History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 83

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

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L. C. Gore, Jr. received his education in the public schools of Rich-

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ardson county Nebraska and Cass county Missouri. At the age of twelve years he came to Cass county, Missouri and there remained until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was employed until the autumn of 1890, at which time he came to Warrensburg to enter the Warrensburg State Normal School. Mr. Gore was a student at this educational institution one year and then passed the teachers' examination obtaining a license to teach in the schools of Johnson county and for one year was employed as teacher at Locust Grove school house southwest of Warrensburg after which he taught in the Chickasha nation of Oklahoma, a mixed school of Indians and white children. Mr. Gore was a member of the teaching profession of Johnson county six years, employed at Liberty and Fayetteville, when he abandoned educational work in 1901 to enter the mercantile business, first as a clerk in the shoe store owned by John B. Clark and then, after two years' experience, as manager of the shoe department of the Gilkeson Dry Goods Company. In partnership with G. A. Thurber, L. C. Gore, Jr. purchased the John B. Clark mercantile estab- lishment and continued the business for some time, when Mr. Thurber purchased the interest of Mr. Gore in 1904. The latter then entered the insurance business and wrote life insurance for the Metropolitan Insurance Company and in October of his first year with the company he was promoted to the position of assistant superintendent and he remained with the company two years. In 1905, L. C. Gore, Jr. bought Mr. Thurber's store and conducted the shoe store until 1907, when he again disposed of his business interests, selling to Shock & Son, and returned to his former work with the Metropolitan Insurance Company and again was promoted to the position of assistant superintendent, in which capacity he remained until 1910. In October, 1910, Mr. Gore purchased a half interest in the Houts Scenic Company and was travel- ing salesman for the company, covering territory north to Canada, south to the Gulf of Mexico, and west to Denver, selling his interest in the company in September, 1912. Mr. Gore was elected collector of internal revenue for the city of Warrensburg in April, 1913 and reelected to the same office in 1915, his second term expiring April 1, 1917. He has been closely and prominently connected with the city schools of Warrensburg, having served continuously for the past fifteen years as member of the school board and for several years past as sec- retary of the board. L. C. Gore, Jr. is the youngest member of the

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school board of Warrensburg. yet the oldest, in point of years of service.

The marriage of L. C. Gore, Jr. and Ida F. Shackleford, a daughter of B. F. and Mary Shackleford, of Fayetteville, Missouri, was solem- nized December 26, 1897. The Shacklefords were honored and valued pioneers of Johnson county, Missouri and both the father and the mother lived to be seventy-five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Shackleford are buried in the cemetery at Old Liberty seven miles north of Warrensburg. To L. C., Jr. and Ida F. Gore has been born one child, a son, Lawrence, who is a graduate of the Warrensburg High School in the class of 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Gore are widely and favor- ably known throughout Johnson county.

Levi Jacoby, proprietor of "Ridge View Farm" in Columbus town- ship is a son of a worthy and well-remembered pioneer family of John- son county. He is a native of Marshall county, Indiana and in that state was reared and educated, but for nearly fifty years Mr. Jacoby has been a resident of Johnson county. Missouri. He was born in 1851, a son of Elias and Margaret (Schaaf) Jacoby, widely known and hon- ored as the founders of Jacoby Chapel and cemetery. Elias Jacoby was born October 8, 1815 in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania and in 1823 moved with his parents to Ohio, where he was reared to maturity. April 18, 1837, Elias Jacoby and Margaret Schaaf, daughter of John and Margaret Schaaf, the former, a resident of Germany until 1853. when he came to the United States to make his home with his children, were united in marriage and to them were born the following children: Samuel, who was killed while in service in the United States army; John E., of Columbus township, who is unmarried: Elias, Jr., who died in childhood July 11, 1851 in Indiana; Mrs. Mary Ann Stump, Columbus township; David, who lived in Lane county, Oregon and died March 18. 1917; Mrs. Catharine Grimm, who died in Indiana, November 2. 1870; Mrs. Margaret Bonduran, Marshall county, Indiana; Levi, the subject of this review: Mrs. Eliza Jane Summers. Hazel Hill township; Isaiah, Hazel Hill township: Mrs. Annette E. Knaus. Knob Noster, Missouri; and William D., Holden, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby were married near Waldo, Ohio in Marion county and for ten years remained in Ohio. In 1847, they moved to Indiana and resided on a farm in Marshall county until 1871, when they came to Johnson county, Missouri after spending a few months in Oregon. Mr. Jacoby sold his

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farm in Indiana and in February, 1872 settled on the farm on which Jacoby Chapel is now situated. Elias Jacoby donated the land for the church and cemetery and in his honor they were named. Mr. Jacoby lived but a few years in the new Western home. He died July 20, 1877 and burial was made in the cemetery he himself had established. Mrs. Jacoby, who was born January 9, 1819, died at the advanced age of ninety-one years, September 26, 1910.

