Biographical Sketch of Isaac W. Hanthorn, Johnson County, Missouri, Jefferson Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Isaac W. Hanthorn, one of Johnson county's highly respected citizens and honored pioneers, is a prominent farmer and stockman of Jefferson township. He was born in 1846 in Knox county, Illinois, the son of Thomas and Ann Hanthorn, the former of Scotch and the latter of Irish descent. In 1872, Isaac W. Hanthorn came to Missouri from Illinois, and six years later purchased a small farm on credit. The first years of his life in Missouri were filled with all the privations of pioneer days and the hardships of poverty and misfortune. The year 1874 was a year of drouth and the ensuing year was the period of the grasshopper visitation. Isaac W. Hanthorn had been well educated, having attended Cherry Grove Seminary in Illinois, and he began teaching school in Pettis county. Later, he taught his first school in Johnson county held at Valley Grove. Mr. Hanthorn has taught school in practically every school district in this section of the state of Missouri. He received but forty dollars a month in remuneration for his services, still he saved almost all that he received. He recalls among his stu- dents in Johnson county in the days long gone by, John Parker, William Cooper, Warren Parker, "Bob Funk, and "Obe" Whitsell. Mr. Hanthorn en- couraged and held in his own school the old fashioned "spelling bee." Frequently two different schools would hold a spelling contest and then excitement and interest reigned supreme. He remembers among the first preachers, Reverend Frank Goodwin, who was a Baptist minister, and Reverend C. C. Wood, a Methodist minister. Supplies were obtained from Sedalia, when the early settlers needed provisions, which could not be secured by their own work. In 1869, Isaac W. Hanthorn was united in marriage with Mrs. Josephine (Marsh) Huggins, the daughter of Thomas Marsh, of New York. Two children born to Isaac W. and Josephine Han- thorn are now living: Mrs. Elroy J. Gallaher, of Windsor, Missouri, who is establishing a reputation in the poultry industry, now having a fine flock of 600 chicks and 125 older chickens, and a large number of black turkeys, hatched by hens and in incubators, all well trained Plymouth Rock chickens, having been taught to come at the ringing of a bell for their feed; and James N., who is a graduate of the Warrensburg State Normal School in the class of 1897 and for the past 20 years has been employed every year in teaching, having taught school at Sunny Grove for three years, Kearney for thirteen years, and at Lees Summit for four years. Mr. and Mrs. Hanthorn have three grandchildren: George Gallaher, Mary Gallaher, and Mildred Hanthorn. At different times, Mr. Hanthorn has invested his savings in farm land and he is now owner of 600 acres of some of the best farmland in Johnson county, which place is known as the "Sleepy Hollow" farm. Most of the Hanthorn place is in grass land and Mr. Hanthorn devotes his attention largely to stock raising. At the time of this writing, he has 60 head of Red Durham cattle, ready for the fall shipping, and 25 head of Poland China hogs, the very finest one ever saw anywhere. "Sleepy Hollow Stock Farm" is especially well watered and adapted to the raising of first class stock. One well on this place furnished water for many families in this sec- tion of the township in the early days. The farm is well improved, having several large, well constructed barns, in one of which is stored twenty tons of last year's hay. A large building, having a driveway on either side, is called the "Storehouse" and within has been installed a fanning mill, which is used to clean the grain before it goes to the granary. The "Storehouse" was constructed of the best oak lumber and erected on a substantial concrete foundation. In 1898 the residence, was remodeled and the Hanthorn home is now one of the handsome country places in Johnson county. Isaac W. Hanthorn has always taken an active interest in public affairs and before coming to Johnson county was the county assessor of Pettis county for one term. For six years he was road commissioner for this district in Johnson county. At the begin- ning of his term of office, the district was in debt and the financial condition in disorder, but when his term had expired not only was the indebtedness removed, the finances in good condition, but the roads were in splendid shape and the main road from Windsor to Knob Noster had been built, because of his efforts and influence, through this sec- tion of the township. Mr. Hanthorn is a member of the Christian church. He and Mrs. Hanthorn have scores of friends in the county, which has been their home for so many years. Mr. Hanthorn is one of the most intelligent men in this section of Missouri and he is valued highly in Johnson county. ==================================================================== 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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