CHAPTER XXVII (Part 94)
BIOGRAPHICAL
George A. Johnson, a progressive citizen of Honey Creek township, Henry County, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Gascanade County, June 9, 1878, a son of Christ and Mary E. (Wolff) Johnson, natives of Sweden. The father settled in Gasconade County when he was twenty-four years old and resided there until 1885, when he removed to Pettis County and was engaged in farming near Sedalia until 1900, when he traded his farm there for a place in Henry County near Maurine. Here he was engaged in general farming and stock raising until the time of his death, February 26, 1917, and his widow now resides on the home farm in Henry County. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Martha Quaintance, Gerster, Missouri; George A., the subject of this sketch; Mary M., a trained nurse who enlisted as a Red Cross nurse during the World War and after having served for a time at Camp Severe, South Carolina, she signed up for oversea duty and at this writing (October 23, 1918) she is at New York City awaiting orders to sail for Europe; Mrs. Katie A. Bower, Altoona, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Alice S. Benezette, Chilhowee, Missouri, and Florence, who resides at home.
George A. Johnson received his education, principally, in the public schools of Pettis County, and was engaged in farming in early life. He came to Henry County and engaged in the mercantile business at Garland. After a few years, he traded his stock of goods for a farm and since that time has been engaged in farming and stock raising. His place is located one and one-half miles northwest of Garland and is one of the well improved places of western Henry County. He built his residence in 1915 and he has also built a large barn and other farm buildings, which makes of his place one of the modern equipped and well improved farms of the township.
Mr. Johnson was united in marriage March 25, 1903, with Miss Eunice W. Benezette, a daughter of D. W. and Nannie (Mohler) Benezette. Nannie Mohler's father was a Dunkard minister. D. W. Benezette was a native of Virginia and an early settler of Henry County, and was engaged in farming in Honey Creek township. A few years prior to his death, he went to New Mexico, where he died. His wife died in 1906. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary Burke, Fields Creek township, Henry County; Mrs. Richard McWhirt, Centerview, Missouri; Edward, who was accidentally killed while hunting in 1903; Howard, a conductor on the Santa Fe railroad, resides at Argentine, Kansas; Eunice, W., the wife of George A. Johnson, the subject of this sketch; Harry H., Chilhowee, Missouri; Mrs. Lucy Lumary, deceased, left a daughter, Anna, who was six months old at her mother's death and since that time, has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. George A. Johnson, and she is now nine years old; Mrs. Abbie Woodruff, resides in Texas, and Frank E., a soldier in the United States Army, now serving in France with the American Expeditionary Force, and Mrs. Ruth V. Hunter, Chilhowee, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born two children, Nannie Marie and George Virgil.
Mr. Johnson is one of the progressive citizens of Honey Creek township and takes a keen interest in all modern improvement and advancement. He has been a member of the local school board for the past seven years and is recognized as one of the good roads boosters of Henry County. He is one of the substantial citizens of his township and county.
Wesley Holland - For sixty-five years Wesley Holland has lived in Henry County and has experienced the revelation of wild unbroken waste lands being replaced by fertile farms, modern cities and industries. Mr. Holland was born in Benton County, Missouri, February 14, 1845, the son of Needham and Matilda (Blankenship) Holland, who were natives of Barron County, Kentucky, and came to Benton County, Missouri, in the early days, remaining there until 1853, when they came to Henry County. In after years, they lived in different portions of the State, Mrs. Holland being laid to rest in Vernon County, Missouri. Mr. Holland died in Texas. He was the father of twenty children, ten by his first wife and ten by the second. For many years, he was a member of the Missouri State Guards.
