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 93
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E. B. CONWAY,
farmer and stock raiser, was born in east Tennessee, November 22, 1828. His father, W. T. Conway, was a native of Tennessee,born December 25, 1800, and emigrated to Missouri about 1832, and settled on a farm near Columbus, where he resided until 1849, when he moved to Texas, and engaged in farming and stock raising, and followed this until his death. Edward B. spent his youth on a farm, and received his early education in the common schools of that day, at which time the wolves were so fierce that it was dangerous for children to cross the prairies to school. He has resided in this county ever since he was a small boy. He has spent con- siderable time in traveling over the different states. He was married Aug. 25, 1867, to Miss Martha A. Sterling, daughter of J. C. Sterling. They
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
have three children living: Alexander, Veranda V. and Nancy L. They lost one, Porter, who died at three years of age. Mr. C. owns a good farm, containing 120 acres of choice land, all in cultivation, with a good, com- fortable residence. Mr. C. and wife are members of the C. P. church.
JOHN DELANEY,
The subject of this sketch was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in the year 1826. Moved from there with his parents to Morgan county, Illinois. He has followed the business of farming and stock raising all his life. He moved his family, in 1869, to Johnson county. His farm is located on sec- tions seventeen and twenty. He was married in the year 1852 to Miss. Isabel Duhope, a native of Scotland, born at Leith, near Edinburgh. Her mother died in Scotland. Her father died in Illinois. Mr. DeLaney has served the neighborhood as school director for two terms, and takes. an active interest in the welfare of the county. He was elected justice of the peace, and held the office for two years. They have six children, whose names are as follows: William Richard DeLaney, Mary Ann DeLaney, John DeLaney, Margaret Helen DeLaney, James Benjamin DeLaney and Charles David DeLaney. He is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, his grandfather having served as a soldier from Kentucky, during those struggles for national existence. His wife's uncle being an old sea captain, left as heir-loom to the family a beautiful barometer, manufac- tured at Edinburgh, Scotland, with large silver dial and handsomely fur- nished case. It is in good working order, indicating approaching storms on the prairie as faithfully and correctly as it did for the old weather- beaten tar as he sailed the pathless ocean in "Auld lang syne," and is a con- stant reminder that "auld acquaintance should ne'er be forgot."
W. R. DELANEY,
principal of the Centerview schools. Was born in Morgan county, Ill., April 23, 1856. In 1869, he came to Missouri with his parents, and loca- ted in Centerview township, where he spent the remainder of his youth, and attended the common schools. He also attended the State Normalat Warrensburg, for two and one half years. He has recently bought out the interest of Whitsett & Porter, changing the name of the firm to Por- ter & DeLaney, dealers in grain and agricultural implements.
MATTHEW DUFF,
farmer. Was born in Pennsylvania, April 21, 1827. He received his early education in his native state, and afterwards attended the Ellsworth academy, in Ohio, and after that, the Mount Union college. He then engaged in teaching, and taught two schools, of forty weeks each. He was married in 1854, to Miss Lizze Clark, daughter of David Clark. He
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
then engaged in farming in his native county, and followed it until 1871, when he came to Missouri, and located at Centerview, where he and James Kiddoo built the Centerview Mills, the first mills in the town. He exchanged his mill property for his present farm, containing 160 acres, all in cultivation, with a first-class residence, and excellent out buildings, and a never-failing spring of water, near the barn. He moved to his farm in 1876, since which time he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is quite an extensive wheat grower. His family consists of five child- ren; Flora J., Mary L., James W., Wm., H., and Lizzie E. Mr. and Mrs. D., and all their children, are members of the U. P. church.
WM. H. ENGEL.
