USA > Missouri > Johnson County > The history of Johnson County, Missouri : including a reliable history of the townships, cities, and towns, together with a map of the county; a condensed history of Missouri; the state constitution; an abstract of the most important laws etc > Part 105
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ABRAHAM B. WHALEY,
one of the most prominent school teachers of the county; was born in Palmyra, Missouri, -. April 13, 1835. His father and mother lived in Marion county up to 1865. The subject of this sketch was a captain in Marmaduke's brigade, and was captured during the war in Monroe county, north Missouri, and was held as a political prisoner in Cincinnati, until the close of the war. He returned to Missouri in April, 1865; then went with his parents on a trip through New Mexico and Arkansas. He was married in Arkansas to Miss Lucinda Henderson in the fall of 1869. She is a native of Missouri, and daughter of one of the old settlers of Johnson county. They have four children living: Marion Henderson, Wm. Albert Henderson, Fitzhugh Bird Henderson and Grace Forenum
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Henderson. He taught school for eight years in this county, receiving the highest price paid any teacher for his service. He has at present a well located farm of 100 acres, with good substantial improvements, which will in time be one of the most desirable small farms in the county.
JOHN W. WRIGHT,
dealer in general merchandise, Columbus. Was born near Chilhowee, this county, Oct. 28, 1839, son of Douglass Wright, a native of Virginia, who, while young, was taken to Kentucky, and thence to Missouri, and to what is now Chilhowee township, about 1830. He died there, Oct., 1872. Elizabeth P. Wright, the mother of our subject, is the daughter of Thos. Cull. She still lives and resides with her son, John W. Wright. Mr. Wright married Anna C. Snodgrass, and four children cheer their household: Early, Ora, Charley and Stella; Lee died Oct. 1872. Mr. Wright went into business for himself at Chilhowee, succeeding J. R. Johnson in merchandising. He then engaged in farming, and since that time has engaged in different enterprises from 1875 to 1880, merchandis- . ing in Holden, then lived a time in Bates county. In the fall of 1881, he came to Columbus and bought out G. C. Wolfe, and now provided with a full stock carries on a general mercantile trade, which, though good, is rapidly increasing. The coming spring will find him supplied with a full stock of farm implements and general farm supplies. Mr. Wright being a native of Johnson county, has witnessed many of the changes which have come and gone. He is an enterprising liberal spirited man, ever ready to encourage that which is calculated to build up the township and county. He is a worthy member of the M. E. church, south.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP. BENJ. A. BRADLEY,
P. O. Holden. Retired farmer; whose name is inseparably associated with Jackson township, was born in Johnson county, Mo., Jan. 9, 1832. He was raised a farmer; was first instructed in the common school, then attended a select school taught by Jasper Ferguson. Mr. Bradley's father was a native of Georgia, born Feb. 19, 1790, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He immigrated to Missouri in 1830, and settled in Jack- son township, where he continued to reside until his death in 1870. Mr. Benj. A. Bradley's mother was a native of Kentucky, and died in Holden about 1873. The subject, Benj. A., after leaving school engaged in teach- ing, which he followed ten years, during which time he taught in different counties in this state. In March, 1861, he was married to Miss Martha R. Briggs, daughter of John Briggs. Mr. Bradley has been one of the
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
enterprising farmers and stock dealers of his township; he owns a fine farm of 275 acres, all in cultivation, with a good residence and barn; also owns a good residence in Holden. He is a prominent member of the M. E. church, south. Mrs. Bradley is a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian church. Their family consists of the following named children: Seth B., John D., Clara B., Edgar and Charley A.
F. M. BRADLEY,
was born in Logan county, Kentucky, December 10, 1827. His father, R. D. Bradley, was a native of Florida, and was of English extraction, and a soldier under Gen. Jackson. His grandfather was a soldier of the revolution. F. M.s mother was born in Kentucky, and was the daughter of Jonathan Baker. His father emigrated to Missouri in 1830, and settled in what is now Jackson township, entering his land from the Government, and became one of the most enterprising farmers and stock dealers of his neighborhood. He died in 1868. His mother died in 1873. F. M., who is the subject of this sketch, was raised on a farm, and received a limited education at the schools of that day. He lived with his parents until his majority. In 1858 he married Miss Ellen, daughter of Reuben Fulkinson, Esq. They have three children: Alice S., Richard Dicky and Reuben J. Mr. Bradley owns a fine farm of 400 acres, and is one of the prominent stock dealers of his township, and has a good coal vein on his farm. Mr. B. is a member of the M. E. church, south.