Wesley Holland was educated in the rural schools of Henry County and helped in the work of the pioneer home, incidental to the farming methods of those days. In 1862, Mr. Holland enlisted in the Confederate Army under Gen. Joe Shelby and served for three years. He was in many important battles, one of which was Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Mr. Holland loves to review those stirring times and one of the incidents he relates is as follows: He was a member of Gen. Joe Shelby's cavalry and each fourth man was detailed to hold horses, while the other three were to invite an attack of the Union men. Mr. Holland's captain ordered him to hold one of the officer's horses and Mr. Holland replied: "Hey, I didn't enlist to hold horses; I came to fight," and the captain said: "All right, there are plenty of them here that want the job," and let him get in the thick of the fray. The men were then ordered into an open field to draw the enemy's fire and they succeeded in doing so. The Union batteries opened, but firing over the heads of the Confederates, who were lying flat upon the ground. One of the Confederates, observing their shots flying high, yelled: "They're shooting too d - n high," and the laugh went the rounds. But that kind of shooting suited Mr. Holland and his comrades, as they were the targets for the big guns in that memorable battle. They were then ordered to take to their horses and continued their fighting of one of the biggest battles that took place west of the Mississippi River during the Civil War - Prairie Grove.
Mr. Holland received his honorable discharge in 1865 at Shreveport, Louisiana. He returned to Henry County, Leesville township, and resumed farming upon Forty acres which he purchased at that time. He remained upon this land until 1881, when he sold it and purchased 200 acres in Osage township, his present home. In 1913, he purchased 200 additional acres, making 400 acres of well improved land that he now owns.
December 25, 1868, Wesley Holland was married to Georgiana Renfro in Leesville township. Mrs. Holland was born December 7, 1837, in Barren County, Kentucky, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Leeper) Renfro, who were early settlers of Henry County. Mr. and Mrs. Holland are the parents of six children and have twenty-one grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Their children are as follows: Minnie Frances, wife of William B. Moree, Lowry City, Missouri; John N., Lowry City; William Y., in Montana; Retta of California; and Thomas B., of Minnesota; Matilda Elizabeth, now Mrs. Henry Schmidli, Brownington, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Holland have spent most of their lives in Henry County and have contributed in no small degree to its development. Upon their farm, they raise the usual crops of wheat, corn, etc., and also successfully raise alfalfa. Mr. Holland has a herd of Shropshire sheep, which are eligible for registry, and give of their valuable wool to their owner. He is a Democrat, and is a member of the township board. Mr. and Mrs. Holland have been members of the Baptist Church for over forty years. He is a member of Spangler Camp, Confederate Veterans, Clinton, Missouri, and wears the "Cross of Honor," given for four years' service.
Cecil E. Gray, a progressive young farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native son of Henry County. His father, Francis M. Gray, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, was also born in Henry County, and the Grays are one of the pioneer families of this section.
Cecil E. Gray was born in Big Creek township February 21, 1894. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from the Norris High School. He later attended the University of Missouri, where he was graduated in 1916. He then engaged in farming and stock raising in partnership with his father in Big Creek township, where they own and operate one of the large farms of the county. It consists of 1,280 acres and they are extensively engaged in breeding registered Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs and also general farming. The Gray place is known as the "Inland Farm" and as an up to date and modernly conducted stock farm, it has few equals and no superiors in this section of the State.
Mr. Gray was united in marriage January 22, 1917, with Miss Mary J. Stansberry, a daughter of W. A. and Sarah E. (Webster) Stansberry. A sketch of W. A. Stansberry appears in this volume. Mr. Gray is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is one of Henry County's representative young agriculturists.
Ernest Ward, a well known and progressive farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a member of one of the worthy pioneer families of Henry County. He was born in Big Creek township April 5, 1881, and is a son of Lafayette and Melissa A. (Waugh) Ward. A more extensive sketch of the Ward family appears elsewhere in this volume. Lafayette and Melissa A. (Waugh) Ward are the parents of the following children: W. S., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Charles E., deceased; O. L., lives in Montana; Oscar T., Big Creek township, and Ernest, the subject of this sketch.
Ernest Ward was reared on the home farm and received his education in the public schools of Henry County. He began farming on his own account in Montana when he was eighteen years of age in partnership with his brother, O. L. Ward. He continued farming in Montana for two years, when he came home and assumed control and operation of the home place, to which he has since devoted his attention. The Ward farm is located two and one-half miles east of Blairstown and contains 185 acres of well improved and valuable land. The farm buildings are modern and commodious and the place is well adapted to stock raising. Mr. Ward is not only extensively engaged in general farming but raises high grade mules, horses, cattle and hogs, and is recognized as one of the successful stock raisers of Henry County.
