USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 75
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Major Warnick used to relate his experiences in "going to mill," which was considered a great pleasure in the early days. When the corn had ripened, all the settlers were gathered in and a sort of party was held, known as a "husking bee," when the corn would be husked after which the women would prepare a splendid supper and the fun and frolic would begin. The corn was shelled on rainy days and in the evenings. Even the children could help with this work and enjoyed making cob houses while the older ones raised blisters on their thumbs
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shelling corn. When a grist of corn was ready, it was placed in a sack thrown across the horse's back and taken to the mill many miles away. This meant a twenty to forty-mile trip, for the mill on Grand river was twenty miles distant and the mill at Lexington was forty miles away, so the man, or boy, who went with the corn always planned to wait at the mill from one to three days before he could get his corn ground. There was always a large number of men and boys at the mill waiting for their grists and, as one saw very few visitors in those days, it was a treat to hear the other men and boys 'tell stories, while they were waiting.
To Major James N. and Siny P. (Payton) Warnick were born eight children: Robert N., who married Amanda J. Oglesby and to them were born Sanford Francis and E. N. Warnick, the former the father of Oscar D. Warnick, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and Mrs. Theodore Shock, of Warrensburg, Missouri, and the latter, a prominent merchant of Warrensburg, Missouri; Nancy Elizabeth; John P .; William S .; Margaret F .; Matilda Jane; James H .; and Siny E. In 1882, there were one hundred descendants of James H. and Siny P. Warnick living in Johnson county, all of whom were highly respected men and women. There is perhaps no family in Johnson county which has exerted so great influence for good as has the Warnick family. Major and Mrs. Warnick were worthy and consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and ever gave their most earnest support to all causes having for their object the betterment of the community.
Patrick H. Alexander, an honored and noble pioneer of Johnson county and Civil War veteran, now living retired in the city of War- rensburg, was born in March, 1834 in Henry county, Tennessee. He is the son of William and Martha (Job) Alexander, the former, a native of Kentucky and the latter, of Nashville, Tennessee. Both parents died, leaving their son an orphan when a very small child.
When he was a little lad, Patrick H. Alexander came from Ten- nessee to Missouri with his uncle, who settled in Crawford county. Three years later, the child came to Johnson county with his sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wood. The Wood family settled on a farm in the eastern part of the county and with them the boy made his home. while he "worked out," for other people, to earn his way. As long as Colonel J. H. Robinson lived. Patrick H. Alexander was
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always sure of a place to work. Colonel Robinson was one of the very first settlers of Johnson county and he was very fond of the Alexander youth, always employing him whenever he had work to be done. Mr. Wood entered forty acres of land, and Patrick assisted his brother-in- law by working for Colonel Robinson for a wage of six dollars per month, turning over his wages to pay for the land. In 1849, Patrick H. Alexander made his first trip to Warrensburg. He came on horseback, bringing two sacks of corn to the mill. The mill was of the old-fashi- ioned tread type and he waited all day for his grist. Each person must wait his turn at the mill in those days, even if it took a week. Until 1854, Mr. Alexander lived with his brother-in-law and at that time he came to Warrensburg to make his home with Major Morrow for whom he worked many years. In 1853. Mr. Alexander was employed as "bull whacker" in charge of a train. composed of thirty-six wagons, in com- mand of Mr. Smith, bound for Fort Laramie, Wyoming, the trip to be made across the plains for Majors & Russell. Troops guarded the train from the savage red men and three months were gone before the end of the journey was reached. It was a wild, dangerous experience, one that is never forgotten. Mr. Alexander went to Kansas in 1859 and took up a claim of land in what is now Cherokee county. The Civil War broke out before he had proven his claim and as most of his neigh- bors were killed by either the Indians or the "bushwhackers." Patrick Alexander deemed it best to return to Missouri, where he was better known. The following year he went to Tennessee, traveling in a wagon.
In July, 1861, Mr. Alexander enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Mis- souri Mounted Infantry, serving under Colonel Grover, who was mor- tally wounded at the battle of Lexington. He served with Colonel Grover's regiment nine months and when his time of enlistment had expired, he returned to Warrensburg and enlisted with Catherwood's regiment for three months and then with Colonel Phillip's Seventh Missouri Cavalry, for the remaining two and a half years. Mr. Alex- ander saw active service in Arkansas and he was with the regiment sent after General Price, when on his raid through Missouri and Kan- sas. For ninety days after the war had ended, Patrick H. Alexander served as first lieutenant in the Missouri state militia, his division being known as "Fletcher's Militia," which was called out to subdue the "bushwhackers." Fletcher was well known in Warrensburg.
