History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 93

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

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W. H. and Mary J. ( Mints) Bunn were the parents of the following children: Mamie, who is the wife of W. W. Durham, of East St. Louis, Illinois, and they are the parents of three children: Bunn, Thelma, and Dixie; Katherine, who is the wife of Eugene Dupuis, who has made a name for himself on the vaudeville stage and is now with the Orpheum in New York City; Fannie B., who is a graduate of the Warrensburg State Normal School and of Spalding's Commercial College, the wife of Mr. Whitsett, and the mother of one child, a daughter, Marjorie Jane, who is now the wife of F. W. Bigum, of Ramona, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Whitsett is at present in the employ of J. H. Freeman, a well- known broker, of St. Louis, Missouri; and Thomas Jefferson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and with whom the mother now makes her home.

Thomas J. Bunn, cashier at the freight depot of the Missouri Pacific railway, has perhaps seen more of the world than any other person in Johnson county and he is still a very young man. He was born in 1882 in Warrensburg, Missouri, the only son and youngest child of the children born to his parents, W. H. and Mary J. ( Mints) Bunn. W. H. Bunn was a native of Ohio where he was born at Xenia in 1835. Mary J. (Mints) Bunn is a native of Florida where she was born at Pensa- cola a daughter of Robert Washington and Sarah Elizabeth (Miller) Mints. To W. H. and Mary J. Bunn were born four children: Mamie, the wife of W. W. Durham, of East St. Louis, Illinois; Katherine, the wife of Eugene Dupuis, of New York City : Fannie B., who is now Mrs. Whitsett, of St. Louis, Missouri; and Thomas Jefferson, the subject of this review. A more comprehensive sketch of the Bunn family is given in connection with the biography of Mrs. Mary J. (Mints) Bunn which appears elsewhere in this volume. August 7, 1912, the father died and Mrs. Bunn has resided with her son, Thomas J., since that time.

In the city schools of Warrensburg, Missouri, Thomas J. Bunn received his education. He was also a student in the Warrensburg State Normal School for several terms. At the age of sixteen years, he enlisted in the United States navy in 1898, at St. Louis. This was at the time of the Spanish-American War. For four years, Mr. Bunn was in service and during that time saw much of the world. He received training at Norfolk, Virginia and thence sailed to the West Indies on the sailing vessel, "Alliance." Thence the crew sailed to Philadelphia League Island Navy Yard and then to the South Atlantic Station, the South

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African Station, and the European Station, circumnavigating the globe. Mr. Bunn was in active service on the first-class cruiser, "Minneapolis," the battleship, "Iowa," and the transport, "Perry." He had tried to enlist in the home company, but being too young he was not accepted. For the past six years, Thomas J. Bunn has been in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company at Warrensburg, where he is the efficient clerk and cashier at the freight depot.

Thomas J. Bunn was united in marriage with Fannie Irene Alden, of Galveston, Texas. Mrs. Thomas J. Bunn is a daughter of W. L. and Adelia (Harrison) Alden, the former, now deceased. To Thomas J. and Fannie Irene (Alden) Bunn have been born three children: Kathe- rine, William H., and Priscilla Alden. Mr. Bunn is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both he and Mrs. Bunn are very popular and held in the highest respect in Warrensburg, in which city they reside.

J. F. Samuel, a prominent and widely-known contractor of Warrens- burg, Missouri, was born May 23, 1859, in Piatt county, Illinois, a son of D. A. Samuel, a native of North Carolina, and Ruth (Greene) Samuel, a native of Tennessee. D. A. Samuel was a son of Herndon Samuel, who was a veteran of the War of 1812. At one time, during the War of 1812, Herndon Samuel was ordered to carry an officer across a stream. As the man of authority was far more able to walk across the stream than was Mr. Samuel the latter purposely fell in the water and gave the big fellow a good "ducking." D. A. Samuel was born in North Carolina but reared to manhood in Kentucky. In early maturity he moved from Kentucky to Illinois. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Union army, serving with Company A, Tenth Illinois Cav- alry throughout the war. He received no wounds from shots but was seriously ruptured by his horse falling with him. The last year of service he was the company veterinary. From Illinois, D. A. Samuel came with his family to Johnson county, Missouri, in 1870 and located in Hazel Hill township. Ruth ( Greene) Samuel was born in Tennessee and reared in Kentucky. To D. A. and Ruth Samuel were born two children : Zachariah, of southern Oklahoma; and J. F., the subject of this review. Mr. Samuel learned the cabinet maker's trade in Paris, Kentucky, and at eighteen years of age was a skilled artisan. He was away from home on a trip through Kansas and Oklahoma and was employed in work on a church building in Coffeyville, Kansas, when

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his death occurred, caused by an accident, in 1887. Interment was made in Liberty cemetery. The Samuel family were residing in Warrensburg at the time the tragedy occurred and the widowed mother is now resid- ing in this city on North Holden street.

