USA > Missouri > Johnson County > Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis counties, Missouri ; containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 25
USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis counties, Missouri ; containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 25
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brought our subject and his father's family. The party remained together during the journey up the Mississippi, and, arriving in Johnson County, the Louns located on a farm of eighty acres, three miles from Knobnoster. Mr. Loun later bought another eighty acres, improved all the tract, and made it his home until his death, which occurred October 18, 1861, during the Civil War. At that time he was visited at his home by several Secessionists, who asked him as a favor to show them the way across the creek. He very willing- ly acceded to their wish, and on reaching the creek bottom was inhumanly shot down. His family were very seriously alarmed upon learning what his errand was, and felt then that they would never see him alive again. Mrs. Loun continued to reside on the old home place for some time, and then, dividing the estate, made her home with her children until her decease, in July 1884.
During the war, our subject enlisted, in April, 1862, in Company G, Seventh Missouri State Militia, at Warrensburg, which was under the command of Col. John F. Phillips and Capt. M. U. Foster. During the three years in which he was in the service he held the position of Wagon Master, and in this capacity was kept on the move all the time, visiting almost every point in northwestern Arkansas, besides the greater por- tion of his own state. He was discharged at the close of the war and was mustered out May 14, 1865.
Mr. Rance returned to his home after bidding good-bye to his fellow-soldiers, and when he had spent some time in "resting up," again took up the peaceful occupation of a farmer, and located on a rented farm in this township. He lived on this place for three years, when he came to his present estate, first purchasing sixty acres. On this he built a house, the same which his family occupies to-day, and then gave his attention to the improvement of his tract. To this he after- ward made several additions, until now it is two hundred and twenty-six acres in extent. He is engaged in a general farming and stock-raising business, and in the pursuance of this, his chosen vocation, he meets with success.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rance there were born six
children, one of whom, Mary Emma, is deceased. She was born June 14, 1878, and died June 4, 1880. Frank was born March 15, 1862; John Philip, born April 28, 1864, is engaged in teach- ing school in Texas; Nanie Christina, born Au- gust 9, 1869, is at home; William Sherman, born September 13, 1871, married Victoria Burford, and makes his home north of Warrensburg; and George J., born December 31, 1883, is also with his parents. The children obtained their educa- tion in the district school near their home, with the exception of John P., who completed his edu- cation in the normal school at Warrensburg. Mr. Rance is progressive and public-spirited, and as School Director has aided greatly in advancing the standard of scholarship in his locality. He has always voted the Republican ticket. His good wife is a member of the German Baptist Church, meeting with a congregation three miles northwest of her home.
The farm which our subject occupies has a peculiar history, having been formerly owned by the Stevensons, a gang of desperadoes. A num- ber of years ago, however, Mr. Stevenson was killed on this farm by the Vigilance Committee, and two of his sons were killed near Warrens- burg. The other members of the family thought it best to leave the neighborhood and removed to Kansas.
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DWARD HARDY, who at the time of his decease was one of the substantial farmers of Johnson County, owned a good estate in township 47, range 25. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in August, 1839, and was the son of Ambrose and Mary (McNully) Hardy, also natives of the same county. There the fa- ther carried on farm pursuits all his life, and died in 1888, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He was deprived of the companionship of his wife several years before.
The original of this sketch was one in a family of ten children born to his parents, two of whom
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died in infancy. William is also deceased, de- parting this life in Chicago, Ill .; Ambrose still resides in the Emerald Isle; Nancy is deceased; Catherine is living in her native land; Maria is deceased; Bridget lives in Ireland; James married a Miss Duncan, and both died in Vermilion Coun- ty, Ill .; and Alexander makes his home in Ireland.
