****1834 - 1986****

Compiled by L. Dale Hagerman Area Farm Management Specialist
Transcribed for the World Wide Web by Marie Antal(c)1999

Owners of twenty-five Johnson County farms were recognized during 1986 as Century Farm owners. Century Farm designation required that they and their ancestors had owned at least 40 acres of the present farm for at least 100 years and that the land was contributing to family income now. A recognition event was held at Holden, Missouri, on June 29 to honor these families. Each family present was presented a Century Farm Certificate and farm sign by Fred Meinershagen, retired University of Missouri Dairy Specialist who had worked with many of the families when he was a Johnson County Extension Agent.
Included in this collection are stories prepared by sixteen of the families about their farm and family history. I did very little editing of the manuscripts provided me because I wanted the reader to have access to each writer's own expressions of the events described. The reader will note that stories place emphasis upon many varying points ranging from genealogy tracing back to well-known pilgrims, to others who described geographic and historical features, to yet others who center attention on the life of their ancestors and yet others provide information about the farm operation today.

The Johnson County farms which were recognized as Century Farms in 1986 are the following:

Billie A. and Leslie J. Adams
Richard D. Adams
Marjorie Baker
George E. Boland
Roberta Powell Bryant
William Marshall and Maude E. Davidson
Mary Myrtle Foster
Mabel Helen Knaus Franklin
Wilbert G. and Lenora J. Freund
George W. Gallaher
Mrs. Ethel Goring
George and Helen Lyle
Malvern E. and Georgia M. (Cronhardt ) Lynde
L. D. McCormack
Art and Debra Ozias
Donald F. Quick
Lyle E. Quick
Joseph M. and Mary L. Roach
William L. Robey and Frances Ann Stumpff
Leland F. Shumate
Frank Spicer
C. C. Tevis
Dale and Donna Wharton
Mary Helen young
Richard and Peggy Zink

A narrative description of some historical and family events was provided by the following Century Farm Families:

Billy A and Leslie J. Adams
Richard D. Adams
Roberta Powell Bryant
William Marshall and Maude E. Davidson
Mary Myrtle Foster
Wilbert G. and Lenora J. Freund
George W. Gallaher
George and Helen Lyle
George Lyle cont.
Malvern E. and Georgia M. (Cronhardt ) Lynde
L. D. McCormack
Donald F. Quick
Lyle E. Quick
Joseph M. and Mary L. Roach
William L. Robey and Frances Ann Stumpff
C. C. Tevis
Dale and Donna Wharton
Mary Helen Young

Additional farms which were not specifically identified as Century Farms in 1986 were included in the list of Bicentennial farms honored in 1976. Some of these may have ceased operation between 1976 and 1986 or may be included in the 1986 listing as now owned by next generation. These farms are:

Jerry & Barbara Bilyeu 1855
Clark Bush 1866
James Albert & Elsie M. Dean 1870
Dean Des Combes 1854
Fanita & Ralph Erdwin 1848
Frank B. & Nancy Hill 1853
Adria A. Howard 1869
John Keith Jones 1837
Albert C. Lundy 1854
Mrs. James C. Mayes 1835
Clifford L. & Ester M. Morris 1841
Arthur W. Ozias, Jr. 1858
Mr. Jerry Lee Parrott 1865
Marvin H. & Nelllie M. Parrott 1854
Mrs. Helen Greim Petersen 1861
Mr. Joseph Jett Raker 1858
M. C. & Mabel Robbins 1872
Earl Arthur & Susan Tevis Terrell 1857
James L. Yoder 1867