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 79
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Miss Alice Underwood, at the close of her school in the Douglas dis- trict, gave a public exhibition. A stage platform was erected on the south side of the building, and before the platform were seats enough to accommodate the audience. Messrs. Tackett and Gassett furnished the music. A long and well arranged programme was carried out. After which three nice prizes were presented to deserving pupils as rewards of merit. One of the best appreciated features of the occasion was the boun- teous supper."
This township has long been known as one of the best farming sec- tions of the county. The soil is peculiarly productive and the township is reckond among the best in the county. The proportion of timber and prairie land is about the same as exists throughout the county, i. e., one-fifth timber and four-fifths prairie. Of late, stock growing, which
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
seems to have been neglected by the early settlers, is beginning to receive the attention of farmers. Many of the wealthier farmers have good herds of Durham cattle and cotswold sheep. Sheep do well in this township. Stock water is found in abundance in the numerous small feeders of Big Creek and Blackwater. Good orchards and fine meadows greet the eye on all sides. This is a progressive, intelligent farming community. The voting precinct is now at Washington school house. J. S. Pfantz, who lives on the old Wm. P. Tucker place, is doing well farming. This year (1881), he raised fifty-five acres of wheat, which averaged about twenty bushels to the acre. He has eighty acres of good pasture which he rents at a reasonable price and makes money. The land he cultivates has been in use upwards of a quarter of a century, and yet is as rich and fer- tile as any land in Missouri. The clover grows three feet high on this land of the dryest seasons. This land produces all sorts of grains, fruits and tobacco. A writer to the county paper from the township says: "I can but remark concerning the advance movement that has been made in the science of agriculture within the last half century. Farming no longer brings up the rear of the arts of peace, but leads off in the van- guard. Its many inventions and improved means and methods have raised it in interest, attractiveness and profit, to the topmost pinnacle on the crest of the tidal wave of progress. In every field and on every hill- side may be seen labor utilized, time saved and money economized by the employment of machinery. A machine is thought, genius and skill embodied in material forms, and the intellectuality of a nation or a com- munity can be measured by the inventions it makes to secure the comfort, convenience and luxury of its people."
Dr. S. Spore came from the state of Illinois, in 1879, and purchased land and practiced and makes the following statement: "I like country better than Illinois. Health much better. Not so much miasmatic dis- eases here as in Illinois. I think it is caused by this country being well drained and high and rolling. I know land to be better for wheat than Illinois, but not so good for corn. I find the prevailing diseases here to be typhoid and typhus malarial fevers and pneumonia. I believe this to be the best horticultural county I ever knew. All small fruits do well here, and by a little attention I believe that every farmer could have all the fruit he needs."
In 1862 the Kansas "redlegs " dashed down upon southern citizens, burnt their houses and drove the stock across the state line. The follow- ing is the burnt list:
Henry Shaffer, Thomas W. Bradley, J. B. Sorency, F. M. Bradley, Robert Tapscott, Edward Violett, Thomas Hunt, R. Dobson, D. Murry, Wm. Murry.
TREASURER JOHNSON GO. MO.
Biographical Sketches.
All men cannot be great; each has his sphere and the success of his life is to be measured by the manner in which he fills it. But men may be both true and good, may be morally great, for in true living there are no degrees of greatness-there is no respect to persons. It is not intended in the following pages to include all the several and seperate acts of a man's life, important or otherwise. The design is to give the merest outline, for a complete review of the life and character of the person named, would be both unwarranted and without general value. The names which follow, for the most part, are those of men who have been or are now closely identified with the interests of the county and their respective townships. The sketches of many of the early settlers are. . found elsewhere in this volume; but to have given a sketch of every man in Johnson county would have been utterly impossible. If any have been omitted, who should have been represented, it was more the fault of them- selves or their friends than the publishers of this work. For the most part these have contributed to the enterprise which the publishers have. been able to furnish the people. Great care has been taken to give the. facts in these sketches as they were given to the historian, and if occasional errors are found, it is largely due to the incorrect statement of the inform- ant.
