USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 88
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September 6, 1877, James B. Wayman was united in marriage with Elizabeth S. Semple, who was born May 9, 1859, daughter of parents of Scottish birth. Mrs. Wayman's parents emigrated from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania and when she was ten years of age, they came to Missouri forty-eight years ago last February, of 1917, and set- tled in Gentry county. To James B. and Elizabeth S. Wayman have been born fourteen children: Effie A., born October 10, 1878, and was married to Dan W. Adair, of Gentry county, Missouri, February 22, 1903, and now residing in Johnson county; Thomas Marvin, born June 11, 1880, and was married to Miss Callie Brooks, of Daviess coun-
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ty, Missouri, November 25, 1914, and now residing in Johnson county ; Robert J., born October 8, 1881, and was married to Miss Jessie May Bagby, of this county, August 29, 1906, and now resid- ing in Johnson county; Clyde Homer, born September 4, 1884, and was married to Alberta Cazzell, of this county, February 2, 1907, now residing in Johnson county; Lora V., born September 10, 1886, and was married to William Cazzell, October 17, 1907, died July 4, 1909; Mary Ollie, born July 25, 1892, and was married to Thomas A. Thompson, of Gentry county, Missouri, May 1, 1916, and is now residing at Manhattan, Kansas; Julia Edith, born October 13, 1894, and was married to Grover P. Sutton, of Johnson county, March 3, 1914, and they are now residing in this county; Ara W., born July 30, 1898, and is at home; Leo Garner, born March 26, 1900, and is at home; Hester Blanch, born March 26, 1902, and is at home; Ruby Leal, born October 2, 1904, and is at home; and three died in infancy. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wayman moved to a farm in Gentry county, located near Albany, the county seat. For twenty-five years, Mr. Wayman was engaged in farming and in addition working at his trade of carpentering. He continued to follow the two vocations until he moved to Johnson county.
In March, 1903, Mr. Wayman purchased a farm of one hundred forty-four acres of land located north and west of Warrensburg, upon which place he resided twelve months, when he sold to Mr. Kemper and purchased an equity in a place near Montserrat, where he lived for fourteen months and then traded his interest in the farm for a half inter- est in a breeding stable in Gentry county. This stable handled Short- horn cattle, stallions, and jacks. Mr. and Mrs. Wayman returned to Gentry county, taking with them only their younger children, as the older members of their family were so well pleased with Johnson county they did not wish to go back to Gentry county. Mr. Wayman was not satisfied with the work of the stable, for which he had traded his farm, and they returned to Johnson county. For four or five years, after their return, he rented land in Johnson county and engaged in farm- ing . The last place, which he rented before coming to his present farm, was owned by Cliff A. Baile, who had bought a fine home in New York, leaving Mr. Wayman in charge of his farm of eight hun- dred acres, who was to be paid on the partnership basis. With the financial support given by Mr. Baile and the excellent business judg-
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ment and marked executive ability of Mr. Wayman, the firm were enabled to clear a very neat sum of money and the latter to make a fine payment on his present beautiful country place seven miles south- east of Warrensburg, Missouri. This farm belonging to Mr. Wayman comprises one hundred forty-five acres of land and on it he is raising high-grade Oxford sheep, which he is endeavoring to make the best, also mules, horses, cattle and hogs.
For the past six years. James B. Wayman has been superintendent of the New Hope Methodist Episcopal Sunday School. Both he and Mrs. Wayman are members of this church. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with the Modern Woodmen of America, and with the Yeomen. Mr. and Mrs. Wayman are highly esteemed among Johnson county's best and most substantial citizens.
