Johnson, J.M. & Sarah (Ruffin)
Pg.
603
Johnson, William K. and Nancy J. (Matthews)
Pg.
361
Johnson, Zack A. and Maggie (Boyd)
Pg.
608
Kentling, Frank and Catherine (Sherch)
Pg.
353
Kissee, Alexander C. and Catherine (McHaffie)
Pg.
349
Kissee, Alexander C. and Cordelia M. (Davis)
Pg.
349
This gentleman has resided in Christian
County for the past six years, and though young, he is full of energy, business
qualification and thoroughly fitted for the drug business, which he is now
following. He is a native of Webster
County, Mo., born February 24, 1862, but was reared principally in Wright
County, this State. He is a son of J.
C. and Mary (Russell) Johnson and the grandson of Spencer Johnson who was a
Virginian by birth but of Scotch-Irish origin.
The latter was an early pioneer of Tennessee, and some of the members of
this family were active in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. J. C. Johnson and his mother, who was a
widow at that time, came to Missouri as early as 1832, about the time the
Indians were moved westward by the Government, and settled in Wright, now
Webster County, four miles from Seymour.
There they resided until the breaking out of the Civil War, then moved
to Arkansas. The father of our subject
enlisted with Gen. Price and was with him in the Arkansas campaign and in the
raid through Missouri. Previous to this
he was married in Webster County to Miss Russell, and after cessation of
hostilities he returned to Wright County.
He participated in a number of hard-fought battles and was a fearless
soldier. He and his wife are still
living on the old farm in Wright County and are well respected in the
community. The nine children born to
them were named in the order of their births as follows: J. M., subject; Ella,
Nancy, Thomas, Ophelia, William, Eliza, Jennie, and Laura. The father has always tilled the soil and is
a wide-awake energetic farmer and a man well posted on all the current topics
of the day.
Prof. J. M. Johnson spent his early days on the farm near
Henderson and attended the country schools.
Later he attended the high school at Hartville and the normal school at
Henderson, Webster County. From there
he entered the Missouri State Medical College at St. Louis and graduated from
the same in 1892 with a view to practice medicine, and is a registered
pharmacist. When he left school he
began teaching and continued this until he entered the Medical College. He taught in the public schools of Wright
and Webster Counties and for five years was president of a private normal at
that place. As an educator he is well
known and very popular and has had considerable experience. In 1892 he began the study of medicine and
also embarked in the drug trade. In the
latter he is in partnership with John B. Witty, who has lived in this county
for a number of years. Our subject took
up his residence in Sparta in 1887 and since then has been one of the prominent
businessmen of the place. He also owns
considerable real estate and has made a success of whatever he has
undertaken. He selected his wife in the
person of Miss Mary C. Ruffin, daughter of Henry Ruffin an early pioneer of the
county, and three children have been born to this union: Walter; Otto, died
young; and Lester. Prof. Johnson is a
member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M. of Sparta, and has held all
the offices in the former organization.
In politics he is with the Democratic party and was elected by that
party to the office of county superintendent of schools, holding the position
for two years. He has ever been
interested in educational work, and he and family are members of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in which he is deacon.
The public services of
Mr. Johnson, the efficient and capable treasurer of Christian County, Mo., have
been characterized by a noticeable devotion to the welfare of his county, and
his ability and fidelity in his present position have been seen and appreciated
by all. He is a native of Tennessee,
born in Grainger County September 22, 1837, and is a son of Joshua and Sarah
(Dent) Johnson, both natives of Tennessee, the father born in Hawkins and the
mother in Grainger County. They came to
Christian County, Mo., in 1868, and here both passed the remainder of their
days, the mother dying in 1877 and the father in 1881. Both were worthy members of the Missionary
Baptist Church. Of the eleven children
born to this worthy couple, five are still living: Lavesta, who married, died
when twenty years of age; Mariah is a widow and resides in this county; John M.
died in Tennessee; Luanna died in Missouri; Thomas died in Christian County;
James died when small; G. B. Johnson died while in the army; Amanda married H.