On December 20, 1908, Ernest Ward was united in marriage with Miss Edith Atkins, daughter of County Judge R. O. and Dora (Doak) Atkins of Johnson County. Judge Atkins was born in Pettis County, Missouri, and is a son of James Atkins, a native of Kentucky, who was born in 1828 and died at Blairstown, Missouri, in 1904. James Atkins married Elizabeth Elliott, also a native of Adair County, Kentucky, born November 21, 1832, and died May 20, 1912. James Atkins and his wife settled in Henry County near Windsor in 1850. About three years later they removed to Johnson County, Missouri. The remains of James Atkins and wife were buried at Blairstown. To Judge R. O. Atkins and wife were born the following children: John, who now resides on the home place in Big Creek township, Henry County; Edith, the wife of Ernest Ward, the subject of this sketch; Ethel, married Harry Salsbury, principal of the Blairstown public schools; Mary, who resides with her father in Johnson County; Jennings, George and William, residing at home. To Ernest Ward and wife have been born the following children: Alberta Lee, Charles Ray and Robert Harold.
Mr. Ward is one of Henry County's substantial citizens and the Ward family is prominent in the community.
Thomas L. Fisher, one of the substantial and well known farmers and stockmen of Big Creek township, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Pettis County January 11, 1865, and is a son of Hampton G. and Nannie (Newbill) Fisher. Hampton G. Fisher was also a native of Pettis County, Missouri, born in 1842. He was a son of Thomas L. Fisher, one of the very early pioneers of Pettis County. Samuel L. Fisher was a Pennsylvanian, born in 1800, and came to Missouri, settling in Pettis County in 1821, and is said to have been the first man to plant corn on what is known as South Fork in Pettis County. Upon coming to Pettis County, he entered a large tract of land from the Government and was an extensive farmer and stockman during his life time. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years. He died in 1891. His remains are interred in the County Line Baptist Cemetery, he having donated the land for this cemetery many years prior to his death.
Thomas L. Fisher is one of seven children born to his parents, the others being as follows: Charles A., who lives in Idaho; Mrs. Carrie Mainline, Pettis County, Missouri; Cassie, who died at the age of sixteen; Mrs. Cora Mainline, deceased; Clark, who lives in Pettis County; Mrs. Mollie Sterling, Pettis County, Missouri.
Thomas L. Fisher was reared on his father's farm in Pettis County and received a good common school education and when he was about twenty years of age, began life for himself. He followed farming in Pettis and Johnson Counties and in 1895, came to Henry County and purchased a small farm. Later, he sold this farm and bought other land. He now owns a valuable farm of two hundred eighty acres, one hundred sixty of which is located in Big Creek township, and eighty acres in Chilhowee township, Johnson County. Mr. Fisher's farm is well improved and in a high state of cultivation and indicates the industry and progressiveness of its owner.
Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Miller, a native of Allen County, Ohio, and a daughter of Marcus and Melissa Miller. The father died when Mrs. Fisher was a child and the mother later married John Blume, and they came to Johnson County, Missouri, in 1888. She died in 1913 and her remains are buried in Mineral Creek Cemetery, Johnson County. Mrs. Fisher is one of the following children born to her parents: Daniel, lives in Allen County, Ohio; Jesse, Allen County, Ohio, and Mrs. Dora Bear, lives in Washington. To Thomas Fisher and wife have been born the following children: Ruby L., married Elmer Orr, St. Louis, Missouri; Lloyd; Paul M., a graduate of the Blairstown High School; Forest C, Florence B., Media L., Francis M., Walter L., all residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Fisher is a public spirited and enterprising citizen and takes a keen interest in public affairs, and is especially interested in the progress of the public school system. He is now serving his second term on the school board of Blairstown.