Levi Jacoby obtained his education in the public schools of Indiana. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm in Indiana and until after his father's death he remained at home with his parents. Mr. Jacoby purchased his first farm in 1882, a small tract of land comprising sixty-seven acres located in Hazel Hill township, and to this he added forty acres, now a part of the Tompkins Rice place, and to this farm moved in 1888. Mr. Jacoby sold the place eight years afterward, in 1896, and purchased his present country home, a farm embracing two hundred acres of land, formerly the C. Sharp land, located two and a half miles northeast of Columbus. All the excellent improvements on the farm have been placed there by Mr. Jacoby. The residence, a house of six rooms, was built in 1896 and there are two large, well- constructed barns on the Jacoby place. "Ridge View Farm" is well watered and neatly kept, one of the attractive homes of this township. The residence is located on the ridge, from which a beautiful view of the surrounding country can be had, and thus the place came by its name. A part of the farm is at the highest point in the county. Round Grove creek, a tributary of Honey creek, flows through "Ridge View Farm." Mr. Jacoby has raised a large number of hogs annually and has succeeded well both in general farming and stock raising.

In December, 1880, Levi Jacoby and May Silvey, daughter of John and Rebecca Ann Silvey, of Columbus township, were married. May Silvey was born near Zanesville, Ohio in 1853 and she came to War- rensburg, Missouri with her parents in 1867. Mr. Silvey is now deceased and his remains are interred in the cemetery at Columbus. The widowed mother makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby. She is now eighty-seven years of age. To Levi and May Jacoby have been born five children: Mrs. Clara May Jarman, wife of Milton Jarman, of Columbus township; Hattie Silvey, who is at home with her parents; Frank Levi, who is associated with his father in farming the home

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place and resides at home with his parents: Otto Raymond, who mar- ried Myrtle Greenwell, and he is now deputy recorder of Johnson county; and Bessie Ann, wife of Frank Coffman, the well-known undertaker of McMeeker's Mercantile Company of Warrensburg.

Mr. Jacoby was well acquainted with Pleasant Rice, the first set- tler of Johnson county and he states that the oldest house still standing in this county is on the Kelly place and was built by Mr. Rice. This house was originally a log cabin, but it has since been weatherboarded. It is about one mile northwest of the Jacoby home. Senator Francis M. Cockrell and Governor Crittenden were among Mr. Jacoby's earli- est acquaintances in Missouri and among the residents of Gay street in Warrensburg forty-five years ago, Mr. Jacoby recalls Dr. Robinson; M. C. Shryack; Mr. Hawkins; Ritter, the wineman; Spurling, the bar- ber; and Mr. Asbury.

A young man, twenty years of age, Levi Jacoby came with his parents to this part of Missouri and for the past forty-five years the Jacoby name has been closely connected with the history of the devel- opment and growth of Johnson county. Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby are both of good, pioneer lineage and they are highly respected and valued citizens of Columbus township.

John Knaus, an honored pioneer of Johnson county, is a citizen worthy of the highest regard and consideration. He was born March 1, 1833 in Howard county, Missouri, son of Jacob and Catherine ( Max- well) Knaus. Jacob Knaus was a son of Henry Knaus, an eminent pioneer of Howard county, Missouri. Henry Knaus was by trade a blacksmith. He came to Missouri in 1817 and died in 1853. Jacob Knaus entered fourteen hundred acres of land in Johnson county, where he became widely known as a prosperous and influential farmer.

When John Knaus was a youth, the schools were in Missouri very few and far apart. He attended school first in the country and later in Fayette, Bellair, and Warrensburg, completing his education at St. Louis Commercial College. St. Louis, Missouri. After completing school, Mr. Knaus entered the teaching profession and for several years taught school in Johnson county. He became interested in the pur- suits of agriculture and turned his entire attention to farming, in which vocation he has ever since been engaged.