In the year 1857 our subject embarked on a vessel bound for the United States, where he had two brothers living. After a very tedious voyage he was landed in New York Harbor, whence he made his way to Cincinnati, Ohio. He remained in that city for some time and.later journeyed to Danville, Ill., where his brother James was liv- ing. He had learned the stonemason's trade from his father, and for one year followed this in- dustry in the Prairie State. He then went to St. Louis and obtained employment on a gravel train on the Missouri Pacific Railway, running from Mound City to Jefferson City. His next oc- cupation was that of making brick in Lexington, Mo., working for a gentleman by the name of Allen. After being one year in his employ he came to this county, and was immediately given work in the yards of Mr. Outerberry, with whom he remained for one year. At Lexington, while in the employ of the latter gentleman, he was married, July 8, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Caul- field, a native of the same county in Ireland in which he was born. Her birth occurred May 4, 1843, and her parents were Barnett and Mary (Moran) Caulfield, also born in County Antrim. Mr. Caulfield was a farmer, and in 1857 came to America with his family, landing in New Orleans. After a stay there of eight days, he sailed up the Father of Waters to St. Louis, whence he made his way to Lafayette County, Mo., where his sis- ter was living. He rented a farm in that locality, and died two years later, in August, 1859. His widow resided on this estate for a few years, when she went to Pike County, Ill., and there made her home for the following four years. Being dissatisfied there, she returned to this state, and lived with her children in Johnson County until her decease, which occurred in June, 1877. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom only three are living at the present time. Nancy, the
eldest of the household, died in Ireland; Felix is living in Decatur County, Tenn .; Sarah married Thomas Caulfield, who is now engaged in farm- ing in Lafayette County, Mo .; Edward departed this life in America, when thirty years of age; James is also deceased; Mrs. Hardy was the next in order of birth; Ellen married John Sullivan, and since the death of her husband has continued to live at their home in Montana. The remain- ing five children all died in infancy.
Immediately after their marriage our subject and his wife came to Johnson County, where they became the owners of forty acres of land now in- cluded in their present farm. It was at that time covered with a dense growth of timber, and in order to clear it and prepare the soil for cultiva- tion much hard work was necessary. This Mr. Hardy did himself, and, after getting it under thorough tillage, purchased sixty acres more, on which he also made good improvements before his decease.
In August, 1864, Mr. Hardy enlisted in the Union service, entering the militia under Captain Fulks. During the eight months in which his services were needed, the company was engaged in scouting most of the time, although they par- ticipated in several hard-fought battles. They were disbanded at the end of that time, when our subject returned to his farm. His death occurred November 23, 1888. He was a very prominent and influential resident of the county, widely and favorably known by its best people. Mrs. Hardy continued to make her home in the old dwelling on the farm until it was destroyed by fire, when she caused to be erected the present substantial structure which adorns the place. She is a de- vout member of the Catholic Church, to which faith her husband also adhered. He was a Re- publican in politics, and was often urged to be- come a candidate for offices of trust and honor, but as many times refused to do so, preferring to devote his time and attention to his own interests.
Our subject and his wife never had any chil- dren, but Mrs. Hardy now has living with her a nephew, James Ambrose Hardy, who was born in Danville, Il1., April 29, 1863, and whom she treats as a son. He lived with his father until
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eleven years of age, when he came to make his home with our subject. He was married, Janu- ary 26, 1892, to Miss Annie McGrath, who was born in Knobnoster, and is a daughter of Jack McGrath. Prior to her union with James Hardy, she taught school for seven years. This young gentleman was candidate for the office of Assessor in 1892, but was defeated by a small majority. He is a very intelligent and enterprising farmer, and is looking after the estate of Mrs. Hardy.
ILLIAM S. WARNICK. Missouri has long been known as a region in which fine farms abound, and Johnson County is not without her share of these fertile and well devel- oped lands. One of the most beautiful and pro- ductive within her borders is in township 45, range 25, and comprises four hundred acres. With the exception of one hundred acres, the land is under cultivation, the house, barn and other buildings being above the average. Tlie place is owned and occupied by the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, and who is one of the most successful farmers of the county.
