History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 61

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

USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 61

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1884. J. T. Hume and Maggie Combs were united in marriage. Maggie (Combs) Hume is the daughter of Robert and Mary Combs, who came from Kentucky to Missouri in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Hume are the parents of four children: Mrs. Mary L. Phoenix, Grand Junction, Colorado; Roy Lewis, Knob Notser, Missouri; Harry T. Knob Noster, Missouri; and Otis L., Knob Noster, Missouri.

Mr. Hume is quietly residing on his farm in Jefferson township (his sons having the active supervision of the farm work. He is a man of pleasant, genial, kindly manners, one who has a wide circle of friends in

708

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

Johnson county. Both he and Mrs. Hume are widely known and respected and they are numbered among the county's best and most sub- stantial families.

Henry May, one of Johnson county's most successful farmers and stockmen, is the representative of a prominent pioneer family of Pettis county, Missouri. He was born in 1865 in Pettis county, son of George and Susan May, who in a very early day came from Kentucky to Mis- souri and settled on the farm, where George May is now residing.

The education of Henry May was obtained in the public schools of Pettis county. The schoolhouse was built of logs and the children fol- lowed a trail across the prairie to reach it. The trail was made by drag- ging a log across the tall grass, using a yoke of oxen to do so. The benches inside were made of a puncheon, as was also the floor, and on one side of the room was a puncheon shelf upon which the older boys and girls could write. Educational opportunities were necessarily lim- ited in so new a country fifty years ago and in the pioneer homes there was always much work to be done, so that it was impossible for the larger boys to attend school when the school was in session, which was only for a few months each year. Early in life, Henry May began work- ing for himself on the farm.

In 1894, Henry May and Annie E. Balke were united in marriage. Annie E (Balke) May is the daughter of John Balke, a well-known farmer residing in Henry county, Missouri. To Henry and Annie E. May have been born two children: Mary and Elvis. Mary, born April 22, 1896, is the wife of Charles Neal Cooper, a son of Charles Cooper, of Jefferson township. Elvis May was born October 25, 1901.

In 1899, Mr. and Mrs. May came to Johnson county, where Mr. May purchased two hundred forty acres of land in Jefferson township. Mr. May devotes most of his attention to stock raising and most of his farm is now in grass land, having nearly two hundred acres in meadow. He handles Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs, having at the time of this writing about thirty head of hogs. The May place is well watered and improved. An overflow spring, of twenty feet depth, is located on this farm, furnishing plenty of fine, clear water for the stock. One very pleasing feature of the May stock farm is the splendid orchard, consisting of one hundred bearing apple trees, the quality of the fruit being exceptionally good.

For more than a half century, Henry May has been a resident of

700

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

this section of the state and he recalls the open condition of the country in the days of his boyhood. Pasture land was unlimited and wild game was to be found in abundance. When a lad, he frequently participated in deer chases, hunted wild turkeys, and killed prairie chickens. Wages were not to be compared with those paid at the present time, but a young man then was glad to be paid in cash, and Mr. May many times split rails for twenty-five cents a hundred. He was an ambitious youth, industrious and willing to do any work obtainable. He has succeeded remarkably well in life and no man in Johnson county is more deserving of success than Henry May.

John Lemley, an honored and brave pioneer of Johnson county, Missouri, is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock- men in Washington township, who now resides in Knob Noster. He was born in 1836 in Greene county. Pennsylvania, son of Jacob and Catherine (Morris) Lemley. The Lemley family was a very prominent and influential family in Pensylvania, being one of the leading colonial families. Several members of the family were professional men, while others were engaged in the pursuits of agriculture in that state.

John Lemley was united in marriage with Anna R. Elder, the daughter of Michael Elder, a native of Maryland, in the state of Vir- ginia. To John and Anna R. (Elder) Lemley have been born eleven children, six of whom are now living: B. J., John W., James M., Finis, Ralph, and Mrs. Stella Berry. From Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Lemley moved to Tennessee, where Mr. Lemley was employed as overseer in railroad construction work, assisting in the construction of the mam- moth tunnel in that state on the Southern Central railway. After the Civil War, in 1865, they moved from Tennessee to Virginia and thence to Missouri and settled in Johnson county, on a farm of one hundred twenty acres in Washington township, which Mr. Lemley purchased for twenty dollars an acre, land now valued, at the lowest figure, at one hundred dollars an acre.