In the schools of Hazel Hill township, J. F. Samuel obtained his education. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty- one years of age. Mr. Samuel learned the carpenter's trade, being taught by his father. In 1886 J. F. Samuel came to Warrensburg and one year later built his present shop on North Holden street. He has followed the business of contracting since that time and has erected many school houses throughout the county and numerous fine residences. At the time of this writing, in 1917, Mr. Samuel has the contract for the Consolidated High School building to be erected in Hazel Hill township at a cost of seven thousand dollars. This build- ing will be located eleven miles northwest of Warrensburg and one and a half miles west of Hazel Hill. In the spring of 1917, Mr. Samuel pur- chased three acres of land, nicely improved, just south of the city limits of Warrensburg, which place formerly belonged to the Peters heirs. This pleasant suburban home on the rock road on South McGuire street is the present residence of the Samuel family.

In 1883, J. F. Samuel and Emma Donnaldson, of Hazel Hill, the daughter of David and Elizabeth Donnaldson, were married. Mr. Don- naldson is now deceased and Mrs. Donnaldson resides in Warrensburg. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Sallie Cecil; Mrs. Louisa Burrington : Mrs. Stella Staley; Ed, Warrensburg; Charles. Warrensburg; William, Independence, Missouri: and Mrs. J. F. Samuel, the wife of the subject of this review. To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel have been born nine children: Mrs. Kittie Shackleford. Hazel Hill: Harry, Kansas City, Missouri; Gilbert, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mrs. Lillie Pollock, deceased: Ada, at home: Roy, Kansas City, Missouri; Clifford, Tracey, and Ruth, at home.

Charles A. Gray and Charles A. Baker, proprietors of the Pertle Springs Health and Pleasure Resort of Johnson county, are two of this county's most enterprising and capable citizens. They purchased this famous resort in 1917 and now are devoting much time and energy in the endeavor to make Pertle Springs the most sought-for spot in Missouri. They have met with well-deserved success, for this is an ideal retreat.

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Reverend Sam Jones is the one responsible for the erection of the large auditorium at Pertle Springs. He was conducting a meeting at the time that he realized and foresaw the possibilities of such a build- ing at the Springs and immediately started the movement which cul- minated in the erection of the structure, having a seating capacity of two thousand people on one floor and a stage that will accommodate two hundred people. The well-remembered "Dick" Bland Silver Con- vention was held here in 1896, when William Jennings Bryan made one of his famous "silver speeches." This renowned orator has appeared here several times since that date.

The land originally belonged to Mr. Pertle, for whom the Springs were named. The dusky Indian warriors often visited the place in the days long gone by and many were benefited by the mineral waters. The medicinal properties of the waters of Pertle Springs are widely known. Iron, sulphur, and magnesia, besides other minerals are con- tained in the water.

The grounds of the Pertle Springs Health and Pleasure Resort comprise eighty acres of which thirty-six are owned by Gray and Baker. There are nine lakes, one being kept exclusively for bathing purposes. The bathing facilities at Pertle Springs are the finest in the state, the water being continually changed. The water-line around the lake devoted to fishing covers thirty-two acres. The lake supplying water for the waterworks covers sixteen acres of land. The chain of smaller lakes covers from two to four acres of land each and all have been stocked with large quantities of fish. Gray and Baker own six cottages and Mr. Christopher owns two flats and a number of cottages at the Springs. The hotel, to which additions have been made since the original struc- ture was erected, has sleeping accommodations for two hundred fifty people. This building is 175 x 69 feet in dimensions, with a continuous veranda from the southeast to the northwest corner of the hotel. There are two hundred twenty-five feet of porches. The hotel is equipped with all modern conveniences and supplies first-class and exceptionally fine service. A garage on the grounds has space for fifteen autos and guests of the resort are given car room free. Two storage houses for ice, having a capacity of two thousand pounds, are annually filled. Gray and Baker raise all the produce used in the hotel, having a two-acre tract in garden products. During the Epworth League Convention, thirteen hundred meals were served daily and not one penny's worth

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of garden produce was purchased, their own garden furnishing all that was needed in the hotel. One especially attractive feature of Pertle Springs is the fine shade furnished by some of the most magnificent forest trees to be found anywhere. They are growing in the park just as nature planted them. The sandy soil and rolling hills in the park make a splendid natural drainage and even in the rainiest weather there is no mud to be found. Pertle Springs is a beautiful place, a quiet retreat with special accommodations for children. Swings for the little visitors have been provided and a pool was constructed last season especially for children's bathing.