Mr. Warnick was born in Wilson County, Tenn., three miles from the city of Lebanon, October 10, 1832. His parents, Maj. James and Sina (Payton) Warnick, were both natives of Tennessee, where they were farmers. The mater- nal grandparents were John and Fannie (Kelly) Payton, the former of English and the latter of Irish parentage. They settled in Wilson County, Tenn., in early life, and there passed the remain- ing years of their life on a farm. The paternal grandparents, Robert and Margaret (Smith) Warnick, were both natives of North Carolina, and after their marriage emigrated to middle · Tennessee, were they were greatly troubled by the Indians who then infested the country. On the outbreak of the Revolutionary War the grand- mother was a little girl of twelve years, and it
was her duty to find safe places in which to hide the edibles from the soldiers. The grandparents lived in Rutherford County after their marriage until 1831 or 1832, when they went west to Ten- nessee. A few years thereafter they were induced to come to Missouri by a son-in-law who was liv- ing within two miles of Lexington. In Lafayette County they rented what was known as the Col. Smith Place, and there the grandfather died in 1834. His wife lived until 1867. They were the parents of one son and five daughters. Nancy, Mrs. Brown, is deceased; our subject's father was the next-born; Margaret, Mrs. Smith, is also de- ceased; Ellen and Jane married men by the name of Berry, and both are deceased; and Malinda be- came a Mrs. Cavitt, and is likewise deceased.
James Warnick remained at home until his marriage to Miss Payton, after which he purchased a farm and was engaged in its cultivation until his removal to Henry County, Tenn. He lived for two years on a farm in that section, then re- turned to Wilson County, living there until com- ing to Missouri, undertaking the journey hither in 1834. He rented land in Lafayette County for the first year, then came to Johnson County, en- tering from the Government a quarter-section five miles from our subject's present estate. On this he built a log house, in which he and his fam- ily lived for the following two years. He then disposed of it and entered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section 24, township 46, range 19, and lived there until his, death, in August, 1885, at the age of eighty-five years. His wife died in 1876. Mr. Warnick was a very promi- nent man, and well and favorably known through- out this portion of the state. In the early days, when the Indians were troublesome, he was made Captain of a company to banish them from the country, and from that time until his death was called "Major."
William S. Warnick had seven brothers and sisters. Robert N. married Amanda Jane Ogles- by, and is now living in Warrensburg; Elizabeth is Mrs. William P. Granger, of California; John P. married Nancy Jane Harrie, and makes his home near Fayetteville, this state; Margaret Fran- ces married George B. Estes, now deceased, and
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she lives six miles north of Knobnoster; Malinda Jane is the widow of George W. Williams, and lives on a farmi adjoining that of our subject; James H. married Nancy Wallace, who is now deceased, and he lives north of Knobnoster; Sina Ellen married Andrew Mack, and their home is about four miles east of the farm of our subject.
The original of this sketch was married, Decem- ber 12, 1858, to Miss Mary Ann Williams, daugh- ter of Squire Williams, of this county. She de- parted this life May 22, 1866. December 16 of that year our subject was married to Miss Sallie Ann Johnson, a native of Henry County, Mo., and the daughter of Samuel and Martha (Ehr- hardt) Johnson, both natives of Tennessee. They came in early life to this state, settling in Henry County, near Calhoun, where they made their home for several years, and then came to John- son County, settling three miles north of Wind- sor, where he entered land. After selling this tract he moved to Barton County, Mo., and pur- chased town property in Golden City, where he was living at the time of his decease, August 3, 1888. Mrs. Johnson is still living, making her home there with her two sons. After his marriage our subject entered a tract of two hundred and forty acres of land and later built thereon the dwelling which his family now occupies. To this he has added as his means would allow, until now he is one of the largest land-owners in the township.
June 17, 1861, a few months after the outbreak of the Civil War, our subject enlisted and served for some six months. During that time he partic- ipated in the battles of Carthage and Springfield, and on receiving his discharge returned home. He re-enlisted, this time being assigned to Compa- ny H, Second Regiment, with which he remained until the close of the war. This command surren- dered in April, 1865, at Louisville, Ky., to Gen- eral Palmer. Mr. Warnick then returned to the peaceful pursuits of farming, which avocation he has since followed with marked success.
