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 63
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When the war had closed and Aunt Polly Hill thought the records would be no longer in danger from destructive military bands if returned to the civil authorities, also that settlers were coming in, the pursuits of peace again claiming attention of the people, the records were needed to make transfers in real estate complete and the titles good, took the follow- ing method of revealing their hiding place. Aunt Polly proceeded on horseback about four miles southeast to the house of Moses G. Mullins, with whom she frequently consulted regarding business transactions, and in whom she placed great confidence, and told him: " On hearing a party of hunters and dogs in the thick woods northwest of my house, I became anxious about a young litter of pigs which I knew were running in the vicin- ity, proceeded to look them up, and while engaged in this search through the dense thickets and underbrush, suddenly stumbled upon a large dry goods box and two barrels with plank and quilts partly covering them, and on examination found them to contain what I believe to be the long lost and much sought after county records."
Mr. Mullins on hearing this good news hurried off to Warrensburg and reported to the circuit clerk, Capt. M. U. Foster, that the Johnson county records had been accidentally discovered near Aunt Polly Hill's place. Capt. M. U. Foster at once applied to Quartermaster Capt. Joel K. Shaw,
W.P. Carrington CHILHOWEE TP.
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who was then in charge of the government property at this post for the use of a U. S. team and wagon to bring in the county property. A detach- ment under command of Lieut. James Flanigan, consisting . of Corporal Adam Wolfe, privates Mortimer Hubenthan, August Baker, and Julius P. Daniels, of Capt. J. L. Edwards' Co. A, 51st Wisconsin Infantry, piloted by M. G. Mullins, started with the U. S. wagon for the designa- ted locality. At Hobson's farm the party left the main Holden road and proceeded across the open prairie, arriving at their destination at one o'clock P. M., Wednesday, July 20, 1865.
The timber of running post oak was so dense, that no team, and with difficulty a man could come nearer than a quarter of a mile of the con- cealed records. The soldiers wormed their way into the thicket, and one by one brought out the large index and record books to the wagon, whence they were brought to Warrensburg the same evening and depos- ited in the clerk's office where they have remained to this day.
It is due the memory of the patriotic women who watched and pre- served the records, also the union soldiers who brought them to the county seat that they receive special commendation for their noble service.
The Missouri Pacific railroad runs through the center of this township east and west, furnishing all the advantages derived from having superior facilities for shipping the products of the farm.
The railroad was constructed as far as Mr. S. C. Graham's house Just west of the station in 1864, and finished in 1865. Though a heavy rail- road tax was voted upon the farmers, yet the increased value of farm pro- ducts has more than paid them back. The depot agent from the first has been R. C. Hull. The wagon roads throughout the township are natu- rally good, there being only a few rough and broken places. Supplies, in 1840 and previous, were obtained from Huntley's Mill west of Clinton, on Grand River and from Lexington.
CENTERVIEW TOWN.
This beautiful little village was begun as a result of the railroad in 1865. The postoffice was established at that time and Elhanan Roop was the first P. M. The second postmaster was R. C.Hull, and the third,. George Washington. At this point there are stores, elevators, mills, blacksmith shops, churches, schools, and all other advantages offered in a country village of this size, and located on a railroad.
According to the United States census for the year 1880, the town of Centerview contained a population of 227. The village is located not far from the geographical center of the township. bearing the name. The first store was built by Elhanan Roop, and was occupied by Mr. R. C. Hull as a store for general merchandise. The second store was built by R. C. Hull, who occupies the same and serves as freight and telegraph 35
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
office. This is quite a shipping point for cattle, hogs, and produce; many droves of cattle coming from the neighboring county of Henry: During the past year from June 1, 1880, to June 1, 1881, about 600 full car loads of stock and produce, aside from the ordinary way-freight business, have been shipped from this station in about the following ratio: 200 car loads of cattle, 200 car loads of hogs, and 200 car loads of grain and produce. The first birth in the town was a child of George Gentry, and the first death was of this child. The first physician, Dr. J. H. Kinyoun; the first lawyer, Gordon Turner, who was also a preacher and teacher; the first teacher, George Brinkerhoff; the first church built was the Methodist Episcopal; the first preacher was Rev. W. F. Gordon.
The plat shows that Main street runs directly north and south across the Mo. P. R. R. Beginning with the state road from Warrensburg to Holden, and going south on Main street, Howard street is the first, Franklin is the second, Spring the third, North the fourth, then crossing the railroad, and last of all, Rose Hill road. The first street east of Main is Walnut, and the first west is Graham street.
CHURCHES.
