USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 65
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Hubert Elliott, an honored and highly respected pioneer of John- son county, resides on a farm in Chilhowee township, which has been his home for the past half century. He is a native of Kentucky. Mr. Elliott was born in 1844 in Adair county, a son of William and Susan
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Elliott. William Elliott was the son of Alexander Elliott, a well-known farmer of Kentucky, who lived and died in that state. The son, Will- iam, was also a farmer and, in addition, a skilled mechanic. He came with his family to Missouri in 1849 and settled in Moniteau county, where he purchased a large farm and became very successful and pros- perous. He died in 1895. William and Susan Elliott were the parents of twelve children, all of whom were reared to maturity and six are now living: Mrs. Mary F. Russell, Santa Fe, Kansas; Mrs. Eliza- beth Burlingame, California, Missouri; Hubert, the subject of this review; Joseph, Latham, Missouri; Guinn, Latham, Missouri; and Robert, California, Missouri.
In 1867, Hubert Elliott moved from Moniteau county to Johnson county, Missouri. He settled on a farm of eighty acres of virgin soil in Chilhowee township and began farming. For the first year, Mr. Elliott resided in a rude log cabin, located on the county line, which was a two-story structure, the upstairs, or "loft," reached by a ladder. The Elliott farm was one of the first to be fenced in the township. . Prior to the advent of fencing in Johnson county, one could ride horseback from Chilhowee to Holden, keeping on a straight line. When Mr. Elliott came to this county, there were few settlements between Chil- howee and Sedalia, but an abundance of deer, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens. "Uncle Green" Wallace and Mr. VanAusdol were early day school teachers and Reverends Ridley, J. H. Houx, and "Uncle Johnny" Morrow, pioneer preachers of Johnson county. whom Mr. Elliott knew fifty years ago. The early settlers enjoyed religious meet- ings far more than do the people of to-day and the attendance at all meetings was all that could be desired. The revivals, which were fre- quently held, were considered most pleasant and enjoyable occasions.
In 1868, Hubert Elliott and Nancy R. Hindman, daughter of Samuel Hindman, who came to Johnson county from Kentucky in 1865, were united in marriage and to this union were born four chil- dren: Mrs. Mary S. Hughes, Holden, Missouri; Robert H., Blairs- town, Missouri; Montrie, who is keeping house for her father; and Arthur, Blairstown, Missouri. The mother died in 1914. Mr. Elliott has given each of his children forty acres of land and rents to them his remaining one hundred sixty acres and he is now spending the closing years of his life of honest toil and long usefulness in quiet ease. He firmly believes that it is the right course to pursue in regard to
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one's children, which he has adopted, for by dividing the homeplace with them they are kept near him and will not drift apart and lose interest in one another. For many years, Mr. Elliott has been the school director for his district, but he has never had any political aspira- tions himself. He is a worthy and highly respected member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, as was Mrs. Elliott.
Fifty years ago, Hubert Elliott came to Johnson county to make his home. As a farmer and stockman and as a citizen, Mr. Elliott has succeeded in establishing a well merited and splendid reputation. Many an interesting story of the early days can he relate and many a vivid picture of the hard and of the happy times can he bring before one. He remembers when corn sold for fifteen and twenty cents a bushel and meat for two and three cents a pound. In the days gone by, horse- back riding was the usual mode of traveling and all the pioneer women were expert riders. Mr. Elliott enjoys studying the changes which have taken place in the past half century, changes which he has wit- nessed. He recalls the old corduroy roads, made by throwing logs across the trails to keep the wagons from sinking so deeply into the mud that they could not be gotten out, which made rough riding one may be sure. Hubert Elliott attributes much of his success to the raising of white face cattle and Poland China hogs, but there is no doubt that the greater measure is due to his industry, honesty, and perseverance.
Dr. R. Z. R. Wall, a late prominent pioneer physician of Johnson county, was one of the leading and most prosperous of the early set- tlers in this part of Missouri. Dr. Wall was born March 29, 1810 in North Carolina on his father's plantation in Rockingham county. He was a son of Richard Wall, who was born in Maryland, a member of one of the best colonial families.