After the war, Mr. Alexander purchased a farm of one hundred
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twenty acres of land located seven miles south of Warrensburg and on this place resided until about ten years ago, when he retired from active farm labor and moved to his city property in Warrensburg, where he now resides. The Alexander home is a nice, comfortable residence at 813 Holden street.
Patrick H. Alexander was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary E. (Marr) Jewell, September 15, 1867. Mrs. Alexander's former husband was a lieutenant in the Civil War, in which he was killed. By her first marriage, she is the mother of one child, a son, John M. Jewell, who is now a prominent manufacturer at Atlanta, Georgia. To Patrick H. and Mary E. Alexander have been born the following children: David William, Warrensburg. Missouri; Robert T., who is engaged in the transfer business in Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Martha Gardner, of Post Oak township. Johnson county ; Sidney H., who died in 1916; and Julius Calvin, who is engaged in farming on the Alexander homestead in Post Oak township. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are worthy. fine peo- ple, citizens of whom Johnson county may well be proud.
J. D. Wilcoxon, a well-known and progressive farmer and stockman of Columbus township, is a member of a prominent pioneer family. He was born August 7, 1861 on his father's farm in Lafayette county, located near the county line between Lafayette and Johnson counties. Mr. Wilcoxon is a son of William S. and Mrs. Lucinda (Ramsey) Wil- coxon, the former, a native of Bullitt county, Kentucky and the latter. of Clark county, Kentucky. The father was born July 8, 1821 and the mother, November 14, 1826. They were the parents of eight children: John L., born April 2, 1846 and is now of Eldorado Springs, Missouri : James T., born February 26, 1848 and died in infancy; Sarah Eliza- beth, born January 31, 1850, now deceased: Susan L., born January 14. 1852, now deceased; Adkin Lee, born March 13, 1854, and is now resid- ing at Odessa, Missouri; Baxter Allen, born January 15, 1856. now deceased ; Jefferson Davis, the subject of this review; and Mattie Kate. of Lafayette county, born April 16, 1865. All the children, excepting J. D. and Mattie, were born in Johnson county. The mother died Sep- tember 19, 1876. Mr. Wilcoxon again married, his second wife being Eliza J. Hughes, of Pettis county. William S. Wilcoxon came to Mis- souri from Kentucky in the early forties, making the trip thence by boat and locating first in Howard county. In 1844, he came to this part of the state and for many years resided on a farm in Lafayette
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county. When the Civil War broke out. Mr. Wilcoxon and his oldest son, John L., enlisted in the Confederate service and for four years fought under General Price for the principles they firmly believed to be right. After the war ended in 1865, Mr. Wilcoxon returned to his home in Lafayette county and shortly afterward moved to the farm in Johnson county now owned by his son, J. D., the subject of this review. At the time of his death, March 4. 1892, Mr. Wilcoxon owned one hundred ten acres of land. He was an industrious, honest, conscientious citizen, a man who well merited success.
J. D. Wilcoxon attended school in Johnson county in district Num- ber 86. He has always lived on the home place, which now comprises three hundred acres of land located partly in Columbus township and partly in Lafayette county, being on the line between Lafayette and Johnson. This place is an upland farm, originally timbered. It is on the Odessa-Columbus road and one of the beautiful country homes of this county. There are three barns on the farm, furnishing an abundance of room for both feed and stock, and the place is well watered. Mr. Wilcoxon raises hogs, cattle. horses, and Oxford sheep and finds the last named his most profitable stock and the best paying investment on the farm.
January 7, 1883. Jefferson D. Wilcoxon and Fannie S. Atkinson, daughter of Daniel S. and Anne O. Atkinson, of Lafayette county, were united in marriage. Both parents of Mrs. Wilcoxon are now deceased. To this union have been born nine children: Daniel S., a successful farmer of Lafayette county: James Allen, at home with his parents ; William S .. a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, who just completed an eight-years course in college at Fayette, Missouri: Carl F., who is at present at Camp Funston in training with the National army for service in France. member Company G. Three Hundred Fifty- sixth United States Infantry: Lucinda, who is a student in the college at Fayette, Missouri: Harold W .: Maurice E., a junior in the Odessa High School; Evelyn: and one child, a daughter, died in infancy. The Wilcoxon residence is an attractive home. a house of eight rooms, nicely painted and kept in excellent repair. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcoxon are highly valued and respected among the county's best and most enterprising citizens. They are rearing one of the finest families in this section of the state.