C. M. Scruggs, son of one of the most intellectual of the pioneers of Johnson county, the capable merchant and efficient postmaster of Montserrat, Missouri, was born October 3, 1865. in Johnson county, Missouri, son of Rev. A. F. and Mrs. Scruggs, who came to Johnson county in 1859. Reverend Scruggs was reared on a plantation in Virginia, located within eighteen miles of Nashville, Tennessee. In early man- hood, Reverend A. F. Scruggs entered the ministry and the remainder of his long life was spent in doing good. in following the Christian pre- cepts himself and in leading hundreds of others to do likewise. When he began preaching, he was a missionary, working among the Cherokee Indians of Tennessee. At first, he taught the red men with the assistance of an interpreter but in a short time he learned their native language and spoke directly to them. He was a member of the church confer- ence in Tennessee and by the conference was sent as missionary. For his services, he received one hundred dollars annually and barrels of cloth- ing and provisions were frequently sent him by the church. It was barely a living wage but Reverend Scruggs was not engaged in church work for the purpose of obtaining wealth. He was endangered by the plagues of yellow fever and cholera, which swept the South, but through all passed in safety. In 1849, Reverend Scruggs was one of the committee of leading citizens of Mayville, Tennessee, who were appointed to meet General Zachary Taylor as he came by boat up the river from Louisiana on his way to Washington, D. C., where in a few days he was to be inaugurated President of the United States, a position he was destined to fill but one brief year and four months. Mrs. Scruggs was
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born in Ohio. She was married to Reverend Scruggs in 1856 and to them were born three children: C. M., of this review; Doctor Scruggs, who died in Johnson county in 1898; and Mrs. J. H. Rothwell, Knob Noster, Missouri. After a long life of nearly one hundred years, Rev- erend Scruggs died September 7, 1902. He had labored long and pa- tiently for Christ in Tennessee, Alabama, and Missouri, and he has for his services been rewarded by One who never measures the worth of a man in silver or gold. In 1907, he was joined in death by his noble and faithful wife.
On a farm in Grover township, C. M. Scruggs was reared to matur- ity. In 1884, he started in business for himself in the town of Mont- serrat, where he worked at several different occupations, working as clerk at one time and in some other position at another time, until 1903, when he left Missouri and went to Colorado. In Colorado, Mr. Scruggs was employed by a mining company as manager of their company store and coal business. He returned to Johnson county in 1905 and opened a general mercantile establishment in Montserrat, where he has ever since been located. Mr. Scruggs has a fine stock of goods valued at two thousand dollars. He enjoys an excellent patronage, for his name is a bond for honest, honorable, upright dealing. In April, 1913, C. M. Scruggs was appointed postmaster of Montserrat and on June 17, fol- lowing, he assumed the duties of that office.
In June, 1901, C. M. Scruggs was united in marriage with Betty Chatten, of Johnson county. To Mr. and Mrs. Scruggs have been born six children: Beryl, Bernice, Glen, Meda, Gordon, and Clarence. The Scruggs family have long been prominent and highly respected in John- son county, the members of which are all excellent and industrious citizens, worthy of the name they bear.
Thomas D. Dudley, the popular and well-known young agricul- turist of Post Oak township, was born June 7, 1881, at the C. C. Dudley homestead in Johnson county. He is the tenth child born to his parents, C. C. and Nancy M. (Gibbs) Dudley, the children being as follow: Gwinn, deceased; Lewis Gibbs, state of Washington; Benjamin Frank- lin, state of Washington; C. C., Jr., who died in March, 1916; James L., British Columbia; Emma, the wife of E. M. Greer; Letitia, the wife of H. Fetterling, of Colorado; Alice, the wife of W. S. Burford, Johnson county, Missouri; Ollie Belle, the wife of G. E. Smith, state of Wash- ington : and Thomas D., of this review. C. C. Dudley was born March
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28, 1835, in Franklin county, Virginia, and when five years of age, he came with his parents to Missouri and they settled in Johnson county about 1840. Nancy M. (Gibbs) Dudley was born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1838. She was united in marriage with Mr. Dudley in 1858. He was by trade a blacksmith but resided on a farm in Johnson county. When the children were old enough, they took charge of the farm work, the father being employed in his shop. Three of Mr. Dud- ley's brothers served in the Civil War, but on account of his crippled condition C. C. Dudley was obliged to remain at home. He was a Southern sympathizer and was greatly troubled by the "bushwhack- ers." He spent most of his days in the brush. During the night time, he would come home for food and then slip quietly back into hiding. At the time of his death on July 10, 1914, C. C. Dudley was the owner of one hundred fifteen acres of land, in this county, on which he had lived ever since he came to Missouri. The mother's death occurred August 25, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley were greatly respected and esteemed in this county and their loss has been keenly and deeply felt.
February 17, 1909, Thomas D. Dudley and Ruby Florence Gun- saulis were united in marriage. Mrs. Dudley was born and reared in Johnson county. To Thomas D. and Ruby Florence Dudley have been born three children: Kenneth Eugene, born January 27, 1910; Viola Fern, born November 7, 1912; and Glenn Neil. born December 22, 1916. Thomas D. and Mrs. Dudley have scores of friends in Johnson county and the Dudley family is numbered among the best in Post Oak township.
