USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 98
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this farm and went to Texas, where he remained for a few years and then returned to Johnson county, Missouri to spend the remainder of his life contentedly engaged in the pursuits of agriculture.
When the Civil War broke out, Kim Piper was one of the first to enlist to fight for the Southern cause. He served under General Sterl- ing Price and saw active service in the Southern and Gulf states. When the war had ended he came back to his home in Johnson county, again to pursue the peaceful vocation of farming and to do his part in restor- ing and rebuilding that which had been destroyed by the havoc of war.
Kim Piper was the father of the following children: Nancy, deceased; S. P., the subject of this review; William, of Cooke county, Texas; and two other children now deceased. The mother died many years ago and the father's death occurred in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Piper were noble types of the brave, true, hardy pioneer. They cheerfully and uncomplainingly endured the hardships, privations, sacrifices and tirelessly toiled and hoped for better, happier days. Such lives as these were not lived in vain and what they did for the succeeding genera- tions can never be forgotten. A new sense of appreciation should be awakened in the hearts of the young people of today and upon them impressed by such a life history the fact that the choicest blessings we now have could not exist were it not for the constancy and labor of men and women like Mr. and Mrs. Kim Piper.
T. E. Rice, a worthy representative of an honored and respected pioneer family, is one of the successful and enterprising farmers and stockmen of Jackson township, a member of a family that has been closely and prominently connected with the history of Johnson county. Mr. Rice is a son of Samuel and Susan (Easley) Rice,- the father, a native of Kentucky and the mother, of Lonejack, Missouri. He was born in 1876 near Pittsville, Missouri on his father's farm in Jackson township, one of the following children born to Samuel and Susan Rice : William, Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Carrie Palmer, wife of P. S. Palmer: J. M., Pittsville, Missouri; Mrs. J. L. Patterson, Pittsville, Missouri; T. E., the subject of this review; Miller W., a well-known dentist of Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. J. J. Culp, Warrensburg, Mis- souri; and R. S., a mail carrier, who resides on the home place near Pittsville. Samuel Rice came overland from his home near Richmond, Kentucky to Johnson county, Missouri. He settled on a tract of choice land near Pittsville and on his farm in this county spent the rest of
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his life. During the Civil War, Samuel Rice enlisted with the Con- federates and served under General Francis M. Cockrell. When the conflict ended, Mr. Rice returned to Johnson county to pursue again the work of farming and stock raising. He began life in the West a comparatively poor man, but by constant industry, economy, and care- ful management, he acquired a comfortable competence, which is now in the possession of his descendants. He died in 1890 and, twenty-one years after his death, Mrs. Rice departed this life, in 1911. The his- tory of Johnson county would be incomplete were no mention made of Samuel and Susan Rice. For many years their lives were insepar- ably interwoven with the industrial and financial interests of Jackson township and much of its present prosperity is attributed to their efforts. Plain and unassuming in manner, yet ever frank and genial, they won and retained the love and respect of all who knew them.
T. E. Rice obtained a good common school education in the public schools of Johnson county and he later was a student at the Warrens- burg State Normal School. He cared for his widowed mother and was self-supporting at an age when most boys are still dependent and carefree. Early in life, he became interested in raising only purebred stock and he is now engaged in handling purebred Shorthorn cattle, though he also devotes some attention to general farming. Mr. Rice is a member and director of the Johnson County Live Stock Association.
In 1910, T. E. Rice and Elizabeth Davis, daughter of M. H. Davis, an honored pioneer of Johnson county, were united in marriage and to this union has been born one child, a daughter, Mary Roberta. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are valued members of the Baptist church. Mr. Rice is affiliated with he. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He believes in the principles embodied in the platform of the Democratic party and is unswerving in his fealty to that political organization. The influence of the Rices has always been exerted in behalf of whatever conduces to charity, kindness, and right living.
John W. Miller, ex-sheriff and the present deputy sheriff of John- son county, Missouri, was born in 1868 in Ohio. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Miller, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. Both parents emigrated from their native land in early youth. John Miller had learned the shoemaker's trade in the old country and when he came to America followed his trade here for many years. In
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these days, the shoemaker made shoes by hand as well as repaired them. To John and Elizabeth Miller were born six children, five boys and one girl: John, Jr., the subject of this review; James B., Webb City, Mis- souri; David, St. Louis, Missouri; Charles, Carthage, Missouri; George, St. Louis, Missouri; and Mrs. Margarette Dodd, who is deceased. Mr. Miller spent the last fifteen years of his life in Fredonia, Missouri, where he died in 1908. Eight years later, he was followed in death by his wife. Mrs. Miller's death occurred in 1916.
