Johnson County, Missouri - - Biographical, 1918 (part 15 of 19)

of the respected farmers of Jackson township. Mr. Davis is a native of Illinois. He was born in 1842 in Scott county, a son of R. C. and Elizabeth S. (Baldridge) Davis. The lineage of the particular branch of the Davis family to which M. H. Davis belongs has been traced back to colonial ancestors who settled in Tennessee in the early part of the eighteenth century. R. C. Davis was a son of James Davis, a native of Tennessee, who moved to Illinois several years prior to the time of the Civil War. Elizabeth S. (Baldridge) Davis was a daughter of James Baldridge, a veteran of the Revolution of 1776, was married in a fort, during the Revolutionary War. James Baldridge was a native of England and a member of a wealthy family of high social rank in Great Britain. The great-great-grandfather Baldridge was united in marriage with Miss Holmes, whose family was in all probability connected with the Holmes family that produced America's great poet and humorist, Oliver Wendell Holmes. The first known Holmes to arrive in this country was John Holmes, who came from England to Woodstock, Connecticut, with the first settlers in 1686. A\'hen M. H. Davis was ten years of age, he moved with his parents to Iowa and in that state was reared to manhood and was residing at the time of his marriage.

In the spring of 1867, R. C. Davis and his son, M. H., came to Johnson county. M. H. Davis purchased a small tract of land, comprising sixty-five acres, and built a one-room house on the farm and in this they resided for se\'eral years, while they were breaking native sod and developing the land for the production of wheat. Mr. Davis, whose name introduces this sketch, recalls the days when much of the county was open prairie and trails in place of roads, led in all directions. He is now the owner of one hundred thirty acres of well-improved, abundantly watered, productive land, on which he is raising grain, hay, and stock. This season of 1917. he had thirty acres of the farm in corn and has planted twenty acres in wheat and harvested fifteen tons of hay and five hundred bushels of oats. He raises Shorthorns, Poland Chinas, and good horses. The residence was built in 1867 but additions have been since made and the appearance of the home entirely altered in 1883.

In 1864, M. H. Davis and Mary Ballard were united in marriage. Mrs. Davis was a daughter of James Ballard, of Indiana. \\'hen Mrs. Davis was an infant, her father died. Mrs. Ballard moved with her daughter to Putnam county, Missouri, in 1860 and they were there residing at the time of the latter's marriage to Mr. Davis. "Sir. and Mrs. Davis crossed the plains in 1864 and lived for a time in Canon City. Colorado. In the spring of 1867, they came to Johnson county. :Missouri. with the parents of Air. Davis. To ]\Ir. and Airs. Davis were born six children. three of whom are now living: Airs. Alargaret A. Carter, Pittsville, Missouri; Airs. Elizabeth B. Rice, Pittsville. Alissouri; and John H., Pittsville, Alissouri. Airs. Davis, one of the most beloved of the noble pioneer women of Johnson county, died September 15, 1917.

Seventy-five years have come and gone since Al. H. Davis first saw the light of day in Illinois, seventy-five years covering probably the most momentous period in the world's history, seventy-five years fraught with the greatest opportunities and responsiljilities humanity has ever known. It lias been "good to be here" during the past threequarters of a century. During all these years Air. Davis has discharged every duty devolved upon him in a highly commendal)le manner and has nobly done his part in liettering the material prosperity of his community.

C. Noland, an industrious and enterprising agriculturist of Jackson township, is distinctively one of the leading citizens of Johnson county. Air. Xoland was l3orn in Clark county. Kentucky, in 1874. a son of John and Belle (Garner) Noland, botJT of whom were members of prominent colonial families of Kentucky. John Noland was a son of a wealthy and influential plantation owner, who was also an extensive slaveholder. Just before the outjjreak of the Civil War, one of the slaves was bribed to poison the Nolands and John Noland was one among the members of tlie family who suffered most intensely from the poisoning. In early life. Air. Noland. the father of the subject of this review, became an auctioneer and it was said of him that he enjoyed "crying a sale" so much he would do so without recompense rather than to miss the opportunity. He came to Alissouri in 1879 and located in Jackson county, where most of his life was spent. Near the close of his career, he moved to Johnson county and for one year resided on a farm of eighty acres which he had purchased. He died in 1908. Belle (Garner) Noland was a daughter of James Garner, a well-known citizen of Winchester. Kentucky. To John and Belle Noland were born four children, two of whom are now living: Airs. Fannie Gunn, Kingsville, Alissouri : and C. Noland, the subject of this review.

cated in the public schools of Jackson county and early in life chose the ancient and honorable vocation of farming as his. Until eleven years ago, he followed farming and stock raising in Jackson county, but since 1906 Mr. Noland has been a resident of Johnson county. He purchased at that time one hundred sixty acres of land in Jackson township and to his original holdings has since added until he is now the owner of two hundred three acres of land. He has been especially fortunate in stock raising and has, at the time of this writing, in 1917, thirty-eight head of cattle and a large number of Duroc Jersey hogs, having at times as many as three hundred head. The Noland farm is very productive and well adapted for grain growing as well as stock raising. Mr. Noland has at this time one hundred twenty-five acres of corn land and the grain harvested from this field will more than pay for the soil in which it is growing. He specializes in corn growing and the production of hogs for the market and is making a marked success. The place is kept in excellent condition, the improvements in good repair, and all the fences in fine order, the general appearance of the farm bespeaking the care and thrift of an intelligent, capable yeoman. The Noland farm in itself possesses much historic interest. A spring on the place was discovered by the paternal grandfather of Judge Cockrell in the early days, after he had dreamed about it several different times. It is a farm rich in pioneer history.

In 1899, the marriage of Mr. Noland and Retta Waters, daughter of James and Alice M. Waters, was solemnized. James W'aters was a son of Thomas Waters, a native of Ireland. Thomas Waters was born in 1831 and at the age of twenty-one years emigrated from his native land and came to America. He was united in marriage with Rose McCarty, who was also a native of Ireland. To James and Alice ]M. Waters were born eight children, as follow: Mrs. Carrie \\'orkman, Westplains, Missouri; Thomas W., Independence, Missouri; Mrs. Ida E. Rodgers, deceased; Mrs. Retta Noland, the wife of the subject of this review; Omer S., Kingsville, Missouri; Mrs. Jennie Agnes Cole, Independence, Missouri ; Dora L. and Lydia, who died in infancy. C. and Retta (Waters) Noland are the parents of five children, four of whom are now living: Garner D., John C, deceased; Raymond ^\'. ; Bettie F., and Charles T., all of whom are at home with their parents.

work wisely and well and is contributing all in his power to the material upbuilding of his community. ;\Ir. Noland is a comparatively recent comer in Johnson county, but during the past eleven years he and Mrs. Noland have attained an enviable standing in Jackson township and in the years to come when they retire to a life of ease and comfort, they may be consoled with the complacent reflection that their past was one of usefulness to their fellowmen and that they leave to their descendants a name unblemished and one which will be recalled with affectionate pride and gratitude.

M. R. Neil was born in 1851 in Center county, Pennsylvania, son of John and Nancy (Riddle) Neil. John Neil and all his children were born in the same house on the homestead in Center county, Pennsylvania. John Neil was a well-to-do and industrious farmer, a prominent man of public aiTairs in Pennsylvania in his day, and at one time tax collector in Center county. In those days the collector went to every home when collecting the taxes and thus the work of that ofifice was far from light and easy. Reverend Lynn pronounced the ceremony which united in marriage John Neil and Nancy Riddle, the marriage taking place in Center county, and the same minister later baptized each of their children, who were as follow: M. R., of this review: James, who died at Windsor, Missouri: William, Pomeroy, Washington: Ira, Leeton, Missouri : and Belle, Pomeroy, Washington. The mother was also a native of Center county, Pennsylvania. The family moved to Illinois in 1854 and March 28, 1868. they moved from Illinois to Missouri, where they settled in Benton county on a farm of three hundred eighty acres of land. Mr. Neil engaged in farming and stock raising on this place and from 1868 until his death in 1881 never missed but one year raising splendid crops. He died in November. 1881, on the home place in Benton county. John Neil was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a member of high degree, and of the Odd Fellows. He was an honest, honorable, capable citizen, a man worthy of the greatest respect and esteem.

In 1876. M. R. Neil and INIary Miller, of Indiana, were united in marriage in this state. To them were born four children, tw'O of wdiom are living: Mrs. Ella McCuUough, Hazel Hill, Missouri; and Nannie, a teacher who taught in Benton county one year, teaching fifteen years in all, and is now traveling. Blanche died at the age of eight years. The mother died in 1886. November 13, 1890, Mr. Neil and Ida Pound-

Stone were married. Ida (Poundstone) Neil was born in 1861 in Clinton county, Indiana. She is the daughter of E. J. and Sarah (Bridges) Poundstone, the former, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, and the latter, in 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Poundstone were married in

1849 and died in 1888; C. M., born in 1852; F. C, born in 1854; M. K., born in 1856; O. B., born in 1859; Ida, the wife of M. R. Neil, the subject of this review; J. N., born in 1863; N. M., born in 1871. In 1866, the Poundstones came to Missouri from Indiana and they first located in Cooper county, where they remained five years and then settled in Pettis county. To M. R. and Ida Neil have been born the following children: Lawrence, born in 1891 on the farm near Hazel Hill and is now at home; Irene, born in 1895 and is now the wife of Herbert Baile, of Johnson county, Missouri; and Roy, born in 1897, and is now in the employ of the Standard Oil Company of Kansas City, Missouri.