In 1859, John Knaus was united in marriage with Martha Ann Thompson, daughter of Andrew Thompson, a native of Tennessee. To

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John and Martha Ann (Thompson) Knaus were born four daughters, all of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Knaus died in 1900 and she was laid to rest in the family burial ground. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and a noble Christian woman, one whose life was an inspiration to all with whom she came in contact. Mr. Knaus now lives alone, quietly spending the closing years of his long life of usefulness on his little farm of thirty-six acres, near Knob Noster, where he is employed in attending his land in pasture and garden.

Mr. Knaus has been a resident of Johnson county for seventy-seven years and his personal experiences would alone give a clear picture of pioneer life and of the growth of the county. When he came to John- son county wild game was in abundance. He has many times seen more than thirty-five deer in one herd in this section of the state and flocks of countless wild turkeys and prairie chickens. The mail was received but once a week and at Warrensburg, to which place one must go on horseback in order to obtain it. Later, the mail was distributed at another point, Clearfork Mill. The mail would be placed in a large box and the people would look through all the mail and select that which belonged to them. About 1846, Knob Noster became a post- office, receiving its name from two prominent hilltops. Among the pio- neer preachers, whom Mr. Knaus recalls, were "Uncle John" Morrow, "Uncle Bob" Morrow, "Uncle Robert" Rennick, and Reverend James Dalton. Mr. Knaus has a fund of interesting and instructive stories of the days long past stored away in his wonderfully retentive memory.

Ernest L. Porter and Birch D. Porter, widely known as the Porter Brothers, proprietors of "The Valley View Farm Kennels" at Con- cordia, Missouri, have an established reputation that is country-wide, for breeders and trainers of high class field dogs. . They are also known throughout Missouri as successful stockmen, raising Denmark saddle horses, Spotted Poland China hogs, and high grade cattle. For many years the two brothers have been partners and formerly they also trained horses, but in recent years this phase of the horse business has been abandoned. The Porter Brothers are the sons of John W. and Fannie G. (Harper) Porter, who are at the present time residing in Dunksburg, Missouri, where for years, Mr. Porter was engaged in the milling business. John W. Porter was born in 1838 in Smith county, Tennessee, son of Peter and Louisa Porter. In 1860, he was married to Fannie G. Harper, daughter of Matthew and Mary Harper, of Ten-

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nessee. Both the Porter and Harper families were pioneer settlers of Missouri, coming to Johnson county many years prior to the Civil War. Mr. Porter succeeded well in life in his chosen vocation of farm- ing and at one time was the owner of a splendid farm in Johnson county. About ten years ago, he retired from active business and he and Mrs. Porter moved from the farm to Dunksburg, Missouri, where they now reside. To John W. and Fannie G. ( Harper) Porter have been born eight children, all of whom are now living: William A., Mrs. Lula Park, Mrs. Cora A. Carter, Mrs. Lillie G. Park, John B., Ernest L., Claud W., and Birch D.

The Porter Brothers have five hundred acres of land leased in Johnson county, most of which is devoted to meadow land and hay fields. They will have two hundred tons of hay this year. 1917. Since the partnership was formed many years ago, Ernest L. and Birch D. Porter have been well known as prosperous cattlemen, farmers, and live-stock breeders. Several years past, they added a dog kennel on their stock farm and began breeding and training setters, pointers, Irish water spaniels, fox and wolf hounds, cat and varmint hounds, rabbit and squirrel hounds, coon hounds, and combination hunters. They were successful far beyond their greatest expectations and an extensive pat- ronage was rapidly built, the kennel becoming renowned all over the United States and Canada. The dogs are sold on a guarantee and ten days' trial and sporting folks everywhere have the utmost confidence in any product of "The Valley View Farm Kennels." The dogs are bred on the farm under the very best conditions. Dogs may also be boarded and trained at reasonable prices on the farm. The Porter Brothers make a specialty of yard breaking and force retrieving. They usually have as many as four hundred grown dogs and puppies annually on the place. "Comanche Don," F. D. S. B. 37927, by "Comanche Frank," out of Hard Cash's "Becky," the best bird dog in the state, is now at stud for a fee of twenty-five dollars. This dog is worth more than a thousand dollars, as is also "Champion Frisco Bedelia," an Irish water spaniel, an undefeated winner, which has four points above the championship. She has won thirty-three first and special prizes and has produced nine winners, among them. "Fannie McGee," the Panama Exposition winner. Her pups are selling for one hundred dollars each. All pointer and setter pups sell for from fifty to one hundred dollars each and trained dogs are valued at one hundred fifty dollars on up.