WARRENSBURG TOWNSHIP. WILLIAM H. ANDERSON,
a leading merchant of Warrensburg, was born in Campbell county, Ten- nessee, on the 28th day of March, 1813. His father, John Anderson, was a native of Bedford county, Virginia, and his mother of Withe county, the same state. His grandfather was a native of Scotland, and came to America and settled in Virginia, where he lived till his death, dying at the advanced age of one hundred and one years. John Anderson, the father of William H., died at his home in Campbell county, Tennessee, in 1838. The subject of this sketch lived in his native county till twenty years of age. During this time he had made some progress in learning, and had what may be termed a good English education for his day. In
44
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1833 he set out on horseback and traveled all the way overland to the state of Missouri, the land he had chosen for his future home. Here he settled with his brother, who had come previously. This was several years prior to the laying out of the town of Warrensburg. He was not ashamed of labor, and engaged in making rails. Three years after arriv- ing he engaged as clerk for James A. Gallaher, with whom he continued for the space of two years. In 1838 he went to Warrensburg, when it was in its infancy, and has remained ever since, with the exception of seven years. In 1839 he was appointed deputy sheriff, and held this office for two years. After this he engaged as clerk in a dry goods store for a period of five years. In 1843 he embarked in the mercantile business for himself, running a general store, which he continued until 1857, when he sold out his stock with a view of farming, but just at that time a branch of the Union Bank of Missouri was established at this place, and he was elected cashier, and served till 1862 when the bank closed. He then took his family, also the money belonging to the bank, and moved to St. Louis, where he remained till after the close of the war, then moved to Pleasant Hill, Cass county, Missouri, where he engaged in the mercantile trade until 1869, when he returned to Warrensburg, and soon afterward assisted in the organization of the Johnson county savings bank, of which he was elected cashier, and served acceptably for two years. After that hc engaged in the retail grocery trade, which he has continued to the present time, having established a reputation for honesty and fair dealing, richly meriting the esteem and confidence in which he is held. He was elected treasurer of Johnson county in 1848, and served till rendered inel- igible by the law of the state. He took a very active part in establishing the line of the Missouri Pacific railroad to the town of Warrensburg, for which the people ought ever to feel grateful. He was married to Miss Mary A. Davis, February 4, 1844. She was born in Kentucky, but raised in Johnson county, Missouri. She is a lady of culture and refined domestic habits. Ten children were born, seven are now living: John D., Zachary T., Henry B., Wm. H. Jr., James I., Mary A. and Charles. Two children died in infancy; Sallie died when twelve years of age. Mr. Anderson is a plain man, though a true gentleman. In politics he has always been a democrat. He has for years been a devoted member of the M. E. church (south), and now serves as superintendent of the Sunday school in his church. He is social and temperate, and although advanced in years, he retains a wonderful vivid memory.
REV. A. L. BARR,
pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Born in Alabama, and when young came with his parents to Miller county, Missouri. His father, Rev. J. N. Barr, was born in North Carolina, in 1816, and moved
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
to Alabama in 1834, coming to Missouri in 1850. He is still living, near Pleasant Hope, Polk county, a hale and vigorous man, having reared a large and influential family to bless the world. His wife, Mary Ann Brandon, is a native of Tennessee, who moved to Alabama in 1834. The children of this worthy pair are: Ailanthus L., Fidelia S., Lalande R., Malzarine L., Ursula L., Nannie J., Ritha U, Thaddeus M., and Rufus M., who died in infancy. Malzarine L. died at the age of nineteen. A. L. attended McGee College three years, then studied at Drurie College, after which he spent two years in teaching and preaching in Green and Polk countys. He then spent two years in the school of theology at Cumberland University, Tennessee, coming directly to Warrensburg, June 5, 1881, where, as pastor of the C. P. Church, he has, in a compara- tively short time, endeared himself to his own congregation, and the public generally. Rev. Barr is a clear and practical speaker, and though a young man, possesses high attainments, both as a scholar and Christian minister, and will render eminent service in the cause of Christ. He joined the McGee Presbytery August 24, 1871; was licensed in Spring- field Presbytery October 5, 1874, and ordained at Pleasant Hope, March 6, 1875.