After his marriage at Sedalia in 1890, Mr. Neil located on a farm one and a fourth miles west of Hazel Hill and on that place remained seven years and then moved to his present country home six miles southeast of Warrensburg. He is now the owner of nearly two hundred acres of valuable land, one of Johnson county's choicest stock farms. Twenty acres of the farm were in wheat last year, of 1917. ten acres in oats, fifty-five acres in corn, and the remainder in pasture land and grass. Mr. Neil devotes much time to raising cattle, annually having a large herd. The Neil residence is located on the summit of a hill from which one may obtain a fine bird's-eye view of the surrounding country. Both Mr. and Mrs. Neil are well-known and highly estimable people and they are held in the highest respect by all who know them. Mr. Neil is a member of the Odd Fellows and he and Mrs. Neil are earnest and consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The Neil farm is on what is nown as Bristle Ridge, which averages one-half mile wide and which rises first at Montserrat and runs into Henry county. According to government statistics, this is the most fertile ridge land in the state.

Mrs. Neil has in her possession a very precious relic of colonial days. This is a part of a Bible, which her great-great-grandfather, Richard Poundstone, carried in his knapsack, when a Hessian soldier. He came to Pennsylvania in 1784. This Bible was originally bound in heavy grade leather and was fastened with wide iron clasps.

John T. Dofflemyer was born March 5, 1853, among the Wyandotte and Shawnee Indians of ^^'yandotte, Kansas. He is a son of Daniel and Anna Elizabeth Dofflemyer. Daniel Dofflemyer was born in 1813, of German parentage. His father was a gifted minister of the German Lutheran church and the son, Daniel, in late maturity became a missionary of the Methodist church among the Indians of Kansas. In early manhood, he was engaged in work in the gold mines of California. Mrs. Daniel Dofflemyer was born in Virginia. To Daniel and Anna Elizabeth Dofflemyer were born the following children: John T., of this review: Thomas J.. Los Angeles, California: Lewis, Ithaca, New York; Charles, who is engaged in the hotel business in California; Mrs. Alice Lynn. Lil)erty. Missouri: and Airs. Virginia Lee Neill, Ithaca, New York.

Mr. Dofflemyer. the subject of this review, attended the Kansas City High School. Until he was twenty-one years of age, he resided in that city. He was hiter a student at Prichard College and needed but five months more of college work to obtain the degree of Bachelor of Arts, when he left college and went to Colorado to work in the mines there. Mr. Dofflemyer was employed as a day laborer by a smelting company at first and he gradually worked his way upward until he became the superintendent and then, having learned assaying, was placed in charge of that part of the work. For six years. John T. Dofflemyer was employed by tiie same company and at the close of that period of time he entered the mining business for himself, being thoroughly qualified for the work after six years of labor in all the different positions of mine labor. In the autumn of 1887, he came to Warrensburg and the ensuing spring moved on the farm, which he now owns. This place comprises tw'o hundred forty-four acres of choice land in Johnson county, well located near Warrensburg. Mr. Dofflemyer is devoting his attention exclusively to raising pure-bred stock. He raises Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and keeps registered males at the head of the herds. He is also engaged in general farming, having that portion of his farm, which is not in pasture land, in grain. He has been very successful as an agriculturist as well as a miner. It is Mr. Dofflemyer's opinion that there will be found an abundance of oil in Johnson county at some future date as it has been his experience in mine working that where bituminous coal is found there will be found oil also, and as there are numerous extensive coal fields in this county, producing quan- tities of soft coal, the deduction drawn cannot surely be much amiss. Mr. Dofflemyer is a well-educated, intellectual man of keen judgment and insight and his opinions are well worth weighty consideration.

In 1880, John T. Dofflemyer and Leona Neil, of Indiana, were married. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dofflemyer took place in Colorado. To them has been born one child, a son, Charles Daniel, who is the efficient and popular cashier and auditor of the "Elms Hotel" at Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Dofflemyer are highly valued in Johnson county among the respected and esteemed citizens of high social and financial standing.

John A. Adams, one of Johnson county's most honored pioneers and a member of one of the best and most respected of the early families of this state, was born October 16, 1841, at the Adams homestead in Johnson county. He is a son of Judge Daniel Adams, one of the leading, influential citizens of Johnson county in the early days, and Susan (McClary) Adams, daughter of Elijah McClary, an esteemed pioneer of Howard county, Missouri. Judge Daniel Adams was born Dcember 18, 1813 in Wilkes county. North Carolina, on his father's plantation, which was located on the south side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He was a son of John Adams, Sr., a native of North Carolina, who was a member of the renowned Adams family of Virginia, his father being a native of that state. The great-great-grandfather of Tohn A. Adams, of this review, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, serving with a regiment from Maryland. The soldiers were then paid in shillings instead of dollars as are the soldiers of today. John Adaips, Sr., a prosperous planter of the South, was a soldier in 1812-13 in Captain Martin's Company, North Carolina Militia. He moved with his family to Missouri in 1834 and settled on a large tract of land on Bear creek. The remaining years of his life were spent on his farm in this state and his death occurred in June, 1870. To Judge Daniel and Susan Adams were born twelve children: John A., of this review: Anna E., Tane, William P., Christina C, Elijah M.. Susan E., Thomas R., Clara E., Robert H., Mary F., and James L. Judge Adams was the owner of a farm in Johnson county, the place comprising two hundred eighty acres of valuable land, all well fenced and improved. In 1852, he was elected a justice of the peace of Johnson county, for his township, and he. served many years in that office, being re-elected. He was elected judge of the county court in 1866 and served two terms in that office, being re-elected. For several years. Judge Adams was township clerk and the school director for his district. Both he and his wife were earnest and consistent Christians and worthy church members. Judge and Airs. Adams were splendid types of nol:)le, brave pioneers, whose lives spent in honest, patient labor are well worth emulating.

John A. Adams obtained his education in a "subscription school." for there were no public schools in Missouri until after the Civil War. John Adams. Sr.. Daniel Adams. Abraham Adams, and John Jones secured a donation of one hundred dollars from the different settlers of the community, with which a building was erected on the farm belonging to John Adams. Sr. In tliis rude structure, both school and church services were held until 1870. when the present school house replaced the primitive one. which is still standing. There was a large fireplace on one side of the room and there were puncheon benches, for the children, arranged around the other three sides of the room. The old Adams home, which was built in 1840, also still remains on the home place, where a brother and a sister of John A. Adams now reside.

When the Civil War broke out, John A. Adams enlisted with Company B, Twenty-seventh Missouri Infantry, in July, 1861, under Colonel Ben Grover. He later, April 1, 1862, enlisted and served three years in Company G, Seventh Missouri Cavalry Regiment. Air. Adams was in active service three years and seven months. He was mustered out and honorably discharged April 20. 1863. His regiment had been kept in Kansas and Arkansas practically all the time. Colonel John F. Phillips was commander. After the war had ended, Air. Adams returned to the farm and has ever since been engaged in the pursuits of agriculture. He is now owner of eighty acres of land in Alontserrat township. He owned at one time a much larger tract of land but has shared with his sons in order to keep them near liim. Annually. John A. Adams has a large herd of fine graile cattle. He raises pure-bred Shorthorns and keeps a registered male at the head of the herd. He also raises purebred Hampshire hogs. Air. Adams has long been interested in the subject of tiling. \\'hen just a lad. lie read an article concerning the use of tile in Illinois and. being a bright and observing youth, he noticed the ill results of poor drainage on his father's farm and he often made the statement that when he became a man and owned a farm, his farm would be tiled. He has kept his word. At the time he owned his first small tract of land. Air. Adams began to seriously study the dift"er- ent methods of tiling and from his study, observation, and experience, he has developed the present excellent combination method of using sewer and drain tile now found in successful use on his farm. At first, he used old rails and rocks and that was about 1878, when few farmers were paying much attention to drainage. Several years later, he began on Christmas week and for three months laid tile on his place. He had learned that the soil must be kept from washing away or soon he would have no place left, so after laying the tile, he filled the ditch - an innovation in those days. Mr. Adams has now one of the bestdrained farms in this county. Most of his place is rich bottom land. The scene from the Adams residence is beautiful, for from the doorway one can look out over the surrounding country as far as the vision will reach.

In 1866, John A. Adams and Miss Mack, daughter of Godfrey Mack, were united in marriage and to them were born the following children: Benjamin F., born February 19, 1868, now of Montserrat township; Margaret A., born December 31, 1869, the wife of F. Wagner, of Eldon, Missouri: Sophronia J., born December 12. 1871, the wife of Daniel Burfend; Archie G., born December 1, 1873, of Absarokee, Montana: Jessie E., born September 8, 1875, the wife of Mr. George, of Montana: Fred S., born October 5, 1877, of Montana; Frances E., born September 18, 1879, the wife of Mr. Thorp, of Haviland, Kansas: John A., Jr., born November 4, 1881. of Billings, Montana; Efifie E., born December 18, 1883, now the wife of Mr. Fitzgerald, of Warrensburg, Missouri; and Elmer E., born April 2, 1888, who lives at home with his parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Adams are worthy members of the Methodist church, of which Mr. Adams has been an esteemed and valued trustee for many years.

