History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 63

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

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In 1899. Charles S. Eppright and Pearl McElwee. the daughter of John McElwee, of Chilhowee, were married. To Mr. and Mrs. Eppright have been born three sons: George M .. Edgar C., and Stanley P .. all at home with their parents. Until the time of his marriage. Mr. Epp- right remained at home with his parents. In the fall of 1893. the elder Eppright gave his two sons, Charles S. and George W., one hundred ninety-three acres of land and on this place Charles S. began life for himself, engaged in the pursuits of agriculture. This tract of land lies in the southern part of Centerview township. At a later time. in 1899. he purchased his brother's interest and gradually has increased

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his holdings until he is now the owner of nearly five hundred acres of land. In 1909, Mr. Eppright built the handsome country residence, which is his present home, a structure of eight rooms, of commanding and attractive appearance. He has added all the improvements on the place, the two well-constructed barns and numerous farm buildings, until he has one of the best stock farms in this section of the state. The farm is well watered and nearly two hundred acres are bottom land. Two hundred forty acres of the Eppright farm are in grass and pasture and timber land. This year, 1917, he had sixty acres of wheat. forty-five acres of oats, ten acres of which averaged seventy-five bushels to the acre, and seventy-five acres of corn. For the past few years, Mr. Eppright has been devoting more attention to stock raising. He raises Durham cattle and white hogs. He is a strong advocate of the manure-spreader. He is himself using the spreader extensively and, by its use, bringing his land to a high state of cultivation.

Politically, Charles S. Eppright is a Democrat. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which fraternity he is a highly valued member.

Mrs. M. C. Draper, the widow of M. C. Draper, a former represen- tative from Johnson county in the Missouri state Legislature, is one of the noble and highly esteemed pioneer women of Jefferson township. She is the daughter of Jesse Endlow, who came with his family to Johnson county, Missouri, in 1844 and settled on a farm in Jefferson township.

Johnson county was unfenced prairie land, when the Endlow family settled here. Stock were given unlimited range and the idea of keep- ing cattle within certain limits was unknown. The prairie grass grew tall and thick and trails were made by dragging a heavy log across the country. using a yoke of oxen to do so. Along such a trail, the children went to the "subscription school," which was held in a log house, having puncheon benches and floor. Mr. Heridon was Mrs. Draper's first teacher. He was called the "master" and he sat in the center of the room and called the pupils to him to "say their lessons." Spelling was the principal subject taught in the primitive schools and frequently "spelling bees" were held, which the old and young attended and which always aroused much interest and comment. Although the settlements were far distant and very few, the people often met at social gatherings and prayer meetings. Mr. Endlow gave his daughter

MRS. M. C. DRAPER.

M. C. DRAPER.

te.

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

a pony and she rode on horseback all over the county, attending church and all the parties, which were given by the young people. Life in those days was not always dull and dreary. The young people had many simple amusements and pleasures, such as dancing, corn-husking parties, spinning and quilting "bees," house-raisings, apple-parings, "spelling bees" and "singing schools." On all these occasions there was always much fun. Then in the winter everyone would go sleigh- ing over the wide, snow-covered prairie. The men and boys always enjoyed fishing and hunting, although both were considered occupa- tions as well as pleasures. There were many pools, abounding in fish, to be found in all parts of the county in the early days and wild turkey, deer, and prairie chickens were here in great numbers. The pioneer settlers considered it a great privilege and pleasure to attend church and all, who were able to do so, went to hear the early preach- ers, two of whom Mrs. Draper recalls: Reverend Ricketts and Reverend David Horn. Both church and school were held in the same log house, although at first all religions meetings were held in the cabin homes of the settlers.

In 1858, M. C. Draper and Miss Endlow were united in marriage. M. C. Draper was born in Kentucky in 1833 and in early manhood came to Missouri and located in Johnson county. Mr. Endlow was a prosper- ous farmer and at the time of his daughter's marriage gave Mr. and Mrs. Draper eighty acres of land and there they built their first home, obtaining the lumber at Warsaw, from which place Mr. Draper hauled it. He had attended Chapel Hill College, prior to his marriage, and was there a colleague of Senator Francis M. Cockrell, the father of the author of this volume. To Representative M. C. Draper and Mrs. Draper were born six children : Mrs. Luella Wingfield, Kansas City, Mis- souri: Mrs. Lilly Lyle, Kansas City, Missouri; Charles A., Windsor. Missouri; Mrs. Elizabeth Grinstead, Wichita, Kansas; W. W., Leeton, Missouri; and Mrs. Florence Williams, Windsor, Missouri. W. W. Draper was married August 28. 1917. to Carrie Thomas, of California, a daughter of C. J. Thomas, a pioneer settler of Johnson county. M. C. Draper was one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen of John- son county. At one time, he represented Johnson county in the state Legislature and he always took an active and interested part in civic affairs. He was a man whom everyone admired and respected, a man possessing many qualities worthy of the greatest consideration and