In 1890, John W. Miller came to Johnson county and located in Warrensburg, where he accepted the position of foreman of the Blue Stone Quarries, which position he held until 1912, when he was elected sheriff of Johnson county on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Miller served as sheriff four years and is deputy sheriff at the present time. In addi- tion to the duties of that office, John Miller is a member of the Knob Noster Brick & Tile Company. This company owns property valued at fifty thousand dollars and employs thirty men. Their kiln has a capacity of from fifty to seventy-five thousand brick a day. The com- pany uses seven grades of clay, each representing a different priced brick. They have, at the time of this writing, on hand an unlimited supply of clay. In spite of the advanced prices, the demand for the products of the factory is far greater than the supply. Orders are fre- quently sent outside the state of Missouri. The Knob Noster Brick & Tile Company furnished five or six millions of brick for the construc- tion of the Missouri State Capitol building. Mr. Miller resides in War- rensburg, where he owns a beautiful residence, a modern home of twelve rooms. Each day he drives to Knob Noster to look after his interests there.
In 1888, John W. Miller was united in marriage with Mary Chap- man, daughter of Thomas and Ruth Chapman. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Warrensburg Presbyterian church. Mr. Miller is at the present time a member of the Warrensburg School Board. He is one of Johnson county's leading and most influential citizens.
David E. Shy, M. D., the efficient and successful, young physician and surgeon of Knob Noster, Missouri, was born December 13, 1879 in Pettis county, Missouri, son of David J. and Sarah (Godbey) Shy. David J. Shy, Jr. was born in Pettis county, Missouri, son of David Shy, Sr., who came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1838 and located in Pettis county in 1840 and there engaged in farming. David Shy, Jr.,
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the father of the subject of this review, still resides on the farm which his father entered from the government more than seventy-five years ago. Sarah (Godbey) Shy is a daughter of Josiah Godbey, a Methodist minister of Kentucky, who came from Kentucky to Missouri sixty-five years ago. To David J. and Sarah Shy have been born the following children: Dr. Milton P., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. Lena Anderson, Little Rock, Arkansas; Mrs. Mamie Decker, deceased; Mrs. Ada Kendrick, Knob Noster, Missouri; Mrs. Edith Warren, Sedalia, Missouri; Mrs. Ethel Monsees, Smithton, Missouri; and Dr. David E., the subject of this review.
David E. Shy attended the public schools of Pettis county, Mis- souri, the Smithton High School one year, the Morrisville High School two years, and Central College one year. He completed his education in the State University of Kansas, graduating from the medical depart- ment in the class of 1907. After completing college, Dr. Shy began the practice of medicine at Knob Noster, opening an office in 1907. He has from the beginning enjoyed an extensive practice, which now encompasses a circuit of seventeen miles south of Knob Noster. Dr. Shy is the local surgeon for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company.
In 1910, Dr. David E. Shy and Esther Rothwell were united in marriage. Esther (Rothwell) Shy is a daughter of C. W. and Sarah Rothwell, of Warrensburg, Missouri. To Dr. and Mrs. Shy has been born one child, a son, David Emory, Jr. Both Dr. and Mrs. Shy are members of the Baptist church and Dr. Shy is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, of which lodge he is chancellor commander.
P. H. McKeehan, a well-known and beloved pioneer of Johnson county, who is now deceased, was born in 1826 in Granger county, Tennessee, son of James and Nancy McKeehan, both of whom were of Irish descent.
Mr. McKeehan enlisted in the Civil War and served four years in the Confederate army. When the war closed, he moved with his family to Missouri and they settled on a farm in Johnson county, located south of the present city of Knob Noster, which place comprised twenty acres, which Mr. McKeehan purchased on credit. The Civil War had left them in almost destitute circumstances and Mr. McKeehan had a very difficult time getting a new start. He was a carpenter by trade and by practicing the most rigid economy and with good business management, he was enabled to purchase with his savings one hundred
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twenty-three acres more land. He constantly increased his holdings and at the time of his death in 1915 was the owner of one hundred forty-three acres of splendid farm land in Johnson county. P. H. McKeehan was a man of genial disposition, kindly manners, and pleas- ing address. He began life in Missouri under the most adverse con- ditions, but he succeeded and established a reputation which the most favored might well strive to emulate. He has bequeathed to his descendants a name, which is the synonym for strict integrity, fine morality, and honorable dealings, a name which his sons should be proud to bear.
