Biographical Sketch of John Granderson Senior, Johnson County, Missouri, Knob Noster. >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** John Granderson Senior, one of Johnson county's pioneers, was born in this county 77 years ago. He is the son of Samuel and Susan A. (Matthews) Senior. Samuel Senior was the son of Samuel Senior, a highly respected farmer of Virginia, of French descent. Susan A. (Mtthews) Senior was the daughter of William Matthews, a native of Tennessee. Samuel Senior, the father of the subject of this reveiw, came to Missouri in 1817 and located in the Cooper Fort neighborhood, where he remained several years. In 1834 he moved to Johnson county and settled on a farm in Grover township, where six years later his son, J. G., was born. The Senior farm comprised 240 acres of land, which Samuel Senior entered from the government. He was a successful and highly respected farmer of Grover township and his death in 1859 was the source of universal regret in Johnson county. He was twice married. Susan A. (Matthews) Senior died in 1847. In 1849, Samuel Senior married Martha Holliday, a native of Boone county, a daughter of George Holliday, a prominent farmer. Mrs. Senior preceeded her husband in death ten years. J. G. Senior is the only living member of the family of eight children born to Samuel and Susan A. Senior. After his father's death, J. G. Senior assumed charge of the farm in Grover township and until the outbreak of the Civil War was there en- gaged in the pursuits of agriculture. In 1861 he enlisted in the Civil War with Company A, 5th Missouri Infantry. Mr. Senior was in active service four years and took part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; Corinth, Mississippi; Farmington, Mississippi; Fort Gibson; Baker's Creek; and in the siege of Vicksburg. After the siege of Vicksburg, late in the summer of 1863, J. G. Senior was taken captive and in January, 1864 was exchanged and entered the service again with the 10th Missouri Cavalry. He surrendered with his company at Shreve- port, Louisiana in 1865. He served under General Francis M. Cockrell, whom he considers to have been one of Missouri's greatest sons, a famous warrior, statesman, and Christian gentleman and who held the record for continuous services in the United States Senate of thirty years, a record never before or later excelled. Mr. Senior returned to Johnson county, Missouri when the war had ended, in July, 1865. He again engaged in farming and remained on the home place in Grover township until 1869, when he moved to Pettis county, Missouri and there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1904, when he returned to Johnson county, locating in Knob Noster, where he has since resided. J. G. Senior is the owner of a farm in Pettis county, which comprises almost 700 acres in that county and 60 acres in Johnson county, which place is known as the "Capital Hill Stock Farm." This is undoubtedly the best improved farm within a circuit of ten miles. Mr. Senior's country home is a handsome residence, a large, modern structure of twelve rooms. He spends a large part of his time at "Capital Hill." He has also a pretty home in the city of Knob Noster. In 1870 J. G. Senior was united in marriage with Josephine Honey, the step-daughter of A. F. and Margaret Priscilla Scruggs. Josephine (Honey) Senior was born in 1851 in Bourbon county, Kentucky, a daughter of William and Margaret P. (Stephens) Honey. William Honey was a native of Ken- tucky and died in 1851. Margaret P. (Stephens) Honey was a third cousin of Alexander H. Stephens. Mrs. Honey married Rev. A. F. Scruggs, who came to Missouri in 1856. She was a native of Ohio. Reverend A. F. Scruggs was a pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church South, who labored in the cause of Christianity for 76 years, his death occurring in his 99th year. To J. G. and Josephine (Honey) Senior have been born nine children: Mary Priscilla, deceased; Mrs. Minnie S. Gilham, Montserrat, Missouri (Minnie S. Gilham was first married to Dr. J. F. Robinson in 1893, who died January 10, 1896); Joseph Elston, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth S. Porter, wife of Dr. J. E. Porter, Knob Noster, Missouri; Mrs. Allena D. Ehlers, who resides in New Madrid; Franklin L., Centerview, Iowa, married Bernice Campbell, October 19, 1904 and they have two sons, John Campbell and Collin Franklin; Samuel Prentice, John G., and Josephine, all deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Senior have six grandchildren: Mrs. Minnie S. Gilham has two daughters: Margaret Finish Robinson, by the first marriage with Dr. J. F. Robinson; and Josephine Mayes Gilham; Mrs. Elizabeth Porter, married September 28, 1904 has one child: Ruth Elizabeth; Mrs. Allena D. Ehlers, wife of Dr. M. F. Ehlers, married February 14, 1909, has one child: John Frederick; and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin L. Senior have two sons: John Campbell and Collin Franklin. For forty-two years Mr. Senior has been a director of the Bank of Knob Noster, during which time he served as president and vice-president. He was elected judge of the Pettis county court on the Democratic ticket and served four years. Mr. Senior is one of the strongest supporters of the Demo- cratic party in the county. He takes keen interest in religious matters as well as civil affairs and has been an elder of the Christ- ian church for 35 years. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He served 23 consecutive years as president of the Pettis County Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, since its organ- ization, and upon his resigning in October, 1917, he recommended his successor, Mr. Williams. He was one of the organizers of this strong concern which has an assessed capital of about three million dollars. It was with reluctance and regret that his fellow directors accepted his resignation, which was tendered on account of defective hearing due to advanced age. ==================================================================== 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. 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