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honor. His death in 1904 was the source of deepest regret in the entire county. His youngest son, William W. Draper, is now the owner of the old home place, where he is engaged in stock raising, devoting much attention to the raising of Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. At the present time, about one hundred acres of the Draper farm are in meadow land.

William P. Hunt, president of the Chilhowee Bank of Chilhowee, Missouri, was born January 8, 1847, in Cooper county, Missouri. He is a son of Jonathan and Martha F. Hunt. Jonathan Hunt was a son of William Hunt, Sr., a native of North Carolina, an early settler of Cooper county, a prosperous pioneer farmer and stockman. The son, Jonathan, was reared and educated in Cooper county and in early man- hood entered the mercantile business in addition to his work of farming. He hauled all the goods for his store from Lexington. The mother, Martha F. (Lee) Hunt, was the daughter of Noah and Nancy Lee, natives of Virginia and honored pioneers of Cooper county. To Jonathan and Martha F. Hunt were born eight children, only two of whom are now living: William P., of this review; and Mrs. Frank Jones, Green- ville, Texas.

When Mr. Hunt came to Johnson county in 1855, with his parents, all the settlements were along the streams and the prairie was practi- cally unfenced. The father purchased and entered in all seven hundred acres of land near Kingsville. With the assistance of oxen, the sod land was broken and Mr. Hunt began to farm his place and to raise stock. The father hewed logs from the trees on the farm, with which to build their home and part of the lumber was hauled from Lexington. While the new home was in the process of erection, which required one year. the Hunt family resided in an old-fashioned log cabin. William P. Hunt attended school held in a log house, having a large fireplace on one side of the room and an entire log left out of the building on the other side of the room, for the window, and puncheon benches. This was known as the Duncan school and was located on Lost Creek, south of Kingsville. William P. Hunt's first teacher in this school was Abraham Stout. Mr. Twitchell was the next in order and from this man, Mr. Hunt received his first lesson in physiology. Among the pioneer preach- ers, whom he knew, were Reverends George W. Longan, Pitts, and Minton. The Hunts obtained their mail at Rose Hill once a week. The neighbors went "by turns" for it, one man going one week and another

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man the next week. William P. Hunt saw his first circus at Rose Hill.

The year of the outbreak of the Civil War found Jonathan Hunt successful and prosperous. He enlisted in the Confederate army and served for some time in the war. At the battle of Independence, he was severely wounded. While he was away, the mother died, leaving the children in the care of William P. Hunt, who took the family back to their old home in Cooper county. The close of the war found the father almost financially ruined. In 1867, he began life anew, opening a store at Kingsville. His son, William P., assisted in his father's store, working as clerk. Jonathan Hunt died in about 1878.

In 1868, William P. Hunt was united in marriage with Mary Medora McFarland, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and to them were born five children, three of whom are now living: Mrs. Gussie Scarborough. Warrensburg, Missouri; Albert P., Kansas City, Missouri: and Herbert S., Chilhowee, Missouri. Mrs. Hunt died in 1899 at Kansas City, Mis- souri. In 1903, Mr. Hunt and Mrs. S. Ella Carrington, daughter of Mr. Yankee, of Pettis county, were married.

William P. Hunt was appointed deputy county treasurer of John- son county in 1873 and served in this capacity until 1877. when he became the first tax collector of Johnson county. Mr. Hunt served the county in this office four years and then was elected judge of the county court, serving as presiding judge four years. During his incumbency, the present jail of Johnson county was erected and several splendid iron bridges built in different parts of the county. William P. Hunt was one of the charter members of the Bank of Warrensburg of which he later became cashier and then president. From Warrensburg he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, which was his home for about two years. In 1901, Mr. Hunt came to Chilhowee, Missouri, and assumed the duties of cashier of the Chilhowee Bank. He is now president of this institu- tion, which is one of which Johnson county is justly proud. Besides his stock in the Chilhowee Bank. William P. Hunt owns a quarter sec- tion of land southwest of Chilhowee and his residence in this city.