Three conventions were held at the Springs the past year, of 1917, namely: The Epworth League Convention, the B. Y. P. U. Conven- tion, and the Circuit Clerks' and Recorders' Association of Missouri. A "dummy" line from Warrensburg, two and a fourth miles in length, connects the city with Pertle Springs and in the busy seasons trains are run every thirty minutes. The company also have a "dummy" engine and a motor that runs on this track during the busiest times.

Charles A. Gray, one of the proprietors of the resort, was born December 18, 1862, in Jefferson county, Kansas, near Perry. Mr. Gray is a mechanical engineer. He learned engineering from practical expe- rience with a skilled workman and for thirteen years was employed as engineer by the Jones Dry Goods Company of Kansas City. Mr. Gray was a licensed engineer of Kansas City for thirty years. Two years prior to purchasing an interest in this resort, Charles A. Gray was man- ager of the railroad and grounds here. He was united in marriage with Edna M. Littleton, of Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Edward and Emma Littleton, the former of whom is now deceased, and the widowed mother resides in Kansas City, Kansas. To Charles A. and Edna M. (Littleton) Gray has been born one child, a daughter, Nellie, who is now the wife of Mr. Gallagher, of Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. Gray gives special attention to the care of the grounds at Pertle Springs and to attending to the comfort and enjoyment of the patrons of the resort.

Charles A. Baker, one of the proprietors of the Pertle Springs Health and Pleasure Resort, was a student in the public schools of Green- wood county, Kansas, and at the Methodist Episcopal College, Baldwin, Kansas. For twenty-seven years, Mr. Baker was employed as an accountant for different firms in Kansas City, Missouri, being eleven

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years with Jones Dry Goods Company and at other times with Emery Bird Thayer, Swift & Company, and Kline Cloak & Suit Company. He now has charge of the Pertle Springs Hotel, all the cottages, and the two rows of flats on the grounds of this park. Charles A. Baker was united in marriage with Minnie Momma, the daughter of Nicholas and Frederika Momma, of Howard City, Elk county, Kansas. The father of Mrs. Baker is now deceased and her mother resides in Howard City. Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Baker are the parents of two sons: Karl M., Ft. Dodge, Iowa; and Earl M., of Kansas City.

Jasper F. Newton was born June 16, 1886, in Hazel Hill township. He is a son of Jasper E. and Florence A. (Parker) Newton, the former a native of Johnson county and the latter, of Lafayette county. Jasper E. Newton was born October 23, 1847. He was a son of John Newton, Esq., who settled in Hazel Hill township prior to the Civil War. He later moved to Warrensburg, when he retired from the active pursuits of farming, gardening, and stock raising. His son, Jasper E., was reared and educated in Hazel Hill township. He enlisted in the Civil War, serving in the Confederate army. He was married to Florence A. Parker on April 17, 1870, and they located on a farm in Cass county prior to coming to Johnson county. Nine children were born to Jasper E. and , Florence A. Newton, two of whom were born in Cass county and seven

in Johnson county on the home place in Hazel Hill township and all of whom are now living: J. Mack, of Montana; Mrs. Stella M. Griffin, of Oklahoma; Emmet P., of Montana; Mrs. Alice Miller, of Pennsyl- vania ; Mrs. Florence Woodruff, of Colorado; Mrs. Lena Bailey, of Montana; Jasper F., of this review; Mrs. Minnie Ferguson, of Hazel Hill township and Elba, on the home place in Hazel Hill township. The father died in May, 1913, and the widowed mother is still residing on the home farm in Hazel Hill township, three miles from Hazel Hill.

