History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 99

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

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bees" and "spelling bees" were the favorite amusements and the young people always had great times.

In early youth, W. S. Dennis began life for himself. He was employed as bookkeeper at his father's mill in Knob Noster and when the mill was moved to Leeton, Missouri, he assumed complete charge of it there. After five years in the milling business at Leeton, he returned to the original choice of his father and engaged in the general mercantile business, purchasing a general store in Henrietta, where he has since remained. Mr. Dennis carries a fine stock of general merchandise, which is valued at five thousand dollars, and he enjoys an extremely large patronage, his trade extending from Henrietta four or five miles. He is industrious, efficient, and capable and he possesses good business judgment, qualities which invariably win. He has been very successful and his business motto is, "We sell everything." Besides his store, he is the owner of his residence and a small tract of land, consisting of three acres.

In 1893, W. S. Dennis was united in marriage with Mattie Denton, daughter of Oliver C. Denton, of Knob Noster, Missouri. To W. S. and Mattie (Denton) Dennis have been born three children: Emma, who is a graduate of the Warrensburg State Normal School and is now engaged in teaching at Cainesville, Missouri; Lela and Irene, who are at home with their parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dennis are members of the Baptist church. The Dennis family is one of the best and most highly respected in Johnson county.

A. B. Roop, a progressive and successful farmer and stockman of Jefferson township, is a native of Ohio. He was born in 1862 and is a son of Ezra and Nancy Roop, the former, a son of Abraham Roop, a thrifty New Englander. Ezra Roop purchased a section of land six miles southwest of Warrensburg, where the Roop family resided for nearly two years, when they returned to Ohio on account of the ill health of Mrs. Roop. Soon after the close of the Civil War, they returned to Johnson county and Mr. Roop purchased a farm, compris- ing two hundred forty acres, located near Warrensburg, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. He became very prosperous and was widely known and held in the highest esteem in Johnson county. His death occurred in 1910 and his widow now resides near the old home place in Johnson county. Of the ten children born to Ezra and Nancy Roop, six are now living: E. W., Warrensburg: A. B., the

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subject of this review; J. A., Miami, Florida; Mrs. Alice Mohler, War- rensburg; Mrs. Ada Bozarth, Centerview; and E. C., Warrensburg.

When A. B. Roop was a mere child, he came to Johnson county with his parents. He recalls the open state of the country at that time, when practically the entire county was unfenced grazing land and the cattle of early settlers had unlimited range. Wild game was to be found in abundance and he saw eight deer in his father's field at one time. A. B. Roop attended school held in his father's "shop" on the home place. This was a "subscription school" and Miss Pierson was the teacher. Later, he attended public school held in the Foster building in Warrensburg. He recalls two of his schoolmates who attended the public school in Warrensburg: John Fickas and William Smith.

After leaving school, Mr. Roop early in life engaged in the pur- suits of agriculture and for a number of years was employed in farm- ing near Centerview. In 1901, he purchased more than a thousand acres of land in Jefferson township. This farm was in poor condition and the improvements badly in need of repair at the time of the pur- chase, but Mr. Roop has by great industry and perseverance improved the place to a remarkable extent, even in this short length of time and he is constantly bettering the land. The soil was especially adapted to bluegrass and he is devoting much time and attention to stock raising. He has at the time of this writing, nearly one hundred head of high grade Aberdeen Angus cattle. The Roop stock farm is well watered by an ever-flowing spring. Mr. Roop will have more than one hundred tons of hay this year and nearly one hundred acres of his farm are in corn.

In 1886, A. B. Roop was united in marriage with Effie Shelton, daughter of William and Sarah Shelton. Mr. Shelton purchased two hundred acres of land from Judge Whitsett, which land he later sold and purchased other tracts, which he owned at the time of his death in 1886. To A. B. and Effie (Shelton) Roop have been born seven children: Eugena, who is engaged in teaching school at Buffalo, Kan- sas; Louise, Shelton J., Alonzo, Jr., Mary, Joseph E., and George Baile. All, with the exception of the oldest daughter, reside at home with their parents. Mr. Roop has always taken an active interest in civic and educational affairs and for many years has been clerk and school director in his district. He is one of Johnson county's best and most

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public-spirited citizens and he is nobly doing his part in the upbuilding of the county, which has been his home for so many years.