The Chilhowee Bank was organized in 1901 with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars and with E. N. Johnson, president, and William P. Hunt, cashier. The bank was opened for business in the old bank building. Warrensburg men owned most of the stock at that time, but local men have since bought all of it. The original directors were: J. C. Chambers, R. B. Corson. William P. Hunt. C. A. Hadsell. E. N.

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Johnson, S. S. Shoemaker, and Dr. L. J. Schofield. The present direc- tors of the bank are: Lewis Corson, E. S. James, William P. Hunt, S. Ella Hunt. H. R. Butcher, William Sweeney, and C. H. McElwee. In 1915. a handsome bank building was erected, which with the new equip- ment, is valued at seventy-eight hundred fifty dollars. The bank's offi- cial statement of the financial condition of this institution shows the bank to be in good, sound condition. November 8, 1917. the capital stock was ten thousand dollars the surplus fund, eleven thousand five hundred dollars; undivided profits two hundred thirty-three dollars and thirty-six cents; and individual deposits ninety-three thousand dollars.

William P. Hunt is a valued and worthy supporter of the Baptist church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of the three orders of this fraternity. He is one of Johnson county's best and most esteemed citizens.

William Sweeney was born in 1842 in Henry county near Clinton, Missouri. He is a son of Jefferson and America (Houx) Sweeney. Jefferson Sweeney was a son of Charles Sweeney, who was of Scotch- Irish descent and a resident of Virginia. America (Houx) Sweeney was a daughter of William Houx, who settled in Cooper county, where Boon- ville is now located, as early as 1800. Jefferson Sweeney entered one hundred sixty acres of land in that section of Missouri now Henry county in the early thirties. Mr. Sweeney was a well-educated and highly intellectual man and a natural, practical surveyor. He made a map of this part of the state, in 1851, which is now in the possession of his son, William.

There were no public schools in Missouri, when William Sweeney was a youth. He attended a "subscription school". His father was an early-day teacher of "subscription schools". He taught school for sev- eral years, "boarding round" with the pupils, and for his services along educational lines received the munificent sum of thirteen dollars, monthly. In 1851, William Sweeney came with his parents to Johnson county. The father built a rude log cabin home and in this the family lived two and a half years. With the aid of yokes of oxen the virgin sod was broken and farming was begun. Plowing was often done at night and the early settlers did most of their traveling at night on account of the flies. Mr. Sweeney recalls that life in those days was not always a dreary round of monotonous labor, but that the pioneers had great times at camp-meetings, which all the settlers attended and

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enjoyed immensely. Mr. Sweeney's father died in 1854 and within a few years afterward came the outbreak of the Civil War, in which Mr. Sweeney enlisted, serving with the Confederate army. He had known Francis M. Cockrell, father of the author of this work, ever since he was a captain. At first, William Sweeney enlisted with the home guard in Lafayette county with Company D, Ben Elliot's regi- ment, General Wren's division, and then later with Company D, Six- teenth Missouri Infantry, General Parson's division. He took part in the battles of Dry Wood, Lexington. Lonejack, and Prairie Grove. At the engagement at Lonejack during the retreat. Mr. Sweeney was taken prisoner.

After the war had ended, William Sweeney returned home. The first work to be done was to repair and rebuild fences as all had been destroyed during the war. For days and days, he split rails with which to fence a small patch of ground and after this work was completed, he began farming on a small scale. Mr. Sweeney also worked as a hired laborer for others until he had accumulated a sum of money. He inherited the old homestead and is now the owner of three hundred sixty-five acres of valuable land in Chilhowee township. At one time. William Sweeney was the most prominent breeder of Shropshire sheep in all this country. For years he was engaged in buying and selling stock and especially sheep for feeding and breeding purposes. The sheep from the Sweeney farm might be found in all parts of this and other states.

In 1868, William Sweeney and Nancy M. Stone, daughter of S. Stone, a well-remembered pioneer of Johnson county, were united in marriage and to them were born five children: Dr. Charles T., Medford. Oregon; F. W., Stockton, Kansas; Mrs. Sarah G. Wilkinson, Denver, Colorado: S. R. Chilhowee, Missouri; and R. E., Webb City, Missouri. In 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney moved to their elegant, modern home in Chilhowee, where they are spending the remaining years of their life in comfort and ease. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney are held in the highest esteem and respect in Johnson county and they are highly valued among the best families.