Mr. Newton, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools of Johnson county and later was a student at Missouri Valley College. About ten years ago, Jasper F. Newton began life for himself in Dakota, where he was employed as day laborer. From Dakota he went to Iowa, where he also worked by the day. In 1909, Mr. Newton returned to Johnson county. He purchased his present home from Waldo Bratton in December, 1915, and in September of the following year started the dairy business on this farm, with twenty head of fine grade cattle. The eighty-ton silo, which he has erected on his place, has been found to be

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one of his best investments. The milk-house is constructed of con- crete and well water is pumped into it to be used in cooling the milk. The barn for the cattle has concrete floors and is kept in a perfectly sanitary condition. It is large and well constructed. Since coming to this farm, Jasper F. Newton has built his present attractive and comfortable residence, a structure of six rooms, well arranged and neatly kept. This has all modern conveniences, with the exception of a furnace. Mr. Newton sells the milk from his dairy to the Missouri Dairy Com- pany and the milk always grades A.

May 7, 1909, Jasper F. Newton and Nell Florence Buchanan were united in marriage. Mrs. Newton is the daughter of P. W. and Ida (Chinn) Buchanan. Mr. Buchanan was born in 1858 in Lafayette county, Missouri, son of Robert Buchanan, who emigrated from Scot- land and came to the United States and settled in Lafayette county, Missouri, where his death occurred several years later. P. W. Buchanan is engaged in the dairy business and he and Mrs. Buchanan reside on a fine farm one mile east of Warrensburg. To Jasper F. and Nell Flor- ence Newton have been born two children: William Jasper and Ida Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Newton are held in the highest esteem in Johnson county, where the Newton .family has long been widely and favorably known.

W. B. Parsons was born in 1873 in Illinois, a son of Arthur and Mary Jane (Skeen) Parsons. Arthur Parsons is a native of Ohio. He came with his wife to Missouri just after the Civil War and they remained in this state for several years and then returned to their home in Illinois. After a few years, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Parsons moved back to Missouri and settled in Johnson county, where they are now residing on a farm near Greendoor. To Arthur and Mary Jane Parsons have been born the following children: John E., a well-known stock- man of Columbus township; Wilbur T., a prosperous farmer residing near Greendoor; and W. B., the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Parsons, of this review, received his education at Greendoor and at Waldron, Missouri. At the age of twenty-one years, he began life for himself, engaged in farming. He purchased in 1902 his present farm home of two hundred sixty acres in Hazel Hill and Warrensburg townships, eighty acres of the place being in Hazel Hill township and the balance in Warrensburg township. John Taylor formerly owned this place. This is a splendid stock farm and well watered. The well

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on the place has never been known to be dry and the windmill is kept pumping all the time. Mr. Parsons has added all the improvements connected with his dairy since coming to the farm, including a fine dairy barn, two silos, and a splendid milk-house. Previous to starting the dairy, Mr. Parsons kept a number of cows and for years was engaged in the production of butter and cream. January 2, 1917, the dairy was opened on his present farm. The milk-house is constructed of concrete and into it water is pumped, by a windmill, for the cooling vats. All vessels used in connection with the dairy are kept perfectly clean and sanitary, being thoroughly cleansed and placed in the sunshine every day. In the barn, Mr. Parsons has room for thirty-five cows. This place is also kept clean and is no haunt for flies. Twenty-four cows are at the present time being milked and the whole milk is sold to the Missouri Dairy Company. Mr. Parsons makes two deliveries in the summer time, taking the milk, after being cooled, to Warrensburg and from there shipping it to Kansas City, Missouri. The milk goes on ice to this city dairy and always grades A. In the winter time, the cattle are fed ensilage and Mr. Parsons has erected in 1913 and in 1915 silos, of one hundred and one hundred thirty-five tons capacity respectively. He employs one assistant all the time and his two sons are invaluable in the work of the dairy.

In 1898, W. B. Parsons and Jettie Taylor, daughter of John and Julia Taylor, of Hazel Hill township, were united in marriage. Mr. Taylor is deceased and the widowed mother makes her home with her children. Jettie (Taylor) Parsons has lived on the farm which is now and has been her home ever since she was three years of age. To W. B. and Jettie Parsons have been born two sons: Guy, who has just com- pleted two years of the course in the Warrensburg High School and attended this institution during the term of 1917 and 1918; and Glenn, a student in the Warrensburg High School. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are progressive, hardworking, excellent young people and are richly deserv- ing of all the success which has in the past and will in the future cer- tainly attended all their enterprising efforts.

