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 95
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R. M. ANDERSON,
postoffice Holden, is the son of Thomas Anderson, and the fifth child in a family of seven children. He was born in Ray County, Tennessee. With his father's family he moved to Lafayette county, Missouri, when but nine years old. His advantages for an education were only those common to the early settlers of that day. In the spring of 1836 Mr. A. moved to the southwestern part of Johnson county, and settled in what is now called Rose Hill township. Mr. Anderson was married in March, 1852, to Miss Sarah F. Hodges. Seven children, six of whom are living, were born to this pair. His wife died March 2, 1873. He was again married October 26, 1874, to Miss Iro Smith. In the civil war his sym- pathies were with the south, and he enlisted under Colonel King. He participated in the battles of Lexington, Pea Ridge and other engage- ments. He was taken prisoner in August, 1863, and banished to New Mexico. Here he remained until the close of the war, when he returned to his home in Johnson county, and engaged in agriculture and stock raising. He owns a farm of 830 acres, well improved, handsome resi- dence and other conveniences. This season he has 210 acres of corn, and other grain in proportion. Mr. A. is well fixed financially, and can pass the remainder of his days in comfort.
J. L. ASHBY,
is the son of E. R. Ashby, who was a native of Kentucky. J. L. was born in Union county, Kentucky, on the 27th day of March, 1856. In the spring of '66 young Ashby was brought to Missouri, settling in Pettis county. Here the family remained one year, and then moved to St.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Clair county, remaining there about one year; then the father moved to Johnson county, near Rose Hill, where the family still reside. Mr. Ashby received his education from the common schools of this county, complet- ing his business education at Kansas City. October 25, 1876, he was married to Miss Alice F. Hess, who is a daughter of Wm. F. Hess, and a native of Ohio. From this Union there are two children: Enoch R. and Martha E. / Mr. A., before his father's death, was engaged in merchan- dizing with his father. He owns a beautiful farm of 372 acres, which he has well stocked. This farm is one of the finest improved in this section of the county. E. R. Ashby, the father of J. L., was a merchant, doing business at Rose Hill, and at the time of his death was considered one of the wealthiest men in his township. He had about 1,500 acres of land in real estate.
O. S. BARNETT,
is a native of Johnson county, Mo., and was born in June, 1840. He is the second child in a family of eleven. His father, Geo. H. Barnett, was a native of Kentucky, who moved to this county in the year 1855, and died in the fall of 1859. O. S. Barnett's advantages for an education were very limited. During the civil war his sympathies were with the South, and he enlisted August, 1862, under Warner Lewis. He was in the battles of Prairie Grove, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Willow-Swamp. After the close of the war he returned to his home and engaged in farm- ing. In the fall of 1867 he married Miss Martha A. Key, and from this union there are eight children: Hiram C., Harrison L., Rufus E., Bettie F., Mary E., Myrtle M., Lula P. and Linnie L .; seven of whom are now living. Mr. Barnett has always made Johnson county his home, living in the same neighborhood in which his father settled. He owns a very pretty farm of 146 acres.
A. G. BEARD.
One of the oldest and most extensively known citizens of the county is the subject of this sketch. He is the son of Robert Beard, who was a native of Virginia. The .grandfather of A. G. Beard, upon the maternal and paternal sides, were both soldiers under General Washington. A. G. Beard was born in Washington county, Tenn., June 22d, 1819. His advantages for an education were very limited. Schools at that early day were not common, and what opportunities the child had in those days were received from the limited subscription schools. In October, 1840, Mr. B. moved to Missouri, settling in Cass county, then called Van Buren, thence he moved to Lafayette county, where he remained one year, then in the spring of 1842 he moved to Johnson county, settling on what is called Lost Creek, three miles north of Rose Hill. He remained here
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
until the spring of 1850, when he moved his family to California. In that State he remained for about two years; returning again to Johnson county and settling in the south-western part of the county, where he now lives. When the war came on Mr. B.'s sympathies were with the South, and he enlisted in her army, first under Colonel King, but afterwards he was transferred to Rains' division. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge and participated in a number of smaller engagements. At the close of the war he returned to his home in Johnson county, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. B. was married Feb. 15, 1842, to Miss Sallie M. Ferguson, and from this union there are three children: Sarah C., William P. and Lucy A. Mrs. Beard dying, he was again married, Oct. 8th, 1848, to Miss Susan Anderson, and from this union there were four children: Harriet J., Malissa A., Mary F. and Aria A., all of whom are living. At the November election, 1878, Mr. Beard was elected to the responsible position of county judge, and he faithfully and impartially performed the duties of this office for two years. In politics he is a Democrat of the old school, but in public matter's he always was temperate and acted for the greatest good. Mr. Beard has a farm of 325 acres, well improved. He can pass the evening of his life happy and pleasantly, surrounded as he is by a most interesting family.
