CHAPTER XXVII (Part 95)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Oscar T. Ward, a prominent farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native of Henry County and was born in the township where he now resides March 13, 1879. He is a son of Lafayette and Melissa A. (Waugh) Ward. A more extensive history of the Ward family appears in connection with the sketch of W. S. Ward. To Lafayette and Melissa A. (Waugh) Ward were born the following children: W. S., a sketch of whom appears in this volume; Charles, who was accidentally killed while digging a well on the Oscar T. Ward place; O. L., who resides in Montana; Oscar T., the subject of this sketch, and Ernest, who resides on the home farm.
Oscar T. Ward was reared in Big Creek township and received his education in the district schools of Henry County. He has made farming and stock raising his life work. He purchased his first piece of land, which consisted of seventy acres, in September, 1901, and has added to this place from time to time until he now owns one hundred fifty-six acres of valuable land, one hundred sixteen acres of which is in Big Creek township and forty acres in Chilhowee township, Johnson County, Missouri. The Ward farm is well improved with good fences and modern farm buildings. The place is well watered and suitable for stock raising as well as general farming. Mr. Ward raises mules, cattle and hogs quite extensively and is regarded as one of the highly successful farmers and stockmen of the community.
December 22, 1901, Oscar T. Ward and Miss Alice Albin were united in marriage. She is a daughter of D. L. and Hattie Albin, and was born in Ross County, Ohio, November 22, 1881. The Albin family came to Missouri in 1882, when Mrs. Ward was about a year old. They located in Johnson County, Chilhowee township, where the parents now reside. Mrs. Ward was one of the following children born to her parents: Charles, Greenfield, Oklahoma; Alice, the wife of Oscar T. Ward, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. John Davis, Big Creek township; Mrs. Walter Doak, Greenfield, Oklahoma; Roy Albin, who resides in Big Creek township; Myrtle, deceased; Mrs. Howard Waugh, Big Creek township; Edith and Edna, twins; Edna married Fred Shiel, Greenfield, Oklahoma, and Edith resides at home with her parents, and Nadine, who also resides with her parents.
To Oscar Ward and wife have been born the following children: Forest Fay, Irene, Elva Ruth and Orval L. Mr. Ward is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Blairstown and also the Modern Woodmen of America. He takes an active interest in local public affairs and for many years, served as treasurer of the consolidated school district number one, resigning from that position in 1917. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Blairstown. He is an elder and is now serving his second year as superintendent of the Sunday school. The Ward family are well known and prominent in the community.
William M. Boston, a successful and well known farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Rose Hill, Johnson County, October 11, 1873, a son of Isaac and Jane (Simmons) Boston, both natives of Missouri. The father was born in St. Louis County and the mother in Cole County. Isaac Boston is a son of David L. W. Boston, a Kentuckian, who came to Missouri in 1842 and settled in Johnson County, where he spent the remainder of his life. He entered Government land and also bought several hundred acres until he owned nine hundred acres in Rose Hill township, Johnson County. Isaac Boston was a child when his parents settled in Johnson County, and here he grew to manhood and was engaged in farming and stockraising until 1907, when he went to Beaver County, Oklahoma, where he now resides. His wife died in 1909, aged sixty-three years. They were the parents of the following children: Albert W., Denver, Colorado; John C, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; William M., the subject of this sketch; Henry C, Ft. Lupton, Colorado; Stella M., married Dosse Potts, and is now deceased; Lawrence M., Ft. Logan, Colorado; Bessie M., married George Coburn, Ft. Lupton, Colorado, and Roy W., Ft. Lupton, Colorado.
William M. Boston was reared in Rose Hill township, Johnson County, and received his education in the public schools of that vicinity. He began life for himself as a farmer and stock raiser in Johnson County, and in 1900, bought one hundred three acres of land in Big Creek township, which was known as the Thomas Davis place. Since that time, he has met with uniform success and has added one hundred twenty acres to his original purchase, and is now the owner of a splendid farm of two hundred twenty-three acres. The place is well improved with a good residence, barns and other farm buildings. Mr. Boston is extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs, making a specialty of Poland China hogs, and his place is well adapted to stock raising as well as general farming.
July 12, 1899, William M. Boston was united in marriage with Miss Myrtle Potts, a daughter of James R. and Sallie E. (Davis) Potts, who now reside at Blairstown, Missouri. Mrs. Boston was born in Big Creek township and her parents were early settlers of that township. Mrs. Boston has one brother, Dosse Potts, who resides at Iola, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Boston have been born two daughters: Ruth O. and Gladys I., both of whom are students in the local school and reside at home. Mr. Boston is a student of men and affairs and an extensive reader.
He gives special attention to the literature of agriculture and modern farming methods. His extensive reading coupled with years of experience along agricultural lines place him in the front ranks of modern farmers and stockmen. Mr. and Mrs. Boston are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Blairstown, Missouri.
John Gilmer Atkins, a successful farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, was born in Johnson County November 25, 1884, and belongs to a pioneer family of this section of Missouri. He is a son of Robert Oliver and Dora Alice (Doak) Atkins, natives of Johnson County.
Robert Oliver Atkins is now a resident of Johnson County, and at present one of the members of the board of county judges. More extensive mention of the Atkins family history is made in connection with a sketch of Ernest Ward, which appears in this volume.
John G. Atkins was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of Blairstown, Missouri. He remained at home with his parents until his marriage, which occurred January 25, 1911. He was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Lee Stewart, a daughter of W. H. and Isabell Frances (Cox) Stewart. The father was a native of West Virginia, born July 13, 1828, and died July 4, 1911. He came to Henry County in an early day and first located at Clinton and later removed to White Oak township, and died at Urich. His wife was born May 1, 1845, and died June 1, 1916, and their remains are interred in the cemetery at Urich.