Dr. Wall was a graduate of Chapel Hill College of North Carolina and also of the Medical College of Pennsylvania University, Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania. After completing the medical course, Dr. Wall began the practice of his profession first in his native state and in Rock- ingham county. In 1837, he moved to Missouri and located tempo- rarily in Henry county, coming thence to Johnson county, where he began the practice of medicine in the West. For many years, Dr. Wall was one of the leading physicians of this county. He was a man of invincible spirit and determination which combined with a fine mind,
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well trained, made success easy and sure. At one time, he was the owner of five thousand acres of valuable, choice land in Johnson and adjoining counties. Dr. Wall was very fond of hunting and it was no unusual sight to see him on horseback carrying his gun and dashing across the open prairie on a deer chase. It became a fixed habit of his to take his gun with him everywhere, even when he was visiting his patients. He kept the family larder well provisioned with venison. One winter, the doctor brought home in all fifty deer he had killed. He would often take his young son, R. W. R., of whom he was very fond, with him, when he went on a deer chase or fishing. Dr. Wall was a lover of nature and the great freedom of the thinly settled prairies. He enjoyed the companionship of his countless friends and few men are as fond of home life as was he, but he liked most of all to be out in the open, out under the broad, blue canopy of Heaven, with his gun on his shoulder and a deer ahead. The forest was an open book to him and he knew not what fear meant. Dr. Wall has long been deceased.
R. W. R. Wall, a prosperous and influential farmer and stockman of Chilhowee township, is a son of one of the most widely known and honored pioneer physicians of Johnson county. Mr. Wall was born in 1858 in Johnson county, a son of Dr. R. Z. R. and Mary Jane (Cov- ington) Wall. Dr. Wall was a son of Richard Wall, a native of Mary- land. The doctor was a native of North Carolina and a graduate of Chapel Hill College of that state and of the Medical College of Penn- sylvania University. A biography of Dr. R. Z. R. Wall will be found elsewhere in this volume.
Miss Jennie Potts was employed as teacher of the "subscription school" which R. W. R. Wall first attended in Johnson county. A few years after the Civil War, the Elliott schoolhouse was erected and there Mr. Wall later attended school, taught by Mr. Davidson, Will Higgins, and Miss Holland. When Mr. Wall was a lad, the leading pioneer preachers, whom he recalls, were: "Uncle Billy" Owsley, "Uncle Ben" Thomas, and "Jim Henry" Houx. In those days, the young people had great fun and many happy times at the country dances, parties, "singing schools," and "spelling bees." Hunting and fishing were pleasurable occupations, generally indulged in by the early settlers. Dr. Wall was intensely fond of out-of-door sports and he was well known as a very able marksman. The doctor frequently would take his young son, R. W. R., with him on his hunting expeditions.
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One winter, Dr. Wall killed more than fifty deer. Many deep pools abounded in the county then, and these were filled with fish. Mr. Wall remembers the old log cabin in which the Wall family resided for sev- eral years after they came to this county to make their home. He states that in his youth, when there were no banks in this section of the state, the settlers kept all the money they had in their homes. In countless ways, it took an enormous amount of courage to be a pioneer.
In 1881, R. W. R. Wall was united in marriage with Laura E. Wetherholt, daughter of Jacob Wetherholt, and to this union have been born five children, who are now living: Mrs. Linnie E. Simpson, Denton, Missouri; Mrs. Dessie A. DeJarnett, Holden, Missouri; Miss Frances Ellen, at home with her parents; Mrs. Blanche Cayton, Griggs, Oklahoma; and Ira, at home with his parents. The Walls reside in Denton, where Mr. Wall owns their home and six valuable lots, within the town limits.
Mr. Wall is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Wall are worthy and consistent members of the Presby- terian church and they are highly valued citizens of Johnson county.
T. C. Byram, a successful and enterprising farmer and stockman of Chilhowee township, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in 1853 in Bath county, a son of A. W. and Emily (Robinson) Byram, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. A. W. Byram was the son of Valen- tine Byram, who lived and died in the state of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Byram were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are now living: O. W., Harrisonville, Missouri: T. C., the subject of this review; D. C., Holden, Missouri; L. W .. Kansas City, Missouri; C. W., Holden, Missouri: Bettie M., Holden, Missouri: and W. S., Harrisonville, Missouri. W. S. Byram is the well-known probate judge of Harrisonville.