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The two brothers are the best-informed and most interesting conver- sationalists on the subject of dogs in the state of Missouri. The water spaniels are usually sold to sportsmen for duck hunting in the northern part of America, but the bird dogs are shipped in all directions. A fine dog is worth as much and often more than a good horse.

In 1906, Birch D. Porter was united in marriage with Coda Berry, daughter of James Berry, of Sweetsprings, Missouri. In 1908, Ernest L. Porter was united in marriage with Mary F. Porter, daughter of G. W. and Sarah Porter. Although Ernest L. and Mary F. Porter bore the same name prior to marriage, they were in no way related. Both the Porter boys were born, reared, and educated in Johnson county, splendid types of fine, alert, intelligent Missourians, young citizens of whom all are proud.

Z. T. Kitterman, one of Chilhowee township's well-to-do and indus- trious citizens, was born in Indiana in 1861. He is a son of John Wesley and Sarah (Smith) Kitterman. John Wesley Kitterman was a son of Zacharialı Kitterman, a native of Germany, who emigrated from the fatherland in an early day and came to America, where he settled in Indiana. John Wesley Kitterman was engaged in farming in that state. Sarah (Smith) Kitterman was a daughter of Henry Smith, of Indiana. Z. T. Kitterman is one of fourteen children born to his parents.

In 1872, the Kitterman family moved from Indiana to Missouri, where they settled on a farm in Johnson county. The father had no money, when he came West, and he had a very hard time getting a start in the new Western home. He was not afraid of hard work and industriously and cheerfully hired himself to more prosperous farmers, receiving only one dollar a day. His boys, too, worked for other peo- ple and for their services received each fifty cents a day. When the Kittermans came to Johnson county, all this part of the country was covered with underbrush and timber. There were few settlements and deer, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens might be found in great abundance.

In a school held at a private residence in Johnson county, Mr. Kitterman received his education. Miss Mollie Foster was his first teacher. Afterward, at different times, he was taught by "Bill" Ship, Mr. Butler, Anne Harris, and "Dave" Mohler. He recalls among the pioneer preachers, whom he often heard preach in the days of his boy-

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hood, Reverend Cockrell, Ezra Thompson, and Reverend Cald- well. Many times he has attended the old-time camp-meetings to which all the settlers came and where they enjoyed themselves immensely. Long ago, Mr. Kitterman became a member of the Baptist church and he has always been an active worker in this church since he became a member. He has been one of the deacons for the past twenty years and the superintendent of the Baptist Sunday school at Pleasant Valley for many years and is now the assistant superintendent. Mr. Kitterman was one of the leading factors in the establishment of the Pleasant Valley Baptist church and he is a charter member of this church. He gave his most energetic efforts to the building of the church structure at that place.

In the course of time by industry and careful economy, Z. T. Kitterman has prospered and he is now the owner of one hundred thirty-five acres of land in Chilhowee township. His tract of land is well located and exceedingly well watered. Half the farm is in grass and pasture land. Mr. Kitterman is devoting much attention to rais- ing Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle.

In 1880, Z. T. Kitterman was united in marriage with Rosa Bell Calhoun, of Illinois, and to them have been born four children: Mrs. Mina Birnel, Chilhowee, Missouri; Lyman E., at home with his par- ents; and two children, who are now deceased. For many years, Z. T. Kitterman has been an educational authority, being a school direc- tor for several terms and at the present time president of the school board. The Kitterman family has long been held in the highest respect and esteem in Johnson county, where they are numbered among the best and most substantial families.

G. W. Strickland was born in 1865 in Johnson county. Missouri, the son of E. C. and Harriet ( Melton) Strickland, the former, a native of Ohio and the latter, of New York. E. C. Strickland was a success- ful farmer and stockman. He came to Missouri and settled in Johnson county prior to the time of the Civil War.