W. H. and Isabell Frances (Cox) Stewart were the parents of the following children: John E., Urich, Missouri; Jennie, deceased; Even L., deceased; Frances; William H., deceased; Charles, Kansas City, Missouri; Albert A., Urich; Earl G., Urich; Raymond Fernwood, died in infancy; Mrs. Fern Spry, deceased; Margaret Lee, wife of John G. Atkins, the subject of this sketch; Edith, wife of Ernest McCoy, Calhoun, Missouri, and Ethel, married Dr. J. N. Jerome, Urich, Missouri. By a former marriage of W. H. Stewart to Margaret Burchnell, the following children were born: B. N., Urich, Missouri; Harry, deceased; Mrs. Florence Read, Goodwell, Oklahoma; Mrs. Leslie E. Scholl, deceased, and R. B., who resides on the Gaines ranch near Clinton, Missouri.
Mr. Atkins resides on his farm of eighty acres which is located three-fourths of a mile east of Blairstown, where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising and makes a specialty of big boned Poland China hogs and Hereford cattle. In connection with his farming, he is also employed as rural mail carrier on Route No. 23 out of Blairstown and has served in the capacity as substitute carrier for the past ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Atkins have one son, John Gilmer, Jr., born July 19, 1916. Mr. Atkins is one of the progressive and energetic young men of Henry County and is recognized as one of its leading citizens of the younger generation.
Alexander M. Butcher, a Henry County pioneer who has contributed his part to the up-building of the county and State, is now living retired, after an active life of usefulness of over a half a century in this State. Mr. Butcher is a native of Ohio. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, February 5, 1837, and is a son of Nathan and Elizabeth (Sillin) Butcher, natives of Virginia, the former of Hampshire and the latter of Loudoun County. The father died in 1843 when Alexander M. was about six years of age. The mother afterwards married Samuel Crow. She died in Auglaize County, Ohio. To Nathan and Elizabeth (Sillin) Butcher were born the following children: Alexander M., the subject of this sketch: John, deceased; Mrs. Mary Ellen Crawford, Wapakoneta, Ohio; James, Wapakoneta, Ohio. Upon the death of his father, Alexander M. made his home with his grandfather, James Butcher, Sr., who moved to Montgomery County, Indiana, in 1849.
Mr. Butcher was reared to manhood in his native State and Indiana, and received a common school education. When the Civil War broke out, he lived in Indiana and served in the Home Guard, during the Morgan raid. In 1866, Mr. Butcher came to Missouri and settled in Big Creek township, where he first bought eighty acres of land from James Webster. He added to his original holdings until he at one time owned six hundred acres. Later, he disposed of some of his land and now owns four hundred and thirty-six acres in Henry County, which he now rents and is living retired in Warrensburg, Missouri.
Alexander M. Butcher was united in marriage with Miss Margaret E. Waugh, a native of Montgomery County, Indiana, born in 1842. She died October 11, 1915. The following children were born to Alexander M. and Margaret E. (Waugh) Butcher: Martha Elizabeth, now Mrs. F. M. Engel, Warrensburg, Missouri; James Wallace, farmer, Bogard township; Frank S., Lawrence, Kansas; Paris P., deceased; Charlie W., Centerview; Mary Agnes, married Frank M. Gray, Big Creek township; Milton E., deceased; Clinton E., Big Creek township, and Harry E., deceased.
When Mr. Butcher came to Henry County, the ruin wrought by the Civil War was in evidence on every hand, and as he expresses it, the number of charred chimneys in view plainly indicated the wages of war. He soon found and made many new friends in the new country, and since first coming to Henry County, he has never regretted his choice of a home.
Mr. Butcher is a Republican and has always taken an active interest in politics, although he is a believer in men instead of parties. At one time he was the Republican candidate for county judge, but owing to the great normal Democratic majority, was defeated. He has held local township office and for a number of years in the early days was township clerk of Big Creek township. He is one of the substantial pioneer citizens, who has contributed his part to the development and up-building of Henry County.
Ralph E. Butcher, an enterprising and leading farmer and stockman of Big Creek township, is a native of Henry County. He was born in Big Creek township, January 21, 1890, and is a son of Paris P. and Edith L. (McFarland) Butcher. Paris P. Butcher was a son of A. M. Butcher, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Paris P. Butcher was a native of Indiana and came to Henry County with his parents when a boy. He died in 1892 at the age of twenty-eight years. His wife departed this life in 1900, and their remains are buried in the Carpenter Cemetery.
Edith L. (McFarland) Butcher was a native of Missouri and her mother, Mary Eliza McFarland, was a schoolmate of the mother of the author of this volume in Cooper County, Missouri.
Ralph E. Butcher was reared in Big Creek township and educated in the public schools and the Norris High School. He has followed farming and stock raising all his life and has met with merited success. He purchased his present place of one hundred fifty-five acres in 1912. The place is well improved with a good farm residence, large barns and other suitable farm buildings. Mr. Butcher is extensively engaged in raising cattle and hogs as well as general farming.
February 18, 1914, Ralph E. Butcher was united in marriage with Miss Mabel F. Park, a daughter of G. L. and Anna L. (Gait) Park, of Big Creek township. A sketch of G. L. Park appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Butcher have been born two daughters, Leona M. and Dorothy B. Mr. Butcher is a member of the Agricola Lodge No. 343 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and holds membership in the Methodist Church at Norris. He takes a keen interest in local affairs and is at present a member of the school board of consolidated district No. 1.