JOHN BELL,
the subject of this sketch, is the son of Mordicai Bell, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who was married at St. Louis in 1802. John Bell is a native of Missouri and was born in Callaway county, Aug. 23d, 1822. In the spring of 1835, with his father's family, he moved to Morgan county, Mo., where he remained until the fall of 1849, when he moved to Cooper county and remained there until the fall of 1865, when he moved to Johnson county, settling in the south-western part near Big Creek, where he has since resided. Nov. 12th, 1840, Mr. Bell was married to Miss Martha Stone- man, of Cooper county, and from this marriage there were nine children, eight of whom are living: William L., Sallie V., Mary J., Lucy A., Mordicai C., Rebecca E., Millard F. and John R. Nearly all the children reside in Johnson county, excepting Lucy A., who is living in Colorado. During the rebellion Mr. B.'s sympathies were with the Union and he was enlisted in a provincial regiment in the spring of 1864. His regiment was engaged against Price at Jefferson City, and was at the battle of Marshall and participated in other engagements. Mr. B. has been an active busi- ness man for a long time. He owns a beautiful little farm of 182 acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
D. L. W. BOSTON.
Perhaps there is no citizen of the western part of Johnson county, Mo., so thoroughly known as the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Jef- ferson county, Ky., and was born on the 29th day of April, 1817. His advantages for a school education were somewhat limited, though from his early boyhood he has always evinced a desire for good books. In 1837 Mr. Boston moved to Missouri, settling in St. Louis county, where he remained until the year 1854; then he moved to Johnson county, settling on a farm about five miles south-west of Holden, where he remained until the following spring, when he moved on the farm where he now lives. At that time this part of the county was very sparsely settled, there being a few settlements along the streams. Mr. Boston was married October, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Scutland, of St. Louis county, Mo. From this union there were six children, five of whom are living: James W., David B., Isaac, Mary E. and Henry. Mrs. Boston died Aug. 21st, 1859. He was again married July 17th, 1861, to Miss Mariah Wooton, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of H. Wooton, Esq., who was one of the first settlers of Lafayette county, Mo., and at present living in Kansas. From this union there are six children: George D., Elizabeth, Martha A., Charles L., Hattie B. and Richard H. Mr. Boston has for many years been a member of the church, and at present is a consistent and leading member in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, near his place. His estimable lady has been a member of the Mission Baptist church since her seventeenth year. Mr. Boston during his whole life has been public- spirited, engaging in whatever he thought good for his community. In school-matters he has been progressive, ever laboring to advance the interests of education. In politics Mr. Boston is a Democrat, believing in those grand old principles that public office is the property of the people, and that places of official trust can only be rightfully distributed to men of noble purposes, of pure lives and proper qualifications for the work to be performed. Mr. Boston, by industry and economy, has sufficient to enable him to pass the remainder of his days in ease and retirement, should he wish to do so. He owns a good farm of 400 acres, well improved.
C. H. BOTHWELL,
particular mention of whom is also given on page 241 in this volume, is the son of J. T. Bothwell, who was a native of Ohio. The grandfather, James Bothwell, was a lieutenant in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch was the second child in a family of fifteen, of Scotch descent. Mr. Bothwell received a good education from the common schools of his native county. August 26, 1868, he moved to Johnson county, Mo., and entered 120 acres of prairie land, about five miles south of Holden. During the
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
war Mr. B. served as a union soldier in Company A, 98th Illinois. He participated in the following battles: Hover's Gap, Tenn., at the capture of Chattanooga, in which battle he was wounded and made prisoner. He was immediately paroled and was exchanged in May, 1864. In the fall of 1864 his regiment was transferred to Wilson's corps of Sherman's army, and participated in the following battles: Selma, Montgomery, Columbus and Macon. The Fourth Michigan of his corps was the regiment that captured Jefferson Davis. On the 27th day of June, 1865, after march- ing five hundred miles on their return, his regiment was mustered out of service at Nashville, and was discharged at Springfield, Ill., July 6, 1865. His company, when they left their Illinois home for the service, numbered 101 men, but they returned with only forty-four. After the close of the war Mr. Bothwell was engaged in agricultural pursuits until he moved to this State. September the 11th, 1867, he was married to Miss Ellen, G. Crackle, and from this union there are seven'children, viz: Priscilla E., Charles F., Edward K., Connard H., Mariette, Harvey H. and Barney B. Although a young man, Mr. Bothwell is popular in his county, and at the November election, 1880, he was elected to the responsible position of county judge, and to his credit it can be can be said he is making a com- petent, faithful officer.