To Mr. and Mrs. Warnick there were born two children: James W., who married Alice M. Cron- hardt, and lives with our subject; and Samuel Delmar, who died at the age of eighteen months. By his first marriage Mr. Warnick had a son,
George W., who is now married and living in Warrensburg. In politics our subject is, and al- ways has been, a Democrat. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, attending the congregation near their home.
JOHN A. COLLINS has been financially in- terested in the Eureka Roller Mills of War- rensburg, Mo., during the past five years, and is numbered among the successful business men of the place. He is associated with many of her leading organizations, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Daughters of Rebekah, and also of the Select Knights of the Ancient Order United Workmen. On reaching his majority he was initiated into the Odd Fel- lows' Society in New York State, and ever since has kept in touch with the work of the order. His first Presidential ballot was in favor of Gen. U. S. Grant in the election of 1872, and up to the present time he has never faltered in his allegi- ance to the Republican party.
Dr. George F. Collins, father of J. A. Collins, was born in the Empire State in 1812, being a son of Dr. John Collins, a native of Rhode Island and of English extraction. Dr. George F. Collins en- joyed a large and successful practice in Trumans- burg, N. Y., and vicinity, and owned considera- ble land adjoining the town. His wife, whose girlhood name was Maria A. Swartwart, was also born in New York and was of German descent. Dr. Collins died in 1864, leaving five children, of whom J. A. is the third in order of birth.
In addition to receiving a good general educa- tion, John A. Collins received the advantages af- forded by the Trumansburg Academy, where he pursued his studies about four years. He was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., March 16, 1849, and soon after reaching his majority came to Warrensburg with his sister, Mrs. H. M. Pro-
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GEORGE E. HOLLENBECK.
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per, afterward Mrs. Tichenor. In company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Proper, young Collins bought a farm in this locality and assisted in its operation for two years. Then, selling out his interest in the place, he took a stock of goods to Honey Grove, Tex., remaining there one year, after which he came back to this county and re- invested in land. For the next fifteen years he devoted his exclusive attention to agriculture, and was very successful in his endeavors.
April 1, 1880, Mr. Collins married Jane H. Hyer, of Warrensburg. She was born in High- land County, Ohio, November 30, 1848, and is the mother of one child, George Hyer, whose birth occurred November 30, 1881. Mrs. Collins is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, and belongs to the Old-school Presbyterian Church. Like her husband, she has many sincere friends, and like him she is also interested in all branches of charitable and religious work.
EORGE E. HOLLENBECK is one of the enterprising farmers of Pettis County, own- ing a fine estate of two hundred and eleven acres, located on section 1, township 44, range 23. Since attaining manhood he has given his ener- gies and industry to agriculture and is thoroughly practical and well informed on every subject per- taining to the best methods of conducting a farm. He is a splendid judge of animals, and has per- haps bought and sold more live stock than any other man in Pettis County.
Our subject was born in Ohio, November 27, 1850, and is the eldest member of his parents' family. Alphonso and Amanda (Archer) Hol- lenbeck, the parents, were also natives of the Buckeye State. The father traveled a great deal, visiting South America and the states on the western coast of America. He died in the Golden State, June 26, 1872, while his good wife passed away in Missouri in May, 1889.
George E. Hollenbeck had very few oppor-
tunities for gaining a good education, for at the time when he should have been in school the Civil War broke out and the schools over various portions of the country were closed. He came to Missouri when a lad of eight years, at a time when this now thickly populated county was a vast wilderness, and but little improvement had been made on farms which had been taken up. The father went to South America when our sub- ject was eighteen years of age, and the latter looked after affairs at home. He remained under the parental roof until a year prior to reaching his majority, when he began farming on his own account, and in this venture has been greatly prospered from the first. His estate adjoins the beautiful little village of Green Ridge, and the buildings which adorn the place are substantial in character and aid in making this one of the most attractive homes in Pettis County. The farm is a valuable one, and is devoted to raising both grain and stock.