Charles Andrew Harrison, a prominent financier of Warrensburg,
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Missouri, has long been one of the leading citizens of Johnson county. He is a member of a family that for years has been influential and active in the work of upbuilding this section of the state. Mr. Harrison was born July 5, 1863 in Hazel Hill township, at Fayetteville, Missouri. He is a son of Alfred Bell and Elizabeth ( Francisco) Harrison. Alfred Bell Harrison was born March 26, 1832 in Johnson county, Missouri, son of Harvey and Zilphia (Bell) Harrison, both of whom were natives of Ten- nessee, where they were united in marriage November 28, 1824. Harvey Harrison was born March 7, 1806 in Blount county and Zilphia ( Bell) Harrison was born October 6, 1803 in Davidson county. To them were born twelve children: Hugh Bell, who died at the age of four years; William Craig, who married Lucinda J. Vanarsdel, both of whom are now deceased; Margaret C., who first married Hugh Eagan and after his death married James M. Shackleford, now deceased; Joseph Patton, married Evaline S. Seamands; Alfred Bell, the father of Charles Andrew, the subject of this review; Robert Donell, who died in childhood at the age of four years; Harvey White, married Gillen D. Calvin, and is now deceased; Andrew Jackson, married Priscilla Francisco, Johnson county; John Wesley, Warrensburg, Missouri, of whom a sketch appears else- where in this volume: George Washington, married Brunette Glass, Warrensburg, Missouri; Nancy Elizabeth, who died in childhood at the age of ten years; and James K. Polk, who died in Warrensburg, Mis- souri at the age of seventy years on October 17, 1916. Harvey Harrison died March 7, 1890, not quite a year after the death of his wife, which occurred June 12, 1889. They lived to see among their descendants, forty-eight grandchildren, forty-five great-grandchildren, and one great- great-grandchild. The Harrisons located in Lafayette county in 1829 and settled in Johnson county the next year. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Harrison were buried in the new cemetery at Warrensburg.
Alfred Bell and Elizabeth ( Francisco) Harrison were the parents of five children : Charles Andrew, the subject of this review: Mary A., the wife of W. E. Moore, Independence, Missouri; Virgie, the wife of James B. Quinlain, Manhattan, Kansas; Harvey E., deceased; and Nellie M .. the wife of R. K. Thorn, Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Harrison was a dealer in stock, shipping livestock extensively to all parts of the state, prior to his coming to Warrensburg in 1872, when he entered the mercantile business associated with A. O. Redford, their place of busi- ness located on Holden street, where the Shackleford & Kunkle Barber
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Shop is now. June 19, 1877 the walls of the brick building gave way and Mr. Harrison was killed. The widowed mother now resides in Warrensburg.
Charles Andrew Harrison attended the city schools of Warrens- burg and later, he was a student at the Warrensburg State Normal School. After leaving school, he engaged in farming. Mr. Harrison raised one corn crop in Saline county and then returned to Johnson county to engage in farming on his mother's place in Hazel Hill town- ship. He afterward was employed as clerk in the business establishment owned by A. O. Redford and then by Shockey & Redford, after which he conducted a livery stable. which he opened on East Pine street about 1882. where Baird & Townsend are now located. Mr. Harrison sold this place of business to P. P. Embree and then went to Oswego, Kan- sas. where he was engaged in the livery business for eight months. Upon his return to Missouri. Mr. Harrison again engaged in farming in Hazel Hill township. He was thus employed for sixteen years. During his residence in Hazel Hill township, Charles Andrew Harrison took an active part in civic affairs and served as justice of the peace for twelve years and as school director for the same length of time. In 1901, Mr. Harrison was elected probate judge of Warrensburg, in which office he served two terms. During his incumbency, bonds were issued and the street paving and sewer system adopted. practically all the sewers being built at that time and three miles of paving laid. For two years, Mr. Harrison was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee. He served eight years as probate judge of Johnson county and at the expira- tion of his term of office entered the American Trust Company as presi- dent. which position he now occupies.
The American Trust Company, of which Charles Andrew Harrison is president. is a consolidation of the American Bank of Warrensburg and the Johnson County Trust Company, which organization Mr. Har- rison helped to form, December 1. 1913. The present capital stock of the bank is fifty thousand dollars, the surplus fund twenty-five thou- sand. and the deposits, at the time of this writing, two hundred thousand dollars. The present officers are: Charles A. Harrison. president : G. W. Lemmon, vice-president : C. L. Gillilan, secretary and treasurer ; and W. E. Crissey. general manager.