Alexander Shimel, well-known farmer and stockman, Madison township, was born on a farm in Morris township, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1852, a son of Phillip and Catharine (Bumbarger) Shimel, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania of German descent. The parents were reared in Pennsylvania and moved to Poweshiek county. Iowa, as early as 1863, being among the early pioneer settlers of that county. Philip and Catharine Shimel developed a good farm in Iowa and spent the remainder of their lives there. They were parents of twelve children, seven of whom are now living.

when his parents made a permanent settlement in Iowa and he completed his schooling in that state. He was reared a farmer, and, having lost his father by death when he, the son, was fifteen years of age, he shouldered a considerable portion of the family's responsibilities when yet a youth. He began working for himself when twenty-one years of age and followed farming in Iowa until 1906, wdien he came to Johnson county, Missouri, and invested his capital in two hundred acres of fine land in Madison township. Of this tract, he has since disposed of forty acres and is now successfully tilling one hundred sixty acres in a capable and thorough manner so as to get the best crop yields possible from tlie soil. He has an excellent herd of registered Red Polled cattle on his place. He early learned in his native state that it pays to have good live stock on the farm. He was one of the pioneers in his neighborhood in raising high-grade stock. Mr. Shimel's farm is well improved and his standing as an agriculturist is such as to place him in the front rank with the most progressive farmers.

Mr. Shimel was married in 187S to Orcelia A. Like and to this marriage have been born the following children: Amasa, living at State Center, Iowa; Ellis, of Kansas City, Missouri; Burton, of Holden, Missouri ; and Helen, wife of Oscar Wilson, of Johnson countv. The mother died December 31, 1891. Mr. Shimel later married Halla Pierce, of Tama county, Iowa, who has borne him six children: Elsie, wife of Thomas Turnbow, Johnson county; Grace, wife of Ed Baldwin, Johnson county; Fern, who married Willie Thomason, of Centerview, Missouri; Floyd, at home with his parents: Elvin and ^Mildred, at home.

Mr. Shimel is allied with the Democratic party but is inclined to independence in voting on county and local issues, preferring to decide for himself concerning the qualifications of candidates for office. He is religiously afliliated with the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

John B. Murphy was born February 4, 1854, in New York City. He is a son of John Murphy, Sr., and Eliza (Shinn) Murphy, both of whom were natives of Cork county, Ireland. John Murphy emigrated from Ireland in 1848. He was born in 1823. ]\Ir. Murphy came to the LTnited States, where he settled after many years in Missouri, landing first in Boston and from that city going to New York about 1851, where he resided for nearly three years following his trade of stonemason, thence to Chicago, where he remained one year and from that metropolis to Jefferson City, Missouri. Mr. Murphy remained in Jefferson

City two years and then resided in Syracuse a brief time and in Knob Noster. whence he came to \\'arrensburg in the spring of 1860, where his home was located next door to the residence of Senator Francis M. Cockrell. Eliza (Shinn) Murphy and John Murphy, Sr., were reared in the same district in the old country and were friends in childhood. Tliey were separated in youth and then met again in America. The Siiinn family emigrated from Ireland in 1847 and located in New York, where the daughter was married in 1852 to ;\Ir. Murphy. To John Murphy, Sr., and Eliza Murphy were born the following children: John B., of this review: Thomas, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Sheedy, Kansas City, ^Missouri: Mrs. Hannah Mannias, ^^'arrensburg. Missouri: Richard, Portland, Oregon; Dan, Kansas City. Missouri: and Kate, deceased. Until the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, John Murphy, Sr., was engaged in the work of stone masonry. He enlisted in the war, serving throughout the conflict with the First Missouri Infantry. He took a prominent part in a number of the chief engagements of the war and was mustered out and honorably discharged at Little Rock, Arkansas. After the war. he returned to Missouri and lived in Warrensburg until 1868, when he moved on a farm of one hundred thirty acres of land, where he spent the rest of his life raising cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep. He was justice of the peace at the time of his death in 1904, which office he had held for many years. John Murph}', Sr.. was a genial, kindhearted, industrious citizen, a man of luany sterling qualities, who possessed countless friends wherever he made his home.

In 1908, John B. Murphy and Katie B. Bare were united in marriage. Katie B. (Bare) Murphy was born in 1871 in Gentry county, Missouri, near Albany. Both Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are members of the Catholic church and fine, upright. Christian people. They are enrolled among the county's good citizens and best families. Mr. Murphy is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security.

The Murphy place comprises one hundred eighty acres of land ten miles southeast of Warrensburg in Montserrat township. Mr. Murphy is devoting most of his attention to stock raising, having at the time of this writing, in 1917. nearly forty head of fine grade Hereford cattle, part of the herd being pure-bred, and five head of splendid horses.

Thomas Graves, a capable and progressive farmer and stockman of Montserrat township, was born in 1863 in Cumberlandshire, England. He is a son of Joseph and Nellie (Woods) Gra\es, both of whom were natives of England. Joseph Graves was born in 1833 in Cumberlandshire, England. Mr. and Mrs. Graves were united in marriage in 1860 at New Castle, England. Joseph Graves was a miner in the old country. When he emigrated from England with his two sons. Isaac, who now lives at Mulberry. Kansas, and Thomas, the mother having died in England, and came to America in 1864. he followed the vocation of mining in this country. Mr. Graves located first in Massachusetts and for a time was employed in work on a mammoth tunnel then in the process of construction in that state. From Massachusetts, he went to Superior, Michigan, wdiere he was employed in the copper mines. After one year of labor in the copper mines, Joseph Graves moved to Orangeville, Pennsylvania, and worked in the coal mines, remaining at that place four years. From the coal mines of Pennsylvania, he went to the coal mines of Ohio, and for eight years resided in Nelsonville. When his son, Thomas, was sixteen years of age, Mr. Graves moved from Ohio to Missouri and settled on a prairie farm for which he had traded property in Nelsonville. This farm comprised one hundred acres of land, where Mr. Graves lived for some time engaged in raising stock and in general farming. After thirty years, he sold the place and moved to a better farm north of Knob Noster, where he spent the last years of his life. His death occurred in 1911 on his farm near Knob Noster and interment was made in a private cemetery there. Joseph Graves had been married to Mary M. Arner while residing in Pennsylvania and to them were born three children: James, Knob Noster, Missouri: Mrs. Allie Skidmore, Knob Noster, Missouri: and Mrs. Ella Moorehouse, Wichita, Kansas.

March 23, 1891, Thomas .Graves and Mary C. Hurd, of Johnson county, were married. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Graves have been born seven children: Joe C, born May 31, 1892; Nellie, born December 16, 1894: Hannah J., born January 31, 1897: W. Thomas, born December 25, 1898: Hattie M.. born November 17, 1900: Edna D., born December 15, 1905: and Herbert E., born June 12, 1910. Mr. Graves moved to his present country home in 1897. The Graves farm comprises ninety-five acres of land and is one of the best of the small stock farms in Johnson county. Mr. Graves is engaged in general farming and stock raising and has been very successful. He and Mrs. Graves are held in the highest respect and esteem in their community, where thev have scores of friends.

Truman E. Sproat was born November 27, 1867, in Lewis county, Missouri. He is one of ten children born to his parents, William and Mary Sproat, the former, a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and the latter, of Allegheny county, where she was born in 1829. The father of Mary Sproat was a popular proprietor of one of the early-day hotels in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, the keeper of an inn on one of the principal roads out of Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Sproat were united in marriage in Allegheny county and to them were born ten children, as follow : ]\Iargaret, the wife of W. T. Sprague, Warrensburg, Missouri ; Emma J., the wife of Mr. Williams, Warrensburg, Missouri; Anna, the wife of C. B. Smith, Lewis county, Missouri; Matilda, the wife of Mr. Kirkpatrick; Laura, deceased; Olive, the wife of W. R. VanBlarcum; John T., deceased; Charles, deceased; Truman E., of this review; and Jacob William, who is employed in the service of the United States Government in Honolulu, Hawaii. About fifty years ago, the Sproat family came to Missouri and settled on a farm in Lewis county. For ten years they resided on the place in Lewis county and then, about 1886, came to Johnson county, where they lived on a farm eighteen miles south of Warrensburg for six years and thence moved beyond Clearfork, at which place Mr. Sproat died at the age of eighty-four years.

In November, 1896, Truman E. Sproat and Mary Ella Adams were united in marriage in Johnson county. Mrs. Sproat has lived all her life at the old Adams homestead, entered by the great-grandfather, John Adams, in 1834. Upon their marriage, the death of Mrs. Sproat's great-grandmother, "Aunt Peggy" Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Sproat received the old historic Adams homestead of one hundred sixty acres, to which they have added land from time to time. To Mr. and Mrs. Sproat have been born six children: Verdin E., Katie L., James Eldon, Hillary H., Dale, and Loy. Both Truman E. and Mrs. Sproat are valued and highly respected members of the Baptist church.

Mr. Sproat is the owner of three hundred fifty acres of land, to which farm he moved at the time of his marriage. He is chiefly engaged in raising horned Durham cattle and Poland China hogs, all high grade stock though not registered. He has been very successful in his chosen vocation and much of his good fortune is due to hard work, perseverance, and keen business judgment.

ing agriculturists of Johnson county, was born July 6, 1856, in Gentry county, Missouri, son of Jonathan and Julia A. (Williams) Wayman. Jonathan Wayman was born in Tennessee and when seventeen years of age came with his parents to Missouri. The Wayman family first located in Clay county, where they remained two years, and then moved to Gentry county, where the father entered land from the government, a tract of three hundred twenty acres, on which place he died. Jonathan Wayman remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. At that time he was married to Julia A. Williams, who was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, and came with her parents to ]\Iissouri, where they settled in Gentry county. After his marriage, Mr. Wayman entered one hundred acres of prairie land, which had not been homesteaded by the settlers, who had chosen tracts of timbered land along the streams, and on this place resided the remainder of his life, engaged in the pursuits of farming and stock raising. He kept as much stock as the average farmer of his time, for stock raising was not very profitable in those days of few markets. Jonathan Wayman was a Southern sympathizer and active in public affairs. He was at one time justice of the peace for many years. To Jonathan and Julia A. Wayman were born the following children: Thomas Jefferson, deceased: Margaret Ellen, deceased: James B., of this review: Laura Hester, the wife of George Parman, Getnry county, Missouri ; George W., of Kansas: and Blanche, the wife of \\'il!iam Herrod, Gentry county, Missouri. j\lr. and Airs. Wayman were highly valued and respected members of the ]\Iet!iodist Episcopal church. South, and Gentry county has never known more earnest, conscientious, de^'out Christian people. For more than twenty-five years, Jonathan \\^ayman was superintendent of the Sunday School held in their neighborhood.