" Shall ignorance of good and ill Dare to direct the eternal will? Seek virtue; and of that possessed, To Providence resign the rest."
Since God directed Abraham to build an altar on Mount Moriah, and offer thereon his son Isaac, men of all ages have held their religious ten- ets as the dearest of all things else. In free America the religious prin- ciples of mankind are not brought to a test, and it is not known how deep down into the soul of man the spirit of his God has taken root. Let him be persecuted for his religion's sake, and at once his deepest nature is aroused to do and suffer for his cherished principles. Churches one after another raise their spires from the prairies and hillside, and all men praise their building. The more churches a community has, the more favored its people.
No little village in this whole region has so many churches as Center- view. It has churches of Presbyterians, Cumberland Presbyterians, United Presbyterians, Baptists, German Baptists, Methodist Episcopalians, and Methodists, (colored).
Methodist Episcopal .- This church is situated on Main street, in the town of Centerview. It was organized by Rev. S. F. Beggs, in the year 1871. The church edifice was built by A. P. Hyder, and dedicated by Rev. Dr. G. De La Matyr. It is a frame structure, and cost $1,600. . The pastors of the church have been as follows: Rev. S. F. Beggs, Rev. Beng, Rev. Grant, Rev. Entwistle, Rev. G. V. Houts, Rev. Anderson, Rev. Payne. The following are among the original members of the
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church: Samuel Porter and wife, William Donnovant and wife, Alfred Dwyer and wife, David Bowdel, Mrs. M. Hull, and George E. Griffith. The present membership is twenty-five. During the winter of 1880-81 there was a revival which resulted in eight additions to the church. At the Sabbath school there is a average attendance of thirty, with George E. Griffith as superintendent.
Centerview Baptist Church .- This little band of faithful Christians was organized in the village of Centerview, May 30, 1874, by Rev.J.W. Williams and Isaac Newcomb. Though this visible body of Christ has no church edifice, and only a score of members, yet they all are mindful of their duty and the ordinances of God's holy book. Baptists of the present day, just as they always have been, are free-hearted and liberal in their views, and tenacious of their religious belief. God will help him who helps himself, and this little struggling band of Christians will ere long experience the smiles of Providence in abundant showers of grace and material support. Among the spiritual advisers of this Zion are the names J. W. Williams and A. M. Cockrell. The names of the original members are: Dr. J. H. Kinyoun, Mrs. Mary Kavanaugh, Mrs. Nettie Lane, John Oliphant, Elena Rowland, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. James Hill, and Moses W. Steele. Dr. Kinyoun is church clerk.
Cumberland Presbyterian .- This church was organized in 1833, by Rev. J. R. Whitsett and J. B. Morrow. The present neat church edifice was built in 1872 by McSpadden & Hyder, at a cost of $2,300, and ded- icated by Rev. J. W. Morrrow. The following pastors have served the church: Revs. J. R. Whitsett, J. B. Morrow, S. Finis King, A. Van Ausdol, J. W. Means, a licentiate, Wm. F. Gordon, Walter Schenck and S. H. McElvaine. Among the early members were Philip Houx and family, the eldest son of whom became a minister; S. C. Graham and family, John S. Graham and family, Rev. J. H. Whitsett and family, Jas. J. Graham and family, Pleasant Carmichael and family. Present mem- bership is one hundred and ten. Revs. J. R. Whitsett and J. B. Morrow, now deceased, were efficient ministers under whose labor the church was built up and made permanent. Rev. S. Finis King, is an efficient young minis- ter of the gospel, and a grandson of one of the founders of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church. Several important revivals have been held under the ministry of the several pastors. The Sabbath school numbers between sixty and seventy. Rev. S. H. McElvaine is superintendent, and Miss Lulu Kinyoun is secretary ..
The Presbyterian Church .- The church building is situated at the north end of Main street where it is now in process of erection, at a cost of $1,600. In 1873 the church was organized by Rev. Mr. Hillis.
Among the pastors who have served this church are the names of Rev. Mr. Hillis and J. S. Poage.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Among the original members are: James Kiddo, Thos. McConnell, Hugh Larimer, C. McConnell, Mary Withrow, Mrs. O. F. McConnell, Abner Stitt and George Haymaker. The present membership is about 64. The congregation met in Masonic hall until the new church was ready. The Sabbath school numbers about 70, with Rev. J. S. Poage, superintendent and John Kiddo, secretary.
German Baptist Church (Dunkard) .- This church was organized about the year 1867, with the following original members: Peter Kinzer, A. Creger, A. Stoner, and daughters of Joseph Royer. The present membership is about 50.