The boyhood days of G. W. Strickland were spent in this county, when deer and wild turkeys were to be found in the forests and cattle and hogs were allowed unlimited range over the wide, fenceless prairie. His school teacher at the Lowland school was Walter Crouch and the pioneer preacher, to whom he often listened as a youth, was Reverend Hedrick. Mr. Strickland has frequently attended the old-

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fashioned camp-meetings and he recalls how the young fellows would bring their "best girls" behind them on horseback. The young people of his time were not without amusements. Dances were always a source of much pleasure and entertainment. They were free to all who wished to come and were attended by the young folks from all parts of the county. As a young man, G. W. Strickland worked as a hired farm laborer for sixteen dollars a month.

In 1886, G. W. Strickland and Manda Rumley, daughter of John Rumley, were united in marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Strickland have been born three children, two girls and one boy, two of whom are now living: Mrs. Sylvia Crowder, Sweetsprings, Missouri; Sadie, who died at the age of seventeen years, eleven months and two days; and Lyman, who resides at home with his parents and is associated in the business of farming and stock raising with his father. After his mar- riage, Mr. Strickland rented land for several years and then pur- chased forty acres of land in Johnson county, upon which place he built an old-fashioned log house, which was their home for many years and in which all their children were born. He early began raising Poland China hogs and in the course of time prospered and with his savings was enabled to purchase, after six years time, forty acres more land. Since that time, Mr. Strickland has gradually increased his hold- ings and is now the owner of one hundred sixty acres of choice stock land, most of the farm being in grass. This year, 1917, he has forty acres of his place in corn and fifteen acres in sugarcane. For twenty years G. W. Strickland has been engaged in the manufacture of molasses, often times making more than two thousand gallons of syrup. He, himself, plants annually three to fifteen acres in cane and he makes molasses for his neighbors, who haul their cane to his well-equipped mill and evaporator. There will be forty tons of hay produced on the Strickland farm this year of 1917. Mr. Strickland keeps four mares on the farm and at present owns a fine Belgian stallion. Lyman, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Strickland, takes a keen interest and pride in the work of the farm. He is a bright, progressive, alert, young man and is perfectly contented with country life, differing greatly from many of the young citizens of Johnson county. Mr. and Mrs. Strick- land are highly respected and valued in their community and they are numbered among the county's best citizens.

S. L. Shannon was born in Johnson county in 1877. He is one of

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the two living sons of John S. and Nancy E. (Johnson) Shannon, his brother being Finis R., of Chilhowee, Missouri. John S. Shannon was a son of Willis Shannon, a prosperous farmer of Kentucky. Nancy E. (Johnson) Shannon was a daughter of William Johnson, an honored pioneer of Johnson county. The Shannon family, as the name well im- plies, is of Irish lineage. John Shannon came to Missouri in 1870 and two years later was united in marriage with Nancy E. Johnson. They set- tled on a farm one mile east of Chilhowee and on this place all their children were born.

At Stony Point, where S. L. Shannon attended school. Miss Irene Dunham was teaching when Mr. Shannon started on the road of learn- ing. He was later taught by George Bryson, Leslie Smith, and Charles McCaskill, all early-day teachers. The pioneer preachers, whom he recalls having heard preach in his boyhood days, were: "Uncle Jim" Houx, Finis King, and Z. T. Orr. He attended the Sunday School held at Stony Point, of which his father, John S. Shannon, was the first superintendent. The first lesson, which S. P. Shannon was taught in the Sunday School at Stony Point, was about Jacob's dream. Leslie Smith, one of the teachers, sold a book called "The Story of the Bible." Mr. Shannon purchased a copy for his young son and perhaps no book in the Shannon home has been as inspiring to S. L. Shannon when a youth as was that one. He. himself, states that he has never forgotten the lessons it taught him and they laid the foundation for his later interest in church work. Many years after the time he first peeped within the covers of "The Story of the Bible," S. L. Shannon became superintendent of the Shiloh Sunday School and he now holds that position in the church there.

Mr. Shannon was born and reared on the farm and he has always been interested in the pursuits of agriculture. He inherited half of the old home place and purchased his brother's half and is now the owner of two hundred thirty-five acres of land. Mr. Shannon pursues the latest and most scientific methods of farming and stock raising. He is devoting much time and attention to raising Poland China hogs and Durham cattle. At the time of this writing, in 1917, he is milking eight cows. The large barn on his farm will hold seventy-five tons of hay. Mr. Shannon has been deservedly successful in his chosen vocation.

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History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 83

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