September 6, 1877, James B. Wayman was united in marriage with Elizabeth S. Semple. who was born ilay 9, 1859, daughter of parents of Scottish birth. ]\lrs. ^^'ayman's parents emigrated from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania and when she was ten years of age, they came to Missouri forty-eight years ago last February, of 1917, and settled in Gentry countv. To James B. and Elizabeth S. Wayman have been born fourteen children: Efifie A., born October 10, 1878, and was married to Dan W. Adair, of Gentry county, Missouri, February 22, 1903. and now residing in Johnson county: Thomas Marvin, born Tune 11. 1880. and was married to ]\Iiss Callie Brooks, of Daviess coun- ty, Missouri, November 25, 1914, and now residing in Johnson county: Robert J., born October 8. 1881, and was married to Miss Jessie May Bagby, of this county, August 29, 1906, and now residing in Johnson county; Clyde Homer, born September 4, 1884, and was married to Alberta Cazzell, of this county, February 2, 1907, now residing in Johnson county; Lora V., born September 10, 1886, and was married to Wilham Cazzell, October 17, 1907, died July 4, 1909; Mary OlHe, born July 25, 1892, and was married to Thomas A. Thompson, of Gentry county, Missouri, May 1, 1916, and is now residing at Manhattan, Kansas; Julia Edith, born October 13, 1894, and was married to Grover P. Sutton, of Johnson county, March 3, 1914-, and they are now residing in this county; Ara W., born July 30, 1898, and is at home; Leo Garner, born March 26, 1900, and is at home; Hester Blanch, born March 26, 1902, and is at home; Ruby Leal, born October 2, 1904, and is at hoine ; and three died in infancy. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wayman moved to a farm in Gentry county, located near Albany, the county seat. For twenty-five years, Mr. Wayman was engaged in farming and in addition working at his trade of carpentering. He continued to follow the two vocations until he moved to Johnson county.

In March, 1903, Mr. Wayman purchased a farm of one hundred forty-four acres of land located north and west of Warrensburg, upon which place he resided twelve months, when he sold to Mr. Kemper and purchased an equity in a place near Montserrat, where he lived for fourteen months and then traded his interest in the farm for a half interest in a breeding stable in Gentry county. This stable handled Shorthorn cattle, stallions, and jacks. Mr. and Mrs. Wayman returned to Gentry county, taking with them only their younger children, as the older members of tlieir family were so well pleased with Johnson county they did not wish to go back to Gentry county. Mr. Wayman was not satisfied with the work of the stable, for which he had traded his farm, and they returned to Johnson county. For four or five years, after their return, he rented land in Johnson county and engaged in farming . The last place, which he rented before coming to his present farm, was owned by Clifif A. Baile, who had bought a fine home in New York, leaving Mr. Wayman in charge of his farm of eight hundred acres, who was to be paid on the partnership basis. With the financial support given by Mr. Baile and the excellent business judg- inent and marked executive ability of Mr. W'ayinan, the firm were enabled to clear a very neat sum of money and the latter to make a fine payment on his present beautiful country place seven miles southeast of Warrensburg, Missouri. This farm belonging to Mr. Wayman comprises one hundred forty-five acres of land and on it he is raising high-grade Oxford sheep, which he is endeavoring to make the best, also mules, horses, cattle and hogs.

For the past six years, James B. Wayman has been superintendent of the New Hope Methodist Episcopal Sunday School. Both he and Mrs. \\'ayman are members of this church. He is afiiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with the Modern Woodmen of America, and with the Yeomen. Mr. and Mrs. \\'ayman are highly esteemed among Johnson county's best and most substantial citizens.

C. M. Scruggs, son of one of the most intellectual of the pioneers of Johnson county, the capable merchant and efficient postmaster of Montserrat, IMissouri. was born October 3. 1865, in Johnson county, Missouri, son of Rev. A. F. and Mrs. Scruggs, who came to Johnson county in 1859. Reverend Scruggs was reared on a plantation in Virginia, located within eighteen miles of Nashville, Tennessee. In early manhood. Reverend A. F. Scruggs entered the ministry and the remainder of his long life was spent in doing good, in following the Christian precepts himself and in leading hundreds of others to do likewise. When he began preaching, he was a missionary, working among the Cherokee Indians of Tennessee. At first, he taught the red men with the assistance of an interpreter but in a short time he learned their nati\-e language and spoke directly to them. He was a member of the church conference in Tennessee and by the conference was sent as missionary. For his services, he received one hundred dollars annually and barrels of clothing and provisions were frequently sent him by the church. It was barely a living wage but Reverend Scruggs was not engaged in church work for the purpose of obtaining wealth. He was endangered by the plagues of vellow fever and cholera, which swept the South, but through all passed in safetv. In 1849, Reverend Scruggs was one of the committee of leading citizens of Mayville, Tennessee, who were appointed to meet General Zachary Taylor as he came by boat up the river from Louisiana on his way to Washington, D. C, where in a few days he was to be inaugurated President of the United States, a position he was destined to fill but one brief year and four months. Mrs. Scruggs was born in Ohio. She was married to Reverend Scruggs in 1856 and to them were born three children: C. M., of this review; Doctor Scruggs, who died in Johnson county in 1898; and Mrs. J. H. Rothwell, Knob Noster, Missouri. After a long life of nearly one hundred years, Reverend Scruggs died September 7, 1902. He had labored long and patiently for Christ in Tennessee, Alabama, and Missouri, and he has for his services been rewarded by One who never measures the worth of a man in silver or gold. In 1907, he was joined in death by his noble and faithful wife.

On a farm in Grover township, C. M. Scruggs was reared to maturity. In 1884, he started in business for himself in the town of Montserrat, where he worked at several different occupations, working as clerk at one time and in some other position at another time, until 1903, when he left Missouri and went to Colorado. In Colorado, Mr. Scruggs was employed by a mining company as manager of their company store and coal business. He returned to Johnson county in 1905 and opened a general mercantile establishment in Montserrat, where he has ever since been located. Mr. Scruggs has a fine stock of goods valued at two thousand dollars. He enjoys an excellent patronage, for his name is a bond for honest, honorable, upright dealing. In April, 1913, C. M. Scruggs was appointed postmaster of Montserrat and on June 17, following, he assumed the duties of that office.

In June, 1901, C. M. Scruggs was united in marriage with Betty Chatten, of Johnson county. To Mr. and Mrs. Scruggs have been born six children: Beryl, Bernice, Glen, Meda, Gordon, and Clarence. The Scruggs family have long been prominent and highly respected in Johnson county, the members of which are all excellent and industrious citizens, worthy of the name they bear.

Thomas D. Dudley, the popular and well-known young agriculturist of Post Oak township, was born June 7, 1881, at the C. C. Dudley homestead in Johnson county. He is the tenth child born to his parents, C. C. and Nancy M. (Gibbs) Dudley, the children being as follow: Gwinn, deceased; Lewis Gibbs. state of Washington; Benjamin Franklin, state of Washington; C. C, Jr., who died in March, 1916; James L., British Columbia; Emma, the wife of E. M. Greer; Letitia, the wife of H. Fetterling, of Colorado; Alice, the wife of W. S. Burford, Johnson county, Missouri ; Ollie Belle, the wife of G. E. Smith, state of Washington; and Thomas D.. of this review. C. C. Dudley was born March

28, 1835, in Franklin county, Mrginia, and when five years of age, he came wifh his parents to [Missouri and they settled in Johnson county about 1840. Nancy Al. (Gibbs) Dudley was born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1838. She was united in marriage with Mr. Dudley in 1858. He was by trade a blacksmith but resided on a farm in Johnson county. \\'hen the children were old enough, thcv took charge of the farm work, the father being employed in his shop. Three of Mr. Dudley's brothers served in the Civil War, but on account of his crippled condition C. C. Dudley was obliged to remain at home. He was a Southern symp^athizer and was greatly troubled by the "bushwhackers." He spent most of his days in the brush. During the night time, he would come home for food and then slip quietly back into hiding. At the time of his death on July 10, 1914, C. C. Dudley was the owner of one hundred fifteen acres of land, in this county, on whicli he had lived ever since lie came to Missouri. The mother's death occurred August 25, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley were greatly respected and esteemed in this county and their loss has been keenly and deeply felt.

February 17. 1909, Thomas D. Dudley and Ruby Florence Gunsaulis were united in marriage. Mrs. Dudley was born and reared in Johnson county. To Tiiomas D. and Ruby Florence Dudley have l)een born three children: Kenneth Eugene, born January 27. 1910: \'iola Fern, born November 7, 1912: and Glenn Neil, born December 22, 1916. Thomas D. and Mrs. Dudley lia\-e scores of friends in Johnson county and the Dudley family is numbered among tiie best in Post Oak township.

At the present time, in 1917, Mr. Dudley owns one hundred ninetyfive acres of land in Johnson county. He is chiefly engaged in stock raising, handling cattle, hogs, and sheep. In addition to stock raising, he also does general farming. i\Ir. Dudley is an energetic, enthusiastic, young man, one who is making a splendid success in life.