Fairview M. E. Church, South .- This church is situated about three and a half miles southwest of Centerview depot, in Centerview township. It was organized in 1867 by Robert Marshall, with the following original members: Moses G. Mullins, Wm. Morrison, Simon Taylor, Henryetta Burgess, Eliza Spencer, Wm. Cox, Susan Cox, Wm. Ramsey, Wm. Howard and wife, Dorotha Mullins, Kesiah Mullins, Lavina Mullins, Susan Mullins, Aby Mullins, Isaac Carmichael, and Permelia, his wife, Mary Carmichael, and Addison Little.
The frame church edifice was constructed in the year 1872, and dedi- cated by Rev. T. P. Cobb, early in the spring of 1880. The cost of the church was about $1,200. Among the pastors we give the names of Robert Carmichael, Thomas Wallace, J. B. H. Woldridge, James Murphy, Benjamin Margeson, W. L. King, T. P. Cobb, W. S. Woodward.
Methodist Episcopal Church, (Colored) .- This church is situated on South Main street in the village of Centerview. It was organized in 1871 by Rev. Henry Glenn, with the following original members: Columbus Blair and wife, J. Quoit and wife, Peter Jones and wife, Mr. Godfrey Shroyer and wife, Anderson Walker and wife, Annie Kinyoun, Benny Johnson, Polly Johnson, Ruth Johnson.
Otd Smyrna Church .- With the cemetery thereunto belonging, four miles southwest of Centerview, is an interesting monument of the pious zeal of the early settlers of this community. It is the oldest church build- ing in the township and perhaps in the county of Johnson. It was erected during the primitive stage of society in this county, when neighbors, like " angel's visits," were few and far between, and when no one denomina- tion hadadherents sufficiently numerous or rich in worldly goods to build a church for its exclusive use. Thus all Christian people in the neighbor- hood uniting their labor and means to supply a common want, erected a plain log building about 30 feet square. This has, until recently, stood known through all this region as the "Free Church," but since the new church put up by the M. E. church, South, it has gone out of use. This old " land mark " of Christian devotion was built as early as 1840. Some of the divines who held services there were: Joseph White, Wm. P. C.
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Caldwell and Amos Horn, of the Baptist church; J. B. Morrow, of the Cumberland Presbyterian, and Robert Glenn, of the Presbyterian. Over twenty-five years ago this old log church was considered by those " attend- ing meeting." there as a "venerable pile;" and the youth of to-day look upon its ruined walls as the place where his ancestors, now dead, sought means of grace and communed with their God. The bones of many a stout-hearted, generous-souled pioneer, rest quietly beneath the stalwart oaks that stand sentinel over the little two-acre inclosure, consecrated and set apart by themselves as a safe receptacle for their own bodies until they should be resurrected at the last great day. Among the graves most plainly recognized is that of Col. James McCown, once a leading spirit in old Johnson county, and who at the beginning of the late civil war held at one and the same time the office of recorder and clerk of the circuit and county courts. Old Smyrna church deserves more than a mere pass- ing notice. Its history, faithfully chronicled, would make a very interest- ing chapter.
Schools .- The first school house built within the present limits of Centerview township, was an old log structure of the most primitive kind. It was located in the timber on the south side of Briar creek, one and a half miles south of Centerview village. The date of its erection is almost forgotten by the oldest inhabitants, though it is agreed that it was built as early as 1835. Every trace of the building has now disappeared. Another school building was erected in the same district one mile southwest, long before the late civil war. Among the early teachers of this school are: Alexander Gibbs, Addison Van Ausdol, J. J. Graham, and Moses G. Mullins. This school has been known by different names, but was origi- nally known as the "Cox school." Two other school districts were organized in the township before the civil war, the Briscoe school in. the southern part of the township and the Owings school in the eastern part of the township. The Briscoe school house was burned during the late civil war. Owing to the confusion incident to the war all schools in the county were discontinued. The first school organized after the war was known as the Graham school. The house was a small frame, erected in 1866, within the present limits of the Centerview district, and about one- half a mile west of the town site. This was a private school, supported by subscription, and the house was erected by donations from Samuel C. Graham, James Peak and others. Mr. G. H. Sack, who afterwards most efficiently served as county superintendent of schools, was the teacher. For sometime this was the only school in the township, and pupils came six or seven miles to attend this school.
In 1868 Centerview district was organized and the district purchased the aforesaid private school house and Mr. J. C. Crawford was engaged to teach the school, being paid from the public funds. In the year 1872
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
this school was organized as a graded school, with John E. Hendrix as principal, and school removed to the town of Centerview. The first term of school was taught in the Methodist church, both grades occupying the same building. In the year 1873 the present large and commodious building was erected in the northern part of the town, on land donated by Elhanan Roop, Esq.
