vote but one cast in the township. He has never had a law-suit, never sued a man nor has he ever been sued.

J. E. Hutchinson's life has been a busy and useful one, an exemplification of honorable dealings, steadfastness of purpose, and invincible moral.courage. Now. at the age of seventy-five years. he is still alert and his mental faculties undimmed, sufficient evidence of a "good fight." Mr. Hutchinson has witnessed a multitude of changes in Missouri during his lifetime. When he was a boy, vast acres of the state were unfenced and roads were few, the travel being along trails and by direction. He has driven six yoke of oxen in breaking sod and to Lexington to obtain supplies. J. E. Hutchinson has been a man of marked initiative. He was the first man to own and operate a thresh- ing machine in this section of the state-and he often had all the work he could do operating his machine until Christmas times-and he owned the first telephone, the first farm tractor, and the first automobile in his neighborhood. He recalls vividly the days when he was want to stand in the doorway of his home and kill wild turkeys and prairie chickens. It was no difficult task to keep the family provisioned in meat in the good, old days of the long ago.

M. L. Golladay-Signal achievements, such as those undertaken and brought to a successful outcome by M. L. Golladay of Holden, Missouri, place him in the front rank with Johnson county's industrial and business leaders. Mr. Golladay has made a striking success as an organizer of establishments which are a pronounced benefit to the up- building of his home city and county. Although a comparatively young man, the strides he has been making in the commercial world are worthy of notice and are evidence in proof of the capabilities of the man himself.

M. L. Golladay, druggist of Holden, Missouri, was born in Holden

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September 9, 1870, and is a son of David and Maria ( Lawrence) Gol- laday, the former of whom was a native of Preble county, Ohio, and the latter, a native of Oswego county, New York. David Golladay, a druggist by profession, came from Ohio to Johnson county, Missouri in 1868 and established the first drug store in the city of Holden. Mr. Golladay was one of the first business men to locate in the town of Holden and he took an active and influential part in the growth of this thriving city during his many years of residence here. The elder Golladay took a great interest in local affairs and served as city treas- urer for several years. He built up a splendid business and laid the foundation of the present substantial family fortunes. His death occurred in 1899 and his departure from this earthly realm was deeply mourned by the people of Holden. Mrs. Maria (Lawrence) Golladay was a woman of fine attainments and great force of character, one whose influence in the community and state was always for good dur- ing her long life which closed December 5, 1916. She was well-edu- cated and had the distinction of having taught the first public school held in Holden. She was active in the work of the Women's Chris- tian Temperance Association and served as both local and county president. For a number of years, she was state superintendent of the Demorest Medal Contest. Mrs. Golladay was a noble and talented woman, whose work has survived her and will live long in the records of the moral uplift work which is still going on in Missouri and else- where.

M. L. Golladay, subject of this review, was educated in the public schools of Holden and the Wentworth Military Academy at Lexing- ton, Missouri. From boyhood, he has practically spent his whole life in the drug business, first associated with his father and then succeeded to the business upon his father's death. Mr. Golladay is owner and manager of Golladay's Drug & Book Store, which is the oldest established busi- ness of its kind in Johnson county, operated for fifty years under the same name. Of late years, Mr. Golladay's many interests have so divided his time that he employs a manager to operate the drug store. He is proprietor of the splendid "Hillcroft Farms" which are noted for the fine, registered Jersey cattle, registered Duroc Jersey hogs and white Leghorn chickens. He also employs a manager for the "Hill- croft Farms" which are operated as a dairy farm. Mr. Golladay was the organizer of the Holden Home Telephone Company, which began

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operations in 1901 and has now more than two thousand subscribers, with exchanges at Holden, Centerview, Kingsville, and Chilhowee. He is secretary and manager of this flourishing and prosperous concern, which is capitalized at fifty thousand dollars. He helped organize and place in operation the Holden Ice and Fuel Company, which began doing business in 1914, the principal product being "Sanitary Distilled Water Ice." Mr. Golladay also erected the Holden Steam Laundry and is owner of the City Garage and Repair Shop, operated in connec- tion with the Overland Service Station. This versatile and energetic citizen is factory agent for the Willys-Overland Company, Admiral Hay Press Company, the Avery Company, and the B. F. Goodrich Company. He is affiliated with the Bank of Holden as a stockholder, a concern which has a capital and surplus of over ninety thousand dollars.

In September, 1891, M. L. Golladay was united in marriage with Laura Rice, who was born in Oswego, New York and was a teacher in the old Seminary at Holden. Mr. and Mrs. Golladay have reared three sons, as follow: Lawrence R., a skilled electrical engineer, now in the employ of the Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; E. Lew, manager of the Holden City Garage, a mechan- ical engineer by profession; and H. David, a student in the Holden High School.