C. A. Wash, the progressive, young stockman and widely reputed poultryman of Post Oak township, was born in Johnson county, Mis- souri in 1881. He is a son of John N. and Missouri Ann (James) Wash. John N. Wash was born in 1827 in Virginia, son of John Wash, Sr. Missouri Ann (James) Wash was a daughter of John James, who came to Missouri among the first settlers, many years prior to the Civil War. The Wash family moved from Virginia to Missouri, when John N., Jr., father of the subject of this review, was a mere child. John Wash, Sr. settled on the farm, which is at present the home of Alva Smith, long before the Civil War. He was considered a very wealthy farmer in his day, owning several hundred acres of land and numerous slaves. He was an influential and prominent citizen, always taking an interested part in public affairs and at one time was a member of the Missouri state Legislature. At that time, the family name was spelled "Walsh," but as there were so many people of that name resid- ing in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was living, thus causing much con- fusion, John Wash, Sr. had his name legally changed to the present spelling and a record of the change was made at Washington, D. C. Both the father and mother of C. A. Wash are now deceased, the father's death occurring in 1903 and the mother's within a few years afterward.

C. A. Wash attended the district schools of Johnson county. Early in life, he began working for himself, engaged in farming on the home place. He cared for his widowed mother after his father's death and he inherited a portion of the old home place. In 1906, he purchased eighty acres adjoining his farm and is here engaged in stock raising. handling thoroughbred stock exclusively. He has pure-bred Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Wash also devotes much atten- tion to the poultry industry and he has a fine flock of Rhode Island Red chickens, which he prefers, deeming that strain one of the best for laying purposes. He has separate pens for his birds and is very particular about their breeding. The Wash farm cost forty-seven dol- lars and fifty cents an acre. Mr. Wash has refused ninety-five dollars an acre recently and he is constantly at work in the attempt to make the place still more valuable. A large part of the farm is now in grass land and devoted to pasturing stock. An abundance of good water is supplied the stock by two ever-flowing springs, one of which is an old

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landmark, near a beaten trail, along which the soldier boys of the sixties passed by the thousands. A pioneer home, a house of two rooms, one below and one above is still standing on the Wash place, a constant reminder of days long past. Mr. Wash's parents lived in just such a primitive home, when they first came to Missouri, although later they were able to build a better residence, the father hauling the lumber from Lexington, Missouri.

In 1905, C. A. Wash was united in marriage with Lulu A. Walters, daughter of J. Walters, of Leeton, Missouri. To C. A. and Lulu A. (Walters) Wash have been born three children: Lorraine; Albert ; and Dorothy May, who is deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wash are members of the Christian church and they are held in the highest esteem and respect in their community.

G. W. Helderbrand, one of Johnson county's most honored and esteemed pioneers, was born in 1838 in Jefferson county, Missouri. He is a son of Bartholomew and Anna (Richardson) Helderbrand. The great-grandfather of G. W. Helderbrand, John Helderbrand, secured a charter from the Spanish king, granting Mr. Helderbrand land in Jeffer- son county, Missouri, in a very early day, when this territory was claimed by Spain. Jonathan Helderbrand, son of John Helderbrand, inherited these land grants and he emigrated from Spain to America and settled in Jefferson county, Missouri on a vast tract of land and here his son, Bartholomew, was born. Jonathan Helderbrand was one of the first to bring civilization to the wide, unbroken prairie land of Missouri, one of the brave and noble few, who "blazed the way." To such a man, enough praise and glory can not be given. He was a public-spirited, patriotic citizen of his adopted land and fought for the colonies throughout the Revolutionary War. Bartholomew Helder- brand was born in this section of the country, long before Missouri became a state.