Among the prominent and intelligent, of those whose occupation is farming, may be mentioned Mr. Engel. He was born in Frederick county, Md., in 1826. His father and mother were originally from Penn- sylvania, and emigrated to Maryland in a very early day. Wm. H. spent his youth in a country store, then went on to a farm. He received his primary education at a common school. He then went to Calvert college, attending several terms, after which he entered the Ohio University, at which place he pursued his studies one year, and then graduated at Dick- enson college, in June, 1851. He then began his career as a teacher of a select school, which he followed for a number of years. In 1854, he had the degree of B. A. conferred. In 1854-5, he served as reading clerk in the Maryland legislature, one year. In 1857, he came to Missouri, and soon after he purchased 250 acres of land, and erected a large flour mill, and followed milling until the outbreak of the war. He sold this, and in 1867, moved on to his present farm, and engaged in farming, which he has followed ever since. He has a neat and comfortable residence, with ninety-five acres of choice land, all in cultivation. In 1860, he married Miss Virginia Owings, (daughter of N. H. Owings,) a most worthy and estimable lady. They have four children; Edward D., Ida V., Harry B. and Houdard. In politics, Mr. E. is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. E. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
JAMES M. FITCH,
who is the subject of the following sketch, was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, in the year 1840. He came to Warrensburg in the year 1865, and went to work on the farm he now lives on. He was married on Nov. 16, 1857, to Miss Martha Ellen Davis, daughter of Mahala Davis, who was born in Tennessee, in 1805. Her parents settled near Boonville in Cooper county. She was married to Mr. Davis in the year 1820, and settled on the present farm, about the year 1839. She had ninÄ™ children, five of whom are now living, named as follows: Robert Milton Davis, John
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
B. Davis, Ann Eliza Davis, Mary Saffronia Davis, and Martha Ellen Davis. She remained with her family on the farm during the war. Her husband died in the year 1855. Mr. Jas. M. Fitch, her son-in-law, has managed the farm since he came here. During the past six or seven years, he has turned his attention to dealing in stock, and has become a well known shipper of hogs, mules, and cattle, in the St. Louis markets. He has five children; Albert Crawford, Chas. H., Forrest, Earnest and Mahala Fitch. His farm contains 205 acres of well improved land.
J. C. GEER Y,
farmer. Was born in Johnson county, Mo., February 24, 1861. His father, James Geery, was born in Howard county, Mo., about 1832, his father having been one of the pioneers of this state. He was married in 1848, to Miss S. M. Eaton, daughter of Elu Eaton. By this union they had one son, J. C. Geery. James Geery settled about two and a half miles south of Centerview, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1862. John C., who is the only surviving member of the family, spent his youth on a farm, and was educated in the common schools. He is one of the most enterprising young men of his neighbor- hood, and is well known, and highly respected. He owns 150 acres of choice land, well improved.
DANIEL GIFFIN,
was a native of Virginia, born in Ohio county, near Wheeling, February 3, 1839. He resided in his native county, until twenty-three years of age, and received his early education in the common schools. He also attended one session under Prof. A. F. Rooss, after which he taught one term of school, and then went to Ohio, where he was married in 1865, to Miss Mary Waddell, a native of Marion county, Ohio. He came to Missouri in 1858, and settled on his present farm, containing eighty acres, well improved, with good substantial buildings, where he has resided ever since. Mr. G. and wife are both members of the U. P. church.
SAMUEL C. GRAHAM,
section 36, Centerview township. The subject of this sketch was born in Withe county, Southwest Virginia, on the 14th of December, 1814. He, with his father, Robert Graham, moved to Boone county, Missouri, in 1833. The family remained there during the winter, and in March, 1834, moved to what is now Hazel Hill township. Here, the father, Robert Graham, died in April 1856, having held the office of county judge for several years previous to his death. In 1840, the son, Samuel C., was married to Margaret G. Hobson, and moved to the present township of Centerview and entered 160 acres of land, adjoining to what is now the
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
village of Centerview. Here he has resided since that time, and has raised a family of eight children, five of whom are still living. His wife, Margaret G. Graham, was born in Salina county, Kentucky, December 18, 1818. Her father was a native of Tennessee. Mr. Graham now owns about 400 acres of land, all under cultivation, except a few acres of wood land. The wheat, known as the Graham wheat, so extensively grown in all the region of the state, took its name from this family-a brother having first grown a very fine crop, and farmers came from all directions to obtain the wheat for seed. Hence the name Graham wheat.
R. B. GRAHAM,
section 10; born in Centerview township, in 1842. His father was J. G. Graham, mentioned elsewhere in connection with the sketch of John H. Graham. Mr. R. B. Graham has lived in the township of Centerview ever since he was born. He was married in 1866 to Miss Nancy J. King. They have had nine children, eight of whom are now living. Has 130 acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. Does a general farming business, mainly raising grain; wheat and corn being the principal products.
