Columbus, Missouri

Like many other enterprising young men, Mr. Allen came to Johnson county, because he thought it possessed many advantages over other local¬ ities. He came with his young wife to Warrensburg, and remained there a few years. He then commenced to improve his present farm, near Columbus. His means were limited, and, like most of the settlers in a new country, the numerous obstacles and difficulties had to be met by per¬ severing energy and industry. He owns, at present, a snug little farm, and is gradually surrounding himself with stock of all kinds. They have two boys: Jesse and Frank, who are now beginning to be some help to their father, and it will be but a few years until he will be able to spend his remaining years under the shadow of his own vine, and enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Passage source: 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; the Physical Features of the County; the Early Settlers and Pioneers; the Political and War History; the Religious and Educational History...statistics and Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, published 1881.

The name that heads this sketch is well known throughout the county as one among the earliest settlers. He was born in Lee valley, Lee county, Virginia, on March 15, 1811. His parents were natives of Vir¬ ginia. His father moved to Tennessee after the battle of New Orleans. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents in Tennessee, till the year 1829 in Ray county, one mile from the Cherokee Nation. He recollects the assembly of men at the treaty of the Hiawathy Purchase, and was present at that treaty, and recollects Gen. Jackson and Gen. Houston, and was only a boy at that time. He came with his parents to this state in the year 1829, and drove a four-horse wagon from Tennessee to Tabo Grove, Lafayette county, and went from there to St. Charles in 1834. He attended medical lectures at the medical college of Ohio, in the citv of Cincinnati, during the sessions of 1831 and 1832. He settled in Columbus when it was the count} seat of Johnson county. The doctor "tells an amusing story of the trial of one of the first criminal cases. Hav¬ ing no jail to confine the prisoner, the court ordered the sheriff' to confine him in an old wagon box, which he did by turning the box over him, and jury proceeded to literally and judicially sit on the case. Aftei a short deliberation the jury accpiitted the prisoner, and the couit, juiy and prisoner adjourned to a large tree, near which there was a fine spring of water, and there the assembled court and citizens proceeded to refresh themselves after their judicial labors, under the cooling shade of the tiees, with a few gallons of good Bourbon whiskey, and after the manner of ye early pioneer. He was married on May 5, 1836, to Elisabeth C. Houx, daughter of one of the earliest settlers of this county. They have had 10 children, six of whom are now living. He has filled several offices in the county. ? He was appointed commissioner in bankruptcy, and acted in that capacity for two or three years. He represented the citizens of this county and district in the state legislature during the years 1836, 1838 and 1840. He was also one of the directors of the State Bank of Missouri for about 4 years. Besides giving each of his children a tract of land, he owns at present in the county about 2300 acres of fine land. His home is who forms the subject of this sketch, is a native of Kentucky, was born in Woodford county in the year 1814. His father was a native of Vir¬ ginia, and his mother a native of North Carolina. He was married in the year 1836 to Miss Julia Boone, of Kentucky, who is a lineal decendant of the distinguished pioneer of that name - already famous in history for his deeds of courage and daring. Mr. Hammond moved with his family to Missouri in the year 1855, and having considerable money he bought 500 - acres in a body of as fine land as there is in the township. His pleasant home is part of the old Cockrell homestead, and was the birth place of the present United States senator of that name. Johnson county contains no better land. It is well adapted for all kinds of grain and grass, and finely situated for raising and feeding all kinds of stock. He has added considerable to the farm in the way of permanent improvements and it now contains about 560 acres, nearly all under cultivation. He has raised thiee sons, one of whom (Wm. Marion Hammond) was killed at the battle of Helena, Ark.; Wyatt Hammond, another son, is a farmer, and settled about three miles from his father; Thos. Dudley Hammond, his y Ounoest son> 's stiW living at home. Although considerably advanced in years, Mr. Hammond still possesses a great deal of hearty vigor, and with his genial disposition bids fair to live many years to enjoy his possessions

Passage source: 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; the Physical Features of the County; the Early Settlers and Pioneers; the Political and War History; the Religious and Educational History...statistics and Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, published 1881.

Among the many enterprising farmers of this township none is held in higher esteem than the subject of this sketch. He was born on the 26th of July, 1812, in Bourbon county, Ky. He emigrated to Johnson county Mo., in the year 1839, in the month of June. He bought some land soon after his arrival and opened a farm, and has continued the business ever since. He directs his attention principally to raising cattle, hogs and mules, and is very successful in raising stock. Believing in the sound political maxim " that the office ought to seek the man, and not the man the office," he has never been an office seeker, but the people of his dis¬ trict knowing him to be strictly honest and discreet, cast upon him the office of justice of the peace, which he reluctantly accepted and filled with credit to his constituents for one term. He was married to Miss Lena Ann Houx, March 23, 1843, who was a daughter of Nick Houx, one of the oldest settlers in the county. He has seven living children: three boys, now at home, and one daughter. His farm at present consists of about 425 acres of land, situated in sections 21, 22 and 28, adjoining the town of Columbus.

Passage source: 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; the Physical Features of the County; the Early Settlers and Pioneers; the Political and War History; the Religious and Educational History...statistics and Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, published 1881.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Columbus Township - it names this place 9 more 9 times.