The Civil War had left the county in a dreary state of desolation. Cabins had been burned and nearly all the fences destroyed, so that settlers in the country had to begin life anew. Much of the land was virgin sod and Mr. Lemley and John Shepherd each purchased two yoke of oxen, which they exchanged, to be used in breaking sod. Mr. Lemley soon found the oxen too slow for him and began using mules and horses. He tells an amusing story of how h elearned to cultivate sod ground. He did it in his own way, much to the amusement of the neighbors, and

710

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

arousing great ridicule, but he never failed to secure results. The first home of the Lemleys in Johnson county was a very primitive log cabin, having but one room and a "lean-to" and not one window. Mrs. Lemley became very homesick and cried to go back home to Virginia. The neighbors comforted and encouraged them and when a few windows were added to the rude, unfinished cabin, Mrs. Lemley became more content to reamin in the new Western home. There was one advantage which the first settlers had and that was that there was always plenty of meat to be had. Wild game of all kinds could be found in abundance. Many times, John Lemley has killed as many as five prairie chickens at one shot. In the course of time, Mr. Lemley began to prosper and become well-to-do. He became widely known as a capable, successful stockman and was the owner at one time of four hundred acres of fine farm land. He dealt largely in hogs and sheep.

In 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Lemley moved from the farm to Knob Nos- ter, Missouri, where Mr. Lemley purchased forty rods square of land in the city and a nice residence, which is their present home. In addi- tion to his home in Knob Noster, John Lemley is the owner of rental property in the city of Knob Noster and one hundred acres of land south of the city. He is still actively engaged in farming and is an advocate of crop rotation, a course which he pursues on his own place. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lemley are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Lemley was a deacon for many years and has been an elder of the congregation for over forty years.

Countless times, John Lemley has attended the old-fashioned revival meetings and, at one, Reverend G. W. Matthews secured forty conversions. Other pioneer preachers, whom he recalls were: "Uncle Davy" Hogan, Reverends Jack Whitsett, Henry Houx. Two early-day teachers were: Fannie Thornton and Bettie Duffield, who afterward went as a missionary to Japan.

Joseph W. Caldwell, who is now deceased, was for several years county assessor of Johnson county, Missouri. He was born in Kentucky in 1842, son of William and Jane Caldwell and when a child five years of age, he came to Missouri with his parents, who settled in Johnson county on a farm in Post Oak township in 1847. He was reared and educated in Johnson county and during the Civil War. Mr. Caldwell enlisted with the Confederate army. He was a faithful soldier, always alert and ready at his post, and his many pleasing personal qualities

711

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

made him a favorite with his comrades and esteemed by all the officers. After the war had ended, Mr. Caldwell returned to his home in John- son county and engaged in the pursuits of agriculture, becoming a well- known and prosperous farmer and stockman, the owner of four hundred eighty acres of the best farm land in Johnson county.

In 1872, Joseph W. Caldwell was united in marriage with Martha Ann Townsley, daughter of James and Sarah Townsley, who were noble and brave pioneers of Missouri, coming to this county many years prior to the Civil War. To Joseph W. and Martha Ann Caldwell were born five children: Mrs. Mary F. Wall, Quanah, Texas; G. T., Leeton, Missouri; Mrs. Sarah J. Powers, Chilhowee, Missouri; Joseph W., Jr., Leeton, Missouri; and James Samnel, Leeton, Missouri. Mr. Cald- well was a valued and worthy member of the Harmony Baptist church, as is also Mrs. Caldwell. Mrs. Caldwell was born January 18, 1850, in Post Oak township. She has ten grandchildren. James Samuel, lives on the home place, married Anna E. Walker, of Leeton. and they have two children: Leora Lee, and Lenora May.

Mrs. Caldwell has lived in Johnson county sixty-seven years and has witnessed many changes during the past half century. In her girlhood, practically all the country was open prairie, the land covered with tall, coarse grass, over which trails were made by the settlers, driving a yoke of oxen dragging a large, heavy log. There were no roads and where there were no trails, the people were obliged to trace their way by their sense of direction. All stock had unlimited range and no one thought of keeping the cattle within certain bounds. The few little towns usually consisted of one store and a blacksmith's shop. There was plenty of meat to be obtained by hunting, for wild game of all kinds could be found in abundance. Supplies, which could not be secured by their own labor, the pioneers were obliged to haul from towns many miles distant. There were no free schools in Missouri before the Civil War and Mrs. Caldwell attended the old-fashioned "subscription school," which was taught by Jeff Wright and later. by Mr. Lowery. The school was held in a log house, having a puncheon floor and puncheon benches. Blackboards and chalk were unheard of and when the older boys and girls wished to write, they wrote upon a shelf, which was placed on one side of the room, made of a split board and just high enough for them, as little children were not taught to write until after they had learned all the words in the speller.