Mr. Hollenbeck was united in marriage, in De- cember, 1885, with Miss Minnie, daughter of Dr. W. H. Flesher, a prominent physician of this county, who makes his home in Green Ridge. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three daughters, Eula, Mary A. and Elizabeth. In pol- itics our subject is a Democrat at all times and under all circumstances, therefore is opposed to monopolies. He is President of the Farmers and Merchants' Bank at Green Ridge. At all times he gives his influence to support measures calcu- lated to benefit the community at large, and is a shrewd business man. By those who are well acquainted with him he is held to be a man of sterling worth and strict integrity.
YRUS A. CONNER is well and favorably known in various parts of Johnson County, and is now the fortunate possessor of a valu- able homestead, comprising two hundred and forty acres on township 46, range 25. He fought in
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defense of the Union during the late Civil War, and is now a member of Colonel Grover Post No. 78, G. A. R., at Warrensburg. A leader in the local ranks of the Republican party, his friends desired him to run for the position of Judge in this district on one occasion, but he steadfastly refused. He has been the architect of his own fortune, having commenced his business career at the bottom round of the ladder, and has achieved success through his own industrious and perse- vering efforts.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were Alexander and Elizabeth (Jackman) Conner, na- tives of Ireland and Virginia, respectively. They moved from their home in Russell County, Ky., to a farm on island No. 10, in the Mississippi River. Mr. Conner was financially well-to-do at the time of his death, which occurred in 1840 on the island, where his wife also departed this life. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Hon. John Wolford and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Lapsley. They were both born in Albemarle County, Va., and were married in Casey County, Ky. Mr. Wolford was a farmer by occupation, and owned a beautiful country home, where he kept a number of slaves prior to the war. He was a member of the Legislature for about ten years, and for four years represented his district in Congress. His first wife died when Mrs. Conner was only four years old, and he then married Mahala Lane, who died in Casey County. His own death occurred at his old home when he was in his eighty-seventh year. By his first mar- riage he had the following children: Eleanor, John M., Jacob, James L., Eliza Jane and Emily T. By the second union the following children were born: Franklin L., William, Cyrus, Albert, Eliza- beth A., Rachel C., George, Sarah J. and Fran- cis M.
William Conner, our subject's father, was born in Russell County, Ky., March 19, 1805. His brother Thomas died on a farm near Ft. Scott, Kan., and his brother John also departed this life in the same locality. His sister Lizzie married Samuel Miller, and both are now deceased. Ro- ena became the wife of Samuel Brown, and both have been called to their final rest. Eliza, the
youngest, is a resident of Macoupin County, Il1. When William Conner was about nineteen years of age he moved with his parents to Island No. 10, but, not liking it there, he returned to his native state. He engaged in farming in Russell County, and soon afterward married Minerva Hutchison, who died two years later, about 1830, leaving one child. This daughter, Angelica, married Levin Granger, and both she and her husband are now deceased. About two years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Conner married Eliza J. Wolford, who was born January 25, 1812.
After several years of farming in Kentucky, William Conner moved to Missouri, where he had heard there was much good, cheap land. His family came by the Cumberland and Missis- sippi Rivers and thence up the Missouri, landing here April 17, 1844. After renting a farın for four years, Mr. Conner took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, now the homestead owned by our subject. Later he took up one hundred and sixty acres more, and in 1851 built a good farm house. He made extensive improve- ments, and at one time owned three hundred and sixty acres. The principal products of his farm were hemp and cotton, for this was before the days of wheat-raising in this section. Wild game was very abundant and included bears, panthers, wolves, wild hogs and deer. One of his hired men was chased by a pack of wolves and did not dare to venture forth from his cabin for several days.
April 24, 1878, Mr. Conner was called to the silent land, leaving a host of friends who still hold his memory dear. He was never an office- seeker, but used his franchise in favor of the Re- publican party. Of his five sons, James Monroe, born May 26, 1832, married Mary Reed in 1862. He died in December, 1878, and his widow after- ward married John Curnutt, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. John Milton, born August 1, 1835, was a diligent stu- dent, but was cut short in his life work at the age of twenty-one years, his death occurring on the anniversary of his birth. William Thomas, born in 1841, married for his first wife Adelia Lapsley, from whom he afterward separated, and by whom he had several children; for his second wife he
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