CHARLES D. BOISSEAU,
was born in Johnson county, Missouri, April 18, 1845. He has always lived in Johnson county, and is a farmer and stock raiser. He was mar- ried to Miss Jane Gilliland on January 13, 1867. His wife is also a native of Missouri. By this union three children were born: Benjamin W., Jessie and Mary. At the commencement of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted in company A, of the first Batallion of the 7th M. S. M., of which Emery S. Foster was Major. Mr. Benjamin W. Boisseau, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, in 1802. He was married in 1828 to Miss Sarah A. Fuquey, a native of Logan county, Kentucky. The names of children by this union were as follows: John, who died when two years of age, Mary A., Nancy C., Susan and Judith. Soon after his marriage he moved to Johnson county, Missouri, and settled near Columbus, the oldest post office in the county. His prin- cipal occupation while there was farming. He then moved five miles farther west, where he lived until his death. Here his first wife died, and he again married, this time, Miss Syble Duncan was the object of his choice. By this union their household was blessed with six children: Sarah J., John Oscar, Charlie D., Lucy M., Daniel T. and Rob-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
ert. The last dying in infancy, and John Oscar, when 17 years of age, in 1861. He died in the spring of 1863, being 61 years of age. Mrs. Boisseau, the second, and mother of Charlie D., was born in 1809, in Vir- ginia, and moved with her parents to Kentucky, and lived there several years, then came to Johnson county, Missouri, where she married Mr. Boisseau. She still lives in Johnson county, Jackson township, at the advanced age of 72 years.
ISAAC N. BRIGGS, JR.,
is the third son of Isaac Briggs, Sr. He was born in Bridgeport, Addi- son county, Vermont, May 31, 1827. At the age of ten he moved with his parents to Ticonderoga county, New York, in the immediate vicinity of old Ticonderoga Fort, situated at the mouth of Lake George. From thence they moved to Middleburg, New York, the county seat of Addi- son county. Here Isaac was apprenticed to learn the painter's trade. When he was 16 years old his father died, leaving a wife and a younger son than Isaac. Mr. Alvin Briggs is now a resident of Kansas. In the year 1849, Isaac, with his mother and brother, emigrated to Jackson county, Ohio, and in 1851 to Eight Mile Island, on the Ohio river, in Scioto county, Ohio. He married Miss Epalonia Sisler on April 27, 1852, and the union was blessed with five children, three daughters and two sons: Mahalia, Edith, Sarah, Orville and Edson. In the year 1860 he moved with his family to St. Louis, Missouri, his mother having died some two years previous at Kigersville, Gallia county, Ohio. Early in the commencement of the rebellion, he secured a position on the police force of St. Louis, in which capacity he served, until the close of the war. In December, 1863, his wife died and was buried in the beautiful ceme- tery of St. Peters. The three daughters remained in St. Louis, and were educated in a female seminary of that city. The eldest son died in infancy and Edson, the youngest, in 1863, was left to be cared for, with a Mrs. Shepherd, at the corner of 21st street and Franklin Avenue, St. Louis. Sometime in the year 1866, Mrs. Shepherd mysteriously disappeared with young Edson in her possession and no clue to her or the boy has yet been obtained, although vigilant search has been made. In February, 1865, Mr. Briggs came to Holden, Johnson county, Missouri, where he married his second wife, Miss Sallie W. Denney, of Kingsville township, July 30, 1865. To this union eight daughters were born: Maggie, Florence, Laura E., Theresia E. and Minnie, are living in Johnson county. Estelle Ruth and two infant twins are dead, and sleep beside their mother who · died on December 12, 1877, and was buried in the Bluff Spring cemetery, one half mile northwest of the town of Kingsville. Mrs. John Wear the first daughter of the first union resides in Johnson county. The second daughter, Sarah, now Mrs. Peters, lives at Troy, 16 miles from East St.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Louis, in Illinois. Mrs. Borches, the third daughter, is living in St. Louis. Mr. Briggs is now located at Kingsville, Johnson county, Missouri. He still uses the brush as a means of livelihood, and is admitted to be classed in the ranks of his art, as a painter of no mean ability.
J. P. CRAIG,
born in Augusta county, Virginia, near Stanton, February 14, 1823. His father, Robert, was also a native of Virginia, and born in the same county, and emigrated to Missouri in 1829, and in 1830 he moved his family and settled near Columbus, on a farm, where he remained until his death in 1847. J. P. Craig's mother was also a native of Virginia, and died on the same farm as that of his father, in 1849. J. P., who was principally a resi- dent in this county, began to trade in stock when quite young, and to- day is one of the leading stock dealers of his township. He married in 1850, Miss Catherine J. Baker, daughter of Peter Baker. She died, leav- ing one child, Jennie. In 1857, Mr. C. married Miss Anna Phillips of this county, for his second wife. She is a native of Indiana. Soon after his marriage he moved on his present farm, containing 230 acres, 120 acres lying in Centerview township, with a good vein of coal. His pres- ent family consists of two sons, James P. and John W. Mrs. C. is an acceptable member of the M. E. Church South.