H. M. CASS,
P. O. Holden. The subject of the following sketch is comparatively a young man, the son of W. R. Cass, and the second child in a family of ten children, only four of whom are now living. He was born in McCou- pin county, Ill., April 7th, 1843, and was taken with his father's family to Sangamon county, Ill., when but eight years old, where he remained until a man. At the age of 19 he entered the Union army in Company A, 73d Illinois, and remained in the army until the close of the war. He was with the army of the Cumberland and participated in eighteen battles. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Stone River, and also at the battle of Franklin. After the battle of Stone River he was promoted to corporal, and was a member of the brigade staff for about nine months. He was mustered out of service at Camp Butler, at the close of the war .. He then returned to his Illinois home and engaged in farming. In the fall of 1867 he moved to Missouri, locating in Rose Hill township, John- son county, and engaged in grain and stock raising. April 8th, 1875, Mr. C. was married to Miss Mary F. Bagby. They have two children. Mr. Cass owns a beautiful farm of 250 acres of the richest soil, well improved, situated south of Holden about four miles, on the beautiful rolling prairie ..
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
T. E. COLEMAN,
is the son of Edmund Coleman, who was a native of Ireland. The sub- ject of this sketch was born in Ireland in the year 1830. In the spring of 1847 he immigrated to the United States, landing at New York. From New York he went to Lewis county, Ky., where he remained until the spring of 1857, when he moved to Johnson county, Mo., settling where he has since resided. Mr. C. was partly educated in Ireland and partly in the United States. December 31st, 1860, Mr. Coleman was married to Miss F. Phebe Thistle, a very estimable and worthy lady, a daughter of Samuel Thistle, and a native of Johnson county. From this union there were eight children, six of whom are yet living, viz: Samuel T., John E. Thomas M., Eleanor E., Mary and Julia E. Mr. Coleman owns a farm of six hundred acres, well improved. When Mr. Coleman came he was a poor boy, with only enough money to bear his expenses to Kentucky, but . he possessed those qualties-industry and integrity-which are of more benefit to a young man than gold, and to his credit it can be said that this. large farm is the fruits of his own industry and economy. He is held in the highest esteem by his neighbors, and is looked upon as one of the influential farmers of this section. In politics Mr. C. is a Democrat, and believes in that grand old Jeffersonian doctrine, that honesty and right should rule.
A. J. COLVIN,
postoffice Holden, is the son of Thomas Colvin, who was a native of Ken- tucky. The grandfather, James Colvin, was a soldier in the revolution- ary, and also in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch was born in Highland county, Ohio, on the 4th day of March, 1830. He received a liberal education from the common subscription schools of that day. In March, 1853, Mr. Colvin moved to Pike county, Illinois. Here he remained fourteen years, engaged in agricultural pursuits; then he moved to John- son county, Missouri, settling in Rose Hill township, in the southwestern part of the county, where he has since resided. Mr. Colvin was married on the 7th day of March, 1850, to Miss Diana Good, and from this union there were nine children, six of whom are now living, viz .: Mary J., Benjamin F., Mahala S., William J., Sarah E. and Louisa E. Mrs. Col- vin dying, he was again married, September 20th, 1877, to Mrs. Annie E. Guyon, and from this union there is one child, Aldora M. Mr. Colvin is a man unassuming in appearance, thoroughly practical in his opinions, and enjoys a reputation among his neighbors as a man of strict integrity. Mr. Colvin|has considerable business ability, and is one of the best farmers in this section of the country. He owns a fine farm of 225 acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
LAFAYETTE CRUCE,
