Biographical Sketch of John M. Garvey, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** John M. Garvey, a prosperous and prominent farmer and stockman of Warrensburg township, has had one of the most remarkable and note- worthy careers of any man in Johnson county. He was born January 4, 1858, in Iowa, son of Charles Thomas and Sarah (Mark) Garvey. Charles Thomas Garvey was born in North Carolina. In early manhood, he went to Iowa and from that state came with his wife and children to Missouri in 1877 and after a very short time in this state, moved on to Kansas, returning to Missouri in 1878 and settling at Shawnee Mound in Henry county where his death occurred several years later. Sarah (Mark) Gar- vey died at Louisburg, Kansas. Both father and mother were interred in the cemetery at Leeton, Missouri. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thomas Garvey, of whom John M., the subject of this review was the first born, the children being as follow: John M., the subject of this sketch; Charles Franklin, deceased; Flint Roy, Seattle, Wash- ington; Mrs. Ellen Jane Ritter, who resides in Oklahoma; Thomas, decea- sed; James, deceased; William Wilbur, Chilhowee, Missouri; George Fred- erick, who resides in Louisburg, Kansas. Another child was born and died in infancy. At Ashland, Iowa, John M. Garvey received his educa- tion. He began life for himself at the age of nineteen years and did much to assist his parents after he had left home. He came to Johnson county, Missouri, with his parents, September 24, 1877, moving from the house where he was born. He first lived at Shawnee Mound, and then a while in Kansas, and returned to Johnson county in October, 1878. He went to his uncle, John Garvey, and chopped wood, attended to chores, and to the stock that winter for his board. After that, he helped Thomas DesCombes dig a well, and he bruised his hand so badly it was a long time getting well. Doctor Ward attended to it and Mr. Garvey at first did not have even the money to pay the fee of one dollar, but afterward went to work and paid it. He worked for J. W. Brooks and at odd jobs until October 11, 1880, when he went to work of W. P. Millner receiving fifteen dollars a month. He worked for Mr. Millner exactly eight years, until October 11, 1888. On October 13, 1888 he moved to the farm of H. C. Hale and has been there ever since. February 17, 1883, he was married to Rebecca Dillsaver, of Allen county, Ohio. Mrs. Garvey is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Dillsaver, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Garvey has helped make and save every dollar they could. Mr. Garvey has chopped many a load of wood by moonlight and then hauled it to the woodpile the next night. There he would chop it, and his wife would carry it onto the porch. At other times, after his day's work was done, he would go horseback several miles, to the little mill run by James Elder on Tebo creek for a sack of meal, get back at eleven o'clock at night, and be ready for work the next day. One peculiarity of Mr. Garvey's is that he lkes to make things come out even. He used to keep a diary and knows exact dates. He worked even eight years for Mr. Millner. Once, he received a due bill from John Lee for a bucket of eggs. The next time he went in with another bucket of eggs he asked for a sack of flour and handed in the first bill. The eggs and the bill together just paid for the sack of flour, and Mr. Lee remarked that he must have had it all figured out before he left home. Mr. Garvey saved and bought his first land, thirty-nine acres, on Feb- ruary 24, 1888, while still working for Mr. Millner. Since then he sold the thirty-nine acres and bought the Daly place of ninety-five acres, bought one hundred seventeen acres more, then forty acres more, and, on March 1, 1914, bought thirty-seven acres more. This makes two hundred eight-nine acres of good land that Mr. Garvey has bought and all the time he has worked for other men. He also built a barn 41 x 49 in 1906, and in 1917, is building an attractive bungalow, and he is sparing no expense to make it comfortable and convenient. October 13, 1918, Mr. Garvey will have worked and lived on Mr. Hale's place for thirty years. On his own farm, he gives special attention to stock raising, has his whole farm in grass and keeps forty to sixty cattle on hand. His farm is named "Bear Creek Valley Stock Farm" and was so registered February 8, 1908. To John M. and Rebecca Garvey have been born four children: Bertha May, the wife of Frank Taylor, near Holden, Missouri; Carrie Ellen, the wife of James Adam Fickas, one of the rural mail carriers, of Warrensburg, Missouri; Clarence Clayton, who married Lillian Meredith and resides near Warrensburg, Missouri; and Erma Mable, who is at home with her parents. Without one dollar, John M. Garvey began life in Missouri. He not only by hard labor maintained himself but assisted his parents also and paid all their funeral expenses. Today, he has the satisfaction of having worked all his life and pros- pered, and being still able bodied and vigorous. ==================================================================== 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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