Johnson County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

Johnson County, Missouri Genealogy Trails
Source: "History of Johnson County, Missouri" by Ewing Cockrell, 1918
Transcribed by Karen Hammer -2009

GROVER TOWNSHIP

Grover township, which occupies the northeastern corner of the county, was originally a part of Washington township, and at its organization, February 9. 1869, included the territory which is now Simpson township and the northern point of what later became Montserrat township. The present boundaries were established January 23, 1875. It was named for Col. Ben. W. Grover. a prominent and able citizen of the county of the period before the Civil War.

Geography.-Area, 48 square miles, or 30,720 acres. Geographically. Grover township is divided by two streams which make a "T," Black-water running east and west at the top and Walnut creek running north from the south part of the township into Blackwater.

Early Settlements.-The permanent settlement of this section of Johnson county began about 1830, although there were a few here prior to that time. John Leeper. William Cheek and William Marshall came here between 1828 and 1830. William Marshall settled here in 1830 and it is probable that John Leeper came here in 1828, although if he did so he did not make permanent settlement that year. He was a hunter and had a cabin on Walnut creek probably as early as 1828. but did not make his home here until a year or so later.

William Thornton, a native of Virginia, came here in 1830 and Thomas Marshall, also a Virginian, settled here in 1832. Charles Thornton and his son-in-law, Larkin Hocker, settled in this township in 1835. They brought slaves with them and were well to do.

Charles M. Oglesby came here from Kentucky in 1834. His native state was Virginia, where he was born. August 17, 1801. He died here September 23, 1861, and was one of the respected pioneers of Grover township. Charles M. Oglesby's mother-in-law, Mrs. Jane Gilbert, came here with Mr. Oglesby's family and was one of the honored pioneer women of this section. She died in 1836. Talton W. Oglesby came here in 1834 and entered land.

William Gillum came about 1834.
Jacob Cox located in what is now Grover township in March, 1833. He was a Virginian and came here from Cooper county, to which place he had moved in 1831. He was married here January 13, 1845, to Melinda Senior. He was a blacksmith and brought a blacksmithing outfit with him and opened a shop here which is said to have been the first blacksmith shop within a radius of fifty miles. At that time Salt Fork in Saline county was the nearest grist mill. This was forty miles distant.
James Rothwell came here in the fall of 1839. He was a Virginian and spent the remainder of his life here where he was a useful citizen and became very well to do. Another pioneer who came here among the first was a Mr. Lewis, who came from Saline county in 1829. He entered land from the government but his wife soon afterward became dissatisfied with the country of howling wolves, deer and Indians, and they sold their farm to William Cheek, taking in exchange for it a

Early Physicians.-Dr. Grandison Thornton, son of Charles Thornton, was perhaps the first physician in this section. He also kept a small drug store at an early day. He left here during the Civil War and died near Fort Scott. Kansas, while on his way to the southern part of Missouri.

Dr. B. F. Dunkley settled here in 1846 and is numbered among the early-day physicians. His practice extended over a large scope of sparsely settled country at a time when travel was difficult, there being no roads. He frequently drove an entire day to visit a single patient and make the return trip. Speaking of his practice and the condition of the country in the early days. Doctor Dunkley is quoted as saying: ''I found malarial fever very prevalent, from the simplest chill to the most violent congestive forms of fever. As the country settled up, malarial fever became milder. T used to keep two good horses, fat and in trim, for the malarial season, which generally began with August and lasted through September and October. I would ride to see my patients on one side of the creek one day and visit those on the other side the next day." Doctor Dunkley was a capable physician, a good citizen, and became very well to do.

The first wagon road laid out in the township was from Knob Noster to Kirkpatrick's mill in 1852.

Postoffice.-The first postoffice was established near the Pettis county line and part of the time was kept in the adjoining county. It was known as Bee Branch, named from a little creek nearby and Benjamin Prigmore was the first postmaster. The first postal route, was secured through the influence of Dr. B. F. Dunkley, from Georgetown to Lexington. In 1858 the postoffice was changed to Dunksburg. later it was changed to Siegel. However, that name never became popular and it was known as Dunksburg.