In 1864, G. W. Helderbrand was united in marriage with Jane Med- ley, the daughter of W. H. Medley, a pioneer of Missouri, who settled in Johnson county in 1866. To G. W. and Jane Helderbrand have been born nine children, six of whom are now living: Mrs. Emma Albin, Warrensburg, Missouri Mrs. Jennie Phillips, Leeton, Missouri; W. B., who resides in Oklahoma: Rosa, who resides in Chilhowee, Missouri; Amos, Chilhowee, Missouri; and Dora, who is married, Chilhowee, Mis- souri. Both Mr. and Mrs. Helderbrand are members of the Baptist

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church. Mr. Helderbrand has the distinction of being the oldest mem- ber of the church in Johnson county. He joined the church in 1872 and is the only member living, who belonged at that time. In 1896, Mr. Helderbrand built his present residence on the site that had been his home for forty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Helderbrand were married in Jefferson county, Missouri, but two years after their marriage, they came to Johnson county and in 1866 settled on the farm in Post Oak township. In 1870, he had prospered sufficiently to be able to purchase sixty-six acres of land. He has always been engaged in farming and stock raising.

Years ago, G. W. Helderbrand pastured his sheep on the open prairie, where the present flourishing city of Chilhowee is now situated. When he came to this county, the prairie was practically all open land. Wild game abounded and roads were unknown. The settlers traveled along trails or followed their sense of direction. The lack of bridges and the countless deep pools and streams made travel very difficult and dangerous. Supplies were secured from New Town. Prairie fires were constantly feared and Mr. Helderbrand personally experienced two very destructive fires. Many times in his youth, he broke virgin sod, while driving a yoke of oxen. Oxen were also used to draw the wagons, in which families came to church. In those days all the people went to church, some in wagons, many on horseback, and several would walk the entire distance of many miles across the prairie. Reverend Amos Horn and "Uncle Billy" Caldwell were two of the earliest pioneer preachers and later, Reverend A. M. Cockrell.

Mrs. Helderbrand sheared the sheep, carded the wool, spun the thread, wove the cloth, and fashioned a fine suit of "homespun broad- cloth." which Mr. Helderbrand wore on his trip back East, to visit rela- tives, in 1872. Mr. Helderbrand has experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life in a new country and many of his experiences would teach valuable lessons to the youth of today. He has worked, when a young man, for twelve dollars and fifty cents a month, which was considered a munificent sum and an exceptional remuneration. His first investment was in two horses, in which investment he put all his savings, and shortly after the purchase both horses died. That was only one of the many misfortunes, which have befallen him, but not one has shaken his courage and a stern determination to make life a success. Always looking on the sunny side of life, Mr. Helderbrand

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is a man whom it is a pleasure to know. He and Mrs. Helderbrand are worthy of the greatest consideration and respect.

C. D. Wallace, the well-known farmer and stockman of Post Oak township, is a son of one of the noblest pioneers who ever came to Johnson county. He was born in 1847 in Rockbridge county, Virginia, son of J. G. and Martha C. Wallace. John Wallace emigrated from Scotland to America in the early colonial days and settled on a planta- tion in Virginia and there his son, J. G., was born and reared. The death of John Wallace occurred on the Virginia plantation many years ago. J. G. Wallace moved with his family to Johnson county, Missouri in 1858 and they settled in Post Oak township, where Mr. Wallace pur- chased two hundred sixty acres of land. He engaged extensively in sheep growing and general stock raising and became very prosperous and widely known. His death occurred in 1898.

A boy, eleven years of age, C. D. Wallace came to Missouri with his parents. He vividly recalls the land conditions at that time, when nearly the entire county was open grazing land, covered with tall, coarse grass. Game of all kinds could be seen in abundance, hundreds of deer and thousands of prairie chickens. The first home of the Wallace family in Missouri was a rude, unfinished log cabin, such as was the home of all the pioneers. C. D. Wallace attended a "subscription school," which was held at the little log house, known as Shanghi school house. George Williams and "Bill" Steward were two teachers, who taught the school before the Civil War. R. T. Berry was one of the first teachers soon after the war. Mr. Wallace recalls the pioneer church and many of the early-day preachers, among whom were Reverends Houx, Glass, and Reed. The young and old enjoyed attending church in those days and boys and girls would have great times on horseback, racing with each other to the church. Those who did not walk, or ride in an ox-cart, rode on horseback to church and to all social occasions. Mr. Wallace's father was for several years engaged in hauling goods for Moody & Gilkeson, merchants in the old town of Warrensburg, hauling from Lexington to Warrensburg and coal to Sedalia, driving yokes of oxen. During the Civil War, Mr. Wallace remembers, all produce to be sold was hauled to Sedalia.