JOHN H. GRAHAM,
section 35, Centerview P. O., son of J. G. Graham, was born at the old homestead in which he now lives, November 6, 1844. His father was born in Virginia in 1811, and moved to Centerview township in the year 1838, having the previous year been married to Miss Mary E. Hobson, who was a native of Lafayette county, Missouri. They have eleven children, all living, and all married but three. The father, J. G. Graham, died July 3d, 1878, and the son, J. H. Graham, the subject of this sketch, is now living with his family and mother, upon the old homestead and estate.
GEO. E. GRIFFITH,
section 5, Centerview township, was born in Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1823. His father was a native of Maryland. He has resided in Warren county, Iowa, for about twenty years. In the year 1865, he was elected a member of the house of representatives for Iowa, and served in that capacity one term; immediately thereafter, in 1866, was elected State senator, and served till 1870. He did not .seek political honors, in fact was nominated while away from home, and was elected by an overwhel- ming majority. He occupied the very important position of chairman of the committee on public buildings, and was largely influential in securing the passage of the bill authorizing the construction of the present magnifi- cent capitol building, at Des Moines, Iowa. No man. stood higher as a wise legislator, or a more efficient worker for the large interest intrusted
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
to his care. He was also mainly instrumental in obtaining the construc- tion of the branch of the Rock Island railroad, from Des Moines to Indianola. He was made president of the construction company, and car- ried the project through, although on account of the failure of other parties. connected with the enterprise, it resulted in quite a pecuniary loss to him- self. Mr. Griffith was also instrumental in securing the building of the college at Indianola, having through his efforts, and great sacrifice of time and expense, obtained subscriptions to the amount of $20,000 and over, thus securing the adoption and patronage of the Des Moines conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, thereby. securing to the conference and the State of Iowa an institution, in which they may both justly take pride. Mr. Griffith moved to his present residence in Centerview, in the spring of 1874. He has three children, one being a widower with one child. He now owns 686 acres of land, and does a general farming busi- ness, and at the same time deals largely in stock. He raises a good many cattle and hogs, and also buys largely for the purpose of feeding and fat- tening for the market. He sends to market this year some 220 head of very fine fat cattle. He has a beautiful situation and fine facilities for his stock; and as the writer of this sketch was shown through the shaded and pleasant grove, where about fifty head of as fine and fat three-year- old steers and heifers as he ever looked upon were feeding, having before them a constant supply of corn and fresh cured hay, and at the same time ranging in fresh pastures and a plentiful supply of good water, verily we were constrained to believe that Mr. Griffith understood thoroughly the business in which he was engaged.
ANDREW GOWANS,
deceased, was born in Ohio, Sept. 25, 1834, and.resided in that state until his majority, and was educated in the common schools. He entered the Union army in 1862, in company H., 94th Ohio infantry. He entered as a private and was promoted at different times, until he became captain. He par- ticipated in several hotly contested battles. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war, and then went to Illinois, where he remained until 1867, when he came to Missouri, and settled on the farm on which his widow now resides. The farm contains 120 acres, all in cultivation, except twenty acres of timer. In 1869, Mr. G. erected a fine residence, and also has an excellent barn. He was married in 1872 to Miss Carrie A. Lorimer, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Alexander Lorimer, Esq. Mr. G. at the time of his death, which occurred in 1881, was engaged in farming and stock-raising, and was a member of the U. P. church. Mrs. G. is also a member of the U. P. church. She has three daughters: Grace, Mary E. and Katie I.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
R. C. HULL,
, merchant and express agent. Prominent among the business men of Cen- terview, we mention the name of Mr. Hull, who was born in the state of New Hampshire, at the foot of the White Mountains. When about 16 years of age went to southern Ohio, and remained until 1868, when he came to Missouri in the fall of the same year, locating in Centerview. In the following year he built his store house, which was the first of the kind in the town, which is now the principal store of the place. He does a large business, and his popularity may be inferred by his success. In 1861, he was married to Miss Margaret Clifton, of Ohio. The result of this union has been one son and one daughter. Birdie W. and Rodney C. Birdie, who is the telegraph operator at Centerview, is well quali- fied for the responsible position.