M. POLK CRISP,
was born in Johnson county, January 8, 1845. He was the son of Gran- ville Crisp, a native of Alabama, who moved in an early day to Tennes- see, where he remained a short time, and then removed to Missouri with his father, and when he was nineteen years of age went with a trapping company to California. He stayed in California engaged in the fur busi- ness, about four years, when by this time he had accumulated large sums of money, and returned to Missouri, and married a young lady, cousin of Hon. F. M. Cockrell. By this union ten children were born, viz: John F., James C., Reddin, Pemelia R., Polk M., Louisa S., Martha E., Mary S. and Granville. The youngest died in infancy. He went to Texas during the war, and there died, Dec. 20, 1865, near Georgetown. M. Polk, the subject of this sketch, was married Dec. 5, 1872, to Miss Jane M. Tate. She was born Dec. 1, 1856, and was a native of Lone Jack, Jackson county, Mo. She was living at Lone Jack when the noted battle occurred there. One incident she distinctly remembers, that of a shell passing through the building in which she was. By their marriage they have had six children, named as follows: Bessie, Granville, John Tate and George, the other two, (twins,) are not yet christened. At the commencement of the war, our hero went to Texas with his father, where he attended school a part of the time, and also assisted his father in taking care of his stock, of which his .
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
father was a large dealer. He enlisted under Joe Shelby's command at Camp John C. Moore, in the winter of 1863, and was in Price's raid, and Steele's invasion of Arkansas. He was a volunteer under Gen. Price at the battle of Lexington, and was in the battles of Okolona, West Point, and several skirmishes. After the war he attended the State University at Columbia, about five months, and about the same length of time at Christian Brothers' College at St. Louis. He returned to Johnson county and married, where he has ever since lived in section 23, a farmer and large stock dealer.
SAMUEL DANIELSON,
physician. Was born in Licking county, Ohio, Dec., 1852. He was edu- cated in his native county, and commenced the study of medicine with H. C. Dicus of Martinsville, Ohio. He took his first course of lectures at the Phyomedical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1875, commenced his practice, and in 1880, he completed his course of lectures, when he graduated. He practiced several years at Swan Creek, Ills., and, in 1877, came to Missouri, and located at Pittsville, where he enjoys a good prac- tice. The Doctor married Miss Minnie Day, sister of Dr. Day, a promi- nent physician of Holden. By this union they have two children, Alva E. and Bertha Z.
HOLT DAVIS.
Mr. Davis, one of the most successful business men of this township, was born Nov. 28, 1847, in Johnson county, Missouri. His parents are both natives of Tennessee. They emigrated to Illinois, about the year 1843, and remained there until the year 1846, when they moved to John- son® county, Missouri. They raised a family of seven children, five of whom are still living. Holt was married, March 19, 1873, to Miss Julia Warford, daughter of Wm. and Martha Warford, of this township. Mr. Davis entered the Confederate army in October, 1864, when he was only sixteen years of age, and remained until the close of the war. Since the war he has dealt largely in stock, making two trips to Texas, and three to Colorado. He embarked in the mercantile business at Pittsville, this township, in February, 1881, and is doing well; he was also appointed post- master at Pittsville, in February of the same year. Holt was educated at the common schools in this county. He commenced his career in meagre circumstances. He and his wife are both worthy members of the Baptist church.
MICHAEL DAVIS,
postoffice, Pittsville. Was born in Morgan county, East Tennessee, November 23, 1819. His father and mother were both of southern fam-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
ilies-his father of North Carolina, his mother born in Tennessee. Her maiden name was Rebecca Curtis. His father, Abraham Davis, emi- grated to Missouri in 1843, and stopped in the southern part of the state, and died soon after. Michael Davis, who is our subject, came to Mis- souri in 1846, and settled on his present farm in Jackson township, in 1849, consisting of 200 acres, most of which is in cultivation. Mr. Davis commenced life in meagre circumstances, but as a farmer he has been a success. He married Miss Marsha Riggle, in October, 1838, daughter of George Riggle, Esq., and they have raised a family of twelve children: Isaac B., Holt F., Lizzie, Jonathan F. and Catherine C. Lost seven. Mr. Davis is a good neighbor, widely known and much esteemed.