At the present time, in 1917, Mr. Dudley owns one hundred ninety- five acres of land in Johnson county. He is chiefly engaged in stock raising, handling cattle, hogs, and sheep. In addition to stock raising, he also does general farming. Mr. Dudley is an energetic, enthu- siastic, young man, one who is making a splendid success in life.
James H. Bradley, the well-known editor of the "Leeton Times," was born in 1862 on a farm located ten miles south of Windsor, Missouri. He was reared on the farm and his boyhood days were spent as most country lads spend their time, in work on the farm and attending the district school. When Mr. Bradley was twenty-one years of age, he entered the newspaper business at Brownington, Missouri. After one year in that city, he purchased a paper in Urich, which he edited and
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managed for a brief time, when he moved to Lincoln and started a paper. From Lincoln, where he was in the newspaper business one year, Mr. Bradley moved to Calhoun and thence to Leeton. For fifteen years, James H. Bradley has been the owner and manager of the "Leeton Times." Prior to that, the paper was owned by S. J. Major & Com- pany. The "Leeton Times" has been established twenty years. Mr. Bradley has been connected with newspaper work nearly thirty years.
February 14, 1876, James H. Bradley and May Thoman were united in marriage. Mrs. Bradley was formerly of Calhoun, Missouri. To James H. and May Bradley have been born five children: Harry L .; Paul P .; Mrs. Charles Murdock, Savannah, Missouri; Berniece; and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have many friends in Leeton, where they have resided almost a score of years, and they are widely known and highly respected in Johnson county.
In addition to managing and editing the "Leeton Times," Mr. Bradley does much job printing. He is thoroughly acquainted with all lines of the printing business and the work which leaves his office is always first class and perfectly satisfactory. As an editor, James H. Bradley has an established reputation in Johnson county for well- written, able, thoughtful editorials, which are widely read and com- mented upon not only in this county but in adjoining counties .
L. D. Stirling, a prosperous and industrious, young farmer and stockman of Jefferson township, is a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of Johnson county. He was born April 23, 1874 at the Stirling homestead in Johnson county, a son of William T. and Margaret (Dennis) Stirling. William T. Stirling was born in December, 1838 on the farm belonging to his father, a place located a few miles south of Center- view. On this farm, William T. Stirling was reared to maturity. In his boyhood days, the prairie was practically unfenced and the forests were filled with deer and other wild game. In early manhood, he went to Lexington, Missouri, where he remained two years, and then returned to Warrensburg. His father was county surveyor at that time and the Stirling family resided in Warrensburg for five or six years, during which period of time the father and son operated the Stirling Mill in that city. The elder Stirling owned two hundred acres of land near Centerview, which place he traded for the mill, which was located at Lexington and moved by the Stirlings to Warrensburg. Mr. Stirling, Sr. thought the farm worthless, a place now worth at least one hundred
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dollars an acre. Later, Mr. Stirling, Sr. and his son, William T., moved to the farm, now owned by L. D., the engine of the Sterling Mill and put in operation a sawmill, which they operated for many years. William T. Stirling purchased the farm which now belongs to his son and on this place was for several years engaged in farming and stock raising. He cleared and improved the farm and fifteen years ago retired from the active pursuits of agriculture and twelve years ago moved to his city property in Leeton. Margaret (Dennis) Stirling is a native of Indiana. She was united in marriage with Mr. Stirling in Johnson county in 1873 and to them were born five children: L. D., of this review; Mrs. Roy Bartholomew, Johnson county, Missouri; Ewell, deceased; Alice, deceased: and Eula, deceased. W. T. Stirling was first married to Elizabeth A. Dudley in 1867. To this union one child, a girl, was born, who is now deceased. William T. Stirling is a veteran of the Confederate army. He was a member of General Shelby's brigade. He joined with many other recruits at Warrensburg and they were on the way to join the main army when young Stirling was cap- tured and sent to Rock Island, Illinois, where he was kept a prisoner until the close of the war. Mr. Stirling is active and influential in pub- lic affairs, in which he takes a keen interest. At the present time he is one of the road supervisors of Johnson county. For years, he has been a school director. Both he and Mrs. Stirling are valued members of the Leeton Baptist church and they are greatly esteemed and respected in this community.
In Johnson county in 1900, L. D. Stirling and Anna Hawthorne were united in marriage. Mrs. Stirling was born in Boone county, Mis- souri, but reared and educated in Johnson county. To L. D. and Anna (Hawthorne) Stirling have been born two children: Forest, who was born in December, 1901; and Ethel, who was born in February. 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Stirling are worthy, consistent members of the Baptist church and they are numbered among the good, Christian people of Johnson county, excellent citizens of whom all are proud. 'Mr. Stirling has been a church member for nearly twenty-six years. For many years, he has been the school director of his district.