In 1869, Mr. Byram, whose name introduces this sketch, left Ken- tucky and came to Missouri, locating for a short time in Camp Branch township, Cass county. Four years later, he went to the territory of Utah, where he engaged in mining successfully for six years. After that time, T. C. Byram returned to Missouri and settled on a farm in Chilhowee township, Johnson county, a place comprising three hun- dred twenty acres of land on which he has ever since resided. He has made a name for himself in this county as a prominent wheat producer,
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sowing one year one hundred ninety-six acres of his farm in wheat and reaping abundant returns. One hundred acres of his farm are now in grass and meadow and Mr. Byram is devoting more attention to stock raising. He has at present on the farm, which is remarkably well adapted to stock raising, a large number of Shorthorn cattle and Berk- shire hogs. He is an earnest advocate of the manure spreader and of crop rotation and is considered one of the best and most progressive farmers in the township.
In 1891, T. C. Byram was united in marriage with Rosa L. Roberts, daughter of Luke Roberts, an honored pioneer in this county. To this union have been born five children: Allan G., who is now in the United States Navy; Luke R., in the United States Army ; Albert W., at home, Holden, Missouri; Margaret M., Holden, Missouri; and Frances, Holden, Missouri. Mrs. Byram is a member of the Christian church and Mr. Byram of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Since he came to Johnson county, nearly forty years ago, Mr. Byram has observed the countless changes incidental to growth and improvement and he has nobly done his part to aid the advancement of his county and town- ship. Both Mr. and Mrs. Byram are highly respected in Chilhowee township, where they are enrolled among the county's best and most valued citizens. Politically, Mr. Byram is a Democrat.
D. L. Bell, an honored and highly respected pioneer of Johnson county, residing in Washington township, was born in Maryland in 1851. He is the son of David R. and Rebecca (Looman) Bell, the latter a daughter of Thomas Looman. The Bell family is of Scotch and English descent. David R. Bell was the thirteenth child born to his parents. He was born in 1800. John D. Bell, a half-brother of David R., was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, and C. S. Bell, a brother, was the noted master mechanic of Ohio. Although the relationship has not been traced, it is not improbable that Alexander Graham Bell, of Massachusetts, the inventor of the telephone, is a member of this family. Rebecca (Looman) Bell was born in 1812 and she is now de- ceased. David R. Bell died in 1882, at the advanced age of eighty- two years. The Bell family emigrated to Ohio in 1858 and in 1865 migrated to Johnson county, Missouri.
At the age of twenty-one years, D. L. Bell began life for himself, engaging in farming on the old home place in Grover township. In 1876, he purchased a threshing machine, an old fashioned horse-power
MR. AND MRS. D. L .. BELL.
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thresher, and for four years was engaged in threshing wheat in different parts of Johnson county. He purchased a steam threshing outfit in 1880 and was in great demand from Knob Noster to the country east of Dresden. The pioneer in wheat threshing was John Spurgeon, who in a much earlier day owned and operated a "ground hog" thresher in the neighborhood of Knob Noster.
In 1882, D. L. Bell was united in marriage with Sarah M. Shaw, the daughter of Newton Shaw, who moved from Ohio to Missouri in 1880. To D. L. and Sarah M. (Shaw) Bell have been born three chil- dren: Homer, who is married and has four children, Frankie Lee M., Louise, Mary Opal, and Alice Rose, and resides at Knob Noster, Mis- souri; John and George, both of whom live at home with their parents. In 1888, Mr. Bell purchased a farm near Knob Noster, which place comprised one hundred fifty acres of splendid farm land, and a few years later he increased his holdings and is now the owner of one hundred sixty-eight acres, which he is converting into a stock farm, devoting most of his time to stock raising. He still operates a thresh- ing outfit and prior to 1917 operated two machines. He and his sons also operate a saw mill.
When Mr. Bell came to Johnson county, there were very few fences, most of the land being open prairie. Wild game was in abundance and he frequently saw as many as twelve deer in a herd, and thousands of prairie chickens. The early settlers were always sure of plenty of meat. Their trouble was to get bread. William Thornton built the first log cabin in the neighborhood of Knob Noster, in 1835. Within a very few years there were many of these rude log homes. There was little that one would call comfortable in these cabins, but the pioneers always had one beautiful thing in their homes and that was the open fire. The fireplace was so large that great logs could be burned in it and as they crackled and burned, the room, rude and primitive though it was, would be filled with rosy light. Among the early-day school teachers, whom Mr. Bell recalls, were Mr. Walker, of Lamonte, Missouri, and Mr. Rob- ertson. He remembers two pioneer preachers: Reverend Spurgeon, a Baptist minister, and Reverend Ing. a Methodist minister. A brother of D. L. Bell, H. R., makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Bell.