JASPER N. FERGUSON,
county surveyor; section 3, Jackson township; postoffice, Kingsville. Mr. Ferguson is a self-made man, having battled on to success, an hon- ored and highly respectable citizen, through his own unaided abilities, and what he is he owes to his unerring perseverance. He was born April 15, 1823, in Ray county, East Tennesse. When but six years of age he moved with his parents to Lafayette county, Missouri. In 1830, some four years prior to the organization of Johnson county, his father moved into the territory now known by that name, and settled in the region then termed the Blackwater county. His father, John C. Ferguson, in 1830, erected what he said was the twelfth house in the county. In 1854 he moved eight or nine miles farther westward to a farm known as the old James farm, of 180 acres, which he bought, and lived there until his death, which occurred August 10, 1857. His wife died September, 1861. He was born, June 21, 1797; his wife January, 1798. They were both natives. of North Carolina, Lincoln county. Her maiden name was Sarah Falls, and they were married in 1820. They had ten children, of which our sub- ject was the second, and their births respectively occurred in regular alter- nate order, commencing with the year 1821 and continuing to 1839. Our hero commenced life for himself about the year 1844, when he was. twenty years of age. He commenced by learning carpentry and wagon making. In 1846 he took a trip on horseback with his father to East Tennessee, and extended the trip to Lincoln county, North Carolina, his father's birth place. When he came back he attended the common schools for a time, and after attending a grammar school taught by Rev .. David Hogan, of the C. P. church, at Blackwatertown, he commenced the career of teacher. He taught both in Johnson and Lafayette counties .. In 1848 he attended Goshen's male and female academy, at Pleasant Hill, Cass county, Missouri. In 1850 he attended a high school, at Chapel . Hill, taught by A. W. Ridings. Thus he continued going to school and teaching until 1852, when he married Miss Mary E. Cheatham, a native.
·
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
of Adair county, Kentucky. She was born January 15, 1829. By this union seven children were born, as follows: Emma A., Sarah J., Thomas E, Alice M., MaryE., John B. and Nanna. In 1852 Mr. Ferguson was appointed surveyor of Johnson county by the governor, to fill a vacancy in that office, caused by the resignation of John Givens, surveyor elect. Served as depnty surveyor under A. M. Perry from 1856 to 1860; also served as deputy under John J. Craig, who died in 1861, and George T. Gallaher was his successor, under whom Mr. Ferguson served as deputy surveyor. In 1872 Mr. Ferguson was elected by the democratic party surveyor of Johnson county, and re-elected by the same party in 1876 and 1880, which office he now holds in connection with that of ex-officio road and bridge commissioner.
R. A. HAMPTON,
postoffice, Pittsville, a prosperous and respectable farmer of this town- · ship, was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, May 26, 1839. His father, Micageor Hampton, was a native of South Carolina, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His mother was born in North Carolina, and was the daughter of David Mikel. His parents were married in North Carolina, and emigrated to Missouri in 1855, and settled in Johnson county, near Chapel Hill, and became one of the active farmers and stock dealers of his neighborhood. He continued on his farm until his death, in August, 1874. His mother is still living and making her home with R. A., who is the subject of this sketch, and who is the youngest, except one, of nine brothers. In all his father's family consisted of thir- teen children, ten of whom lived to be grown men and women. Mr. R. A. Hampton was married to Miss Nancy Wagoner in 1859, daughter of Amos H. Wagoner. Mr. H. has been one of the most active and enter- prising, as well as successful, stock dealers of his part of his township. He moved onto his present farm in 1867, containing 145 acres, including thirty acres of timber, 115 acres of choice land and good substantial buildings. His family is composed of the following named children: James P., Mary I., Albert M., Fannie M., Nally S. and Ella L. Mr. and Mrs. Hampton are both members of the M. E. church, south. Mr. H., as well as a dealer in hogs and cattle, is one among the prominent feeders. He is a good neighbor, is widely known, and is universally esteemed.
JAS. HOWARD,
was born in North Carolina, Aug. 11, 1816. His father, Jessie Howard, was a native of North Carolina. Jas. Howard is a miller; he learned this business when a boy and followed it through life. In October, 1837, he moved to Missouri and settled in Johnson county. His farm consists
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
of 648 acres. Mr. H. is the oldest settler now living in Jackson township. He has a fine grist and saw mill just down the slope from his residence. His house is situated on a beautiful hill; in looking off to the south and east it forms a beautiful picturesque scene of all that is grand in the beau- ties of nature. He was married in North Carolina in 1836, to Miss Caron Denny, daughter of Jorden Denny, a well-to-do farmer. They have three children: Martha M., Jessie J. and Jas. P. Mrs. H. died in 1842. Mr. H. was married again in 1843 to Miss Amanda W. Suncox, daughter of Thomas Suncox; by this union they have seven children: Ephraim D., Thomas B., Columbus F., Sarah S., McDaniel, Wm. P. and Andrew J. Mr. and Mrs. H. are acceptable members of the S. M. E church, and liberally contribute to the same.