H. Roy and is living in Stone County; Tempy married W. C. McCraskey and resides
in this county; and Frances, who married A. H. Solomon, also resides in this
county. The Johnsons are descended from
an old pioneer family of Tennessee, and the Dents are of Irish extraction. Our subject remained in Tennessee until
1859, and was there married to Miss Nancy J. Matthews, a native of Hamilton
County, Tenn. In the last mentioned
year he brought his family to Missouri and located in Christian County, buying
land about twelve miles from Ozark. On
this he has resided for the most part ever since, but lately he has rented the
farm and has resided in Ozark. In his
political views he is an ardent Republican and has ever been interested in the
welfare of his party. In the year 1892
he was elected to the responsible position of county treasurer, winning the
election by a large majority, and he is now discharging the duties incumbent
upon that position. The confidence
which the people have in him is almost unbounded, and that he fully deserves
their trust, respect and esteem cannot for a moment be doubted. He has always been interested in all public
matters, and in all enterprises for the benefit of the county, particularly
those relating to education, for he was a teacher for a number of years. Fraternally he is a Mason, a member of
Friend Lodge No. 352, at Ozark.
On
the 7th of March, 1862, Mr. Johnson enlisted in the army and served
until April 12, 1865, in the Eighth Missouri State Militia first, and
subsequently in the Eighth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. He participated in the fight at Springfield,
in the only fight at Ozark, and in a number of skirmishes, but was never
wounded. His service was mainly in
Missouri and Arkansas in the Ozark Region.
He is now a member of the G. A. R. post at Ozark. At an early age Mr. Johnson united with the
Baptist Church, has been a preacher for twenty-two years, and is well known all
over the county. He is one of the few
men who passed through the war and came out as strict in his religious views as
when he entered. Ten children were born
to his marriage: Sarah, now Mrs. J. C. Erwin, of this county; Isabelle, Mrs. D.
L. Peeblers, of this county; James T. resides on a farm in this county; Robert
lives on the old farm; Amy, now Mrs. J. T. Solomon, of this county; Frances,
now Mrs. W. T. Frazier, of this county; Savilla, at home; Lula, also at home;
and two who died young. Mr. and Mrs.
Johnson have fifteen grandchildren. The
family holds membership in the Baptist Church, and the sons are all Republicans
in politics.
It
is generally considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking that the
history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation, and that little
merit exists among the masses to call forth the praise of the historian or the
cheers and appreciation of mankind. A
greater mistake was never made. No man
is great in all things, and very few are great in many things. Many, by a lucky stroke, achieve lasting
fame, who before that had no reputation beyond the limits of their
neighborhood. It is not a history of
the lucky stroke which benefits humanity most, but the long study and effort
which made the lucky stroke possible.
It is the preliminary work – the method – that serves as a guide for the
success of others. Thus it appears that
the lives of the masses out of which come the men who control the world, will
furnish the grandest, truest lesson for the benefit of humanity. Among the successful and popular businessmen
of Ozark, stands Z. A. Johnson, who is a member of the well-known grocery
establishment of Wolff & Johnson.
He was originally from the Hoosier State, born in Owen County February
16, 1851, and is a son of J. S. and Hannah (Dean) Johnson, natives of Indiana
and Ohio, respectively. His
grandparents on both sides came originally from Virginia, where they were among
the prominent families of that grand old State. Until 1864 our subject remained in his native State, and then
accompanied his father to Iowa, settling in Clark County, at Osceola where they
remained until 1866. They moved to
Kansas, and thence, in 1868, to Missouri, locating at Carthage, where they made
their home until 1873, when the family settled at Ozark.
Our
subject was fairly educated in his native State, Iowa and Kansas, and in 1870
started out in business for himself.
Possessed of much energy, perseverance and business acumen it would have
been strange had he not made a success of whatever he undertook. For some time he was engaged on the
railroad, and then followed mining in zinc and lead for about ten years. In the year 1885 he was elected on the
Republican ticket sheriff of Christian County.
His ability and fearlessness in the discharge of his duties gave
satisfaction to all, regardless of politics, and he was re-elected to that
position twice, serving from 1885 until 1890.
He has ever affiliated with the Republican party, is well known all over
the county, and was sheriff during the Bald Knob troubles. He has held a number of public offices in
Ozark, being deputy sheriff and city marshal, and so well did he fill those
positions that he was elected sheriff by a large majority. Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a member of
Friend Lodge No. 352, A. F. & A. M., at Ozark. In choosing his wife, he selected Miss Maggie Boyd, a native of
Wright County, Mo., and the daughter of Samuel Boyd, who was an early pioneer
of Ozark. To this union three children
were born, namely: Harry, Bernice and James.