The L. D. Stirling farm comprises one hundred twenty acres of land and at the time of this writing, in 1917, all the place is under cul- tivation. Mr. Stirling is engaged in raising cattle and hogs, giving especial attention to the latter. To a certain extent, he is also in the
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dairy business. Butter and cream have been taken to the market from the Stirling farm every week for the past six years. Mr. and Mrs. Stirl- ing are hardworking, enterprising citizens, worthy of the highest suc- cess in life.
Levi McMurphy, proprietor of "Valley View Stock Farm," is one of the well-known and respected farmers and stockmen of Warrensburg and Post Oak townships. His splendid stock farm comprises three hundred sixty acres of land in Warrensburg township and one hundred twenty-five acres in Post Oak township. This tract of land was entered from the government. John H. Gardner entered the land and he owned three hundred sixty-five and three-fourths acres. He and his sister, Rebecca J., both of whom were unmarried, spent their lives on this place.
The history of the Gardner family is an interesting one. They were originally from Virginia, whence they moved to Kentucky and thence to Scott county, Missouri, where they were located for some time, coming to Johnson county prior to the Civil War. The Gardner family in this section of the country is now extinct and the graves that mark their last resting places are to be found in Greer cemetery. The land on which this burial ground is situated was entered from the govern- ment by George W. Greer, who was instrumental in the establishment of the cemetery which is named in his honor. There are stones mark- ing graves in this cemetery showing that burials were made there as early as 1844. From the inscriptions on the Gardner tombstones, one learns the following concerning the family :
"James J. Gardner died December 1, 1855 aged seventy- three years. "Susan Gardner, his wife, died March 11, 1874, aged eighty-six years.
"Mahaly Gardner born October 5, 1814 and died February 18, 1877.
"John H. Gardner died September 25, 1892 aged eighty-six years, two months, and eighteen days.
"Rebecca Gardner born July 29. 1810 and died January 3, 1894." In 1894, Levi McMurphy erected the large monument which bears the following inscription :
"Erected to the memory of departed friends by Levi McMurphy."
All the names of the members of the Gardner family are on this memorial stone. Each one lived to a noble old age and the total sum of their combined ages is three hundred ninety-two years. The Gard- ners were good people, brave, enterprising, honored pioneers of John- son county. Mr. Gardner and his sister, Miss Rebecca, were widely
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known in this county and universally esteemed. There are many men and women still residents of the township, who often shared with them the kindly hospitality of their home, and remember them well for their many generous deeds of kindness.
"Valley View Stock Farm" is the home of the registered Here- fords, the largest herd in Johnson county. Mr. McMurphy purchased his first registered male in 1894, "Ben Imadine," and three years later purchased his first registered cow. At the present time he owns one hundred forty head of high grade registered stock, a large number of which are breeding cows. When they are two years of age, Mr. McMurphy breeds them. The imprint of "Ben Imadine's" horns may be seen in the cement walk in front of the McMurphy residence. All the stock sold from the McMurphy place is sold at private sale and Mr. McMurphy will have disposed of all which he desires to sell this year of 1917 by the first of December.
In 1877, Levi McMurphy and Martha M. Hicks were united in mar- riage at Golconda, Illinois and to them have been born eight children, seven of whom are now living: Mary Alice, who died in infancy; Loy, a prominent farmer and stockman of Post Oak township; Mrs. Pearl McCormack. Warrensburg, Missouri: James, who resides on the home place ; J. Henry, a successful farmer of Magnolia, Missouri; Will- iam M., Warrensburg, Missouri; Levi, Jr., at home; and Ernest, a highly regarded farmer and stockman of Post Oak township. Mr. and Mrs. McMurphy are numbered among the most valued and substantial citizens of Johnson county.
W. Emery Scott, the well-known and prosperous farmer and stock- man of Post Oak township, is the son of one of the brave, noble pio- neers of Johnson county. He was born in November, 1863 at the Scott homestead in Johnson county. Mr. Scott is one of four children born to his parents, Daniel and Rebecca (Gwyn) Scott, the other three chil- dren being daughters. Daniel Scott was a native of Tennessee, who came to Missouri among the first settlers and purchased the farm on which his son, Emery, now resides. He enlisted in the Civil War and served with the Seventh Missouri Infantry. After the war had closed, Mr. Scott returned to his farm in Johnson county and resided there until his death. He was an industrious, capable, successful farmer and stockman, enrolled among the best citizens that ever came to Missouri.