L. N. Yoder, a prominent farmer and stockman of Rose Hill town- ship, came to Johnson county in 1870 and settled on the farm where he now resides. Mr. Yoder is a native of Ohio. He was born in 1846.
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a son of Samuel and Katherine (Nofzinger) Yoder. His grandfather, Jacob Yoder, was a resident of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Katherine ( Nofzinger) Yoder was the daughter of Valentine Nof- zinger, a native of Germany.
Mr. Yoder, whose name introduces this sketch, received his edu- cation in the public schools of Ohio. When he came to Missouri, he purchased forty acres of land in Johnson county, for which he paid twenty-five dollars an acre. During the past forty-eight years, he has constantly increased his holdings by purchase and is now the owner of one hundred sixty-eight acres of Johnson county's choicest farm land, which is worth at the lowest figure one hundred dollars an acre. In the early days of his coming West, Mr. Yoder engaged in farming and stock raising on a very small scale. He built a small box house in which he lived for several years. Later, he moved it to the present location of his residence and built a few additions to it and this was the Yoder home until 1887, when the large, two-story structure was built, which is now the home, a house of handsome and commanding appearance. The maple trees, which Mr. Yoder planted in the early days, are now large and beautiful and furnish an abundance of fine shade on the well-kept lawn. The Yoder farm is well watered and equipped for handling stock. For many years, Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle have been raised on this place and annually nearly a dozen cows have been milked. L. N. Yoder is at present giving more attention to the breeding of white face cattle for the market and in the last few years has not been keeping so many milch cows. Mr. Yoder's son, Clarence G., is in partnership with his father in the business of farming and stock raising and he has the complete management of the farm.
In 1869, L. N. Yoder and Susan Gerber, daughter of Joseph Ger- ber, were united in marriage in Indiana. To this union were born eight children: Mrs. Adaline Richards, Wooster, Ohio; Samuel, Kent, Ohio: Frank, Garden City, Missouri: Mrs. Ellen Rayburn, Holden, Mis- souri; Will, Quick City, Missouri; Mrs. Mable Joy, Holden, Missouri ; Rolla, Ft. Kearney, California, a private in the National Army, Com- pany K, One Hundred Fifty-eighth Regiment; and Clarence G., the widely known auctioneer, who resides on the home place with his father. Mrs. Yoder died in March, 1911.
There was much open prairie in Missouri, when L. N. Yoder
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settled in Johnson county over two score years ago. Fences were prac- tically unknown and anyone was privileged to go wherever he desired to cut hay and take all he wanted. Mr. Yoder tells how he was want to kill the wild ducks which haunted a pond near his home. They were called wild, but he thinks they were not so wild as they now are. Fre- quently, he killed three with one shot with a rifle. Among the early preachers, he recalls Reverend Hulse, a pioneer Methodist minister. L. N. Yoder came West nearly fifty years ago to buy cheap land and thirty-five years later, his son, Samuel, went to his father's native state of Ohio in order to buy cheap land. In the course of time, the pendulum always swings backward. The marvelous increase in land values is only one of the countless changes which have taken place in this section of Missouri since Mr. Yoder came to make his home in Johnson county, all of which he has observed. He has ever been ready and willing to support any worthy cause, that had for its object the betterment of con- ditions and no citizen in Rose Hill township has done his part more cheerfully and nobly than has he in aiding the advancement of both the county and the state. Mr. Yoder is a man worthy of the highest respect and consideration.
S. W. Raber, proprietor of "Pleasant View Stock Farm" in Rose Hill township, is a native of Missouri. He was born in 1870 in Hickory county, a son of Daniel and Susanna (Nofzinger) Raber. the former, a native of Baden, Germany and the latter. of Prussia. The father came to America when he was a boy twelve years of age. He was the son of Christian Raber, a prominent minister of the Mennonite church in Germany, son of a well-known and respected minister also of the Mennonite church. S. W. Raber has in his possession a valuable relic, a Bible printed in the German language in 1536, which formerly be- longed to the great-grandfather and then to the grandfather. Christian Raber. Susanna (Nofzinger) Raber came to America with her parents in 1846. She, too, was a worthy and beloved member of the Mennonite church. The Nofzingers were a highly valued pioneer family of Ohio. In 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Raber moved from Hickory county. Missouri to Johnson county and settled on a farm in Rose Hill township. where they spent the closing years of their lives. Daniel Raber died in 1905 and Mrs. Raber joined him in death this past year, of 1917.