In 1862, P. H. McKeehan was united in marriage with Susan Ken- drick, the daughter of Jackson and Jane Kendrick, who were pioneers of Missouri, coming to this state in 1851. Mrs. Kendrick died on the plains, while enroute to California. To P. H. and Susan (Kendrick) McKeehan were born six sons and one daughter. Their only daugh- ter, Mrs. McDonald, is now deceased and her child, a son, Lyndall, who is now eleven years of age, lives with his grandmother, Mrs. McKee- han, and attends school, now a pupil in the seventh grade. The six sons, all of whom are now living, are: Joe, A. O., and E. E., all of Windsor, Missouri; W. W., Kansas City, Missouri; J. M., Camas, Washington; and E. K., Springfield, Missouri. Mrs. McKeehan is a highly valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also Mr. McKeehan. She recalls having many times ridden on horseback to church, when they first came to Johnson county. She devotes much time to the raising of chickens and takes great pleasure in her work.
The late Mr. McKeehan and his widow were always brave and noble hearted, unflinchingly bearing all the misfortunes, privations, and poverty, incidental to war and pioneer life. Johnson county has been particularly fortunate in having men and women like these, who were willing to endure much and work hard that the country might be better because they had lived in it. The countless advantages, which we now enjoy and deem so absolutely necessary, could have no existence were it not for the brave men and women, who "blazed the way." We can not give too much honor and praise to them.
E. E. Sutherland, a widely and favorably known farmer and stock- man of Jefferson township, Johnson county, is a member of one of the highly honored and most prominent pioneer families of Missouri, a representative native son of Johnson county. Mr. Sutherland was born
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September 25, 1888 at the Sutherland homestead where he still resides, in Jefferson township, a son of Daniel Logan and Mary Elizabeth (Garrett) Sutherland, both of whom are natives of Missouri. Daniel Logan Sutherland was born in St. Clair county, Missouri in 1846, son of Uriah L. and Margaret J. Sutherland. The Sutherland family is of Scotch lineage and different members of the family were prominent in the colonial history of our country, the father of Uriah L. Sutherland, Daniel Sutherland, Sr., giving faithful and effective service in the War of 1812. Elizabeth (Garrett) Sutherland is a daughter of J. W. and Ann Tanda Garrett. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Logan Sutherland have been born the following children: James O., representative from John- son county to the Missouri State Legislature, a successful farmer and stockman of Windsor, Missouri; Leland B., Windsor, Missouri; Sam H., Windsor, Missouri; Mrs. Walter Botts, Mangum, Oklahoma; Mrs. W. G. Ruffin, Windsor, Missouri; E. E., the subject of this review; and Roland G., of Pettis county, Missouri. The Sutherlands resided at the old Sutherland homeplace for thirty-five or forty years and in December, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland moved to Windsor, Mis- souri in Henry county, and in this city they are now making their home. A more comprehensive sketch of the Sutherland family appears in connection with the biography of D. L. Sutherland, which will be found elsewhere in this volume.
At Sunnyside school house in Jefferson township, E. E. Sutherland obtained his elementary education. He is a graduate of Windsor High School, Windsor, Missouri and after completing the high school course he attended Missouri State University, at which institution he com- pleted a short course, and entered William Jewell College, for one term. When Mr. Sutherland was twenty-one years of age, he began life for himself engaged in farming and stock raising on the homeplace, where he has since remained. He is an industrious, intelligent, young husbandman and is making a marked success in his chosen vocation, following in the footsteps of his father who was one of the leading and most prosperous agriculturists and stockmen of western Missouri for many years and is still a man of influence and prominence in his com- munity.
The marriage of E. E. Sutherland and Nelle Grace Yunker was solemnized September 29, 1909. Mrs. Sutherland was born at Nevada, Missouri, but from infancy until the time of her marriage she lived
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at Sedalia, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born three children: Frances Jane, Marjorie Leone, and Ernest Eldon, Jr. The Sutherlands have long maintained a high standing, financially and socially, in Johnson county and Mr. and Mrs. Sutherlad are very popu- lar with a large and ever-widening circle of friends in Jefferson township. They are faithful workers and valued members of the Baptist church. Politically, Mr. Sutherland is a stanch Democrat.