October 14. 1884. Charles Andrew Harrison was united in mar- riage with Kate M. Logan, daughter of L. M. and Martha (Martin)
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Logan, of Warrensburg. Both Mr. and Mrs. Logan are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Harrison was born one child, a son, Alfred Harvey, who attended the city schools of Warrensburg and the Warrensburg State Normal School and is now in the employ of the American Trust Company. Mrs. Harrison died in December, 1907. December 4, 1908, Mr. Harrison was united in marriage with Maude C. Hendrix, of War- rensburg. Maude C. (Hendrix) Harrison is a daughter of George W. and Mary A. Hendrix, and a sister of Mrs. Thomas W. Hunter, Stanton, Virginia and J. W. Hendrix, Washington, D. C. Mr. and Mrs. Harri- son reside at 214 East Market street, in the city of Warrensburg, where they are highly respected and esteemed.
Oscar D. Warnick, of the firm Shock & Warnick of Warrensburg, was born April 17, 1881 in Post Oak township, Johnson county. He is a son of Sanford Francis and Mollie B. Warnick. Sanford Francis Warnick was born in Post Oak township, a son of Robert N. and Amanda J. (Oglesby) Warnick. Robert N. Warnick was born December 3, 1824 in Tennessee. When he was a child, he came with his parents to Missouri and they settled in Johnson county, where he was reared to manhood and in 1846 was married to Amanda J. Oglesby. Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Warnick were ever active and interested participants in all good and worthy causes and both were valued members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mr. Warnick was prominent in civic affairs in his day and for many years was justice of the peace in John- son county. Robert N. Warnick was owner of a splendid tract of land ten miles south of Warrensburg, upon which he settled. He died in Warrensburg and was buried in the Providence cemetery in Chilhowee township. Robert N. Warnick was a son of Major James N. Warnick, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
Sanford Francis Warnick, the father of the subject of this review, was born and reared in Post Oak township, Johnson county. For fif- teen years, he was engaged in the mercantile business in Warrensburg. associated with his brother, E. N .. under the firm name of Warnick Brothers. Later, Sanford Francis sold his interest in the establishment to his son, Oscar D., the subject of this review, and, in 1909, E. N. Warnick purchased the interest of Oscar D. After selling his interest in the store, Sanford Francis Warnick retired to his farm in Centerview township, where he is now residing. To Sanford Francis and Mollie B. Warnick have been born the following children: Gertrude, who is
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the wife of Theodore Shock, of Warrensburg, Missouri; and Oscar D., the subject of this review.
Oscar D. Warnick attended the public schools of Johnson county and the Warrensburg High School. In 1909, he began life for himself, purchasing his father's interest in the hardware store conducted by the Warnick Brothers. He later sold his interest in the store to E. N. Warnick and purchased the hardware and implement stock from Wamp- ler & Wampler at Knob Noster, Missouri, where he remained one year. He then became a member of the firm of Miller & Warnick, which, one year later, was succeeded by Shock & Warnick, having purchased the stock of hardware owned by S. P. Hines & Son, whose store was located at 201 North Holden street, the present place of business of the firm Shock & Warnick. The Shock & Warnick Hardwares Store is an out- growth of the Miller & Warnick Hardware Store, originally started in in 1912. The present firm carries a complete line of hardware and also is engaged in the business of plumbing, heating, and tin working. The young men of the firm are progressive, energetic, and enterprising and they are numbered among the best business men in the city of Warrens- burg.
December 25, 1910, Oscar D. Warnick and Maud E. McKee were united in marriage. Maud E. (McKee) Warnick is a daughter of Samuel and Katherine McKee of Butler, Missouri. Mrs. Warnick was born in Butler, Missouri, June 10, 1884. To Oscar D. and Maud E. Warnick has been born one child, a daughter, Martha Katherine. Mr. and Mrs. Warnick are highly esteemed in Warrensburg, where for three-quarters of a century the Warnick family has been considered one of the most prominent and respected families in the county. Mr. Warnick is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons lodge Number 265, of Warrensburg.
