Biographical Sketch of Ben T. Sams, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Ben T. Sams, one of Warrensburg's successful business men, was born in Franklin county, Missouri, in 1860. He is the son of Edward and Jessey (Oxley) Sams, both of whom were natives of England. Edward Sams was born in Ware, the son of John Hill Sams, who was a native Englishman. When Edward was a young man, the Sams family went to Australia, during the period of the excited rush to the gold fields there, and they re- mained in that country nearly five years. Edward Sams was one of the first men in the Ballarat mines of New South Wales. Jessey (Oxley) Sams was born in London and with her parents went to Australia, where she met and was united in marriage with Edward Sams. The two families returned to Engalnd and thence came to Missouri about 1856, settling in Johnson county in 1867, after a temporary sojourn in Franklin county. John Hill Sams manufactured an excellent quality of English ale, but as the settlers of Missouri preferred beer to ale, his business venture was unsuccessful. When the Sams family moved to Warrensburg, Edward Sams established a factory at the corner of Culton and Warren streets, where he engaged in the manufacuture of pop. The product of this fac- tory was shipped to Clinton, Lexington, Sedalia, Kansas City, Missouri, and Leavenworth, Kansas and to many smaller places. The water used in the manufacture of this beverage was obtained from the well, which is located on the Henry Love property. Pop then retailed at ten cents a bottle, a case of two dozen bottles costing $1.35. The cork was held in the bottle by a wire, which must be pushed off and the gas inside the bottle would then force out the cork with a loud pop, and thus the drink came by its name here. John Hill Sams and his family were inti- mate friends of Gen. Francis M. cockrell and of J. H. Houx and his family, all being members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Warrensburg. Nellie Sams, the wife of John Hill Sams, died in 1880 and two years later her husband died and the remains of both are interred in the cemetery at Warrensburg. The death of their son, Edward Sams, occurred in 1905 in Warrensburg. His wife survived him but four years, her death occurring in Warrensburg in 1909. They are buried in the cemetery at Warrensburg. Edward and Jessey (Oxley) Sams were the par- ents of the following children: George Anglesey, who was born on board ship "Anglesey" en route to England from Australia just as the vessel was rounding Cape Horn, and he is now residing at Portland, Oregon, where he is engaged in the harness business, being a saddler by trade; Ben T., the subject of this review; Walter, who was a jeweler and in- ventor, formerly in the jewelry business in Warrensburg, one of his inventions being the Sams' blowpipe, which is used by all up to date dentists and jewelers, and his death occurred July 6, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois; Eleanor, who is the wife of J. P. Christopher, of Shreveport, Louisiana; William E., who for 25 years was engaged in the jewelry business in Clinton, Missouri, and is now employed as a salesman with the Jaccard Jewelry Company of Kansas City, Missouri; James, a druggist in Ocean Park, California. Ben T. Sams received his education in the city schools of Warrensburg. He was a student in the Warrensburg State Normal School when Professor Osborn, as principal, sent young Sams home one day for lack of application to the study of grammer. The lad found it sometimes difficult to concentrate his attention upon subjects dis- tatsteful to him and his mind would wander to the life outside the walls of the school room. Ben T. Sams was a youth of much pride and he never returned to school. Years afterward, Professor Osborn desired a range for his home and he came to make his purchase at the hardware store owned by Mr. Sams. Mr. Sams sold the range to the professor and took it to his home. While he was employed in putting up the stove, the professor said, "Mr. Sams, do you remember the day I sent you home from school?" Mr. Sams remembered it as well as if it had occurred but the preceding day. "Well," said the professor, "I remember it dis- tinctly, too, and I realize that I made a great mistake. I have learn- ed a whole lot more about boys and their management since that time." A friendship between the two men was cemented by this talk and when Professor Osborn died no one felt the loss more keenly than did Ben T. Sams. After leaving school, Mr. Sams was employed in a hardware store on Holden street, which store was owned by the firm, Magoon & Billings- ley. He was associated in business with his father for one year and then, at the age of 19 years, went on a ranch in Vernon county, Mo., with J. P. Christopher. They developed a splendid farm from virgin prairie land and after two years Ben T. Sams purchased his partner's interest and for two and a half years was engaged in farming alone, when he sold the farm and returned to Warrensburg. Mr. Sams entered the meat business with his father and he later formed a partnership with E. N. Warnick and engaged in the hardware business in 1890. The partnership was dissolved in 1902 and for several years Mr. Sams was connected with the Wholesale Grocery business in Warrensburg. He is now employed in looking after his farming interests, owning one farm of 160 acres in Hickory county, Missouri; and one farm of 200 acres in Warrensburg township, which is known as the Kelley place and an inter- est in two other farms. May 20, 1882, Ben T. Sams and Roberta Whit- field were united in marriage. Roberta (Whitfield) Sams is the daughter of J. C. Whitfield and Jane (Holt) Whitfield, both of whom are now de- ceased. The father died in Warrensburg and the mother in Bates county and both are buried in Bates county. To Mr. and Mrs. Sams has been born one child, a daughter, Myrtle Eleanor, the wife of Leslie L. Lobban, of Warrensburg. Mr. and Mrs. Sams purchased their present home at 210 West Gay street in 1884, which is one of Warrensburg's beautiful moder homes, surrounded by a well kept lawn. ==================================================================== 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 ====================================================================