Among the many interesting reminiscences of William Sweeney. with which his memory is stored, is a story of a pioneer preacher, Rev. B. F. Thomas. This young minister was to be ordained and on the Sabbath set apart for the ceremony he appeared dressed in new "tow" pantaloons. The day was cold and the fire was low. He attempted

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to stir the smouldering embers of the open fire with his foot and, imme- diately, the blaze spread all over the new pantaloons. There was one thing missing at the ceremony-the nice, soft fuzz of the "tow" trousers. Mr. Sweeney enjoys relating the amusing experience of "Uncle Sol" Stone. He had gone to Henry county on a sled, drawn by a yoke of oxen, to purchase five sheep and a stand of bees. There was a heavy snow on the ground but the day was a typical March day and it became quite warm before he had reached home. The oxen were very hot and, seeing a stream, began running toward it in spite of "Uncle Sol's" efforts to control them. They dashed into the ice-cold water and though "Uncle Sol" leaped from the sled and escaped going with them, he eventually was obliged to wade in and with a thousand shivers coax the oxen out of the stream. Just what became of the bees and sheep is a question- but "Uncle Sol" saved them, the bee stands and sheep being tied on the sled.

In a day-book kept by William Sweeney's father is the following entry, made at the time he was conducting a store at Clinton: "One pair of venison hams, 50 cents." Mr. Sweeney well recalls when he has remained up whole nights to keep the deer out of his fields. The forests and fields were filled with wild turkeys and prairie chickens were "thicker" than sparrows are now. Mr. Sweeney remembers when In- dians were want to pass through the country to sell baskets and trinkets to the settlers. He has often seen them as he went with his wagon and oxen for supplies at trading points. Mrs. Sweeney remembers how her father would be gone a week at a time when he took their corn to mill, being obliged to wait that long for his grist and then when the grist was taken to Lexington to be sold it took another week. He would bring home "web," with which to weave cloth for their clothing. leather to make shoes, salt, coffee, and also a quart of whiskey, for family use.

Stever Y. Kern was born in 1842 in Monroe county. Indiana. He is a son of Conrad and Mary (Berry) Kern. Conrad Kern was a son of Adam Kern, a resident of Indiana, of German birth. The genealogy of S. Y. Kern traces back to the same ancestors as those of John Worth Kern the lately deceased United States Senator from Indiana. Mary (Berry) Kern was the daughter of Joseph Berry, of Tennessee. The Kern family resided in Indiana long before it became a state. Conrad Kern was a pioneer preacher and farmer and he became very well to do and prominent in the affairs of his community.

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Mr. Kern, the subject of this review, is the only living member of his father's family. He was reared and educated in Illinois and in early life began farming in that state prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, in which he enlisted. Mr. Kern served with Company C, One Hundred Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, for seven months during the latter part of the war.

In 1865, Stever Y. Kern and Helen Hinkson, the daughter of Cyrus Hinkson, were united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Kern are the parents of two children: Elmer, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Mary, who is at home with her parents. Both S. Y. Kern and Mrs. Kern are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Kern has been trustee and steward for many years. The Kern residence is a beautiful home, a modern structure of seven rooms in Chilhowee. The Kerns have resided in Chilhowee since 1909. Besides his residence in Chilhowee, S. Y. Kern is the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred ninety acres in Johnson county, which place he purchased in 1883. Mr. Kern was engaged in general farming for many years on this place and he gave special attention to the raising of good Poland China hogs. He pursued the latest scientific methods of farming, rotating his crops and sowing much of his land in grass and devoting a large portion of the farm to pasture land. He has been constantly endeavoring to build up the fer- tility of the soil and his efforts have been rewarded with no small degree of success. Mr. and Mrs. Kern are numbered among Johnson county's best and most substantial citizens.