James H. Bradley, the well-known editor of the "Leeton Times," was born in 1862 on a farm located ten miles south of Windsor, ^Missouri. He was reared on the farm and his boyhood days were spent as most country lads spend their time, in work on the farm and attending the district school. When Mr. Bradley was twenty-one years of age, he entered the newspaper business at Brownington, Missouri, After one year in that citv, he purchased a paper in Urich, wliich he edited and managed for a brief time, when he moved to Lincoh: and started a paper. From Lincoln, where he was in the newspaper business one year, Mr. Bradley moved to Calhoun and thence to Leeton. For fifteen years, James H. Bradley has been the owner and manager of the "Leeton Times." Prior to that, the paper was owned by S. J. Major & Company. The "Leeton Times" has been established twenty years. Mr. Bradley has been connected with newspaper work nearly thirty years.

February 14, 1876, James H. Bradley and May Thoman were united in marriage. Mrs. Bradley was formerly of Calhoun, Missouri. To James H. and May Bradley have been born five children: Harry L. ; Paul P. ; Mrs. Charles Murdock, Savannah, Missouri ; Berniece ; and Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have many friends in Leeton, where they have resided almost a score of years, and they are widely known and highly respected in Johnson county.

In addition to managing and editing the "Leeton Times," Mr. Bradley does much job printing. He is thoroughly acquainted with all lines of the printing business and the work which leaves his ofiice is always first class and perfectly satisfactory. As an editor, James H. Bradley has an established reputation in Johnson county for wellwritten, able, thoughtful editorials, which are widely read and commented upon not only in this county but in adjoining counties .

L. D. Stirling, a prosperous and industrious, young farmer and stockman of Jefferson township, is a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of Johnson county. He was born April 2i, 1874 at the Stirling homestead in Johnson county, a son of William T. and Margaret (Dennis) Stirling. William T. Stirling was born in December, 1838 on the farm belonging to his father, a place located a few miles south of Centerview. On this farm, William T. Stirling was reared to maturity. In his boyhood days, the prairie was practically unfenced and the forests were filled with deer and other wild game. In early manhood, he went to Lexington, Missouri, where he remained two years, and then returned to Warrensburg. His father was county surveyor at that time and the Stirling family resided in W^arrensburg for five or six years, during which period of time the father and son operated the Stirling Mill in that city. The elder Stirling owned two hundred acres of land near Centerview, which place he traded for the mill, which was located at Lexington and moved by the Stirlings to Warrensburg. Mr. Stirling. Sr. thought the farm worthless, a place now worth at least one hundred dollars an acre. Later, Mr. Stirling, Sr. and his son, William T., moved to the farm, now owned by L. D., the engine of the Sterling Mill and put in operation a sawmill, which they operated for many years. William T. Stirling purchased the farm which now Iielongs to his son and on this place was for several years engaged in farming and stock raising. He cleared and improved the farm and fifteen years ago retired from the active pursuits of agriculture and twelve years ago moved to his city property in Leeton. ^Margaret (Dennis) Stirling is a native of Indiana. She was united in marriage with Mr. Stirling in Johnson county in 1873 and to them were born five children: L. D., of this review; Mrs. Roy Bartholomew, Johnson county, Missouri; Ewell, deceased; Alice, deceased; and Eula, deceased. W. T. Stirling was first married to Elizabeth A. Dudley in 1867. To this union one child, a girl, was born, who is now deceased. William T. Stirling is a veteran of the Confederate army. He was a meml)er of General Shelby's brigade. He joined with many other recruits at Warrenslnirg and they were on the way to join the main army when young Stirling was captured and sent to Rock Island, Illinois, where he was kept a prisoner until the close of the war. Mr. Stirling is active and influential in public affairs, in which he takes a keen interest. At the present time he is one of the road supervisors of Johnson county. For years, he has been a school director. Both he and Mrs. Stirling are valued members of the Leeton Baptist church and they are greatly esteemed and respected in this community.

In Johnson county in 1900, L. D. Stirling and .Anna Hawthorne were united in marriage. Mrs. Stirling was born in Boone county, :\Iissouri. but reared and educated in Johnson count). To L. D. and Anna (Hawthorne) Stirling have been born two children: Forest, who was born in December, 1901 ; and Ethel, who was born in February, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Stirling are worthy, consistent members of the Baptist church and they are numbered among the good. Christian people of Johnson county, excellent citizens of whom all are proud. Mr. Stirling has been a church member for nearly twenty-six years. For many years, he has been the school director of his district.

The L. D. Stirling farm comprises one hundred twenty acres of land and at the time of this writing, in 1917, all the place is under cultivation. Mr. Stirling is engaged in raising cattle and hogs, giving especial attention to the latter. To a certain extent, he is also in the dairy business. Butter and cream have been taken to the market from the Stirling farm every week for the past six years. Mr. and Mrs. Stirling are hardv\'orking. enterprising citizens, worthy of the highest success in life.

Levi McMurphy, proprietor of "Valley View Stock Farm," is one of the well-known and respected farmers and stockmen of Warrensburg and Post Oak townships. His splendid stock farm comprises three hundred sixty acres of land in Warrensburg township and one hundred twenty-five acres in Post Oak township. This tract of land was entered from the government. John H. Gardner entered the land and he owned three hundred sixty-five and three-fourths acres. He and his sister, Rebecca J., both of whom were unmarried, spent their lives on this place.

The history of the Gardner family is an interesting one. They were originally from Virginia, whence they moved to Kentucky and thence to Scott county, Missouri, where they were located for some time, coming to Johnson county prior to the Civil \Ya.T. The Gardner family in this section of the country is now extinct and the graves that mark their last resting places are to be found in Greer cemetery. The land on which this burial ground is situated was entered from the government by George W. Greer, who was instrumental in the establishment of the cemetery which is named in his honor. There are stones marking graves in this cemetery showing that burials were made there as early as 1844. From the inscriptions on the Gardner tombstones, one learns the following concerning the family:

All the names of the members of the Gardner family are on this memorial stone. Each one lived to a noble old age and the total sum of their combined ages is three hundred ninety-two years. The Gardners were good people, brave, enterprising, honored pioneers of Johnson county. Mr. Gardner and his sister. Miss Rebecca, were widely known in this county and universally esteemed. There are many men and women still residents of the township, who often shared with them the kindly hospitality of their home, and remember them well for their many generous deeds of kindness.

"Valley View Stock Farm" is the home of the registered Herefords, the largest herd in Johnson county. Air. McMurphy purchased his first registered male in 1894. "Ben Imadine," and three years later purchased his first registered cow. At the present time he owns one hundred forty head of high grade registered stock, a large number of which are breeding cows. When they are two years of age, ]\Ir. McAIurphy breeds them. The imprint of "Ben Imadine's" horns may be seen in the cement walk in front of the McAIurphy residence. All the stock sold from the place is sold at private sale and Mr. McMurphy will have disposed of all which he desires to sell this year of 1917 by the first of December.

In 1877, Levi McMurphy and IMartha AI. Hicks were united in marriage at Golconda, Illinois and to them have been born eight children, seven of whom are now living: Mary Alice, who died in infancy; Loy, a prominent farmer and stockman of Post Oak township; Mrs. Pearl McCormack, Warrensburg, Missouri; James, who resides on the home place; J. Henry, a successful farmer of Magnolia, Missouri: \\illiam M., Warrensburg, Missouri: Levi, Jr., at home; and Ernest, a highly regarded farmer and stockman of Post Oak township. Mr. and Mrs. McMurphy are numbered among the most valued and substantial citizens of Johnson county.

W. Emery Scott, the well-known and prosperous farmer and stockman of Post Oak township, is the son of one of the brave, noble pioneers of Johnson county. He was born in November, 1863 at the Scott homestead in Johnson county. Mr. Scott is one of four children born to his parents, Daniel and Rebecca (Gwyn) Scott, the other three children being daughters. Daniel Scott was a native of Tennessee, who came to Missouri among the first settlers and purchased the farm on which his son, Emery, now resides. He enlisted in the Civil War and served with the Seventh Missouri Infantry. After the war had closed, Mr. Scott returned to his farm in Johnson county and resided there until his death. He was an industrious, capable, successful farmer and stockman, enrolled among the best citizens that ever came to Alissouri.

riage. Mrs. Scott was born and reared in Johnson county. To W. Emery and Ida (McDonald) Scott have been born three children. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have long been held in the highest respect and esteem in this section of the county, where they have scores of friends. Mr. Scott is a valued member of the Modern Woodmen of America and he is one of Johnson county's best and most enterprising citizens.

The Scott farm comprises three hundred forty acres of land, practically all of which has been cleared of timber since the Scotts settled in this county. Mr. Scott well recalls the open condition of Johnson county, when he was a youth, when fences were rarely in use and cattle were given free range over the wide prairie. He is engaged in raising cattle and hogs, which though not registered stock are of good grade. He has been deservedly successful in his chosen vocation and is the owner of one of the valuable country places in this part of Missouri.

