Biographical Sketch of W. A. Tompkins, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township. >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** W. A. Tompkins, proprietor of one of the best dairy farms in Missouri, was born in Smith county, Kansas in a dugout on his father's land claim in 1883. Stephen E. and Frances R. (Arment) Tompkins, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter, of Ohio, had gone to Smith county, Kansas about 1880 to take up a land claim in that state and three years later, on September 7, 1883, their son, W. A., was born. When he was but a small lad, the Tompkins family moved from Kansas to Missouri and in 1892 settled on a farm in Warrensburg township, Johnson county. Stephen E. and Frances R. Tompkins were the parents of four children: W. A., the subject of this review; Ernest E., who resides in Pennsyl- vania; Earl C., who resides in Warrensburg township; and Frona, the wife of George Lacy, of Enid, Oklahoma. At the time of his death in 1907, Stephen E. Tompkins was owner of 120 acres of choice land in Johnson county. Mrs. Tompkins died in 1914. In the Oakland district school of Warrensburg township, W. A. Tompkins received his education. Until he attained maturity, he remained at home with his parents. He then assumed charge of the home place and engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which vocations he is still engaged in addition to conducting the dairy on his farm. Mr. Tompkins annually raises nearly 200 head of hogs, having a pure-bred male. In 1906, W. A. Tomp- kins and Rena Powell were united in marriage. Rena (Powell) Tompkins is the daughter of Andrew and Rachel Powell, of Warrensburg township. The parents of Mrs. Tompkins are now deceased and their remains are interred in the cemetery at Warrensburg. To W. A. and Rena Tompkins have been born two children, both daughters, Lora and Mildred. Andrew Powell was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting at Marietta, Ohio and serving throughout the war in the Union army. Recently, Mr. Tompkins began conducting a dairy on his splendid stock farm of 200 acres. One hundred forty acres of the place are in pasture land and the remaining sixty acres are devoted to the raising of small grains, corn, and hay. Mr. Tompkins rotates his crops every three years. In 1911, he erected a silo, which he has annually filled since that time and which he con- siders the best investment feature on his place. His farm is well watered by the Fletcher branch, a small stream which flows through it. W. A. Tompkins has at present fifty head of dairy cattle of different breeds, but chiefly Holsteins, a registered Holstein male heading the herd. Mr. Tompkins' dairy is well equipped with separators and sani- tary devices of all sorts. The milkhouse has a concrete floor and in it has been installed an engine to run the milking machine and separa- tors and the tank, in which the milk is cooled. Ice is brought from the city every day in the summer to be used in cooling the milk. The proper precautions in sterlizing everything used in connection with the milking are taken in this room and a sterilizing outfit for this pur- pose has been installed. The cowbarn is kept perfectly clean, having a concrete floor with excellent drainage. There stanchions for ten cows have been placed and the milking is done by an Empire Milking Machine, a double unit apparatus, which milks two cows at a time. Twenty-four cows are now being milked and there will soon be thirty. Milking is done twice daily, at 5 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and the milk delivered in the city of Warrensburg each morning. All the cattle are tubercular tested. The milk is delivered in ten gallon cans and Mr. Tompkins finds a ready market for the product of his dairy, selling some to the Missouri Dairy Company, a part to the Warrensburg creamery, and a part to the Warrens- burg drug stores. Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins are progressive, young people, filled with an energetic determination to succeed, and they are accomp- lishing their purpose. It is an inspiration to know young, hopeful citizens, such as these, who are numbered among the best 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. 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 ====================================================================