Biographical Sketch of E. F. Tracy, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** E. F. Tracy, presiding judge of Johnson County, Missouri, was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, November 23, 1855. He is the son of Wm. F. and Sarah L. (Atkinson) Tracy, natives of Kentucky. William F. Tracy was born November 22, 1827, in Montgomery County near Mt. Ster- ling. He was the son of Noland Tracy, who came to Missouri in 1835 or 1836, when his son, William F., was about eight years of age, and settled on a farm in Lafayette county, near the present Johnson county line. Noland Tracy resided on his farm in Lafayette county the remain- der of his life. His son, William F., was reared on his father's farm and when he had attained maturity purchased a farm near his father's place, on Davis creek. Sarah L. (Atkinson) Tracy was born in Kentucky in 1825. William F. and Sarah L. Tracy were the parents of four child- ren: E. F., the subject of this review; Anna C., who married Monroe Fox now deceased, and she is now the wife of Alfred Bishop, of Odessa, Mo., where they are at present residing although their home is near Mt. Tabor; Theodore, who died in infancy; and one child, who died in in- fancy. In 1899, William F. Tracy died at the age of seventy-two years. Interment was made in the cemetery at Mt. Tabor. He was followed in death by his wife in 1900. She was seventy-four years of age. Her remains were also interred in the Mt. Tabor cemetery. E. F. Tracy re- ceived his education in the public schools of Lafayette County, Mo. He was reared on the farm and practically all his life has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Until he had attained his majority he was employed in farming in Lafayette county. When he became of age he moved to Johnson county and located in Hazel Hill township, where he purchased a farm, after he had armed the place for three years, and lived on that place for twenty-five years. This farm comprised two hundred twenty acres and upon it Judge Tracy raised cattle and hogs, following the business of feeding and shipping, in which he has ever since been engaged, and while he lives in Warrensburg he continues to direct the operation of the place. For the past ten years he has hand- led mules. He now owns four hundred ninety acres of land in Hazel Hill township, Johnson county. In 1905 Judge Tracy moved from his farm in Warrensburg, where he purchased property at 208 Broad Street. He has since rebuilt the home. He was elected judge of the county court in 1910 and re-elected in 1914, and is the presiding judge at the present time. Judge Tracy is a man of marked ability and he has filled the office of county judge with great credit to himself and satisfaction of his constituents. During his incumbency, he has given special atten- tion to culverts, bridges, and roads and as a result a fine system of permanent roads will be covering Johnson County. Judge Tracy is very careful in the expenditure of money. The county is at the present time spending about seventy thousand dollars annually on roads. A bonus is given to the district which raises the half, or fifty per cent of the required sum, by township or private donations. October 28, 1879, E. F. Tracy and Mary L. Redford were united in marriage. Mary L. (Redford) Tracy is the daughter of A. J. and Margaret E. (Harrison) Redford. A. J. Redford was born in 1827 in North Carolina. He came to Missouri when a boy and located in Moniteau County. He later moved to Johnson County, where he settled temporarily in Hazel Hill township. About 1870 he moved to Warrensburg. A. J. Redford was a prominent and influential stockman in the early days, his sales and purchases covering all John- son County. He drove stock to Sedalia, Missouri and shipped them from that place. He was also an early day teamster, working between Warren- sburg and Lexington. Margaret E. (Harrison) Redford was born in Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. redford were the parents of the following child- ren: J. E., who resides in Hazel Hill township; Mrs. Phoebe A. Frost, Warrensburg, Mo.; Mrs. E. F. Tracy, wife of the subject of this review; Mrs. E. N. Johnson, Warrensburg, Mo.; Mrs. N. M. Naylor, Springfield, Mo.; and W. O., who resides in Hazel Hill township. In 1811, A. J. Redford died and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Warrens- burg. Three years later he was followed in death by his wife, her death occurring in 1914, and she was also buried in the Warrensburg cemetery. Judge Tracy is of pioneer lineage. His maternal grandfather, John Atkinson, came to Missouri in a "prairie schooner," and settled in Johnson County in the early thirties. The "schooner" traveled the Warrensburg-Lexington road. ==================================================================== 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 ====================================================================