Ivan J. Kinney, the highly respected and widely-known minister of the Christian church residing on a farm near Warrensburg, was born February 5, 1883 in Guthrie county, Iowa, son of Henry J. and Martha E. (Simpson) Kinney. Henry J. Kinney was born April 11, 1859 in Cedar county, Iowa, a member of one of the honored pioneer families of that state. Mr. Kinney was reared and educated and married in Cedar county, Iowa. His marriage with Miss Martha E. Simpson occurred in 1881 and to them were born four children: Ivan J., of this review; Fred O., Big Sandy, Choteau county, Montana: Nellie L., Big Sandy, Montana: and Edith J., the wife of Mr. Campbell, of Big Sandy, Montana. In 1887, the Kinney family moved from Iowa to Missouri, where they settled in Washington territory. Henry J. Kinney engaged in farming and stock raising and in 1906, on the home place, his death occurred. Mr. Kinney was an honorable, upright, nobleminded citizen, a man of countless friends, who have missed him sadly.

Ivan J. Kinney is a graduate of Olympia High School. He was a student at the University of Washington and of Transylvania College, Lexington, Kentucky. At the latter institution, he completed the Bible course and after preaching two years at Raleigh, Missouri and two years at East Lynne, Missouri, he took postgraduate work in Philip's Bible School, Canton, Ohio. Mr. Kinney spent seven years in obtaining a collegiate education. He is now an ordained pastor of the Christian church and at the present time is minister of the Gunn City, East Lynne. and Prairie View Christian churches. He is deeply interested in agri- cultural pursuits and much prefers to reside in the country, where he beheves he can do more good. His farm comprises one hundred twenty acres of land and on this place he is raising good grade cattle. His stock is not now pure-bred, but he is gradually improving hh herd and will in time devote his entire attention in the stock business to raising registered cattle.

Reverend I\'an J. Kinney was united in marriage with Mrs. Alma (Hays) Bigley, of Cass county. Mrs. Kinney's parents are noble pioneers of Cass county, where they settled on land which the father entered from the government immediately after the Civil War. They came from Tennessee and are still living at the homestead, a place embracing five hundred forty acres of'land known as "Walnut Valley Stock Farm." Mrs. Kinney's father is widely known throughout Missouri as a prosperous and successful breeder of pure-bred Shorthorns. By a former marriage, ^Irs. Kinney is the mother of one child, a son, Adrian Bigley. Reverend Kinney and his wife are popular, highly valued, young people, who are doing much good in the world.

Humphrey M. Burford, one of the leading citizens of Post Oak township, a progressive, capable agriculturist, is a member of one of. the first families of Johnson county. He was born January 2, 1860 near Centerview, son of William H. and Elizabeth (Williams) Burford, who were united in marriage in 1859 and to whom were born nine children, one son and one daughter dying in infancy and seven are now living, five sons and two daughters. A\'illiam H. Burford was born August 7, 1832 on his father's plantation near Richmond, \'irginia. When a child six vears of age he came to Missouri with his parents and they settled on a tract of land in St. Clair county, where William H. was reared and educated. At the age of twenty years, he left Missouri and went to California. This was the time of the excited rush to the gold fields there and :\Ir. Burford made the trip to California by land, returning by way of Panama. About 1858, he came to Johnson county and settled on a farm near Centerview. He was engaged in the business of buying and selling cattle. In 1859, as has been stated, he was married to Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Wilkenson Williams, a prominent citizen of Johnson county and sheriff of the county for two terms immediately after the Civil War. During the war, the Burford familv made a trip to Illinois, but soon returned to Johnson county and located on the Miller place about two miles from Warrensburg.

From the Miller farm, they moved to the Eberts place in Warrensburg township. At one time, William H. Burford was owner of more than two thousand acres of land, practically all of which he lost in the panic of 1873. Just prior to the panic of 1873, W. H. Burford had bought thousands of western cattle, the depreciation in the value of which was partly the cause of his failure. In 1874, he purchased a tract of land in Post Oak township on credit. He was an indomitable character, who knew no failure, and he spent the remainder of his life buying and selling cattle, speculating in hundreds at a time, accumulating a competence, and at the time of his death he was the owner of four hundred ninety acres of valuable farm land in Johnson county and was considered a well-to-do man in this section* of the state. In the election of 1896, he was elected to the office of judge of the county court, which position he filled satisfactorily two terms. He was then elected county surveyor of Johnson county and it was during his incumbency that the tragic accident occurred at the railroad crossing on Holden street in Wavrensburg, which resulted in the death of William H. Burford and in the loss to the citizenship of Missouri of one of the noblest men of Johnson county.

Humphrey M. Burford was a student at the Warrensburg State Normal School in 1881 and 1882. He then attended Spaulding's Business College in 1882 and 1883. March 3, 1887, Mr. Burford was united in marriage with Henrietta A. Rathfon, who was born in Indiana, October 24, 1860. To Humphrey M. and Mrs. Burford has been born one child, a daughter, Beulah L., who is now the wife of J. H. Swearingen and they have two daughters: Alice Nadine and Myrtle D.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Burford moved to a farm in Vernon county, where he engaged in general farming and stock raising. About 1896. they moved to Warrensburg and two years later to Colorado. In the fall of the year of 1899, they returned from Colorado, where they had resided one year, and settled on the farm, which is now widely known as the Rathfon place. One hundred twenty acres comprise this farm and on it Mr. Burford is raising good cattle and hogs, of best grade, and many chickens. Mr. Burford is a firm advocated of the poultry and dairy business as money-making propositions.

For many years, Humphrey M. Burford has been one of the leading citizens of Leeton. He is one of the directors of the company controlling the luml)er yard, one of the stockholders in the Farmers Bank of Leeton, and one of the stocklioklers in the elevator in Leeton. He is a valued member of the JNIodern \\'oodmen of America of Leeton. Mrs. Burford is a worthy and consistent member of the Christian church and in their community is an esteemed neighbor and friend.

J. Harvey Swearingen, an enterprising and successful, youngfarmer and stockman of Post Oak township, was born August 22, 1883 in Highland county. Ohio, son of W. O. Swearingen. The father was born in Ohio. Twenty years ago, he came to Johnson county. Missouri after living in Washington county, Kansas for five years, during a period of successive crop failures. O. Swearingen sold his place in Kansas and nio\'ed to ^Missouri, and he has since resided in Johnson county, first on a farm east of Leeton for one year, then on the Wyatt farm one year, and is now residing on the Greer farm.

For eleven years, J. Harve}' Swearingen and his l^rother, J. L., were in partnership, but in 1914. the partnership was dissolved and J. L. Swearingen is now residing on the Don Carlos farm, a place comprising three hundred acres of land, and J. Harvey lives on a farm in Post Oak township which comprises one hundred eighty-five acres. With the exception of fifteen acres of timber land. J. Harvey Swearingen's farm is all under cultivation. His place is well adapted to all crops, one hundred acres of the place being as fine bottom land as can be found anywhere. J\L-. Sw^earingen is engaged in general farming and stock raising. A part of the farm is in grass land and he has a nic-e herd of good grade cattle, a few of which are dairy cows, as he is in the dairy business to a small extent. ?\lr. Swearingen owns two splendid bulls, one Jerse\- and the other Shorthorn. Neither is registered, but one is eligible. At the present time, he has ten acres of his farm in alfalfa and twelve acres in alsike and red clover combined. These patches of crops which are new in this part of the country are on the bottom land and they averaged close to two tons an acre of the former and this season there were one and a half tons of clover harvested to the acre, the best clover crop that Mr. Swearingen has ever had. Alfalfa, as a forage crop, has increased in popularity very rapidly during the past ten years and all up-to-date agriculturists are at least giving it fair trial. It is a deep-feeding plant, makes a good hay crop, and may be used for pasture. From three to six cuttings of alfalfa can be made in one season after the plants have become firmly established, which usually takes three years. The Swearingens are interested in the poultry business to a great extent. There are three hundred sixtyfive hens on the farm and the past season they made an excellent record for themselves. From January 1, 1917 until June 20, 1917 they produced four hundred forty-two dollars and six hundred little chicks. Mr. Swearingen keeps pure-bred cockerels and all his chickens are thus of good strain. The Swearingen farm is well located and nicely improved, all the buildings and fences having been placed on it by Mr. Swearingen himself, since he came to this place. The barn, which was erected in 1911. is an exceptionally fine one. It is 40 x 60 feet in dimensions and constructed of oak, boxed with pine. The timber grew on this farm and the lumber from it was cut and sawed right on the farm.

In 1912, J. Harvey Swearingen was united in marriage with Beulah L. Burford, daughter of H. M. Burford, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. To J. Harvey and Beulah L. (Burford) Swearingen have been born two children, both daughters: Nadine, who was born November 22, 1914; and Myrtle D., who was born September 16, 1916. Mr. Swearingen is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, being affiliated with the Leeton lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Swearingen are excellent and estimable, young people, worthy of the greatest success in life.

Charles A. Baker, a prominent and highly respected stockman and one of the leading citizens of Post Oak township, is of German descent. He was born March 20, 1864 in Jersey county, Illinois, son of Joseph and Johannah Baker, both of whom were born in Germany. Joseph Baker emigrated from the fatherland nearly sixty-seven years ago and came to America, where he located in Illinois and was united in marriage with Johannah Algos, who came to the United States with her parents, when she was about sixteen years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Baker were born six children, four sons and two daughters. Both the father and mother are now deceased.

When a young man, Charles A. Baker came with his parents to Missouri forty-five years ago and they settled on a farm in Johnson county. In 1894 Mr. Baker and Ida May Helphrey were united in marriage and to them were born the following children: Irene, Augusta, Porter W., Harry A., and Ida Charlene. At the time of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Baker came to the farm, where they now reside and with the exception of nine years, when they lived in the city of Leeton, this place has l)een their home e\'er since. In the spring of 1916, the

Bakers moved back to the farm. During his residence in Leeton, Mr. Baker was engaged in buying an<l selhng stock in which work he was very successful. He has handled hundreds of heads of cattle and hogs.