is a native of Kentucky, being born in Crittenden county, October 13, 1830. His father, Richard Cruce, was a native of South Carolina, and served under Gen. Jackson in the war of 1812. His childhood and his earlier manhood days passed on his father's farm. In the spring of 1841 his father moved to Missouri, settling in Hickory county. Here he remained until the break- ing out of the war, when his family moved to Paris, Texas. In the fall of 1865, Mr. Cruce moved to Johnson county, settling at Warrensburg, remaining there about seven years; then in the fall of 1878 he moved with his family to the south-western part of Johnson county, settling near Big Creek. When the war came on, Mr. C.'s sympathies were with the south, and he advocated her cause. In February, 1851, Mr. Cruce was married to Miss Mary Cock, daughter of Archibald Cock, who is at present living in Clinton, Missouri. From this union there are eleven children: Annie B., Richard A., Eulalia, Walter L., Columbus, John L., Stella, William H., Archibald, Clara and Jessie. During Mr. Cruce's residence in Missouri, he has been engaged in the mercantile business and farming. He owns a fine farm of 2572 acres, extending to the rich bottom lands of Big Creek. The farm is under a good state of cultivation. Mr. C. enjoys the reputation of being one of Johnson county's most upright citizens; in disposition, he is generous and kind, ever ready to give assist- ance, where needed. Though his earlier advantages for an education were not good; yet through his whole life he has studied men, as well as books; and to his credit it can be said, he is a man of large and libera views. In politics he is strictly democratic, desiring to inculcate and enforce the doctrines with which the party came into existence, declaring that the only qualification for office rests upon the wise, safe and.patriotic platform of personal capability, personal honesty and personal fidelity. Mr. Cruce and his estimable lady have been members of the Christian church for about thirty years, and he has been an elder in the church for a number of years.
JOHN A. DOAK,
son of A. A. Doak, who was a native of Tennessee. The subject of this sketch was born, January 26, 1834, in Lafayette county, Missouri, which then also comprised Johnson. In the spring of 1842, with his father's family, he moved to what is now Johnson county, settling upon what is known as Bear Creek. Mr. D.'s sympathies were with the south during the war, and he enlisted in the 16th Missouri infantry, under Col. Lewis. He was engaged in the following battles: Prairie Grove, and Helena, Ark. In the early part of the war Mr. D.'s health failing, he was trans- ferred to the hospital department. When the war closed he returned to his home in Johnson county, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Doak was married February 1, 1854, to Miss Susan J. Potts, and from this union there were seven children, only three of whom are now living, viz: Toba S., Dora A. and Charles R. Mrs. Doak dying in the fall of 1872, he was again married in the spring of 1874, to Miss Martha Tuttle. From this union there are two children, both of whom are now living; viz: Ettie M. and Mary E. Mr. Doak is public spirited, and a man of intelligence; he has held for many years the public position of justice of the peace, and has frequently been school director in his district, and is looked upon by his neighbors as a man of principle and integrity. Hehas a fine little farm of 110 acres in this county, besides 320 acres in Henry.
B. J. FARNSWORTH,
is the son of Thomas Farnsworth, who was a native of Green county Tenn. Henry Farnsworth, an uncle of J. B., was a soldier in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch was born in Green county, Tennessee, on the 29th day of May, 1829. He is a twin brother of C. L. Farnsworth, in a family of seven children. Mr. Farnsworth's advantages for an edu- cation were somewhat limited. In the fall of 1854, Mr. F. moved to Mis- souri, stopping in Henry county; he remained here until the spring of 1855 when he moved with his family to Johnson county, settling near the fork of Big and Bear creeks. When the war came on Mr. F.'s sympathies were with the Union, though he took no active part in the conflict. On the 31st day of March, 1852, Mr. Farnsworth was married to Miss Eliza Girdner, and from this union there are seven children, five of whom are living: Isaac G., John C., Emma E., Helen L., William R., Eliza J. and Benjamin B. Mrs. F. dying in the fall of 1871, he was again married October 10, 1872, to Miss Rebecca E. Bell, and from this union there are two children: Jimmie D. and Georgia F. Mr. Farnsworth since his resi- dence in Johnson county, has been extensively engaged in stock raising and farming; he is a man of energy and activity, following closely the business he has chosen. In his stock business he has been very success- ful, he has had at one time on his farm eighty head of mules, 130 head of cattle, 700 head of sheep, and as many as 250 head of hogs. He has a fine farm of 983 acres, under a good state of cultivation. There is on this farm over eight miles of hedge fence.