Dr. B. F. Dunkley was the second postmaster, and other early postmasters were L. S. Taylor, John Carmach, Joseph Bobbitt and James Bobbitt.

Dunksburg is the only village in Grover township. It is located on the Pettis county line on section 1. Doctor Dunkley opened a store here in 1858 and the village was named for him.

Early Churches.-Like other sections of Johnson county, the cause of religion was given early attention in the pioneer days.

Mount Zion Church of Christ was the first religious society established in the township. It was organized May 31, 1840, with the following members: Charles Thornton, George Thornton, James Y. Jones, Grandison Thornton, Larkin Hocker, Mary Thornton. Martha G. Thornton, Amanda \Y. Huff, Eliza Jane Hocker, Theodocia Thornton, Nancy L. Thornton, Lucy B. Fugna, Ann Eastham, Sarah Eastham. Nancy Vigus. Margaret Jones and Elizabeth Tebbs. Colored members of this organization were: Charles Thornton's Andrew Shepherd and James Y. Jones' Joseph. The church was organized at the residence of L. Hocker and for several years services were held in private residences and in the groves. Thomas Mulkey was the first pastor and he visited the congregation monthly. The first church which this congregation erected was a log structure eighteen by twenty feet. As early as 1845, this church had a membership of one hundred. About 1850. the old log church became dilapidated and a suitable frame building was erected. This building was replaced in 1859 by a more commodious structure. Among some of the early pastors of this denomination, who filled the pulpit here were, Thomas Mulkey, Dr. Thomas McBride. Duke Young, Elder Price, Allen Wright. Thomas Hancock, James Randall. Joseph Wright, C. A. Hedrick, B. C. Stephens and Samuel McDaniel.

Calvary Methodist Episcopal church in Dunksburg was built in the fall of 1873 and was dedicated by J. K. Tuttle. Rev. T. S. Benfield organized the church with the following membership: John Current, Martha Current, S. A. Current. Annie A. Current, Albert Current, A. L. Porter, J. S. Porter, Ruth Porter, S. P. Porter. Nannie E. Porter, Lou E. Carter, Lewis Hayworth, Elizabeth Hayworth, J. P. Hughes, Mollie Hughes, Mattie Hughes, William Hughes. Noah Briles, Mary Briles, Martha Briles, Ann Lear, Mary Lear, Robert Lear. W. W. Sitton, Jane Sitton, Philip Wheeler, Frances Wheeler, Sarah Wheeler, Riley Wheeler. James Taylor, L. T. Current, Sallie Current. Delia Current and A. M. Current. In 1874 a Sunday school was organized at Calvary church with Lewis Hayworth, superintendent. Among the early pastors who served this church were: T. S. Benfield. J. S. Porter, J. M. Kelly, S. Jones, J. C. W. Jones and S. Ing.

Union Chapel. Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1870 by Rev. Stanford Ing. The church was built in 1876 and dedicated four years later by Rev. J. N. Pierce. Among the early pastors here were Stanford Ing, P. S. Benefield, J. S. Porter, S. W. Jones, C. J. W. Jones and the first members were A. Fisher, Martha Fisher, D. T. Fisher, Polly A. Fisher, Nathan Fisher, Elizabeth Fisher. John Maddox. Mahala Maddox, H. Brant and Lydia Brant.

The German Baptist or Dunkard church was located on section 32, a large brick structure.

Early Cemeteries.-There are numerous cemeteries in Grover township. Tebbs' cemetery is located in the western part of the township. John M. Tebbs was the first to be buried here. March 4, 1848 Hocker cemetery is located on what was the old Hocker farm. The first person buried here was Harrison Hocker, May 1, 1840, and the second was Thomas Huff. Robinson cemetery is located in the southern part of the township near Walnut creek and is located on an eminence or knoll. Joseph Robinson selected this spot for a burial ground and his remains were laid to rest here in 1839. "Old Dick,'" a colored slave who lived to be a hundred years old, also sleeps beneath the stars here.