Mr. Golladay is independent in politics. He is a member of Lodge Number 262, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons and of the Thirty-second Degree and of the Ararat Temple Mystic Shriners of Kansas City, Missouri. He is Past Master of Masonic Lodge Number 262, of Holden: Past High Priest of Royal Arch Chapter, Number 65, Holden: and is Past Noble Grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of his home city. He is also Past Council Commander of the Woodmen of the World and has served as president of the Missouri State Telephone Association, holding the office of director in both State and National Telephone Associations. Mr. Golladay has achieved a state-wide and even national reputation as a telephone engineer and as a breeder of Jersey cattle. He is a member of the Southwest Jersey Cattle Breeders' Association.

C. E. Starkey, proprietor of the I. Starkey estate and well-known lumberman of Holden, Missouri, is a native son of Missouri. He was

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born December 30, 1869, in the house, which is still his home, located on Fifth street, between Market and Main, a residence which has been the Starkey home in Holden for more than fifty years. He is a son of I. and Sarah (O'Neil) Starkey, natives of Ohio and Missouri, respectively. I. Starkey, the father, was born in Ohio and when but a child accompanied his parents to Illinois where he was reared to manhood. Several years prior to the outbreak of the Civil War he came to Missouri and located on a farm near Columbus in Johnson county. When the Civil War began, his inclinations and upbringing caused him to cast his lot with the Union and he returned to the old home neighborhood in Illinois and there offered his services. He enlisted in Company K, Sixty-third Illinois Infantry and served as a private soldier throughout the great conflict. He was successively pro- moted for strict attention to duty and bravery on the field of battle and at the close of the war had attained the rank of captain in com- mand of his company. Captain Starkey fought in many important battles during the war and was engaged in some hard campaigns. He fought at the great battle of Missionary Ridge, and was with General Sherman on his famous march to the sea which resulted in the captures of Atlanta and Savannah. He also participated in the Grand Review of the victorious northern troops at Washington and was soon after- ward honorably discharged from the service. Soon after the close of his military service and, when conditions had become normal in Missouri, he returned West and was here married. For a short time he worked at his trade of carpentering and in 1866 he located at Holden and in partnership with William L. Christian engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of Starkey & Christian. This firm estab- lished one of the first business establishments in Holden and pros- pered during the life of the partnership which endured until 1881 when Mr. Starkey purchased his partner's interest in the business and con- ducted it under his own name until his death, August 6, 1900. Mr. Starkey was one of the leading and highly respected men of Holden during his many years of residence in this city and was rated as one of Johnson county's substantial and enterprising citizens. He faithfully did his part as a leader in building and creating the second largest city in the county. His death was sincerely mourned by a host of friends and acquaintances and the loss was deeply felt by the city of Holden.

I. Starkey was united in marriage in 1865 to Sarah O'Neil,

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who was born in 1842 in Saline county, Missouri, a daughter of early Missouri pioneers who came to this state from Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. I. Starkey were the parents of two children: Charles E., subject of this review; and Mattie, wife of W. L. Blewitt, who is now deceased.

Charles E. Starkey was educated in the public schools of Holden and Wentworth Military College. Lexington, Missouri. Upon the completion of his education he became associated with his father in the lumber business and has carried it on successfully since his father's death. Mr. Starkey handles building materials of all kinds: brick. tiling, cement, plaster, and the best grades of lumber. The Starkey establishment is an extensive one covering about one-half a city block between Third and Fourth streets in Holden.

C. E. Starkey and Sally Redford, of Holden, were married on July 5, 1894 and they are the parents of one daughter. Mildred. a grad- uate of the Holden High School. Mrs. Sally Starkey is a daughter of George and Deborah Redford and she was born and reared in John- son county.

Mr. Starkey is a Republican in his political belief but is inclined to be independent in local political affairs, believing that the best local government can be obtained by electing able men to office regardless of their political affiliations. He has served as a member of the Holden school board for a period of seventeen years and has always taken a keen interest and influential part in educational matters. He has also filled the offices of city collector and city treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Starkey and daughter, Mildred, are members of the Christian church and are prominent socially in their home city where the name Starkey has long been favorably known.

J. W. Strange, well and favorably known farmer of Madison town- ship, was born on a farm, located on Blackwater in Columbus township, January 14. 1868. He is the only living son of his parents, Jesse C. and Sarah C. (Wilkerson) Strange, the former of whom was a native of Lafayette county, Missouri, and the latter, a native of Clark county, Kentucky, and both were of pioneer families of Missouri.