C. L. FARNSWORTH,
is the son of Thomas Farnsworth, and was born in Green county, Ten- nessee, the 29th day of May, 1829; he being the twin brother of B. J. Farnsworth, and the fourth child in a family of seven. He had but the advantages of a common subscription school education. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Farnsworth moved to Missouri, stopping in Henry county, but remaining there but a few months; then he came to Johnson county, set-
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
tling in what is now called Rose Hill township. He remained here about two years, and then moved to Cass county; here he remained about seven years, then returning again to Johnson county, where he has since resided. When the rebellion broke out, Mr. F.'s sympathies were on the Union side, though he took no particular part in the conflict. On May. 2, 1854, Mr. F. was married to Miss Caroline George, and from this union there were ten children, nine of whom are yet living: Robert A., Louisa J., Helen E., Mary L., Lucy A., Albert A., Ida F., Edna E., Cyrus L. Since Mr. Farnworth's residence in this county, he has been extensively engaged in the raising and handling of live stock. He has at the present time about 150 head of cattle on his farm, among these are some very fine short horn and high grade cattle. He has also a very fine lot of sheep, said to be as good a grade as there is in the county. Mr. F. owns a fine farm of 780 acres, well adapted for the purpose of grain-raising, or graz- ing. At present he has the greater part of this large tract of land in grass. He is a thorough practical farmer, investing his time and capital where he is sure to reap a good reward. In business he is just and hon- orable, enjoying the confidence of his fellow men. .
MANUEL P. FISHER.
Prominent among the pioneer settlers of Johnson county, is Mr. Manuel P. Fisher, who was born in Kentucky on the 23d of April, 1814, married to Miss Sarah B. Scott, of Saline county, December 24, 1835, and in February, 1836, came to Johnson county and settled on the farm, from which he has never moved. He erected a rude log hut, which was first heated by a fire in the middle of the earth floor, and ventilated by the openings between the logs; a little later he built an addition of sticks and mud, which was dignified with the name of chimney, by which, also, with a skillet and kettle, all the family cooking was done. Such things as planks were unknown, and so Mr. Fisher hewedfout rude puncheons for a floor, and with his untrained talent in cabinet work, manufactured his own furniture from the native forest trees, by the aid of axe, auger and saw. By close attention to business, by untiring industry, working all day on his farm and at night, when others slept, devoting his time to shoe- making for his neighbors, (being by nature a "handy man" and capable of serving them in various ways,) and last, but not least, by the economy and good management of his worthy helpmeet, Mr. Fisher succeeded in making for himself a comfortable home, raising and educating his chil- dren, providing for them generously, and to-day owns one of the finest and best improved farms in Johnson county, and although sixty-seven years old, shows more activity and accomplishes more than many men of one- half his years. He has made the "pay as you go" system a rule of his life, and says when he could't pay he didn't go. He is a kind neighbor,
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
a good citizen, and is universally respected. May his days be lengthened to a ripe old age, for the plaudit of " well done" awaits him.
CHESLEY GATES,
P. O. Index. One of the oldest and most respected citizens of this town- ship is the subject of this sketch. Chesley Gates, who is the son of James Gates, a native of Virginia, was born in Mercer county, Ken- tucky, January 22, 1803, and is the eighth child in a family of ten. In the spring of 1839, Mr. Gates moved to Missouri, settling in the east- ern part of Johnson county, remaining there one year, when he moved to Cass county, Missouri. Here he remained eight years, returning again to Johnson county in March, 1849, where he has since resided. In the fall of 1849, Mr. Gates was married to Miss Mar- garet A. Moore; from this union there were five children; these children were born at three births, the two first births being twins. Of these children, there are but two living: Nancy E. and Martha V. These ladies are both married, and living near their father. Mrs. Gates dying in the fall of 1855, he was again married in the fall of 1856, to Rebecca McDonald. Since Mr. Gates' residence in Missouri, he has been engaged in farming; at the beginning of the rebellion, Mr. G. owned a farm of 1,200 acres; of this land, he has given to his two daughters, 400 acres. Mr. Gates' sympathies were with the Union, though he took no active part in the conflict, remaining at his home until General Ewing issued his famous order, No. 11, when he went to the military post. When Mr. Gates first settled in Johnson county, there were but very few set- tlers. Many are the rich anecdotes Mr. Gates tells of those earlier days in Missouri. Since living at his present place of residence, there have been as many as twenty Indians visited him at one time; they were always peaceable, and came to him to trade. He is a man of intelligence and genius, and has received patents on several useful inventions. He has been a member of the Christian church for more than thirty years, and has held the office of deacon in that church for many years.
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