Bates County Biographies
Bates County Biographies
JARVIS, John F.
John F. Jarvis, In the old territorial days of Washington, five days before its
admission into the sisterhood of states, a young man located temporarily in
Spokane county, and rented a farm. This was in 1884, and the pioneer locater was
the subject of this article. He was born in Henry county, Missouri, October
4,1862. His parents were John C. and Indiana (Ridgeway) Jarvis, the father a
native Illinois and the mother of Ohio. They also, removed to Washington in
1884, living in Spokane county two years and, in 1886, going to Stevens county
where John C. still lives, the wife and mother died in 1901. They were the
parents of thirteen children, six of whom are still living: John F.; Frank;
Dora, wife of John Collins, of Valley; H.V.; Charles, and Barton. In the public
schools of Henry and Bates counties, Missouri, our subject received an excellent
education, and so attaining his majority, sought employment on a farm where he
continued one year, coming to Washington in 1884. At first he rented a farm in
Spokane county, but subsequently preempted eighty acres near Chewelah, Stevens
county. This property he disposed of and leased a hay ranch in 1895. He then
purchased two hundred acres of hay and timber land upon which he now lives,
cultivating one hundred and forty acres, and surrounded by all the comforts of
home. The property is fenced with good buildings and other facilities foe
conducting farming operations on a paying basis. On the place is a young orchard
and in addition to its products, last season he marketed one hundred and
twenty-five tons of hay. In December, 1892, Mr.Jarvis was united in marriage to
Della M. Bly, widow of William Bly, and daughter of Robert A.Glenn. They have
three children, Alta Z., Byrl and Laurel, all of whom are at present with their
parents. The father and mother of Mrs. Jarvis, Robert A. and Charlotte (Barton)
Glenn, were natives of Illinois. They were the parents of three children, Della
M., Albert E.and Edgar, deceased. Mr. Jarvis has always manifested a lively
interest in the fortunes of the Democratic party, and is an ernest and
conscientious worker in local affairs involving the duties of good citizenship.
In the community in which he resides respected
and has won and holds the confidence of a wide circle of friends and
acquaintances. ("The History of North Washington" , published 1904 Stevens County,
WA Biographical Sketches)
JARVIS, Winfield S.
Spruce Township - Winfield S. Jarvis owes his nativity to Madison County,
Illinois, where he was born July 11, 1840. His father, Fletcher Jarvis, was a
native of Virginia, where he grew to manhood and married Ann Eliza Brown, of
Illinois. Her parents were Kentuckians by birth. Winfield was raised in Madison
County on a farm, his primary education being obtained at the common schools. He
afterwards attended the high school at Collinsville, and graduated at Bryant &
Stratton's Commercial College, at St. Louis. Since finishing his studies he has
been engaged in teaching during the winter months and working on his farm in the
summer season. He came to Missouri in September of 1877, and located in Bates
County, where he purchased his present farm. He has 167 acres, 113 in his home
place, all under fence, with a fair house and granary, and a young orchard,
located in section 36. Mr. Jarvis was married in his native county, December 24,
1874, to Miss Anna M. Martin, a daughter of Henry and Anna Martin. She was also
born in Madison County, Illinois. They have two children: Leonora Ann, born
December 13, 1875, and Henry W.F., born July 26, 1877. They have lost three
children, two in infancy, and Harold A., who died February 1, 1881, aged
seventeen months. Mr. Jarvis politically is a Democrat. He was nominated by his
party and elected township assessor in 1881, and is the present assessor. He and
his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Jarvis belongs to the Masonic
fraternity. (History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883)
JENKINS, John R.
Mt. Pleasant Township - John R. Jenkins, circuit clerk. The subject of this
sketch is a native of Nelson County, Virginia, where he was born October 7,
1840. His father, John E. Jenkins, was also born in Virginia, May 10, 1810, and
was there married, in February, 1845, to Miss Rosa J. Cash, of that state, who
was born in 1820. They had eleven children, of whom John R. was the ninth child.
In 1847 the family went to Edgar County, Illinois, where they resided until
1858, in that year removing to Clinton, Henry County, Missouri. This was his
home until the commencement of the war. The death of his parents occurred there
but six days apart, his father dying December 20, 1875, and his mother December
26, 1875. In 1861, Mr. Jenkins enlisted in Captain Owens' company of the
Confederate M.S.G., under General Price, and was with him on his famous raid
through Missouri. After remaining in the service for two years, he returned to
Clinton, and from 1865 to 1870 was engaged as traveling salesman for Guiterman,
Bros. & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1872 he came to Bates County, Missouri, and
gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, till called to his present
position, in 1878. In 1874 he was elected justice of the peace of Mingo
Township, serving for four years, and during this time he was the collector of
that township. He is a member of Butler Lodge, No. 254, A.F. and A.M. Mr.
Jenkins was married, May 22, 1869, to Miss Antoinette Davis, a native of
Indiana. They have one child living, Mabel. (History of Bates County, Missouri,
1883)
JETER, Nicholas B.
Mt. Pleasant Township - Nicholas B. Jeter, dealer in jewelry, watches, clocks
and silverware, is a native of Howard County, Missouri, and was born July 26,
1844. His father, B.F. Jeter, was a Virginian by birth, and his mother, Mary J.
(Beckhardt) Jeter, came originally from Howard County, Missouri. His maternal
grandfather, Nicholas S. Beckhartt, was the first white settler above St.
Charles, Missouri, on the Missouri River, and he was married in Missouri while
it was still a territory. The subject of this biography was reared to manhood in
the county of his birth, receiving the advantages of a good English education.
In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Ninth Missouri Infantry, C.S.A. At the battle
of Lexington, Missouri, he was captured and confied at Alton, Illinois, for
about four months, then being transferred to Johnson's Island where he remained
two months when he was exchanged. He again joined his command and served with it
till the close of the war. Reurning to Howard County Mr. Jeter became engaged in
the jewelry business at Fayette which he continued for four years. He
subsequently gave his attention to the same occupation at Tipton, Missouri, for
three years, at the expiration of that time going to Sedalia, Missouri, where he
was interested in trade for six months. In 1873 he came to Butler and opened his
present business in which he has been quite successful. Mr. J. was married March
16, 1870, to Miss Florence M. Saunders, a native of Howard County, Missouri.
They have one child now living, B. Frank. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and
K.of H. fraternitites and also belongs to the Jewelers' League, of New York.
They are connected with the Christian Church. (History of Bates County,
Missouri, 1883)
JOHNSON, William H.
Spruce Township - William H. Johnson, farmer and stock dealer, section 21, was
born in Saline County, Missouri, August 7, 1853. His parents were W.R. Johnson,
born in Lafayette County, and Nancy A. (Beaty) Johnson, a native of Saline
County. William H. passed his boyhood days on his father's farm, and received a
common school education. He moved to Bates County in the fall of 1869, and
bought land and located in Spruce Township, on the farm where he now resides. He
has seventy-five acres of land, all fenced and in a fair state of cultivation,
upon which is a young orchard. Mr. Johnson was married here, January 29, 1874,
to Miss Alice Short, a daughter of John Short. She is a native of Bates County.
They have two children: William Albert, born February 14, 1875; and Alonzo, born
February 18, 1878. They have lost three children, who died in infancy. Mrs.
Johnson is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. (History of Bates
County, Missouri, 1883)