Biographical Sketch of George F. Moseley, Esq., Johnson County, Missouri, Jefferson Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** George Franklin Moseley, Esq., an honored pioneer of Johnson county and justice of the peace for the past 25 years, now residing in Jefferson township, was born in 1838 in Christian county, Kentucky. He is a son of William C. and Louisa H. (Shelton) Moseley, the former, a son of John Moseley, a well known farmer in Kentucky, and the latter, a daugh- ter of Beverly B. Shelton, who moved to Missouri from Kentucky in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Moseley came to Missouri with their family in 1860 and settled in Johnson county, where William C. Moseley had purchased a farm in 1859. The first stick to be found on the farm, on which the Moseley family settled, was placed there after they came. Practically all the county was open prairie and the land was covered with tall, coarse grass. The cattle of the early settlers were permitted to roam freely over the unlimited grazing territory. In his youth, Mr. Moseley could see plenty of deer, wild turkey and prairie chickens. The wild game was in great abundance and none of the pioneers ever wanted meat. Supplies were secured at Knob Noster. It was a great event when the settlers began to get mail regularly. At first, the letters were brou- ght twice a month, and later, once a week by men on horseback. They carried little horns, which they blew loudly as they came into town and all the people would flock out of their cabins to meet them. The mail was placed in a large box and each person would look over all the letters and take those which belonged to him. There were no public schools in Johnson county when Squire Moseley came here. All the children, who attended school, went to "subscription schools," which were held in log houses, having puncheon benches and floor. Among the first teachers, whom he recalls, were Paschal Henshaw and Miss Mellie Peters. Mr. Moseley was one of the men who worked hard to secure the free school and for years was clerk of Brushy district in Johnson coun- ty. The churches were even more primitive than the schools and for a long time meetings were held in the rude log cabin homes. The preacher was a pioneer and hunter just like the rest of the settlers. Mr. Mose- ley remembers Reverends Frank Goodwin, "Uncle Billy" Caldwell, McCrary and Whitsett. Families came in wagons, drawn by yoke of oxen, to hear the preaching, to which all listened with the greatest respect. Squire Moseley possesses an unusually retentive memory and besides recalling the land conditions, the early mails, the first schools, and churches, he has a vivid recollection of some of the many hardships through which all the settlers passed. One of the ever dreaded evils was the prairie fire and, countless times, G. F. Moseley and Robert Wall were called upon to aid in fighting the oncoming flames. Those were the exciting times in the olden days. In 1861, G. F. Moseley was united in marriage with Mary J. Moseley, daughter of George W. Moseley, who was one of the first settlers of Johnson county, coming to this section of the state in 1852. To G. F. Moseley and Mary J. Moseley have been born four children, who are living: John W., Calhoun, Mo.; Mrs. Sarah H. Payne, Windsor, Mo.; George W., Sedalia, Mo.; and Oscar O., Windsor, Missouri. Squire Moseley is owner of 60 acres of land, which he has rented. He is living retired in Jefferson township, where for the past 25 years he has been justice of the peace. When Judge Cockrell was prosecuting attorney of Johnson county, he had many cases in Squire Moseley's court and he has ever been one of his most highly valued friends. For more than a quarter century, Squire Moseley has been in public life and he has innumerable friends and acquaintances in this part of the state. He is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which he has been steward and trustee for many years. On the Moseley place near Knob Noster is standing an old log house, which he built in 1866 and which was the Moseley home for many years. This cabin is an interest- ing reminder of the days long past. ==================================================================== 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. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================