Oglesby cemetery is a small burial ground and the graves herein are mostly those of the family whose name the cemetery bears. Swope cemetery is another small burying ground. Marshall cemetery is located east of Walnut creek. There are several graves here, the first one being that of Mrs. William Cheek, who was buried about 1840.

Mount Zion cemetery, which was laid out in close proximity to Mount Zion church, was used mostly for members of that denomination. The cemetery was opened coincident with the building of the church. Wampler cemetery was quite a large burying ground and is located in the western part of the township. The child of Isaac McCoy was the first to be buried here.
Payne cemetery bears the name of the original owner of the land where it is located. Miss Martha Grice was the first to be interred here in 1857. The Rothwell cemetery is a family burying ground located on section 10. The infant son of J. C. Rothwell was the first to be buried here in 1854.

Early Schools.-The early schools of Grover township were not unlike other pioneer settlements, the first schools were of the "subscription" type. Highland school was the first to be built. The building was a little log hut which stood on an elevation. Later, another log cabin was built in the western part of the township. Then a school house was built on Blackwater which was known as the Lowland school. Other school districts were organized and school buildings of a better type were erected from time to time, and kept pace with the general development of education.

Teachers.-Early teachers were poorly paid, although many of them possessed qualifications far beyond the measure of pay which they received. Among the early teachers were, Mary Wingfield, Mary A. Ferrell, Jesse Trapp, Frank Payne, A. B. Harrison. L. Delihonte, George Furs, Andrew Ramsey, Lucy Tate. Rev. M. Scruggs, Doc Moore. A. Featherman, J. Rogers. Miss L. D. Hull, Thomas Jones, N. Lowrey William Bothwell. J. Sparrowhawk, L. Hocker, Jr., J. P. Walker, R. W. Wade, Mary Hocker, J. F. Robinson, Joe Wheeler, J. C. Wheeler, H. F. Triplett, Jennie Stringfield, R. S. Tyler, L. D. Wilson, Amanda Wheeler, Thomas J. Wheeler, Mrs. E. D. McCormack, James W. Selby, J. Buckmaster, D. Burch, W. H. James, David Goode, F. Martin. G. W. Couch, two terms: A. J. Sparks, S. N. Wheeler, Dolly Stringfield. Jenny Leake, W. S. Wheeler. Alice Langston, W. L. Nelson, Henry Park, Joseph Terrington, Miss Mercer, Mrs. Lesh, W. L. Dixon. C. M. McGirk, Mary Budd, I. F. Tanner, Miss Josie Shryack, T. P. Reid. J. W. Branch, William Ploger, T. J. Wheeler, S. Flory, Erastus Porter, Mrs. S. Bobbin, J. R. Wade. R. A. S. Wade, William Park. Henry Park, Miss McFarland, R. Ward, E. Ross, W. Bobbin, Mrs. Sislef, and Miss Julia Lutz.

Road Improvements.-County road improvements made by the township, since this system was established in 1911, were up to January 1. 1918. twenty-four in number and aggregated $1,515. furnished by the citizens of the township, and SI .350 furnished by the county. In amount of this work Grover ranks first among the townships of the county.

Organizations.-Complete list of all organizations in the township. Details of all these are in this book in chapters on the separate organizations.
Churches-Christian. Mt. Zion: Cumberland Presbyterian, Bethel; German Lutheran: German Lutheran, Dunksburg.

Fraternal Organizations-Modern Woodmen. Dunksburg; Royal Neighbors, Dunksburg.

Miscellaneous-Farmers Club; Homemakers Club, Hepsidam.

Total number of organizations in township is eight.

There is one village, Dunksburg, in the township, and also a store at the German Lutheran church.