In 1889, S. W. Raber came to Johnson county and located in Madi- son township on a farm, where he lived several years and then, in 1895,
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purchased his present country home in Rose Hill township, a farm comprising one hundred forty acres of choice land on which place he has since resided engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Raber has been very successful in raising Poland China hogs and Duroc Jer- seys and he is considered one of the best and most progressive general, "all-round" farmers in Johnson county. He is a firm advocate of crop rotation and of fertilization and Mr. Raber himself plants much of his farm in clover and practices the methods of soil improvement which he so enthusiastically advocates. In 1911, he built a large, substantial stock barn, which is supplied with water and lighted with electricity. Mr. Raber built a handsome residence, a modern structure of eleven spacious rooms, in 1916. Recently, he installed an electric plant at a cost of five hundred dollars, which furnishes light for the home and barn at a cost of ten cents a week.
In 1904, S. W. Raber was united in marriage with Agnes Van Matre, daughter of Abner Van Matre, of Indiana. Her father was born in 1837 in that state and came to Johnson county, Missouri just after the close of the Civil War and settled in Holden. Abner Van Matre was a leading attorney and prominent politician of Holden and served many terms as mayor of that city. He died in 1895 and his widow is still residing in Holden. To Mr. and Mrs. Raber have been born four children: Russell D., Drusilla C., Homer E., and Susanna E. The Raber family is well known and esteemed in Johnson county. Mr. Raber is an influential stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Holden and he is one of the township's most valued and sub- stantial citizens.
Judge Charles C. Atkins, a late prominent and highly respected citizen of Johnson county, was a prosperous and influential farmer and stockman of Rose Hill township and a public-spirited, industrious man, whose loss to the good citizenship of this section of the state has been keenly felt. He was born in 1864 in Johnson county, son of James and Elizabeth (Elliott) Atkins, both of whom were honored pioneers of this county. James Atkins settled in the county in the autumn of 1852 and became a very successful and widely known farmer and stock- man. His son, Charles C., was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools of Johnson county. In early manhood, he began the work of farming and stock raising and in these vocations was interested the remainder of his life.
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In 1889, Judge Charles C. Atkins and Jennie V. Baker were united in marriage. Mrs. Atkins is the daughter of T. S. and Anne ( Hughes) Baker. Her mother was a daughter of Dudley Hughes, one of the earliest settlers of Kentucky, who migrated from Virginia in the first part of the nineteenth century and settled on a large tract of land in Kentucky. To Judge and Mrs. Atkins were born two children: Charles W. and Flora, both of whom were at home with their widowed mother, who now resides in Holden. Charles W., aged twenty-five years, is now a private in the Regular United States Army, One Hundred Twenty-fourth Infantry, and is stationed at Camp Cody, New Mexico.
In 1890, Judge Atkins purchased a farm of eighty acres, for which he paid twenty-five dollars an acre. He constantly increased his hold- ings, until he was the owner of three hundred acres of valuable farm land in Johnson county. Mr. Atkins devoted most of his attention to stock raising and was considered one of the best and most successful stockmen in the township. He served on the first executive board of the Farm Bureau of Johnson County and much of the splendid success of this institution is due to Judge Atkins' energetic and determined efforts.
In 1914, Charles C. Atkins was elected judge of the county court of Johnson county from the western district and in 1916, he was re- elected and he was filling this position at the time of his untimely death in 1917. He had served his county faithfully and well, giving the best of satisfaction to his constituents. At the time of his death, the court house was closed for two hours and all work suspended while the last services were being held, as a tribute to him, who had so nobly rendered service there. His fellow associates of the county court sent the widow and fatherless children as a token of their heartfelt sympathy a beauti- ful floral emblem, a broken wheel. Judge Atkins was taken to his last resting place accompanied by one of the largest funeral processions held in this part of Missouri. He was widely known and wherever he was known he was loved and many were the sad hearts in Johnson county when it was known that the Grim Reaper had visited the Atkins home. Mr. and Mrs. Atkins were reared in the Presbyterian faith, but upon the establishing of the Community church at Medford they united with this congregation. He was a valued and worthy member and officer of the Medford Methodist church and he had contributed liberally to the building of the new church structure, in which he was
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