Mr. Johnson and family reside at Ozark, where they have a pleasant home,
and the family attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Johnson is interested in the grocery
business and the Ozark Furniture Company, and is also a stockholder and
director in the Christian County Bank.
He is a self-made man in every sense of that much-abused term, and his
natural shrewdness, combined with industry and perseverance, brought him to the
front as one of the most successful businessmen of the city. In the grocery business operated by himself
and David Wolff, they handle staple and fancy groceries, and are doing an
annual trade of about $20,000. The
business is conducted on a sound and liberal basis, and the public places in it
a full measure of confidence.
In the midst of the failures and disasters of life it is a real pleasure to review the career of a man whose efforts have been crowned with success and whose life has been honorable in every particular, as has that of Frank Kentling. He is now a general merchant, farmer and stock dealer at Highlandville, Mo., and is one of the foremost business men of his section. He possesses all the thrift and perseverance of his Teutonic ancestors and has met with the success that is sure to follow. Mr. Kentling was born in 1841 in North Germany, as were also his parents, Dr. Bennett and Johanna Kentling, the father dying there about 1883. He was a physician for many years. The mother is still living in the old country. Eight children were born to them. One child, Francis, came to the United States about 1875 and died in St. Louis, while attending the St. Louis Medical College. Our subject received a good collegiate education in his native country and for some time clerked in a grocery and dry goods store. In 1865 he came to the United States and spent two years in the grocery business in Chicago. Late he spent the same length of time in the same business at St. Louis and in 1870 came to Highlandville, where he established a store. About a year later a postoffice was given the thriving little village and Mr. Kentling was postmaster there for about seven years. He began business with a capital of $350, but by his energy and good business acumen soon built up a thriving trade. He does an annual business of from $15,000 to $20,000 and is the owner of about 300 acres in this and Stone Counties, all the fruits of his own efforts. He handles grain, cattle, hogs, etc., and has been the means of building up quite a village a Highlandville, in which there is a good school, a hall, and three churches. Mr. Kentling was married in St. Louis in 1869, to Miss Catherine Sherch, a native of Hungary. There her parents died and she crossed the ocean to the United States alone. In this country she met and married Mr. Kentling, by whom she has had eight children: Amelia, Frank, Bennett, Johanna, Joseph, William, Antonius and Charles. Mr. Kentling belonged to the German Army for some time and was in the Reserve, from which he received a permit to visit the United States for one year prospecting, etc. During this time his country was at war with Prussia and he was summoned home. Calling on the German consulate at Chicago, he was a little too late, for the war was at an end. During the short time he was in this country he had seen enough to satisfy him that he could do better here than in the “Fatherland” and he concluded to remain. He is a member of the Highlandville Lodge, I.O.O.F. No. 331, and a man well liked by all who know him.
A descendant of good old Virginia stock, Mr. Kissee inherited the fundamental principles of industry, integrity and determination of purpose which became the attributes of his whole after life. He is a native of the Prairie State, born in Edgar County November 2, 1834, and the son of Arter and Ufins (Bledsoe) Kissee and grandson of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Weddill) Kissee. The grandparents were both natives of the Old Dominion and early settlers of Kentucky, where they passed their latter days, the grandfather living to be over one hundred years. The great-grandfather, Stoball Kissee, was a native of Virginia, but it is thought was of French descent. The family emigrated from Kentucky, to Indiana, and thence to Illinois, but later returned to Indiana, and settled in the north west part of the State, where the father of our subject took up land. He was born in Pulaski County, Ky., in 1810, and was married in Kentucky, to Miss Bledsoe, who was born in North Carolina, October 14, 1805. Mr. Kissee made his home in Indiana, until 1846 and then came to what is now Christian County, settling on Swan Creek, and later near Ozark. Thence he moved to Sparta and there passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1887. Formerly a Whig in politics he espoused the principles of the Republican party later, and was obliged to leave home on account of his political views. He served eight months in the twenty-fourth Missouri infantry, and was in a number of skirmishes in his section. He was well known in southwest Missouri, and by his industry