In 1903, W. Emery Scott and Ida McDonald were united in mar-
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riage. Mrs. Scott was born and reared in Johnson county. To W. Emery and Ida (McDonald) Scott have been born three children. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have long been held in the highest respect and esteem in this section of the county, where they have scores of friends. Mr. Scott is a valued member of the Modern Woodmen of America and he is one of Johnson county's best and most enterprising citizens.
The Scott farm comprises three hundred forty acres of land, prac- tically all of which has been cleared of timber since the Scotts settled in this county. Mr. Scott well recalls the open condition of Johnson county, when he was a youth, when fences were rarely in use and cattle were given free range over the wide prairie. He is engaged in raising cattle and hogs, which though not registered stock are of good grade. He has been deservedly successful in his chosen vocation and is the owner of one of the valuable country places in this part of Missouri.
Ivan J. Kinney, the highly respected and widely-known minister of the Christian church residing on a farm near Warrensburg, was born February 5, 1883 in Guthrie county, Iowa, son of Henry J. and Martha E. (Simpson) Kinney. Henry J. Kinney was born April 11, 1859 in Cedar county, Iowa, a member of one of the honored pioneer families of that state. Mr. Kinney was reared and educated and married in Cedar county, Iowa. His marriage with Miss Martha E. Simpson occurred in 1881 and to them were born four children: Ivan J., of this review; Fred O., Big Sandy, Choteau county, Montana: Nellie L., Big Sandy, Montana : and Edith J., the wife of Mr. Campbell, of Big Sandy, Montana. In 1887, the Kinney family moved from Iowa to Missouri, where they settled in Washington territory. Henry J. Kinney engaged in farming and stock raising and in 1906, on the home place, his death occurred. Mr. Kinney was an honorable, upright, noble- minded citizen, a man of countless friends, who have missed him sadly.
Ivan J. Kinney is a graduate of Olympia High School. He was a student at the University of Washington and of Transylvania College, Lexington, Kentucky. At the latter institution, he completed the Bible course and after preaching two years at Raleigh, Missouri and two years at East Lynne, Missouri, he took postgraduate work in Philip's Bible School, Canton, Ohio. Mr. Kinney spent seven years in obtaining a collegiate education. He is now an ordained pastor of the Christian church and at the present time is minister of the Gunn City, East Lynne, and Prairie View Christian churches. He is deeply interested in agri-
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cultural pursuits and much prefers to reside in the country, where he believes he can do more good. His farm comprises one hundred twenty acres of land and on this place he is raising good grade cattle. His stock is not now pure-bred, but he is gradually improving his herd and will in time devote his entire attention in the stock business to raising registered cattle.
Reverend Ivan J. Kinney was united in marriage with Mrs. Alma (Hays) Bigley, of Cass county. Mrs. Kinney's parents are noble pio- neers of Cass county, where they settled on land which the father entered from the government immediately after the Civil War. They came from Tennessee and are still living at the homestead, a place embracing five hundred forty acres of land known as "Walnut Valley Stock Farm." Mrs. Kinney's father is widely known throughout Mis- souri as a prosperous and successful breeder of pure-bred Shorthorns. By a former marriage, Mrs. Kinney is the mother of one child, a son, Adrian Bigley. Reverend Kinney and his wife are popular, highly val- ued, young people, who are doing much good in the world.
Humphrey M. Burford, one of the leading citizens of Post Oak township, a progressive, capable agriculturist. is a member of one of the first families of Johnson county. He was born January 2, 1860 near Centerview, son of William H. and Elizabeth (Williams) Burford, who were united in marriage in 1859 and to whom were born nine children, one son and one daughter dying in infancy and seven are now living, five sons and two daughters. William H. Burford was born August 7, 1832 on his father's plantation near Richmond, Virginia. When a child six years of age he came to Missouri with his parents and they settled on a tract of land in St. Clair county, where William H. was reared and educated. At the age of twenty years, he left Mis- souri and went to California. This was the time of the excited rush to the gold fields there and Mr. Burford made the trip to California by land, returning by way of Panama. About 1858, he came to Johnson county and settled on a farm near Centerview. He was engaged in the business of buying and selling cattle. In 1859, as has been stated, he was married to Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Wilkenson Williams, a prominent citizen of Johnson county and sheriff of the county for two terms immediately after the Civil War. During the war, the Bur- ford family made a trip to Illinois, but soon returned to Johnson county and located on the Miller place about two miles from Warrensburg.
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