In 1871. C. D. Wallace and Elizabeth M. Bradley were united in marriage. Mrs. Wallace is the daughter of J. F. Bradley, one of the earliest settlers of Johnson county. To C. D. and Elizabeth M. (Brad-

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ley) Wallace have been born ten children, all of whom have been reared to maturity and are now living: Mrs. Ona H. Brooks, Warrensburg; J. W., Chilhowee, Missouri, R. F. D. 20; R. E .; Mrs. Maud A. Hodges, Blairstown, Missouri; I. R., Mesca, Colorado; Mrs. Mary E. Workman, Leeton, Missouri; C. D., Rockham, South Dakota; T. A., Chilhowee, Missouri; Martha G., Chilhowee, Missouri; and Marcus A. Mr. Wal- lace began life for himself farming on the old homestead and he has ever since been engaged in the pursuits of agriculture. He is now owner of one hundred twenty acres of land in Post Oak township, forty acres of which are in meadow land. Mr. Wallace is a progressive and intelligent farmer and a strong advocate of crop rotation. He has splendid success raising high grade Poland China hogs.

James Duffey, an industrious and capable, young farmer and stock- man of Post Oak township, is one of Johnson county's best and most intelligent citizens and agriculturists. He was born in 1876 in Topeka, Kansas, son of Paul and Emily Duffey, who were formerly of Wisconsin.

Mr. Duffey received a good common school education and early in life began working for himself on the farm. In 1904, he came to Johnson county, Missouri and purchased one hundred eleven acres of land in Post Oak township. The place was in very poor shape at the time of the purchase, but Mr. Duffey is an ambitious worker and he immediately began to build up the land by sowing grass and raising stock. He has been successful to a remarkable degree and the Duffey farm has increased in valne threefold since he came to it. He sold seed corn to the men, who tried to discourage him in buying the farm, tell- ing him that nothing would grow on the place. Mr. Duffey advocates deep plowing, a method he pursues, and he has seventy-five acres of land in corn and twenty-five acres in oats. He devotes much attention to stock raising, handling Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. In planting grain, James Duffey furrows the field and plants in the trenches and he has had uniform success, obtaining annually good yields. He believes firmly in the utility of the silo and each year fills one and has plenty of silage during the winters.

In 1893, James Duffey and Susie May Schute were united in mar- riage. Mrs. Duffey is the daughter of George Schute, of Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Duffey have been born five children: Zenius, Winnie, Gladys, Joseph, and Harold. All the children are at home with their parents.

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In everything James Duffey undertakes, he confides in his sons and takes them into partnership with him. He is doing his best to arouse their interest in the farm and has made friends and comrades of them, encouraging them in their work, in their ambitions to have something of their own. Joseph had a fine pig last year, 1917, given him by his father and the other boys had fourteen acres of land in corn. They planned to purchase an automobile with the proceeds from their corn crop and Mr. Duffey promised them that if they should not be able to sell enough corn to pay for the car he would help them, and James Duffey never breaks a promise made to his children. Mr. Duffey is pursuing a well-defined course in an endeavor to teach his boys that the farmer aiming to have a profitable business must understand many things about plants and animals, for without a knowledge of their nature, their habits, and their needs he may labor year after year making only a halfway success of his work, that it is easy to waste the good things Nature has provided and easy to increase the ordinary production from the land-if one only knows how. If James Duffey should fail utterly as a farmer and stockman, his life will not have been lived in vain, for he is making a splendid success as father of one of the finest families in Johnson county. Mr. and Mrs. Duffey are valued members of the Latter Day Saints church.

J. C. Sharp was born in Henry county, Missouri in 1875. He is a son of Frank S. and Nannie Sharp. Frank S. Sharp was a son of Joseph Sharp, who emigrated from Scotland when he was a lad and came to America. He located for some time in Illinois and thence moved to Henry county, Missouri, where he settled and became a pros- perous farmers and stockman. Frank S. Sharp was a child at the time his parents moved to Missouri and he was reared and educated in Henry county and was there married to Nannie Evans. To Frank S. and Nannie (Evans) Sharp were born two children: J. C., of this review : and Mrs. Anna B. Adams, Chilhowee, Missouri.