The Baker farm comprises three hundred eleven acres of land, well located and all in one tract. Mr. Baker is at the present time rebuilding the dififerent farm buildings and he has in the last year remodeled the residence, making it an attractive, comfortable home. When his work is completed, he will have one of the beautiful country places in this section of the state. Formerly, Mr. Baker raised pure-bred stock exclusively, but at the present time he has not so limited his herds of cattle and hogs. He has, at the time of this writing, seven or eight hundred head of hogs. He devotes most of his attention to stock raising, in which vocation he has been remarkably successful.

Besides his country home, Charles A. Baker is owner of stock in both banks in Leeton. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Free and Accepted Alasons, and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Baker has always taken a keen and active interest in all movements, which have for their object the betterment of the community and he and Mrs. Baker are numbered among the county's best and most valued citizens.

Elbert S. James, a progressive and successful farmer and stockman of Post Oak township, was born March 8, 1873 in Webster county, Missouri. He is a son of Calvin L. and Sarah M. (Stone) James, who were united in marriage in 1870 and to whom were born four children, three now living: Elbert S., of this review: Nellie: and Bertie, wdio is now the wife of Silas Shannon. Calvin L. James was born July 6, 1833 on the James farm in Post Oak township, where he was reared to manhood. He then went to Webster county, which was his home for twenty years and there his death occurred in 1887. Sarah M. (Stone) James was born and reared in Post Oak township. She is a sister of the well-known Stone brothers. She is now living, her home being two and a half miles east of Chilhowee, Missouri.

Since 1890, Elbert S. James has been residing on the farm which is his present home. This place embraces two hundred twenty acres of land and on it Mr. James is raising large herds of high grade sheep, hogs, and cattle. At the present time, he has one hundred twenty head of Shropshire sheep, seventy-three lambs, and one hundred fifty head of Poland China hogs. Mr. James lias been engaged in the sheep indus- try for ten years and besides has annually put on the market from one hundred forty to one hundred fifty head of hogs and many cattle. He raises white face cattle almost exclusively. The James farm is one of the best improved places in Post Oak township. The residence is an imposing structure of two stories and the farm buildings, of which there are many, are all in splendid repair. Mr. James takes much pride in keeping his place in first-class condition and he should be highly commended upon the taste, care and attention which his beautiful country home bespeaks.

September 29, 1915, Elbert S. James and Maudie E. Fultz were united in marriage. Mrs. James is a daughter of W. H. Fultz, of Johnson county. Both Mr. and Mrs. James are widely known and esteemed in Johnson county, where they are enrolled among the county's most valued and substantial citizens.

James M. Mohler, a well-read, successful farmer of Post Oak township, was born in Covington, Ohio, March 19, 1870, but has been a resident of Johnson county, Missouri for the past thirty-six years, during which time he has been closely identified with the social and religious life of the community in which he resides. He is a son, one of seven children born to Martin S. and Elizabeth (Mikesell) Mohler, both of whom were natives of the old "Buckeye State." Martin Mohler was born in Covington, Ohio in 1845 and migrated to Johnson county, Missouri in 1881, where he purchased the farm known as the Jones Brothers' place and there reared to maturity a family of three children, four died before grown. Mrs. Elizabeth Mohler was also born in Ohio and she and Martin S. Mohler were united in marriage at Covington, Ohio.

James M. Mohler, subject of this review, was educated in McPherson College, a Dunkard or Brethren institution of learning which he attended for a period of three years. This school is widely attended by young men and women of Dunkard persuasion and draws students from more than eleven states of the Union. For the past three years, Mr. Mohler has filled the important post of trustee of the college.

Mr. Mohler was united in marriage with Ida May Wampler in 1895. Ida May (Wampler) Mohler was born and reared in Johnson county, Missouri on a farm near the town of Knob Noster. The following children have been born of this marriage, namely: Ruth, Elizabeth, and Salome. Mr. Mohler has always been a farmer and, immediately after their marriage, Mr. and 'Mrs. Mohler settled on the farm

Mr. Mohler is one of the leaders in the religious life of Johnson county and has taken a very active and important part in the work of the church in the belief of which he was reared. At the present time he is serving as elder of the Brethren or Dunkard church at Leeton. Missouri, and has been a memljer of the General Sunday School Board of this denomination for the past five years. This board is the governing body which has charge of all the Sunday Schools of the Dunkard faith in the United States and elsewhere. Before taking this position, Mr. Mohler was a member of the Advisory Board of the Brethren Sunday Schools for a period of six years.

Walter S. Harwood, widely-known horseman of Post Oak township and Confederate veteran, is a son of an old Missouri pioneer who settled in St. Louis when this now great city was a French hamlet of but a few hundred souls. Mr. Harwood was born in St. Louis. Tune 14. 1837. son of Walter B. and Martha (Kahelan) Harwood, both of whom were born in Virginia, the latter in the city of Richmond. Both parents came to Missouri before their marriage. Mrs. Harwood. the subject's mother, made her home with a family named Linden. She also became well acquainted with a family named McKnight and later one of her daughters married a son of this family. The McKnights were prominently identified with the early history of St. Louis, members of the family having been engaged in business there for many years, and were the founders of the famous old Planters' Hotel which for many years was the most noted hostelry of the entire Southwest. Walter B. Harwood located in St. Louis as early as 1818 at a time when the future great city was a little hamlet strung out along the banks of the mighty Mississippi. His son, Walter S. Harwood. subject of this review, can recall that the site of the Union Station was all meadow and during his boyhood days he cut hay on the spot and hauled many loads of hay from the very site of the depot. Walter B. Harwood died in the year 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Harwood were parents of the following children: Robert B., who served as county clerk of Johnson county and is now deceased: Samuel S., who died when a young man; Walter S., subject of this review: Dr. N. S.. who died at Monroe City. Missouri in 1917: O. B., former resident of Johnson county, now deceased: Elizabeth Page, who died at the age of nineteen years; Mrs.

Martha Lakelan, of St. Louis, Missouri; C. J., who lives on the old I home place at Kirkwood, Missouri ; and Eleanor A., who lives in St. | Louis. The mother of these children died at St. Louis in 1896. i

Walter S. Harwood enlisted in the Confederate service when \ twenty-three years of age, and served throughout the Civil War. Two I other brothers, Robert and O. B., also served in the Confederate army. ] Mr. Harwood was a member of the famous Fourth Missouri Cavalry and was captured at one time and interned in the military prison at St. i Louis and was held there until his exchange. His imprisonment was shortened to two weeks because of the ruse which he performed in j trading names with a fellew prisoner who did not wish to be exchanged. During his term of service in the Confederate army, Mr. Harwood was j elected an officer of his company but resigned the position, preferring to serve in the ranks. He took part in the battle of Knoxville, Tennessee, and fought with the armies of Generals Marmaduke and Price throughout Missouri and Arkansas. His command were continually making raids into the enemy's land and were constantly on the move. He was finally mustered out at Shreveport, Louisiana, after a strenuous period of active service in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas, during which he endured many hardships and many times was on the verge of starvation, it being necessary for the soldiers of his command to subsist by securing provisions in the country they raided. Prior to his enlistment in the service, Mr. Harwood spent a year in Texas when twenty years old.

After the close of the Civil ^^'ar, he and his two brothers farmed on the old home place for two years and then divided the property and came to Johnson county. His two brothers came to Johnson county and located here. Mr. Harwood lived in the neighborhood of St. Louis until 1884 and he then came to Johnson county and bought the place where he now resides in Post Oak township. This is a well-improved farm of four hundred acres, all the improvements on the place having been placed there by Mr. Harwood since he became the owner of the land. During the many years in whicli he has l)een a resident of this county, Mr. Harwood has achieved a considerable reputation as a breeder of thoroughbred draft and trotting horses. He has always been a lover of good horseflesh.

the following children: Mrs. Nettie Foster, Greeley, Colorado; Josephine; Mrs. Lillian Caldwell, of Johnson connty; Ida, who died January 12, 1907; Walter, deceased; Robert, at home with his parents; Mrs. Anna M. Smith, of Oklahoma.

During the four score years wiiich have passed since he first saw the light of day, this octogenarian has seen many great changes for the better in his native state. He has witnessed the growth of great cities; has seen the coming of the railroads; the transformation of an unpeopled w'ilderness to a land of beautiful towns, cities, and fertile farms. He has taken part in the creating of a great commonwealth. He has witnessed the building of highways where there were nothing but trails across the country. Once, he took up arms in defense of the land which gave him birth and fought for what he rightly deemed to be just. He has seen a great nation arise, has seen states welded together, and again plunged into war, a AVorld War fought in behalf of the principles of liberty and justice for which this nation stands. Should his country again need him, Walter S. Harwood stands ready once more to shoulder a gun and to assist the Union in preserving the liberties of mankind.