BENJAMIN P. BLACK,
was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, October 12, 1828. His father Daniel Black, was a native of Virginia, and moved to Kentucky in 1820. He was a farmer, and Benjamin helped him, and received a very limited education in the old log school houses of that day. He removed from there, when he was twenty-nine years of age, to this state, settling in this county, on the place where he now lives. Was married to Miss Amanda Quarls, a native of Virginia, in 1848, by whom he has had ten children, six of whom are living: Mary E., now Mrs. Harmon, living in this county; Jeremiah, Sarah, now Mrs. M. Cobler; T. G., Amos C., and N. L., the youngest daughter. Mr. Black has been an industrious and per- severing farmer, and by hard work and good financiering has secured a good home, to which he has added a well improved tract of land, and he is to-day one of the substantial men, who have helped to make Johnson county.
WILLIAM H. BRINKER.
Of the many examples of self-made men which this western country has produced, none are more worthy of record the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Crawford county, Missouri, and was born December 23, 1851. His father, John B. Brinker, was a native of Missouri, and was among the earliest settlers of Johnson county. William's grandfather was killed by the Indians, in Jackson county, about the year 1830. His
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
mother is also a native of this state, and is still living, though about sixty- six years of age. Mr. William B. Brinker's father died in 1855, with the cholera, while on his way home from St. Louis, where he had been to purchase goods, being at this time one of the prominent dry goods mer- chants, of Warrensburg. He was an energetic, straightforward man. William H., at the outbreak of the war, was about ten years of age. In 1862 his mother's house was burned, and everything taken, and the family was left destitute. His mother took her family, and went to St. Francois county, this state, for safety. In 1864 William joined Gen. Price's army, then but thirteen years of age, and served during the war. In 1867, he and an older brother crossed the plains, and on ariving at his place of destination hired out to drive cattle to Salt Lake, and soon after was employed to work on the Union Pacific railroad, in Wyoming territory. He returned to St. Louis, and in the spring of 1869, in company with his mother's family, moved back to Johnson county, where he worked one year on a farm, and, being encouraged by Prof. Campbell, he began his first efforts to acquire an education, and in 1871, entered the State Uni- versity, at Columbia, where he continued one year, then returned to this county, and engaged in teaching school. He soon studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. In 1874 he marrried Miss Lillie M. Hutch- inson, of Warrensburg, a lady of culture and refined tastes, and the happy result of this union is two sons, Jesse E. and Robert H. In 1876. Mr. Brinker was elected prosecuting attorney of Johnson county. He was called upon again to fill the responsible posititon, and was re-elected in 1878, and again in 1880, His popularity as an officer may be inferred by the honors. He has a bright future before him. In politics he is a staunch democrat.
JOHN W. BROWN,
postmaster, Warrensburg, Missouri; he was born in Licking county, Ohio, January 31, 1839. Attending the common school of that day, he obtained his early education. He removed to Indianola, Iowa, May, 1854, where he attended the seminary for a few terms, entering the Wes leyan University at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in the fall of 1860. He enlisted in the union army, enrolling in the 3d Iowa volunteers in 1861; after serving two years he was discharged on account of disability, but his patriotism called him again into the service in 1864, in the 48th Iowa. Subsequently, he was honorably discharged, and in 1865 commenced the study of law, graduating from the law department of the State Univer- sity in 1868. He first came to Warrensburg, Missouri, in 1865, and fol- lowed his profession, being appointed county attorney, January, 1871, which office he held two years. In 1876 he was appointed postmaster,. and re-appointed in 1880. (See page 420.) He was married November
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
24, 1868, to Miss Emma Kirkpatrick, daughter of Thomas Kirkpatrick, who died here in 1870. The names of their children are: Thomas K., and Mary Catharine. Mr. Brown is a warm hearted and genial gentle- man, and as a citizen no man in the county is more highly respected. As a public servant he is gentlemanly, obliging and diligent in his official duties.
WILLIAM BRUCE,
superintendent of Warrensburg stone quarries. Was born in Glasgow, Scotland, July 5, 1842; came to this country in 1869, landing in St. Louis where he remained six years, and then removed to Warrensburg to take charge of these celebrated quarries, of which mention is frequently made in this history, especially on pages 427-30. Mr. Bruce was married to Mrs. Frear, of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1869; her father was an extensive contractor and builder. Mr. Bruce is a practical business manager, and just such a man as can adapt himself to handling and controlling a large number of workmen with very little of the trouble which is often expe- rienced in works of this character.