Miss Lizzie Culley was teaching the school at Stony Point at the time that J. C. Sharp started to school at that place. He was later taught by Miss Rena Dunham and Miss Julia Holland, at different times. Mr. Sharp has often participated in the old-fashioned "spelling bee." He recalls among the preachers of his boyhood days: Reverends A. M. Cockrell, Z. T. Orr, Finis King, and J. H. Houx.

In 1898, Mr. Sharp purchased one hundred acres of land in John-

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son county and began farming for himself. Since that time, he has improved his place and now has one of the attractive country homes of this state. The residence is a neat, comfortable structure of six rooms and there are two large well-built barns on the place. The farm is well watered and an ideal place for stock, considering its size. Mr. Sharp has increased his holdings and is now the owner of one hundred twenty-five acres of land, most of which tract is in meadow land and pasture.

In 1898, J. C. Sharp and Dora Anderson, the daughter of A. J. and Mary Anderson, were united in marriage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are held in the highest esteem in Johnson county, where they are numbered among the county's most valuable citizens. The Sharp family has always borne an enviable reputation in this section of Mis- souri, all being honest, honorable, upright citizens. J. C. Sharp's father was such a man, pleasant, kindly, possessing a strong personal charac- ter, and high ideals and so was also his grandfather, Joseph Sharp, who died in California, to which state he had moved in 1895. The father is now living, his home being in Howell county, Missouri. J. C. Sharp's mother died in 1913. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and politically, he is a Republican.

G. W. Eppright was born in Johnson county in 1877. He is one of two sons born to his parents, George and Mary Jane (Stone) Eppright, his brother being C. S. Eppright. George Eppright was the son of Jacob Eppright, who came to Johnson county in the early forties and settled on a farm in Chilhowee township. He was of German descent. Mary Jane (Stone) Eppright is the daughter of Salathiel Stone, who settled in Johnson county in 1839 on a farm, which he purchased in Post Oak township. The father, George Eppright, died in 1900 and the widowed mother makes her home with her son, Charles, on the farm in Chilhowee township. A more comprehensive sketch of the Eppright family will be found in the biographies of Charles Eppright and Mrs. Mary Jane (Stone) Eppright, which appears elsewhere in this volume.

Will Sanders, John McGurk, and Will Bridges were early-day teach- ers of the school which G. W. Eppright attended, held at Pleasant Green school house. Among the pioneer preachers, whom he per- sonally knew, were: Reverends Houx, Marr, and Gilham. Protracted

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meetings were held at Pisgah and Mr. Eppright has participated in many, when the crowd would be immense and enthusiasm would soar high. He recalls the time when there was much open prairie and wild game could be found in abundance. Social gatherings were fre- quently held and it is Mr. Eppright's opinion that the young people enjoyed themselves far more in those days than the young people do today.

In 1901, G. W. Eppright purchased the different interests of the heirs in his father's estate and he is now the owner of two hundred eighty acres of the old home place and one hundred forty acres in another tract. This year, he has sixty acres of his farm in wheat, but he is devoting more and more of his land each year to grass and pasture land. The place is well watered, splendidly located, and adap- ted for stock raising. There are two large, well-built barns and numer- ous farm buildings on the Eppright place and Mr. Eppright pursues the latest and most scientific methods of farming and stock raising, being a progressive, enterprising, up-to-date citizen.

In 1902, G. W. Eppright and Eva Jane McElwee were united in marriage. Eva Jane (McElwee) Eppright is the daughter of John McElwee, of Chilhowee. To G. W. and Mrs. Eppright have been born six children: John O., James M., Georgia J., Thomas A., Frank- lin B., and David R., all at home with their parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eppright are held in the highest respect and admiration in John- son county, where the Eppright family has long been considered one of the best and most substantial. G. W. Eppright is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. Politically, he is a Democrat and he has always been active in the ranks of his party.

R. D. Hussey, one of Johnson county's most energetic and pro- gressive citizens, was born in Jackson county, Missouri, in 1867. He is a son of Daniel and Mary Hussey. His grandfather. Robert Hussey, was an Englishman. He was a weaver and he followed his trade all his life in England, where he was born and where he died. Daniel Hussey was born in England in 1830. In early manhood, he emigrated from England and came to America, where he located in Canada. For four years, he served in the English navy as ship carpenter. In 1866, he came to Jackson county, where he purchased a farm and on this

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History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 99

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