JOSHUA BURTON JACKSON, .
is a native of Missouri; born in Lafayette county, in the year 1824. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother a native of Tennessee. They emigrated to Missouri in the year 1819, and settled near Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch was about six years old when he came to Johnson county, and has lived in what is now Centerview township ever since. He was married in Johnson county, in the year 1854, to Miss Martha E. Ripley. Her parents were natives of Tennessee, and moved to this county in the year 1848. They have three children living: David William Jackson, Nathaniel Burton Jackson, and Cora Ida May Jackson. He was in this county when it was all known as Lafayette county, and when the cite of Warrensburg was located. His father built the first mill in this part of the country, which ground the bread-stuff for settlers coming from as great a distace as Clinton, Henry county. He has run the mill often days and nights to accommodate the customers. The mill burned down, and was rebuilt by him and his father. The mill was started about the year 1831, or 1832, and was run almost constantly to the year 1854. Mr. Jackson built his own house in the year 1856, on land that he had entered some time before. His farm consists of beauti- ful rolling prairie, and timber. During the war he lost almost all his per- sonal property, the accumulation of years, and removed his family to McLean county, Ill., for safety. He came to Clinton, Missouri, in the fall of 1865, and found employment, rebuilding the water mill at that place, known as the Jackson mill. After remaining there for some time, he returned to his farm, which, during the war, was neglected and run down, that it was almost like commencing life anew. Ten years of ener- getic industry of himself and thrifty wife and children, have made their farm a delightful home again, where they expect to spend their declining
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
years under the shadow of their own vine and fruitful orchard. He has served the citizens in the capacity of school director for six years. He is highly esteemed by all who know him in the neighborhood where he has lived for almost fifty years.
GEO. HAYMAKER,
retired farmer. Among the worthy citizens who have contributed much to the development of his township, may be mentioned Mr. Haymaker. He has been prominently identified with the Presbyterian church for many years. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Westmoreland county, July 20, 1828. He received a limited education at the common schools. In Oct. 1857, he married Miss Matilda McConnel. In 1863, Mr. H. entered the Union army, joining company D, 15th Pennsylvania cavalry, and participated in the celebrated raid under Gen. Stoneman, marching through North Carolina, over the Blue Ridge to Lynchburg, to Salisbury, through the state of Georgia, Huntsville and Nashville, Tennessee, and was mustered out at the close of the war. In the fall of 1867, he moved his family to Missouri, and settled about four miles from Centerview, where he engaged in farming, and remained for several years, then moved into the town of Centerview. He still owns a farm of 260 acres of choice land. In 1872, Mrs. Haymaker died, leaving three sons: Edward M., Oliver R. and Milo M. Edward, who is a graduate of Eastor College, is now attending the Theological school at Princeton, N. J. In 1872, Mr. Haymaker was married to Miss Sarah A. McGinnis, of Pittsburg. She is a worthy member of the same church as that of her husband. Mr. H. owns a good substantial residence in Centerview, and. some town lots.
MATHIAS HOUX,
one among the oldest and most enterprising citizens of this township, was born in Logan county, Kentucky, in the year 1816. Moved with his. father, Jacob Houx, to Cooper county, Missouri. He started out while a young man, with nothing but his hands and a vigorous determination to carve out his own fortune. How well he has succeeded the sequel of this sketch will show. Being full of ready wit and a strong constitution, he was prepared for any kind of business that might present itself to advance his interests, and having the advantage of an early training in frontier life, was familiar with the use of the rifle, the ax and the hunting- knife. This kind of capital was more valuable in those early times than money, and his skillful hands and steady nerve furnished him with a home and food where money could not buy it. He commenced opening and improving his farm in 1836, entered the first forty acres in that year, and by additions gradually increased it to its present size. In a field a little-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
west of the house lies a relic of by-gone days, and an evidence of his mechanical skill, the remaining wheel of a wagon, which was hewn out and made entirely by himself and brother the second year they were on the place. He was married in 1853 to Miss Lissey Bradley, who was born in. Virginia, the daughter of a planter of that state, who moved to Missouri in 1831, and settled in Lafayette county. The names of their children are: Susan, Mary, Achilles, Eva, Maggie and Katie. The mother of Mrs. Houx is still living. His home is situated on section 23. His entire farm consists of 740 acres of beautiful rolling prairie and tim- ber. A fine grove of timber just north of his house has grown to its present size during his lifetime, there being no timber there when he first came to the place. Another article of old times is seen in a buckskin coat, which was made from deer shot in this neighborhood. He suffered very severe losses during the war in stock, consisting of cattle, mules, horses, hogs, etc., but since then has greatly increased his property, hav- ing at present 340 head of sheep, a large number of cattle, mules and horses. He sold last year over eighty head of cattle. As a stock raiser and farmer he has been very successful.