Richard T. McDougal, a well-known farmer and stockman of Chil- howee township, is a native of Ohio. He was born in 1846. a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Jolinson ) McDougal, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Joseph McDougal was a son of Richard McDougal, who spent his entire life in Ohio, and Elizabeth (Johnson) McDougal was a mem- ber of an old Virginia family. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McDougal were the parents of five children : R. T., the subject of this review : J. C., Mag- nolia, Missouri: R. B .. Holden, Missouri: W. C., Holden, Missouri, who died October 24. 1917; and Mrs. Hattie E. Parrott. Chilhowee, Missouri. The father was killed during the Civil War, when Morgan raided Ohio. The brave, noble mother brought her family to Missouri in 1872 and settled in Johnson county on a farm in Chilhowee township and on this place worked hard to keep the children together and to rear them properly. After ten years, the boys had accumulated enough money

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by constant industry and cautious economy to purchase eighty acres of land, on which they built a handsome residence in 1882, a home that is even to-day considered one of the beautiful country places in Johnson county. In 1900, the mother died. She had enjoyed the new home but a few brief years, when the last summons came and she joined her husband in the Great Beyond.

In 1891, R. T. McDougal was united in marriage with Frances Little. daughter of John Howe Little, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this volume. Both Mr. and Mrs. McDougal are valued mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Politically, Mr. McDougal is a Republican.

The McDougal farm in Chilhowee township comprises one hun- dred sixty acres of land, eighty of which are in grass and pasture land. Mr. McDougal is devoting much time to raising fine Poland China hogs and good milch cows. At the present time, he has ten cows, which he milks, and the cream from the McDougal dairy is marketed in Holden. A large barn was built on the farm in 1881 and the place is well watered and equipped. Mr. and Mrs. McDougal have many friends in this county and they are numbered among the best and most public-spirited citizens of the township.

H. C. Morton, a prosperous and prominent farmer and Civil War veteran, residing in Warrensburg, Missouri, is a citizen of Johnson county richly deserving of mention in a work of this character. He was born January 21, 1842. in Randolph county, Missouri, the son of Josiah and Margaret L. (Callison) Morton, both natives of Kentucky. Josiah Morton and his wife and family came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1842 and located in Randolph county on a farm, where they resided two years, when they moved to Schuyler county. In this county, Mr. Morton died and was buried. His widow and children moved from Schuyler county to Johnson county, settling on a farm, in Grover town- ship, which was owned by John G. Callison, the brother of Mrs. Morton. The family later moved to Lafayette county, where Mrs. Morton died. Her death occurred in 1854 and burial was made in the cemetery in Lafayette county, near Mayview. Josiah and Margaret L. (Callison) Morton were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary J. Poole, deceased ; Mrs. Aramenta Poole, deceased ; Wade, who was killed while in the Confederate service, in a battle near Higginsville, Missouri, about 1863; H. C., the subject of this review, and Mrs. Rebecca (Mor-

MRS. H. C. MORTON.

I. C. MORTON.

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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY

ton) McElroy, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who are twins; and Jolin, deceased, and Richard Benjamin, of Marshall, Oklahoma, who were also twins.

Educational opportunities were very limited in the state of Mis- souri when H. C. Morton was a youth. He was but a little child four years of age, at the time his father died. The widowed mother needed all the assistance her boys could render in helping care for the seven little ones. There were no public schools in Missouri before the Civil War and the "subscription schools" were open only a few months in the year. Since he was sixteen years of age, Mr. Morton has made his own way in the world, shouldering a man's responsibilities while still a boy. He began life for himself as a farm hand, in the employ of James Hutchinson in Lafayette county, working for ten dollars a month for three years. In 1862, he enlisted in the Civil War, at Sedalia, Missouri, serving under Colonel John F. Phillips in Company A, Seventh Missouri Cavalry. He was in active and continuous service in Missouri and Arkansas, serving at different times under Generals Brown, Curtis, Pleasanton, Garfield, and Blount. Mr. Morton participated in the bat- tles of Big Blue and Mine creek. He was also in countless skirmishes. From March 8. 1862, he served faithfully three years and six days and in 1865 received his discharge at St. Louis, Missouri.

After the war had ended, H. C. Morton returned to Johnson county, Missouri, and engaged once more in the peaceful pursuits of agricul- ture, pursuits in which he has been engaged for the past fifty years in different parts of the county. He has been the owner of several different farms, which he would purchase to sell again. For the past twenty-five years, he has resided in Warrensburg township, where he now owns ninety acres of land, besides five acres within the city limits of Warrensburg. In 1915, he purchased the site of his present home at 116 Ming street, where he built his beautiful, modern residence of eight rooms.

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History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 63

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