W. T. Herndon, one of Johnson county's noble pioneers residing in Jefferson township, was born in Logan county, Kentucky in 1850, son of George and Elizabeth Herndon, the former, a son of James Herndon and the latter, a daughter of James Foster. James Herndon was a well-known and highly respected farmer of Kentucky and James Foster was one of the first settlers west of Warrensburg, Missouri. George Herndon came with his family to Johnson county in 1856 and they settled on land north of Warrensburg. He enlisted with the Con- federates in the Civil War and in June, 1862, he was killed at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi.
W. T. Herndon attended school at Hazel Hill in Johnson county, where his first teacher was William Jones and later, Mr. Tomlin and Roger Steer. He regularly attended church, which was held at Old Liberty where "Uncle Billy" Caldwell and Reverend Cockrell used to preach. In those days, people enjoyed going to church, where they could meet their friends, who came from long distances in wagons, drawn by oxen, or on horseback, to attend. Mr. Herndon vividly recalls the early land conditions of his youth, when practically all the county was open prairie and from high points, hundreds of deer and thousands of prairie chickens could be seen. Many times, he has broken virgin sod, driving a yoke of oxen. The constant menace in the early days was the prairie fire and even as a boy, W. T. Herndon was called upon to assist in fighting the destructive foe. He recalls that the first year in Johnson county, there was planted that which was called, "sod corn." It was planted in every third furrow as the sod was broken and the crop was never plowed, but produced a good yield. When this was not done, an ax had to be used to cut through the sod. Kirkpatrick's old water mill, located on Blackwater, was the place where the grain was taken, to be ground, by the settlers. A sack of corn would be thrown across the horse's back, the same amount in either end, and taken to the mill. several miles away, across the open prairie. There were always many
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men and boys about the mill, waiting for their grists and often they had to wait two or three days. They would camp out and fish in the nearby pools while waiting for their corn or wheat to be ground. "Going to the mill" was a great pleasure for the pioneer settler did not see much company in his little, rude, log cabin home and the trip to the mill means as much as a long journey now.
All his life, W. T. Herndon has been engaged in the pursuits of agriculture. In 1882, he bought ninety acres of land in Johnson county and since that time has bought and sold several farms. He is at the present time associated with his youngest son, C. D. Herndon, in farm- ing and stock raising. They have a nice stock farm in Johnson county, consisting of one hundred forty-four acres of land.
In 1874, W. T. Herndon was united in marriage with Anna Lips- con, daughter of J. M. and Cyrene Lipscon. To W. T. and Anna (Lipscon) Herndon have been born five children: George, Windsor, Missouri; Sanford, Lajunta, Colorado; Eugene, Henrietta, Missouri; Ora, Windsor, Missouri; and C. D., Windsor, Missouri. Both Mr. and Mrs. Herndon are members of the Christian church. They have ever done their part nobly and well in the upbuilding of this county and are num- bered among its best and most highly valued citizens.
R. C. Cooper, a successful and highly esteemed farmer and stock- man of Jefferson township, is a member of one of the prominent pio- neer families of Johnson county. He was born in Johnson county in 1867, son of Thomas J. and Nannie E. Cooper. Thomas J. Cooper was a son of Albert J. and Eliza J. (McDonald) Cooper, the former a son of David Cooper. who came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1832. Eliza J. (McDonald) Cooper was born in 1820 in Howard county, Missouri, daughter of Isaac McDonald, who settled in Missouri in a very early day and in 1830 moved with his family from Howard county to John- son county. A. J. Cooper was one of the wealthiest men in Johnson county in his time, owning at one time more than six hundred acres of land. His death occurred in 1888 and five years later he was followed in death by his wife, who died in 1893. Thomas J. Cooper was reared and educated in Johnson county and he has spent most of his life in this county, engaged in the pursuits of agriculture. Mrs. Thomas J. Cooper was born in Virginia, the daughter of T. J. Davis, a well-known and prosperous farmer.