T. R. HUGGINS,
the enterprising proprietor of the Centerview mills, was born in Ohio, August 22, 1849. Being induced by the growing prospects and glowing descriptions of the west, he left home when he was only seventeen years old. He settled in Johnson county in the year 1867, and during the first three years of his life here followed the business of farming. He was afterward employed as salesman in the store of Hull & Co., which place he filled for eight years. He was married to Miss Helen Graham on May 8, 1873, daughter of I. H. Graham, one among the oldest settlers of this part of the county. He has four children, whose names are as fol- lows: Calvin, Lawson, Carrie and Virginia. Coming here after the close of the war, he was among the number of energetic young men nec. essary to infuse new life into a community prostrated by the inevitable consequences of war, and pushing forward has kept pace with the growth and progress of the county ever since. He owns one of the best mills in the county, keeping up with the times in all new and valuable improvements, thus improving the quality of the flour, of which he makes three straight grades to meet the demands of his steadily increasing trade.
JOHN H. KINYOUN, A. M. AND M. D.,
was born October 4, 1825, in Davie county, North Carolina. His father, James Kinyoun, was born February 4, 1804, in North Carolina, where he died in 1857. His paternal grandfather was born in England,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
near London, in 1756, and came to America in 1777, landing at Norfolk, Virginia, and enlisted under Gen. George Washington, and was after- ward promoted to assistant quartermaster. After the close of the war he settled in North Carolina, where he resided until his death. John H. spent his youth on his father's farm, and attended school during the win- ter seasons. At the age of twenty he went to the Jonesville academy, where he remained five months, and then went to the Mocksville acad- emy, where he remained two years, and was prepared to enter college. He then went to Wake Forst college, North Carolina, where he remained but one year, not liking the course of instruction, after which he went to Columbian college, located at Washington, D. C., where he remained one year. He then went to Union college, the State University of New York, where he graduated with the honors of the college, and then returned to North Carolina, where he taught school for four years. While teaching school he studied law in the school of Chief Justice Pearson, and was admitted to the bar, but not liking the profession, he abandoned it and commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Valentine Mott, professor of surgery in the university of the city of New York, graduat- ing in 1859 with the honors of the university. He then returned home and commenced the practice of medicine. In 1861 he entered the south- ern army, was elected captain, and passed through thirteen regular bat- tles, and was afterward appointed surgeon, and served until the close of the war, proving himself to be a fine surgeon, as well as practitioner, by his many successful operations. At the close of the war he returned to North Carolina, and went to farming and practicing, and afterward went to Texas, but returned the next year to North Carolina, where he met Mr. Ridings, of Warrensburg, who persuaded him to come to Missouri, and in 1868 he left North Carolina, and arrived at Warrensburg on the 6th of May, having borrowed the money from Mr. Ridings to pay freight and traveling expenses, and had only ten dollars left when he arrived. He located on Post Oak, three miles south of Centerview. Here he went to farming and making rails, and during the fall and winter he made 12,000 rails for his neighbors, and enough stakes to make three-quarters of a mile of post fence. He would take his pony with him to the timber, and when sent for he would make the visit, prescribe, and then return to his work; but the second year his practice required all his time. He was married December 18, 1856, to Miss Bettie A. Conrad, daughter of Joseph Con- rad, of North Carolina. She died in 1872, leaving two sons and three daughters: Joseph J., Lula A., Flora R., Stella K. and John C. The last named died when a baby. Mr. K. lived a widower for five years, and then married a widow, Mrs. Martha A. Hammond. He now owns a fine and comfortable home, and enjoys great prosperity.
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