The Centerview school has always held a high rank with the public schools in Johnson county. Among the principals of this school since its organization as a graded school may be mentioned John E. Hendrix, George Brinkerhoff, Mr. Wester, Professor Reynolds, Rev. S. H. McElvam, H. W. Roop and W. L. Shipp. There are now eight school districts in the township, all having new buildings well furnished. Much interest is manifested by the patrons in the school work and with such encouragement the teachers cannot fail to succeed.
Masonic Lodge .- Centerview Lodge, No. 466, A. F. and A. M., organized in 1871 with the following officers and members: J. K. Sluder, W. M .; N. G. Engel, S. [W .; E. J. Purcell, J. W .; R. C. Hull, S. D .; Henry Lovell, J. D .; J. H. Kinyoun, secretary; A. Bruce, treasurer; J. J. Graham, S. C. Graham. Regular meetings are held at the Masonic hall over the school house, every Friday night before the full of the moon. The present membership is 24. The present officers are: N. G. Engel, W. M .; R. C. Hull, S. W .; R. R. Scott, J. D .; S. H. McElvain, S. D .; J. H. Kinyoun, secretary; George Haymaker, treasurer; S. R. Huggins, tyler. S. L. Cline and Dr. J. T. Hill were buried with Masonic honors, the latter in 1877, and the former in 1881. This lodge went to Knob Noster in May, 1880, to attend the funeral of a departed brother.
Cemeteries .- Centerview township has several cemeteries, among them we mention the German Baptist cemetery at Centerview, laid out in 1870, and containing at the present time about 100 graves; the J. M. Sluder cemetery, situated about one half a mile south of the depot, having been established as a place for burial for many years, and contains about 100 graves; the Dick cemetery situated about two miles northwest of the depot, it being new, containing one acre of ground, a convenient spot, and graves about a dozen; the cemetery at the Smyrna church, southwest of Centerview, being the oldest in the township, and at the present time contains not less than 200 graves.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Miss Mattie Ailor, milliner; J. P. Alexander, physician; Geo. L. Baird, carpenter; Lloyd Brown, shoemaker; T. E. Coulter, harness maker; Otho Creager, brakesman; Solomon Creager, engineer at mill; James Carr, car- penter; W. H. Cox, partner in livery; J. M. Davenport, justice of peace for township; William Delaney, principal graded school; Henry Gibbs,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
wagon maker; Amos P. Hyder, lumber and hardware and builder; B. C. Hull, agent Mo. P. R. R .; R. C. Hull, general store; W. H. Henshaw, family groceries; Theodore Huggins, dry goods and clothing; Rev. Henry Glenn, M. E. church (colored); S. R. Huggins, flour mill; Miss Bertie Hull, telegraph operator; J. H. Kinyoun, physician; Miss Kate Kane, teacher; Hugh E. Larimer, engineer at elevator; W. P. Lattimer, constable for township; W. P. Lattimer, builder; David Moore, black- smith; Rev. S. H. McElvain, Cumb. Pres. church; W. P. Oliphant, bar- ber; W. A. Porter, partner, grain elevator; Rev. J. S. Poage, Presbyter- ian church; Miss Elizabeth Puckett, teacher; A. W. Repp, partner, hard- ware and lumber; D. W. Rowland, market and confectionery; R. R. Scott, blacksmith; M. W. Steele, restaurant; Geo. G. Scott, miller; D. P. Stoner, teacher; Rev. W. A. Sherrard, United Pres. church; Rev. Josiah Thompson, Pres. church; Geo. Washington, post master; G. P. Whitsett, partner, agricultural implements; L. D. Williams, general store; J. J, Wharton, druggist; W. C. Wallace, physician; Geo. Washington, justice of peace; T. J. Whitsett, stock buyer.
The following is a copy of the first tax receipt given Mr. Samuel C. " Graham, who lives three-fourths miles west of Centerview:
" Received of Samuel C. Graham, $1.02 in full, of his state and city tax for the year 1841.
I. REESE, collector."
In an issue of the Warrensburg Fournal-Democrat, dated July 29, 1881, the editor, among other observations upon the town, makes the following:
" Centerview ! shrieked the brakeman as the train slowly checked its speed at the station. We were there at last, and in a few minutes were, on the streets of one of the loveliest and most thriving towns of Johnson county.
The streets were full of teams, while around the elevator there was hardly room to pass, so numerous were the heavily laden grain wagons, waiting their turn to be unloaded. Everything had an air of business about it, and everybody was busy. A town, however, could hardly be otherwise than lively and prosper- ous, surrounded as Centerview is by such a rich agricultural district, and having at its head men of such fine business propensities."