Vitt-Mayes Manufacturing Company of Warrensburg, Missouri, was organized originally by J. A. Lamey, of the Lamey Manufacturing Company of Sedalia, Missouri, who established in 1907 a branch fac- tory on North Holden street, where the Lobbans' Garage is now located. H. E. Vitt was superintendent of the Lamey Manufacturing Company of Warrensburg for six years and at the close of that time purchased the fac- tory from Mr. Lamey. For two years, H. E. Vitt operated it as the H. E. Vitt Manufacturing Company, making shirts, overalls, and pants for the jobbing trade. In 1914. the present company known as the Vitt-
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Mayes Manufacturing Company was organized by H. E. Vitt and the products of the factory have since been made for the retail trade. Two salesmen were immediately put on the road. At the present time there are ten salesmen traveling for the Vitt-Mayes Manufacturing Company.
The officers of the Vitt-Mayes Manufacturing Company are as follow: H. E. Vitt, president ; F. L. Mayes, vice-president ; S. H. Cole- man, second vice-president : H. R. Garrison, secretary and treasurer. The other stockholders are R. L. Campbell and Charles Gillilan. This company employs nearly one hundred people. The output of the fac- tory averages five hundred dozen garments weekly. Seventy-five machines are in constant operation, each controlled by motor power. The office, stockroom, and shipping department of the company are located on East Pine street in Warrensburg. The factory and ware- house are located at 109 and 111 East Market street.
The products of this factory are sold in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska. Iowa, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Illinois, California, and Wyoming. The supply has never yet equalled the demand. Vitt-Mayes Manufacturing Company is now engaged in mak- ing khaki uniforms for the United States Government, at the time of this writing, in 1917. Their celebrated trade-mark is a diamond-shaped figure upon which is stamped, "If it's Vitts it fits." One thousand gar- ments are made weekly at the present time and the factory will soon increase the output to two thousand garments.
Charles A. Boyles, ex-county clerk of Johnson county, and pro- prietor of the Five and Ten Cents Store of Warrensburg, is a native of Ohio. He was born January 28, 1848 in Athens county, Ohio, son of Martin and Charlotta (Francis) Boyles, the latter a native of Ohio.
Martin and Charlotta (Francis) Boyles were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary E. Matheney, deceased: Minerva, who died at the age of sixteen years; Charles A., subject of this review; and Martin A., who is a retired farmer of Athens county, Ohio. Martin Boyles died on a boat on the Mississippi river as the result of cholera. which he contracted while on his way to Iowa. He was taken to Keokuk, Iowa for burial and his widow then returned to the old home in Ohio. She died in Ohio at the age of eighty-three years and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery in Athens county, Ohio.
Charles A. Boyles received his education in the public schools of Athens county. Ohio, and Miller Seminary, which is located in
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CHARLES A. BOYLES.
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the same county. At the age of seventeen years he entered the teach- ing profession in which he was engaged until he came to Johnson county, Missouri in April, 1868. He came West with John C. Craw- ford and the two young men passed the examination for teachers' cer- tificates in the old Warrensburg courthouse. John C. Crawford, an esti- mable, young man and an excellent teacher, will be remembered by the people of Centerview who were living there in the early days, for he was employed there as teacher for six years. He then left Centerview and located in Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri.
Charles A. Boyles did not follow the original plan of the two young men and engage in teaching but entered the employ of J. B. Wolfe, who was conducting a general store at Jamestown, Missouri. Mr. Boyles began his duties as clerk and bookkeeper in the fall of 1868 and con- tinued in the employ of J. B. Wolfe for six years. When the hard times of 1873 came, Mr. Wolfe was forced to make an assignment and to discontinue business. Mr. Boyles was then employed as teacher in the Jamestown school, which position he held for six consecutive years teaching nine months each year. In March. 1881 he bought a half interest in Theodore Hyatt's general store at Fayetteville, Missouri and after eight years in this establishment sold his interest back to Mr. Hyatt and came to Warrensburg where he was employed as clerk by the Shepard's Dry Goods Company for ten years.
Charles Boyles was then elected county clerk of Johnson county and at the expiration of his first term in office was re-elected. thus serving the county faithfully and well a term of eight years. Mr. Boyles was one of the county's best and most conscientious officials, It was during his incumbency that the County Home was erected and the name given to the home for the poor and destitute was the sugges- tion of Mr. Boyles. Judge J. A. Anderson was presiding at the time and Mr. Boyles, he, and the two other judges drove out one day to examine conditions at the county farm. They were much impressed by the sad state of affairs there and by the great need for improvement and upon their return began to make plans for the betterment of the institution and almost immediately after. the poorhouse burned. A new location was decided upon and the county purchased the present site of the County Home because of its beautiful surroundings and splen- did location. The money for the new home was raised in three years' time, the amount raised by the first assessment being eleven thousand
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