Geo. W. Gallaher Farm

On May 14, 1829, Geo. Gallaher, Sr., son of James and Nancy Abruthnut Gallaher, and Sarah Robinson, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Boyd Robinson, were married in Rome County, Tennessee.  Both were of Irish descent and their ancestors had been in America in the Revolution.  In 1833, they moved to Knob Noster by wagon and purchased land north of town from the U. S. Government for $1.25 an acre.  The deed was signed by President Martin Van Buren.  (this land contains the present homesite.)  George Gallaher was a life-long agriculturist.  He served one term as county judge of Johnson County.  After his death in 1876 and after Sarah's death in 1881, George T. Gallaher became the owner.  He was their youngest child.  For a time, he attended a select school taught by his cousin, James.  Later he studied higher mathematics, civil engineering, and surveying.  At age 21, he obtained a teaching certificate and taught until the Civil War.  On July 4, 1861, he enlisted in the Union Army, Company E, 27th Missouri Mounted Infantry as a First Lieutenant, and served for 2 years.  Afterwards he worked as a county surveyor for 6 years.
In an acreage north of the house, "Gallaher's Grove" or "the old Bethel campground", the Presbyterians held camp meetings.  Light for the evening services wee furnished by lighted candles inserted in holes in boards.  Worship was in the Grove or private house until, in 1850, a log Church was erected in the Grove.
An acre of land was given for the purpose of the Brushville School, with a provision that at such times that the school should ever be closed, the land reverted back to the Gallaher heirs.  (in May, 1957, the school closed.)  In 1893 a new school building was built at a cost of $595.  One of the directors was George T. Gallaher.  He had taught there previously.  Elroy Hanthorn was the first teacher in the new building.  She later married Henry. L. Gallaher.  Mary Lewis Gallaher taught their 1 year.  Mary Helen Gallaher Young attended 8 years elementary school there.
On January 7m, 1864, George T. married Mary C. Knaus, daughter of Jacob and Sophia Prigmore Knaus.
Legend has it that George T. and Mary C. Knaus left love letters and notes to each other in an apple tree in the Gallaher Orchard during Civil War times.
Later George T. served 14 years as county surveyor.  He voted Democrat and was active in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  At his death in 1913, he owned approximately 1200-1300 acres around Knob Noster.
Their son, Henry L. Gallaher, born may 17, 1868, married Elroy Josephine Hanthorn, daughter of Issac and Sophia Marsh Huggins Hanthorn, in 1896.  Sophia Marsh Huggins Hanthorn was a direct descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins of the Mayflower fame in 1620.  At age 33, Henry took typhoid fever and died, leaving his widow and two small children, the present George W. Gallaher, born August 16, 1897, and Mary Josephine.
George T.'s wish was that the present homesite would remain in the George Gallaher name, thus it passed to the present George W. Gallaher.  George W. married Mary Frances Lewis of Windsor, on May 10, 1923.  George had completed a University of Missouri 2-year shot course in Agriculture in 1916.  He has always said that he was the first one in Johnson County to build terraces and the first one to order a train load of lime.  He has been a Farm Bureau member for many years (before 1923?).
George and Mary Gallaher (Mary died on December 24, 1977) had one living child, Mary Helen, who married James C. Young, son of Marshall and Ida May Kranz  Young of Lexington, on August 20, 1961.

See information regarding Mary Helen Young farm.