Biographical Sketch of Mrs. M. C. (Endlow) Draper, Johnson County, Missouri, Jefferson Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Mrs. M. C. Draper, the widow of M. C. Draper, a former representative from Johnson county in the Missouri state Legislature, is one of the noble and highly esteemed pioneer women of Jefferson township. She is the daughter of Jesse Endlow, who came with his family to Johnson coun- ty, Missouri, in 1844 and settled on a farm in Jefferson township. Johnson county was unfenced prairie land, when the Endlow family sett- led here. Stock were given unlimited range and the idea of keeping cattle within certain limits was unknown. The prairie grass grew tall and thick and trails were made by dragging a very heavy log across the country, using a yoke of oxen to do so. Along such a trail, the child- ren went to the "subscription school," which was held in a log house, having puncheon benches and floor. Mr. Heridon was Mrs. Draper's first teacher. He was called the "master" and he sat in the center of the room and called the pupils to him to "say their lessons." Spelling was the principal subject taught in the primitive schools and frequently "spelling bees" were held, which the old and young attended and which always aroused much interest and comment. Although the settlements were far distant and very few, the people often met at social gather- ings and prayer meetings. Mr. Endlow gave his daughter a pony and she rode on horseback all over the county, attending church and all the parties, which were given by the young people. Life in those days was not always dull and dreary. The young people had many simple amuse- ments and pleasures, such as dancing, corn husking parties, spinning and quilting bees, house raisings, apple parings, spelling bees and singing schools. On all these occasions there was always much fun. Then in the winter everyone would go sleighing over the wide, snow covered prairie. The men and boys always enjoyed fishing and hunting, although both were considered occupations as well as pleasures. There were many pools, abounding in fish, to be found in all parts of the county in the early days and wild turkey, deer, and prairie chickens were here in great numbers. The pioneer settlers considered it a great privilege and pleasure to attend church and all who were able to do so, went to hear the early preachers, two of whom Mrs. Draper recalls: Reverend Ricketts and Reverend David Horn. Both church and school were held in the same log house, although at first all religious meetings were held in the cabin homes of the settlers. In 1858, M. C. Draper and Miss Endlow were united in marriage. M. C. Draper was born in Kentucky in 1833 and in early manhood came to Missouri and located in Johnson county. Mr. Endlow was a prosperous farmer and at the time of his daughter's marriage gave Mr. and Mrs. Draper 80 acres of land and there they built their first home, obtaining the lumber at Warsaw, from which place Mr. Draper hauled it. He had attended Chapel Hill College, prior to his marriage, and was there a colleague of Senator Francis M. Cockrell, the father of the author of this volume. To Representative M. C. Draper and Mrs. Draper were born six children: Mrs. Luella Wing- field, Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Lilly Lyle, Kansas City, Missouri; Charles A., Windsor, Mo.; Mrs. Elizabeth Grinstead, Wichita, Kansas; W. W., Leeton, Mo.; and Mrs. Florence Williams, Windsor, Mo. W. W. Draper was married August 28, 1917, to Carrie Thomas, of California, a daughter of C. J. Thomas, a pioneer settler of Johnson county. M. C. Draper was one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen of Johnson county. At one time, he represented Johnson county in the state legis- lature and he always took an active and interested part in civic affairs. He was a man whom everyone admired and respected, a man possessing many qualities worthy of the greatest consideration and honor. His death in 1904 was a source of deepest regret in the entire county. His youngest son, William W. Draper, is now the owner of the old home place where he is engaged in stock raising, devoting much attention to the raising of Hereford cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. At the present time, about one hundred acres of the Draper farm are in meadow land. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. 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