DR. WM. CALHOUN.
The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest physicians in the county. He is a native of Ireland. His father and mother both died when William was quite young. He came to the United States with his uncle William Calhoun, who was an extensive stock dealer as well as a merchant. Wil- liam made his home with his uncle until arriving at his majority, during which time he attended the common school and prepared himself to enter Gray's institute, where he prosecuted his studies vigrously for a period of three years, after which he entered the State University, and gradu- ated in the medical department. In the spring of 1837 he went to Lex- ington, Kentucky, where he secured a position in the hospital, which he held until 1839, when he emigrated to Missouri and settled where War- rensburg now stands. Immediately after his arrival he commenced the practice of his profession, to which he gave his whole attention, and was soon in the enjoyment of a lucrative business, and at the same time estab- lished an enviable reputation, which he sustained fully until he retired from the practice. In 1850 he took a trip to California to recruit his health, which had become very much impaired at this time, and returned to Warrensburg at the end of two years with his health very much im- proved, and resumed his practice which he followed until the outbreak of the war. In 1844 he was elected State senator of the district composed of Layfette and Johnson counties and served two cessions. The doctor has had an active life and has set a good example; he is an honest man, a friend to the poor, a good neighbor, is widely known and universally es-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
teemed. The doctor never married, but lived a life of single blessedness. He has been successful, having accumulated a considerable amount of this world's goods on which to spend the remainder of his days.
M. B. CARPENTER,
born in Genesee county, N. Y., August 20, 1835; son of A. H. Carpen- ter, who is a native of the same empire state, still living at the age of 69, in Warsaw, N. Y., engaged in the tinner's trade. Our subject was reared and educated in Wyoming county, but removed to Indiana in 1857, where he continued in the occupation which his father had taught him. In June 1862, he enlisted in the 69th Indiana Infantry, company A, and served in the union army three years. His war career was mostly con- fined to the Mississippi valley, Vicksburg, New Orleans and other points. He was mustered out of the service in Mobile, Alabama, and discharged at Indianapolis, Ind. He came to Warrensburg in March, 1868, and engaged in his trade. He was married to Miss Mary A. Brown, daugh- ter of Mrs. C. J. Brown, of Franklin county, April 1869. Their children are Rush A., George L., Grace, Frank and an infant. Mr. Carpenter has a comfortable home in the south part of Warrensburg. He is a man diligent in business, honest in his dealings, and respected by all.
HON. FRANCIS M. COCKRELL,
Warrensburg, U. S. Senator for Missouri. He was born October 1834, near the village of Columbus, this county. His father, Joseph, was the first sheriff of the county, a native of Virginia, and moved to Missouri in 1831. His grandfather, Simon, was also a Virginian by birth, and of Irish descent. The senator's father settled on the land now owned by Mark Hammonds, in Columbus township, and died in 1837. [See sketch of this pioneer on page 242 of this work.] The senator's boyhood days were spent on a farm, and his early education was received in the log school houses of that day. In 1850 he entered Chapel Hill college, where he pursued his studies for a period of three and one-half years, making rapid progress. After he finished his college course he accepted a posi- tion as teacher in the college, which he held for one year and then com- menced the study of law. In March 1835, he entered the law office of C. O. Silliman, and received his license to practice from Judge Wm. T. Wood, in October, 1855, and soon afterwards formed a partnership with Mr. Silliman which continued until the breaking out of the war in 1861. He took the side of the south and rose to the prominent position of Brig. General in the Confederate army. He returned to Warrensburg in April 1866, and resumed the practice of his profession, forming a partnership with Col. Thos. T. Crittenden. The firm was styled "Crittenden & Cockrell." In 1874 he was a candidate for the nomination of governor
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
on the democratic ticket, when C. H. Hardin was nominated over him by one-sixth of a vote on the third ballot .. In January 1875, he was elected U. S. Senator. January 1881, he was re-elected as his own suc- cessor. Since he has been in public life his popularity has been greatly increased. He is loved and respected by both north and south. In 1853 he was married at Chapel Hill, to Miss A. D. Stopp; of this union two children are living: John J. and Wm. S. His first wife having died he married a second time, in 1866 to Miss A. E. Mann, near Harrodsburg, Ky. She died in 1871. In 1873 he was married to Miss Anna Ewing of St. Louis, daughter of Judge Ewing, who has been for a long time on the supreme bench. Gen. Cockrell, the subject of this sketch is indeed a model gentleman. He is of the balanced temperment and has a dignified form and majestic step. He is full six feet tall, and weighs 200 pounds. In his habits he is strictly temperate. He and his excellent wife are members of the C. P. church, and are among the earnest supporters in the religious work. For a long time he has been a warm friend of Sun- day schools. Mrs. Cockrell is a lady of high culture and noble family. The senator owns a handsome brick residence on East Market street, surrounded with choice plants and flowers, making an attractive home and pleasant retreat during the vacation of Congress.