712

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

Spelling was the principal subject and "spelling bees" were frequently held, arousing much intense interest and excitement. People came on horseback from long distances to attend. To go to church was con- sidered a great privilege and pleasure and the settlers would take their dinner with them and spend the day. The young people would ride on horseback or walk to church and many families came in wagons, each drawn by a yoke of oxen. The pioneer preacher was an honored member of the community and one of the earliest and most beloved was "Uncle Billy" Caldwell, father of Joseph W. Caldwell.

There was probably no happier or more contented family in Mis- souri than the Caldwell family, when the terrible tragedy occurred, like a bolt from a clear sky, which struck down in the strength of his matured manhood the loved father and husband. February 13, 1903, Joseph W. Caldwell accidentally shot himself and without a moment's warning the voice, ever so full of hope and cheer, was hushed in death. The message of the untimely death brought sadness and heartache to countless homes in Johnson county, for to know Joseph W. Caldwell was to love him. He was a man of winning personality, noble minded, and pure hearted, whose life was not lived in vain, for it has ever been a source of inspiration to all with whom he came in contact. Why he should have been cut down in his prime, we can not know. "On earth the hollow arcs are found, in heaven the perfect round."

George Youngs, a prominent and successful farmer and stockman of Hazel Hill township, was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, Sep- tember 28, 1852. He is the son of Edgar and Mary (Mock) Youngs and of English and German (Pennsylvania Dutch), respectively, de- scent. Edgar Youngs was born December 29. 1828, in New York, the son of Joseph L. Youngs, who was born March 4, 1804, a carriagemaker by trade. In 1839, the elder Mr. Youngs came to Missouri from New York with his family and followed his trade in St. Louis for several years. Joseph L. Youngs and his son. Edgar. crossed the plains with an ox-team in 1849 enroute to the goldfield of California. For some time. father and son remained in that state and conducted a small gen- eral store, while they were engaged in mining for gold. Edgar Youngs also was employed in freighting from Auburn to Sacramento. In 1851, they started on their way homeward, coming back by way of the Isth- mus of Panama. They traveled part of the way in a canoe. While on the vessel sailing from Panama to New Orleans, both the captain and

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE YOUNGS.

713

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

the mate of the ship died. The men on board were called upon to assist in sailing the vessel and both Edgar Youngs and his father re- sponded to the call. Ignorant of ship management, the unqualified crew almost succeeded in wrecking themselves. They arrived home safely, however, and Edgar purchased his first tract of land in Lafayette county immediately afterward, a farm comprising two hundred sixty acres for which he paid Mr. Lemmon nine hundred dollars. Joseph L. Youngs died at Topeka, Kansas, on November 18, 1877. Edgar Youngs was married to Mary Mock, the daughter of David Mock, of Freedom town- ship, Lafayette county. She was born June 19, 1829. To Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Youngs were born ten children: George, the subject of this review ; William E., born April 2, 1854, and died January 26, 1875, while a student at the State University at Columbia; Marcus, the well- known banker of Warrensburg, of whom a biography appears elsewhere in this volume; Emma, the wife of J. W. Foster, who died March 18, 1898; Theodore, born June 29. 1860, Nye county, Nevada; Mollie, the wife of John P. Greer, of Freedom township, Lafayette county; Lydia, who was born February 9, 1864, and died September 30, 1867; Annie E., born in 1867, was united in marriage with William H. Parker on October 24, 1888, and now resides in Simpson township. Johnson county ; Mattie C., born March 8, 1870, and married Edgar Houston, both of whom are now deceased; and Frances B., born January 29, 1872. now the wife of Charles M. Purnell, of Lafayette county, Mis- souri. The mother's death occurred in 1907 and the father died Decem- ber 20, 1910.