WILLIAM HOPPER.
Mr. Hopper is one of the oldest settlers; is a native of Hamilton county, East Tennessee; was born October 27, 1820. He lived in his place of nativity until twenty years of age, then moved with his father, John Hop- per, to Missouri, in the spring of 1840; stopped a short time in Lafayette county, then moved, and settled in Johnson county, about midway between Chapel Hill, in Lafayette county, and Pittsville, in Johnson county, then known as Brushy Knob district. Here his father died, January 18, 1842. Excepting four years during the war, Wm. has always lived on the farm his father settled here. He was married to Miss Lettie M. Cobb, Janu- ary 4, 1844, and six children have been born to them, as follows: Eliza- beth J., Martha S., Meredeth W., Mandaville L., Sarah A. M. and Mary Rebecca, four of whom are living, the other two are dead: The son and two eldest daughters are married. His early education was not neglected, receiving for the most part his early training in the schools of Tennessee. His occupation has always been that of farmer and stock raiser. Prior to the war he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South; since the war he has held no membership with any denomination. During the war he belonged to the M. S. M., and was under Colonel Nuget's command. He was in the noted battle of Lone Jack, August 16, 1862. At this battle, Mr. Hopper was strack by three bullets; one seered the back part of his hand, the second struck him squarely on the knuckles, but being a spent ball, it did him little injury. The third played a freak by striking and glancing from the side of a building, near to which he was, in the act of loading his gun, and struck him on the back part of his head, knocking him sprawling on the face to the ground. However, he had nothing to do but get up again, though he was considerably shook up. He had a large cord tie round his hat, and singular as it may seem, this cord in this last shot, undoubtedly saved his life. It was tied in a knot behind, and the ball struck squarely upon the large knot; thus he
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
received its force more as a blow, with the result already related. He was mustered out of the service in 1863. Staid in Ray county until the close of the war, then came back to the old homestead in Johnson county, where he has ever since resided. John Hopper, his father, was a native of North Carolina; was born 1789; was married to Miss Mary Davenport, a native of the same state, who was born 1793. They had nine children: Jane, Sarah, Elizabeth, James, William, John, David, and Robert; the last died in infancy, John Hopper died January 1842, and his wife March 3, 1876, at the extremely old age of eighty-three. She died in Johnson county, and at the time was one of the oldest women living in it.
HARDIN LONG.
The subject of this sketch was born in Jackson county, Alabama, Octo- ber 6, 1820. He married Miss Amanda McFarland, February 12, 1846. She was born, December 18, 1825. Was the daughter of A. McFarland, a native of Virginia, who settled in Alabama in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Long have eight children, as follows: William, Washington, Susan F., married William Hughes, a native of Alabama; Thomas G., James P., Arthur, Alexander and Malinda Jane. He was a farmer and stock-dealer until the war came on. Then reverses beset him on every hand, and from a prosperous and happy man, he was soon brought to penury and want, having lost nearly all his possessions in that dark time of war. At the outbreak he volunteered his services in the Forty-second Tennessee regi- ment, company E., of which he was captain for a time, but resigned Octo- ber 18, 1862, having filled the position about one year. His resignation was accepted and acknowledged, by Brig .- Gen. Lloyd Tilgman. He was among those who surrendered at Fort Donelson, and was confined a pris- oner six months. The war over, he came to Johnson county, Missouri, November 14, 1868, where he settled in Jackson township, section one, township forty-six. Under the township organization, he was elected town- ship trustee, which office he held two years. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian church. His wife was born December 18, 1825. Since coming to Missouri, Mr. Long has, in a great measure, repaired the losses he sustained during the war; by farming as all successful farmers do, and by dealing liberally in live stock in a prudent and safe way. He is now acknowledged to be one of the first and best farmers in the town- ship. His father, Arthur Long, married Miss Jane Williams; both emi- grated to Alabama in 1818, and lived in Jackson county, that state, until they died; he in 1863, and she in 1867. His father was of Irish descent, and his children numbered ten, as follows: Elizabeth, Hardin, Kizziah, John C., Lemuel G., William, Martha M., Parilee, Peter B. and Thomas Benton.
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