CHAPTER VI .- ROSE HILL TOWNSHIP.
Introduction-Name-Location-Physical Features-Pioneer Settlement-Creeks-Soils-
Productions -- Hunting-Indians-Customs -- Fishing -- Trees -- Wild Animals-Drain- age-Trapping and Fur-bearing Animals-Charteristics of Some Settlers-The Noble Pioneer Mothers-Voters of 1861-Bridges-Roads-Benton City-Town of Rose Hill -Record of Town Plat-Post-office-Population-Statistics-Assessments-Officers- Churches-Schools and Early Teachers-Cemeteries-Agriculture-Incidents.
To the early settlers, were they all living to-day, there is nothing that they would more ecstatically enjoy than the details of their pioneer days.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
They love to live those days over in imagination. Those days long since gone, yet edulcate the lives that time has not cut down. Those who may chance to read this abroad should not imagine that the early settlers lived in the " castle of indolence." Far from it. No more energetic and industrious people ever dwelt upon the earth. Among the families of this township there was constant harmony of feeling up to the war of 1861, when old associations and kindred ties were broken, and devastating war made ravages for five years. The fashions of the old settlers are odd in this age. The plain manner of living that they enjoyed was true honesty. The costly fashions of the world were viewed by them in the light of deceptive sin. In brief, venenum in auro bibitur, poison is drunk from golden vessels, was their sentiment. Since then time has played upon the manners and customs of the growing world, and, like a child in love with new toys, the present generation has forgotten the customs of their fathers. The favorite "drinking-gourd" has been removed, and the tin dipper or silver cup placed in its stead. The children of those brave old pioneers should feel proud of their noble ancestry.
In the substance of treatise on this township we shall endeavor to set before the public a synopsis, if not an acurately written essay, of the early settlers, and such incidents as are met in connection with their history. We will amplify on the name sufficiently to show the high regard in which the founder of Rose Hill held nature and her beautiful flowers.
The geography, physical and local, will be elaborately examined in the proper place. The several creeks and fertile soils of the township will receive such attention as they demand. The early customs, hunting and trapping the wild animals, which then were plentiful on Big Creek, will be read with profuse interest by those living on the old hunting grounds. Further along, we will speak of the roads, towns, bridges, and mills. The historian would especially invite the girls of to-day to the thoughts in regard to the dutiful pioneer wives and mothers of that day. Population, statistics, and other records will be given, with a brief sketch of the cause of religion and education, from 1838 to the present time. The notes on farming and land production will be reliable.
This town. received its name from the little village of Rose Hill, August 17, 1869, when it was organized by an order of the county court. When the early settlers first came here, which was about the spring of 1832, they found the little hill sides of what is now called Rose Hill, covered with sweet wild roses, ranging from two to ten feet in height. This attraction of nature suggested a na'me for the little town, which was laid out by Garret H. Wood, and named Rose Hill on account of the splendors of nature displayed in the varieties of wild roses found on every hillside forest border, and often great clusters would stand aloof on some isolated gopher hill, or now and then peep out of the thick brush thickets, which
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at that time was almost impenetrable along the creeks, where the annual fires could not reach.
It will not be out of place to give some facts which will be appreciated information to the reader, in regard to the flowering shrub of the genus rosa, commonly called the rose. The varieties are the wild, caineae, or dog rose, white rose, red rose, cinnamon rose, yellow rose, and eglantine or sweet brier.
The rose is a shrub with oddly or alternately pinnate leaves, and prickly branches. It is distinguished for the beauty and fragrance of its flowers, which, in the native state, have fine petals of a delicate pink color. By cultivation, the number of petals is greatly increased, and the flowers present very many different hues in the different varieties, which are so numerous as to be distinguished with difficulty. The "rose of Jericho," is a plant growing on the plain of Jericho. The ancients used the rose as a symbol of secrecy, and it was hung up at an entertainment when nothing was to be divulged. Hence the Latin sub rosa, which means in a manner . that forbids disclosure. In English history we read of the " War of the Roses," which grew out of the feuds between the houses of York and Lancaster, the white rose was worn by the Yorkists, and the red rose by the Lancastrians. These wars of the roses desolated England during the greater part of the fifteenth century, and extended over a period, altogether, of more than eighty years, and finally terminated in the battle of Bosworth Field, 1485, when the Earl of Richmond, afterwards Henry VII, the successful contestant, mounted the throne and assumed supreme regal authority, uniting in himself the title of both houses.
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