JOHN J. COCKRELL,
Son of Senator Cockrell, was born in the city of Warrensburg May 10th, 1855. He obtained his early education in the city schools, then went to a select school at Lexington, where he continued for one year. In Septem- ber, 1868, he entered the Cumberland University of Tennessee, where he pursued his studies for three years. In the fall of 1871, he entered McGee's College, then located at College Mound, Missouri, and graduated in June, 1873. Returning to Warrensburg, he commenced the study of law with his father and Governor Crittenden, who were at that time law partners, and in March, 1876, he was admitted to the bar. In 1881 he formed a partnership with W. C. Rowland, the style of the firm being Rowland & Cockrell, Abstracts. On the 8th day of July, 1880, Mr. Cockrell was married to Miss Bessie Cunningham, of Little Rock, Arkansas, a lady of Culture and refinement, and the daughter of Charles E. Cunningham, a prominent farmer, and who was an extensive land owner in this county before the war. From personal appearance Mr. Cockrell is about the medium stature, handsomly built and the embodiment of manliness and health.
REV. A. M. COCKRELL,
Baptist missionary for the Johnson and Lafayette Association. Born in Montgomery County, Illinois, Aug. 28, 1835, son of Newton Cockrell.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
His mothers name was Avolina Gorin, a niece of Gen. Gorin of Revolu- tionary fame. Rev. Cockrell lived a considerable time in Kentucky, but attended school in Nashville. He was married to Mary E. Darby, Sept. 12, 1858. Their children are: Ida, Newton F., William M., Henry G., Edward R., Thomas M., Alma M., and James W. The eldest daughter died when little more than two years old. He was baptized by the dis- tinguished pioneer preacher, Eld. Wm. P. C. Caldwell, licensed to preach in August, 1870, at White Sulphur Spring, church Kentucky, and ordained Feb. 11, 1872. He came to Johnson county, Missouri, in Sept. 1874, and for about six years preached at High Point. Rev. Cockrell is a self made man, a plain forcible speaker and filled with Christian zeal. He has baptized over five hundred persons.
J. H. CHRISTOPHER,
prominent among dry goods men, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, Sept. 11th, 1848; removed to Cass county, Missouri, with his parents in 1850. In 1865 he embarked in the dry goods business at Pleasant Hill, in Cass county, In 1873 he opened a dry goods store in Harrisonville, of the same county. In 1875 he came to Warrensburg and opened one of the largest dry goods Stores in the city, and one that the citizens may well be proud of. During 1878-79 he run a dry goods store in Holden, and at the same time dealt largely in real estate and now owns in Jackson county a large farm, consisting of four hundred acres of choice land well improved, and upon which stands a magnificent residence. He was united in marriage to Miss Cena Jack- son of Cass county, January 17th, 1870. This union has been blessed with one son, Marion C.
J. C. CHRISTOPHER,
was born in Cass county, Missouri, Dec. 12, 1850. He commenced mer- cantile trade with his brother, a part of which was in the city of Warrens- burg, moving to this county in 1875. In 1880 he settled on what is familiarly known as the Graves farm, consisting of 220 acres, well improved. He was married to Miss M. C. Baile, August 26, 1877. She was a daughter of Sarah B. Baile, at present a resident of this township. They have 2 children, Max and Maud. Mr. Christopher has lately reopened some Coal Mines on his place, which bid fair to prove of good value. He is a young man who seems to have the faculty of gaining friends and keeping them. They have a good home and success is attend- ing his efforts on the farm, as it did in his mercantile enterprise.
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