August Wolf, capable and enterprising farmer of Madison town- . sfiip, was born on the farm where he is now residing, August 28, 1879, a son of Ernest and Anna (Lang) Wolf both of whom were born in Germany. Ernest Wolf was born in 1830, was reared to young manhood in Germany and served in the Prussian army as required by the exacting military laws of his native country. He learned the trade of millwright. Shortly after he had served his term in the army he left Germany and came to America to find the freedom which had been denied him in his native land. The enforced years of military training, the submission to the Prussian yoke of militarism, which even then was beginning to dominate Germany and render her people mere automatons, so ground into his soul that Ernest Wolf was imbued with a hatred of Prussianism and longed, while undergoing military service, to get awav from it all to a land which was not infested with arbitrary, arrogantly brutal officers. This hatred of all things Prussian never left this independent, sturdy German-born American and he never ceased to avow his hatred of the system which had taken toll of his young life. He first settled in St. Louis, Missouri and was employed as a car repairer at a wage of ninety dollars per month. During the

Civil War, he entered the Union service as a member of the Home Guards and thus showed his loyalty and love for his adopted country. Ernest Wolf was thrifty and was ever looking forward to the time when he could own a piece of land which would be all his own. He saved his earnings as he was able and after the war was ended he came to Johnson county. After a residence in Holden of bttt a few years, he purchased a farm near the city and during the remaining years of his life developed his fine farm to the utmost. Mr. Wolf was very successful as a farmer and stockman and became fairly well-to-do. He was a man of good habits, very industrious, and was blessed with excellent health up to the time of his illness which culminated in his death April 12, 1915 at the age of eighty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wolf were parents of these children besides the subject of this review: Mrs. Johanna Zinn. Topeka. Kansas; Mrs. Fredericka Sheer, deceased; Fred, died in infancy: Ernest. Jr., Holden, Missouri; Louis, in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company; Mrs. Bertha Coy, Madison township; Henry, Kansas City; Edward, Gary, Nebraska; Mrs. Lizzie Donelson ; Annie, at home ; Laura ; and Charley, who was killed in a wreck on the Missouri Pacific railroad.

Ernest Wolf was born in Hanover, Germany, February 11, 1830. He died at his home April 12, 1915, at 2 P. M. He came to St. Louis in 1855, went to work for the Missouri Pacific Railway Company and continued in its service until 1855. He moved to Holden in 1871 and bought the farm on which he lived since, one mile west of Holden. He is mourned by his wife, five sons, and five daughters. The remains were temporarily deposited in the Steele vault. Owing to the dangerous illness of his wife and daughter, it was thought best to defer any funeral services at this time. Mr. \\'olf was in his eighty-sixth year and up to the last few weeks was able to be up and about the house. He bought a very impoverished piece of land in 1871 and developed it into one of the best dairy farms in the county. He stocked his farm with Holstein cattle and made a success. He was an energetic, good man, a good friend and neighbor. Like a shock of grain, fully ripe, he is garnered into the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

August Wolf was reared to maturity on the home place near Holden and is farming one hundred eighty-one acres of fine land and operating a dairy in connection. In addition to general farming and dairA'ing, he raises a considerable number of hogs each year. Mr. Wolf is following in his father's footsteps as a tiller of the soil and is making a decided success of his life work. He is a member and a deacon of the Baptist church and is fraternally affiliated with the Woodmen of the World, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Daughters of Rebekah.

Dr. John T. Anderson, a leading medical practitioner of Johnson county, who has practiced continuously in Post Oak township for the past twenty-seven years, is a native son of Missouri and is descended from one of the oldest pioneer families of Johnson county. He was born in Henry county. [Missouri. November 21, 1869, son of Andrew J. and j\Iary A. (Swift) Anderson, wdio were well-known and highly respected residents of Henry county for many years. Andrew J. Anderson, the father, was born in Johnson county on a farm north of Warrensburg in 1844 and was a son of John Anderson who was born in Virginia in 1795, son of John Anderson, "My Jo John," of whom the poet. Burns, sang. The grandfather of Dr. Anderson migrated to Johnson county, Missouri in the early twenties, about 1825, antl entered government land, developing a farm which is now owned by Judge Wood. In the year 1850, he left his lirst homestead and moved to a farm south of Cornelia. He reared a family of eleven children, of whom Andrew J. Anderson was the youngest. During the Civil War, the elder Anderson was a captain in the Home Guards and commanded the company of which Andrew J. was a member. Andrew J. Anderson attended the early "subscription schools" in Johnson county and was taught by the noted "Bill" Stewart who was afterward killed by Judge Burford. He accompanied his parents to Henry county and in 1882 was united in marriage with ^lary A. Swift, who was born and reared in Henry county, whither her parents had removed from Lonejack. Her father, Shelby Swift, was a miller and operated a mill, known as the Swift Mill, in Henry county. Mr. and Mrs. Swift died of typhoid fever when the mother of Dr. Anderson was quite young. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were married in 1868. ]\Irs. Sharp is Dr. Anderson's only living sister and their mother, ]\Irs. Anderson, resides with her. Andrew J. Anderson died in 1898, after an active and industrious life as a farmer and stockman.

teen years old in the office of Dr. E. C. Royston, of Henry county, with whom he studied for two years. He also studied for a short time with Dr. H. E. Pitcher, of Chilhowee. When but nineteen years of age, Dr. Anderson entered the old Missouri Medical College which is now incorporated as the Medical Department of Washington University. This was the first medical school established in the state of Missouri. Dr. Anderson graduated from this institution in 1889 and after one year's practice at Blairstown he entered the oilice of Dr. Ward in Post Oak township and practiced with Dr. \\^ard for nine years. Since that time he has practiced on his own account ver}' successfully. He moved to his present place of residence in 1891 and has enjoyed a remunerative, continuous practice for twenty-seven years. During this time he has made a host of warm, steadfast friends and has established himself as one of the ranking physicians in this section of Missouri.

Dr. Anderson was married to Minnie D. Carr, of Shawnee Mound, Henry county. June 21, 1893. To this union have been born two very interesting children: Beulah W., who is a graduate of Forest Park University at St. Louis and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Missouri University in 1916, and during the past year has been head of the English Department of Forest Park University; and John Galen, the second child, is a graduate of the Missouri Military School located at Mexico, Missouri, studied one year at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, and was enrolled as a dental student at Washington University when he enlisted as a member of Hospital Unit Number 21, for duty in France among the wounded soldiers of the allies. Mrs. Minnie D. (Carr) Anderson is a daughter of Thomas J. Carr, a miller of Henry county, and Martha R. (Howerton) Carr, and a granddaughter of Judge Richard Carr, who was one of the early pioneers of La,fayette county and served as judge of the county court for several terms.

Dr. and Mrs. Anderson are well-educated, refined, likable people, who take a keen interest in the affairs of the world and are highly esteemed for their usefulness to humanity. Mrs. Minnie Anderson is a graduate of the Baptist Female College of Lexington, Missouri; studied at the Warrensburg Normal and at the Bayard Female College, Clinton, Missouri. She won a medal for excellence in art at the Baptist Female College of Lexington. Dr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Christian church. Dr. Anderson is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons : of the Johnson County, the ^Missouri State.

Otto Hilke, substantial retired farmer of Holden, Missouri, had very little of this world's goods when he left Geramn}' fifty-eight years ago to seek a home and fortune in this land of opportunity. His worldly possessions were but a few cents and he owed his passage money, but he was endowed with a good mind, strong body, and a willingness to work hard in order that he might realize his ambitions. Opportunities were here in this new country in plenty and he would be unhampered with the governmental and cast restrictions which prevail in his native land to this day. Here, Otto Hilke found that one man is as good as another, that the only standard of measurement by which the worth of citizens is gauged includes ability to do things, honesty, integrity, and individual worth. He found a way to surmount the difSculties which beset a poor man's way and, during the thirtysix years which he has spent in Johnson county, he has accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to keep him and his in comfort for the remainder of their days.

Otto Hilke was born in Germany September 29, 1844. He imigrated to America in 1859 and located in Iowa and, in 1864, in St. Louis where he was employed as laborer and resided on Broadway and Fifth Avenue. When he came to Johnson county in 1881. he purchased one hundred twenty acres of land in Columbus township, later added ninety-eight acres to his holdings, and engaged extensively in stock raising. Mr. Hilke's theory of successful farming on Johnson county land, followed by the most successful agriculturists of the county, calls for less plowing and more live-stock, - a method of farming which restores worn-out land to a better condition of fertility and conserves the soil to a greater degree than intensive cultivation. During Mr. Hilke's career in this county he has accumulated considerable property and is owner of the old Cockrell farm, whereon Senator Cockrell was born. For a number of years Mr. Hilke specialized in the raising of thoroughbred Hereford cattle and was very successful in this important branch of animal husbandry. For some time, he also bred Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Hilke concluded to retire from the active labors of the farm in 1911 by reason of advancing age and he moved to a comfortable home in Holden.

county, Missouri, who was born near Versailles, Missouri. Mrs. Hilke resided in St. Louis at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Hilke have two children: Matthias, who resides on the home farm and is a successful farmer; and John, who resides on the old Cockrell farm, which was purchased by his father.

Mr. Hilke is a Democrat in his political belief. He always took an active and influential part in local civic affairs in Columbus township and has served as school director and road commissioner. He was the most influential factor in the building of the Blackwater or St. John the Baptist Catholic church, a mission of the Holden Catholic church, with which Mr. Hilke is now affiliated. Mr. Hilke is highly respected in his home community and is one of the useful and valued citizens of Johnson county.

Jacob Ayres, a well-known pioneer citizen of Johnson county, has long been classed with the most successful farmers and stockmen of Post Oak township. Mr. Ayres was born July 27, 1830 at Plainfield, in Middlesex county. New Jersey, a son of Oliver and Hettie (Corell) Ayres, both of whom were members of prominent and highly respected colonial families of New Jersey. There, on the old family estate, Jacob Ayres grew to manhood. Actuated by a desire to make his own way in the world and to own a home of his own, Mr. Ayres left New Jersey when he was thirty years of age and came West to try his fortune in the forests and on the prairies of Missouri. He arrived in Warrensburg in May, 1860. Mr. Ayres was at that time engaged in the lightning-rod business, but within a few years after his coming to Warrensburg he purchased a farm in Johnson county and began farming and stock raising, which pursuits he has followed continuously since.