Miss Celeste Scott taught the school held at Valley Grove. which
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R. C. Cooper first attended. Another teacher, who came some time later, was George Aber. Mr. Cooper clearly recalls many of the inci- dents of his school days, but he likes best to remember the pleasures and not the troubles. He has a vivid recollection of the pleasant times the children had at recess. They had no little gravel-covered yard, where they dared not run for fear of knocking some one down, but the whole, wide prairie for their playground. They might go as far as they liked, provided they were within hearing distance when the teacher shouted, "Books!" That was the way of ringing the bell at recess. "Town Ball" was the favorite game played, but it had many close competitors. When a boy, Mr. Cooper always attended church with his father. People enjoyed church more then than now, for every- one went, many having to travel long distances in ox-wagons or on horseback. The early preachers, whom he knew personally were Rev- erends Frank Goodwin and A. M. Cockrell and "Uncle Bob" Harris. Reverend Goodwin had a peculiar habit of putting his little finger in his ear and keeping it wiggling while praying. Quite naturally, this was not lost on the bright, keen-eyed, Cooper lad, who found the preacher's idiosyncrasy very amusing. His grandfather Davis always cleaned old High Point church on Saturdays to be ready for the large meetings invariably held the ensuing day. The settlers followed trails to church, for there were no roads, most of the land being open prairie. Wild game abounded and Mr. Cooper has killed hundreds of prairie chickens.
At the age of twenty-three years, R. C. Cooper began life for him- self. For many years, he traveled in various states and worked at many different occupations. He was employed as deputy sheriff at Conejos county, Colorado at one time and while serving in this position, Mr. Cooper had countless interesting and thrilling expeirences with West- ern robbers and thieves. On his return to Johnson county, he engaged in the more quiet and less exciting pursuit of farming and later, stock raising. At the present time, he is owner of one hundred thirty-three acres of land, which have been made to pay for themselves.
In 1904, R. C. Cooper was united in marriage with Frances Cal- vert, daughter of W. A. Calvert, of Johnson county. To R. C. and Frances (Calvert) Cooper has been born one child, a son, Robert Lee. Mrs. Cooper has complete charge of the poultry raised on the Cooper place and she has established a name for herself as a remarkably suc-
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cessful woman in regard to fine turkeys. She has raised and sold more than a thousand dollars worth of these birds and with the proceeds paid for a small farm of twenty acres in Johnson county. Mr. Cooper is now in charge of his father's farm. He is rated highly among the progressive and well-to-do farmers and stockmen of this section of the state.
W. S. Dennis, the genial and popular merchant of Henrietta, Mis- souri, is a native of Indiana. He was born in 1857 in Jefferson county, son of Jacob N. and Eliza (Thompson) Dennis. Jacob N. Dennis was a son of John Dennis, of Scotch and English descent. The Dennis family were residents of the state of New York. Governor Dennis, of Ohio, traces his genealogy back to the same ancestors as W. S. Dennis, the subject of this review. Eliza (Thompson) Dennis was a daughter of Captain Thompson, of Virginia. He received his title in the Revolutionary War and was proud of the fact that he was one of the "F. F. V." Jacob Dennis moved with his family from Indiana to Missouri in 1866 and located at Knob Noster, where he engaged in the general mercantile business, associated with the firm called Swingle & Dennis. In 1867, he purchased E. G. Gilbert's grist mill, located south of the town of Knob Noster. He was an excellent miller, capable, industrious, and enterprising, and he made of the mill a big proposition and had remarkable success. People came from long distances of many miles over the open prairie to this mill and they would often be obliged to camp, while waiting for their grist. W. S. Dennis has frequently seen as many as fifty camping at one time. In 1870, Mr. Dennis moved the mill to Knob Noster and for several years had a splendid business in the old town. He sold his mill in 1881 and retired from active business, to be long remembered as the originator of "Snowflake Flour," a widely known brand. His wife had died two years before Mr. Dennis retired, her death occurring in 1879, and in 1892, she was followed in death by her husband.
Mr. Baker was the teacher of the first school, which W. S. Dennis attended at Knob Noster, Missouri. Another teacher who came later was Louis Bigley. He always attended church with his parents and recalls several of the early day preachers, among whom, were "Uncle Bob" Harris, Reverends Randel, and Whitsett. The people seemed more social and fond of merry-making in the olden days. "Singing schools," dancing parties, house-raisings. corn-huskings, "spinning
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