George Youngs attended school in log houses in Lafayette and Johnson counties. He also was a student at the Franklin School in St. Louis and at McGee College in Macon county for three months. At the age of twenty-one years, Mr. Youngs started in life for himself, engaged in farming. For nearly twelve years, he resided on his father's place. He then was employed as clerk in one of the mercantile estab- lishments in Higginsville for two years. In 1890, he came to his present farm home, where he has since resided, with the exception of the three years he spent on the home place caring for his father, after the mother's death. The residence was on the farm at the time Mr. Youngs purchased it . Twice this farm has been visited by cyclones. Once several of the farm buildings were destroyed and the orchard ruined. The beautiful elms and maples now growing on the place were planted by Mr. Youngs

714

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

in 1892. The Youngs farm was formerly owned by Alexander Greer, a pioneer of Simpson township, and comprises one hundred eighty acres of land, six of which are the site of the new Consolidated District School Number 3, a building now in the process of erection. The greater part of the farm is devoted to pasture and grass. Mr. Youngs keeps twenty- five head of cattle and raises mules.

September 28, 1877, George Youngs and Lillie L. Greer, the daugh- ter of Alexander and Louisa Greer, were united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Greer were the parents of fourteen children, all of whom were reared to maturity and with the exception of one, Mrs. Grover Youngs, all are now living. The father and mother are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Youngs have been born three children: Walter, who married Carrie Barkhurst, of Hazel Hill township, and resides in Lafay- ette county ; Minnie, the wife of Oscar Cobb, of Fayetteville, Missouri; and Eugenia, the wife of Samuel C. Brown, who is a skilled mechani- cian and well-to-do blacksmith of Robbins, where they own a pretty home. Mr. and Mrs. Youngs are again alone, as they were forty years ago. They are numbered among Johnson county's best families and are highly valued in their community. Mr. Youngs is an intelligent, keen thinker and one of the most progressive citizens of Hazel Hill township, a "booster" for good schools and roads. He has from the beginning of the project been deeply interested in the new Consolidated school build- ing, which is being erected near his home.

D. E. Lowry, the well-to-do farmer and stockman of Jefferson township, is one of Johnson county's most highly respected and pro- gressive citizens. He is a representative of a prominent and honored pioneer family of Cooper county, Missouri, where he was born and reared. Mr. Lowry was born April 21. 1873, the son of Jehial and Melissa Lowry, who came from Ohio in an early day and located in Cooper county. In 1882, the Lowry family moved to Pettis county and here the son. D. E., attended the district school. and was reared to manhood.

In 1905, D. E. Lowry came to Johnson county and rented the Henry Fewel place, consisting of three hundred sixty acres of land. where he engaged in raising splendid corn and fine, high-grade stock. After deducting his rent Mr. Lowry had a clear profit annually of fifteen hundred dollars. In 1906, he purchased two hundred thirty- five acres of land in Jefferson county, paying two thousand dollars in

715

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

cash, and in five years time, had liquidated the entire indebtedness of ten thousand dollars. Mr. Lowry increased his holdings in 1913 by purchasing one hundred seventeen acres of valuable farm land east of his home place and at the present time is entirely free from debt. Early in life, D. E. Lowry acquired the habit of meeting his obligations, when due, and now his word is as good as gold. Life has been an upward pull for him and he has "made good." When a lad, he worked for anything from a dime to fifty cents a day, but he saved his money and determined to make a success of his life. His first investment was in a horse, which he bought on ten months' time. When the debt came due, Mr. Lowry had the money ready to pay it. He has always been interested in stock and especially in fine horses and mules. In 1898, he bought two mares for twenty-five dollars each and from them sold one thousand dollars worth of colts, finally selling one of the mares for two and a half dollars more than she cost. He had as remarkable success with mules, purchasing a team of mares at a cost of one hun- dred fifty dollars each. The first four mules bred from these mares sold for nine hundred seventy dollars. Uniform success has attended all his efforts and he has an established reputation for raising the best cattle and hogs. Mr. Lowry attributes much of his good fortune along agricultural lines to the fact that he does not push crops, but waits until the weather is warm enough for the seed to germinate, especially in the case of corn. He never fails to have an excellent yield. At the time of this writing. he has ninety acres of his farm in corn and thirty-five acres in oats. D. E. Lowry devotes most of his attention, however, to stock raising, and two hundred thirty acres of the Lowry place are in grass land for pasturing purposes. He is an ardent and enthusiastic advocate of crop rotation and stock raising for increasing the fertility of the soil. The Lowry stock farm is one of the best- watered farms in Johnson county, being supplied with plenty of good spring water. Since coming to his farm, Mr. Lowry has added to the improvements a well-constructed and splendidly equipped barn, built of native lumber. The Lowry residence is a quaint, old fashioned home, weatherboarded with walnut lumber.