H. H. Shackleford, proprietor of the "Walnut Flat Stock Farm" in Hazel Hill township, was born February 11, 1860 in Hazel Hill township. He is a son of James M. and Caroline ( Harrison) Shackle- ford, who were the parents of eight children: John Baxter, who died at the age of nearly twelve years; three children, who died in child-

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hood during an epidemic of diphtheria; Mrs. Sylvanus Lockard, War- rensburg; Mrs. John Glass, Higginsville, Missouri; B. F., Fayetteville, Missouri; and H. H., of this review. James M. Shackleford was born in Kentucky in 1825. About 1833, he came to Missouri with his parents, who settled in Hazel Hill township. He was reared to maturity in this part of Johnson county and in 1849 was united in marriage with Caro- line Harrison, who was born in Limestone county, Alabama, on February 16, 1829. Her grandfather, Joseph Harrison, was one of the first set- tlers in Hazel Hill township, where he entered a large tract of choice land from the government. He died on this farm and is buried in the family cemetery. A more comprehensive history of the Harrison family appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. James M. Shackleford died in 1863 and is buried in Liberty cemetery. Thirty years later, she was followed in death by her husband, his death occurring in 1893. The father also was laid to rest in the cemetery where the mother is buried.

In the Mount Moriah school of Hazel Hill township, Mr. H. H. Shackleford obtained a good common school education. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-two years and practically all his life has been interested in farming and stock raising, in which pursuits he is now engaged. Mr. Shackleford purchased his present home in 1894, buying the land from several different people. This farm for- merly belonged to William Matthews, an old pioneer of Hazel Hill township. "Walnut Flat Stock Farm" comprises eighty acres of valu- able land located two miles southwest of Fayetteville and nine miles from Warrensburg. All the splendid improvements on this place Mr. Shackleford has himself placed there since his coming to this stock farm. In 1905, the barn. 40 x 54 feet, was built and in 1911, the resi- dence was remodeled and made modern. Mr. Shackleford has given special attention to the raising of horses and jacks, handling registered Percherons and draft horses. He began about twelve years ago with draft horses and now has only one registered animal, "Clarence," pur- chased in 1915, weight twenty-two hundred pounds. "Dewey," who heads the jacks, was sired by "Choice Goods," the greatest show jack in the world, and was raised by Mr. Shackleford.

In 1882, H. H. Shackleford was united in marriage with Helen Roberts, daughter of Jolin and Nancy (Tuttle) Roberts, of Hazel Hill township. The Roberts family came to Johnson county in the fifties

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and located in Hazel Hill township. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts moved to Mercer county, Missouri, where Mr. Roberts died in 1870. Mrs. Roberts died in 1896 and interment was made in Liberty ceme- tery. To H. H. and Helen Shackleford have been born three children : E. L., who married Catherine Samuels and is the owner of the "Uncle Billy" Lemmon place, where they reside; Beatrice, the wife of E. E. Pollock, of Fayetteville, Missouri; and H. H., Jr., at home with his parents. The Shackleford family is one of the best, all members of which are honest, thrifty, industrious citizens.

Charles W. Dixon was born December 22, 1877 in Warrensburg, Missouri. He is a son of Joseph T. and Ella ( Duffield) Dixon. Joseph T. Dixon was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He came to War- rensburg, Missouri about 1871 or 1872 and in 1876 was united in marriage with Ella Duffield, a native of Virginia, and to them were born four children: Charles W., Bessie, Minnie, and Josephine. The father died in 1901 and the widowed mother is now residing in War- rensburg. A more comprehensive history of the Dixon family appears in the biography of Mrs. Ella (Duffield) Dixon, which will be found elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Dixon, the subject of this review, is a graduate of the War- rensburg High School and for two years, 1895 and 1896, was a student at the Warrensburg State Normal School. After completing his school work, Charles W. Dixon was appointed, under civil service, a city mail carrier. Prior to this time he had been employed in the postoffice. He assumed his duties as mail carrier in 1899. Before Warrensburg had free city delivery, Mr. Dixon had a private route delivering mail to his patrons for thirty cents a month remuneration and at the same time assisted in the postoffice, thus thoroughly fitting himself for the civil service examination, which came later. Charles W. Dixon has been in continual service in the mail business for twenty years and he is the senior in years of service at the present time in the Warrensburg postoffice.

September 25, 1907. Charles W. Dixon was united in marriage with a daughter of John T. and Mary (Pallette) Renick, of Oak Grove, Jackson county, Missouri. John T. Renick bore the unique distinction of being the first white child born in the first hotel in Independence, Missouri. His father owned the hotel, he being one of the early pio- neers of that place. John T. and Mary (Pallette) Renick were the par-

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History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 93

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