Early Settlements, Kingsville Township, Johnson County, Missouri

>From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.

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It is said that Judge Anderson Smith, son of William Smith, the second
sheriff of this county, was the first settler in Kingsville township.
He located at Bluff Spring and built the first house there.  This was
probably about 1835 or 1836.  In 1836, he sold to Benjamin Longacre,
who soon put up a tanyard and tanned skins for the settlers for a rad-
ius of fifty miles.  Henry Coilbern, the first saddler of Warrensburg,
grandfather of John R. Colbern, the stock man, came here for his supp-
lies.  He also built the first mill in the township, which was probably
in 1837.  Prior to that time the pioneers beat their corn in a mortar.
A son of Benjamin Longacre, Joseph D., from Tennessee, was also an
early settler in this township, coming about 1839.  He was a soldier in
the Mexican War and also served in the Confederate army during the 
Civil War.  He and Joe Howard were noted wolf hunters and frequently
hunted together.  The first settlement on Pleasant Run, or Duncan's
branch, was also in 1839.  P. W. Paul settled here prior to 1840.  Sam-
uel Boljack was an early settler and in 1844 brought the Longacre mill.
At first this grist-mill was a two-horse mill of the old fashioned 
sweep lever type.  Later it was converted into a two-horse tread mill 
and operated by Joe Howard.  This was considered a model modern mill.
Benjamin F. Lewis settled here in 1853.  Dr. William G. King came here
in 1851.  He was born in Independence, Missouri, December 28, 1831.
Prominent among other early settlers of the township were Hon. W. F.
Ralston, Hon. R. T. Fryer, Josiah Smith and John R. French.

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