and good management became the owner of much valuable property. He reared a family of eight children as follows, Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Jacob Propes, of Indiana; Mary J., residing in Christian County, is the widow of Milton Eldridge, Willis was a soldier in the Civil War and fought all over the southwest country; he commanded a company in guerilla fighting and was noted as a brave and valiant soldier; he returned to his farm in Taney County, became well and favorably known all over the section, and accumulated considerable wealth; later, he moved from Taney County to Colorado, and engaged in mining, but was also in the liquor business; he was shot and killed by a man named Kellogg, whom he killed at the same time; during his time, as a soldier he killed thirty-two guerillas, Alexander C., our subject; Nancy Jane was married four times, died a number of years ago; Sylvanus, who is living three miles northeast of Sparta, in Christian County is married and has a family; he was a soldier in the Union Army during the Rebellion and was in twenty-six engagements, Caroline, is the widow of Steven Bolar; George W., who is living in Ozark County, volunteered with this father in the army and was good soldier, fighting in twenty-seven engagements. Mrs. Kissee’s parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Morton) Bledsoe, were early pioneers of Kentucky. Mrs. Kissee died in 1878, and was worthy member of the Christian Church. Mr. Kissee was a member of no church. The youthful days of our subject were spent in Indiana, attending early schools, but learned to read, write and figure by his own efforts. When a young man of twenty he started out for himself, splitting rails at 55 cents per hundred. On January 21, 1855, he was married to Miss Catherine McHaffie, daughter of David McHaffie, who was born in Springfield, Mo., on December 15, 1837. Ten children were born to this marriage, six of whom survive: David, died when two years of age; Arter is married and has a family of three children, and is in the mill business with his father, Mary U. married C.C. Casey of Kissee Mills, Catherine G. married James K. Davis, a farmer of the Indian Nation; Elizabeth J. is the wife of William R. Stuart, a farmer of Kissee Mills; Julia A., wife of James R. Wyatt, resides in Kissee Mills; Schuyler C. is a farmer is with his father in the store at Kissee Mills. He is married: Abraham L., Emily and a daughter who died in infancy, when the mother died, January 15, 1876. Our subject’s second marriage was with Miss Cordelia M. Davis, daughter of Louis and Nancy C. (Hammer) Davis, both of whom were natives of Greene County Mo. The Grandfather, John L. Davis, was a native of Tennessee, as was also Grandfather Hammer. The Davis family came to Taney County at an early date and settled near Kissee Mills, where the father and mother died in 1887. Nine children were born to them, five of whom are living: Susan T., wife of Spenser Tate; James K., resident of the Indian Nation; William S., living in Arkansas; Louis B., residing in Arkansas, and Frances who died when fifteen years of age. The remainder of the children died young. Mrs. Kissee was born in Greene County, Mo. March 12, 1861 and was seven years of age when the family came to this county. She married Mr. Kissee in 1876, when fifteen years of age. Eleven children were born to this union: Alexander, Ulysses S.G., William S. and Robert L. (twins), Cordelia, Hiram Obiff (deceased), Alfred C., Benjamin H., Ehtel and two daughters who died young and were not named. The six eldest children died young, but four were named. Our subject came to Kissee Mills in 1869, and is now the owner of a large tract of land, all well improved, and also the owner of the old home in Christian County, where his father lived many years. In 1886 he started to lay out the town of Kissee Mills, but later sold out and went to California where he remained but a short time. He then returned and bought back some of the land he had owned. There are now two stores, a gristmill, saw mill and cotton gin, for which Beaver Creek gives good water power. Fraternally Mr. Kissee is a Mason, a member of Forsyth Lodge No. 453, and Mrs. Kissee has taken the wife and daughter degree and also the Eastern Star degree. He is also an Odd Fellow. In politics he has ever been identified with the Republican party. During the war he resided in Christian County and served in the Home Guards, and was second lieutenant in Company H, Seventy-second E. M. Militia. He participated in the battle of Springfield, the Marmaduke fight, and was stationed at Ozark during most of the war. Mr. Kissee is a liberal contributor to all worthy movements, and is one of the progressive, wide-awake men of the county. For about three years he published a paper called the Taney County Times, which was considered the best paper in the county at that time. Pushing and enterprising, he got the post-office in Kissee Mills in 1870 and became the leading business man of his neighborhood. He was postmaster at Kissee Mills for some time.