The late Jesse C. Strange was born December 25. 1833 on a pioneer farm in Lafayette county. He was a son of L. Caney and Sarah (Lowery) Strange, both of whom were reared in Madison county, Ken- tucky of old Virginia stock. L. Caney Strange was a son of Obadiah Strange, who came to Johnson county and died at the Strange home on

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Bear creek. L. Caney Strange migrated to Missouri and made a settle- ment in Lafayette county in 1833. Two years later, he removed to Johnson county and settled near Columbus, where he remained until 1836 when he removed to a farm on Bear creek and lived there until his death occurred in 1837. The Lowery family came to Lafayette county from Kentucky in 1833 and in the following year located in Johnson county and entered land on the Blackwater, near Columbus. At the age of twenty years. Jesse C. Strange went to California in com- pany with M. C. Draper and there remained for three years, during which time he was engaged in mining. He then returned to Johnson county. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the southern army and served in Parsons' brigade with the army of General Price. He served throughout the conflict and during one fierce engagement had his cart- ridge box shot from him, and he narrowly escaped death. He was very sick at Helena, Arkansas and at Little Rock.

At the close of the war, he returned to his farm near Columbus and remained there until 1868, when he located in Madison township and became owner of five hundred acres of excellent farm land. Mr. Strange was an extensive stockman and a successful farmer. He was a man of strong and decided convictions, one who was not afraid to express himself on occasions, honest, energetic, and industrious. He was affil- iated with the camp of Confederate Veterans at Warrensburg and was a member of the Christian church. The Democratic party always had his unswerving allegiance and support. Mr. Strange was first married to Dorothy J. Lee, of Howard county. Missouri, who died, leaving one son, Charles L .. of Holden, Missouri. Mr. Strange's second marriage was with Sarah C. Wilkerson in 1866. To this union two children were born: John W., subject of this review: and Tippie D., who died at the age of twenty-four years. Mrs. Sarah C. Strange was born near Win- chester in Clark county, Kentucky in 1843, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Flynn) Wilkerson, both of whom were born and reared in Ken- tucky and located in the northern part of Johnson county in 1859. Both parents of Mrs. Jesse Strange died in Johnson county. Mrs. Strange resides with her son, John W .. on the home place in Madison township, and is one of the honored and respected pioneer women of Johnson county.

J. WV. Strange received his education in the public schools of Madison township and was reared a farmer and stockman. His farm

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is one of the best improved and most productive in Johnson county and the holdings of Mr. Strange will exceed one thousand acres. He is one of the most extensive stockmen in this section of Missouri and has at this writing one hundred twenty-five head of Poland China hogs on his place besides a large herd of Shorthorn cattle.

Mr. Strange was married on January 15, 1896 to Miss Gertrude Platter, who was born and reared in Johnson county, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Glascow) Platter, natives of Ohio, who made a settlement in Johnson county in 1867. Mrs. Strange's mother is de- ceased and her father resides in Holden. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Strange have three children: Jesse Clark, S. T., and Laverne, all of whom are at home with their parents.

Mr. Strange is widely known as a progressive farmer and stock buyer and a successful and enterprising citizen. His interests are with his farming and stock operations and his ambitions are mainly for his family, preferring to leave the details of political matters to those who prefer them, he himself having no taste or inclination for politics. Mr. Strange is a good citizen, one who is making a splendid success of his vocation and he is one of Johnson county's valued men.

W. O. Davis, the well-known grocer of Warrensburg, is one of Johnson county's prominent pioneers and valued citizens. The Davis family came to Warrensburg just after the Civil War, in 1866. W. O. Davis was born May 26, 1856 in Indiana. He is the son of Lawrence T. and Amanda J. (Johnson) Davis, natives of Fleming county, Ken- tucky. Lawrence T. Davis was born January 6, 1830 and Amanda J. (Johnson) Davis was born October 11, 1834. They were united in marriage in Kentucky and moved to Indiana and from there to Illi- nois in 1860.

To Lawrence T. and Amanda J. Davis were born the following children: W. O., the subject of this review; a son born in 1858, died in infancy ; Mary H., died in infancy; James Lewis, born April 25. 1862 and died in Warrensburg, January 8, 1917; Charles Coleman, born May 18. 1865, resides in Houston, Texas; Lizzie May, born July 17, 1867, the wife of Lennis Owen, Salt Lake City, Utah; Arbelle, born March 2, 1870, the wife of Thomas Welch, Palisades, Colorado; and twins, died in infancy.

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History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 51

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