In 1894, D. E. Lowry and Drusilla Egbert were united in mar- riage. Mrs. Lowry is the daughter of Dudley and Anna ( Moseley) Egbert, noble pioneers of Johnson county, coming here among the very first settlers in 1842. Drusilla (Egbert) Lowry was born, reared,

716

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

educated, and married in Johnson county, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowry have been born the following children: Clarence, Nellie, Allen, Daisy, Ida, and Emma. With the exception of the oldest son, who resides in Warrensburg, Missouri, the children are living at home with their parents.

One of the countless instances of Mr. Lowry's thriftiness occurred in the fall of 1916, when he purchased two carloads of cattle, making a handsome profit on his investment. Industrious, capable, intelligent, he richly deserves all the success that comes to him and more good fortune will come, for he was apparently born under a lucky star. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lowry are highly esteemed and respected in their com- munity and the Lowry family is one that Johnson county is proud to claim.

Dr. E. Y. Pare, a prominent and efficient physician and druggist of Leeton, Missouri, is one of Johnson county's most highly valued and respected young citizens. He was born in 1872 near Urbana, Missouri, son of Reverend W. T. and Sarah E. (Meadors) Pare. Reverend Pare was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, a son of Judge John A. Pare, a prominent and influential farmer and one of the organizers of Hickory county, Missouri. Reverend W. T. Pare was pastor of Pierce City Methodist Episcopal church and Pacific Method- ist 'Episcopal church. His life was spent in the ministry and he was widely known, and loved by all with whom he came in contact. His death occurred March 10, 1915. Dr. E. Y. Pare is the only child living of the two sons born to his parents. His brother, Robert, died in childhood.

E. Y. Pare received his literary education in Marionville College, Marionville, Missouri. He was a student at the Medical School of St. Louis University in 1895 and 1896 and graduated from the Barnes' Medical College in the class of 1898. Dr. Pare began the practice of medicine at Conway, Missouri, where he remained several years, engaged in an extensive practice. Later. he was the company physician for the American Car & Foundry Company at Sligo, Missouri, for two and a half years. In 1906. Dr. E. Y. Pare came to Leeton, Missouri, where he erected a fine brick structure, in which he now has located a splendid drug store, carrying a complete line of high grade drugs and sundries. The store building was erected in 1911. Doctor Pare, in addition to conducting the drug store, is still actively engaged in the practice of

717

HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

medicine, having a large and lucrative patronage. He is held in the highest respect by the different members of his profession in the county and he is a valued member of the County, the State, and the National Medical Associations. Doctor Pare is the local surgeon for the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas and Rock Island Railway Companies.

In 1904, Dr. E. Y. Pare was united in marriage with Cora M. Fultz, daughter of John A. and Sarah M. Fultz. To Dr. and Mrs. Pare has been born one child, a daughter, Imogenc. In addition to the drug store building, Dr. Pare is the owner of their beautiful home in Leeton, Missouri.

John J. Lee, one of Johnson county's most distinguished pioneers, is one of the founders of Leeton, Missouri. He was born December 27, 1842, in Ohio, son of John N. and Eliza ( Rittenhouse ) Lee. The Lee family moved to Ohio from Virginia, thence to Missouri in 1867. Gen- eral Robert E. Lee, the great Southern leader in the Civil War. traced his lineage back to the same ancestors as J. J. Lee. the subject of this review.

When nineteen years of age, J. J. Lee enlisted in the Civil War, serving with the Union army with Company F, Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry. At the time of the organization of the regiment, there was a total of nine hundred sixty-seven men belonging and at the close of the war there were only three hundred twenty-eight men remaining to be mustered out. Mr. Lee participated in twenty battles: Perryville, Kentucky; Stone's River, Tennessee; Missionary Ridge, Tennessee ; Adairsville, Georgia; Dallas, Georgia: Newhope Church, Georgia; Ken- esaw Mountain, Georgia; Peachtree Creek, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Rockyface Ridge, Georgia; Dalton, Georgia: Resaca, Georgia; Jones- boro. Georgia: Lovejoys Station, Georgia; Springhill, Tennessee; Franklin, Tennessee; and Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Lee was in active and continuous service three years and was mustered out and honor- ably discharged at the close of the war in 1865.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 61

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