Centerview

CENTERVIEW TOWNSHIP

Centerview was organized by order of the county court, November 17, 1870, and named from its high and central location.

Early Settlement.-The first permanent settlement in the territory now comprising Centerview township was probably made in 1832. Solomon Cox, a native of Kentucky, settled on section 1 on the east side of Brier creek in 1832, where he built a log cabin, and remained until 1848. Mr. Cox was a Missouri pioneer, coming to this state long before it was admitted to the Union. He was known as “Uncle Solomon,” was a frugal and industrious man and while living in this township he accumulated about four hundred acres of land. This he sold at ten dollars per acre in 1848, when he left for the Pacific coast. He was a man of a roving and adventurous nature and thus his onward march across the plains and over the mountains.

Jeremiah Gregg, a native of Kentucky, settled here in 1832.

Matthias Houx. a native of Kentucky came here in 1833. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and became well to do. He spent the remainder of his life in this county and lived to a ripe old age. His children still live at the old home place. In the early days he was a typical frontiersman and a hunter of considerable note. In 1849, during the gold excitement in California, he went to the Pacific coast overland. It was truthfully said of him that on that overland trip to California he shot nearly every species of animal to be found between Missouri and California, including buffalo, elk, deer, panther, grizzly bear and Indian. He killed hundreds of deer and wolves in his time and in his declining years he retained his trusty old muzzle-loading rifle and a double-barreled shotgun, mute comrades1 of many exciting events in the once wild and unbroken West.

John Conway, of Tennessee, came here in 1833 and died in 1842. James Stirling, also a native of that state, came in 1833 and died here. William Conway came from Tennessee in 1833 and later went to Texas, where he spent his life. Jeremiah and Samuel Carmichael and William Cocke, natives of Tennessee, came in 1833; the former spent the remainder of his life here and the latter later removed to California. Isaac Reese, another Tennesseeian, located here about 1834 and later went to Kansas, where he died. James Fisher came to this section in 1835. He was a native of Mississippi and in 1847 went to Texas.

Philip S. Houx came here in 1838 and died about twenty years later. He was a native of Missouri and the father of Rev. James N. Houx and grandfather of Charles H. Houx. John Kennedy, a native of Tennessee, came here in 1838 and died shortly afterward.

John G. Graham a Virginian, settled here in 1838 and died in 1878. Samuel C. Graham, also of Virginia, settled in this vicinity in 1840. The Grahams left numerous descendants, good citizens and men who still live in the township. James J. Graham, also a Virginian, came in 1850. Samuel T. Thistle settled in this vicinity in 1840 and later moved into Rose Hill township. He was a Virginian. And Gideon Harrison, of Alabama, came here in 1842 but soon afterward returned to his native state.

Samuel McFarland, a native of Tennessee, came to the territory of Missouri in 1816. Later he lived in Cooper and Lafayette counties and in 1843 settled in Centerview township, about two miles east of where the village of Centerview now stands. He went to Texas in 1850 and died there in 1851. His brother, George McFarland, settled in Centerview in 1843 in the same locality and spent the remainder of his life there. He died prior to the Civil War.

Moses G. Mullins was an early settler in this section and for a number of years lived in Centerview township, two miles southwest of the Centerview depot.

Among other early settlers were William Ramsey, G. Burgess, John Combs, Jacob Fetterling, William Marr, J. W. Houx, John R. Whitsett, T. C. Chamberlain, James Chamberlain, Elhanen Roop, James Stirling, and his son, and P. S. Houx and his two sons.

George Washington, a pioneer of sterling worth, was the first supervisor from Centerview township. He held this office for eighteen months, when the law was changed abolishing the office. Later he was elected a member of the county court. He was also one of the first justices of the peace in the township and was postmaster.

Early Schools. 

The school system of Centerview township had its beginning with the primitive log schoolhouse which was maintained by the settlers and known as “subscription schools.” This was the method generally in vogue prior to the public school system. Some of the first school buildings in Johnson county were erected in Centerview township. The first log schoolhouse erected within the present limits of this township was located on the south side of Brier creek, one and one-half miles south of the present village of Centerview. probably not later than 1835. There has been no tangible trace of this building for over half a century.

Another pioneer log schoolhouse was built in the same district one mile southwest of the one above mentioned several years before the Civil War, perhaps about 1850. This school was known by different names but was originally called the Cox school. The Briscoe school and the Owings school were also organized before the Civil War. The former was located in the southern part of the township and the latter in the eastern part. The Briscoe school, like many other buildings, was burned during the Civil War. During the war, all the schools in the township were discontinued.

Some of the pioneer teachers of Centerview township were: Alexander Gibbs, Addison Van Ausdol, J. J. Graham and Moses G. Mullins.

The Graham School, a private institution, supported by subscription, was the first school organized after the Civil War. The house- was a small frame building erected in 1866 by donations from Samuel C. Graham, James Peak and others. G. H. Sack, who afterward became county superintendent of the schools of Johnson county, was the teacher. This was the only school in the township for some time and pupils from a radius of six or seven miles attended school here. In 1868, the Centerview school district was organized and purchased this private school house and J. C. Crawford was employed to teach the school, being paid from public funds. In 1872 this school was organized as a graded school and removed to the town of Centerview. John E. Hendrix was the first principal and was followed by George Brinkerhoff, Mr. Wester, Professor Reynolds, Rev. S. H. McElvaine, H. W. Roop and W. L. Shipp.

Early Churches.-Centerview township was active in church organization during the early pioneer days.

The old Smyrna church, four miles southwest of the village of Centerview, was the oldest church building in the township. It was a log structure thirty feet square and was known as the Free Church. It was built in 1840. and has long since disappeared, but was one of the famous churches of the early days. Some of the pioneer preachers who held services here were Joseph White, William P. C. Caldwell, Amos Horn, a Baptist minister, J. B. Morrow, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and Robert Glenn, a Presbyterian minister.

The Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized in 1833 by Rev. J. R. Whitsett and J. B. Morrow. The following were among the early pastors to serve this denomination here: Reverends J. R. Whitsett, J. B. Morrow, S. Finis King, A. A. Van Ausdol, J. W. Means, William F. Gordon, Walter Schenck and S. H. McElvaine. Among the early members were Philip Houx and family, S. C. Graham and family, John S. Graham and family. Rev. J. R. Whitsett and family, James J. Graham and family. Pleasant Carmichael and family.

The Baptist. Brethren, Methodist, Presbyterian and negro Methodist churches were all organized before 1880 and are still in existence.

Source SHSMO Missouri State Archives

1918 Biography

Charles Houx, a prominent stockman of Centerview township, is a native of Johnson county and a member of a worthy pioneer family. He was born on the Philip Houx farm, the son of James H. Houx and the grandson of Philip Houx, who came from Kentucky to Missouri. About 1834 he settled on a farm in Centerview township. Philip Houx first located in Lafayette county upon coming from the South and later, when his son, James H., was seven years of age moved to Johnson county, where he lived the remainder of his life. His death occurred about 1854 and he was interred in the family cemetery. Charles Houx is one of seven children born to James H. and Mary Everett (Wilson) Houx, as follow: Charles H., the subject of this review; Edwin W.; Mrs. Susan Elizabeth Williams, Columbia, Missouri; Marie, who died in 1911; Albert, who died from drowning when seven years of age; Mrs. Roberta Edmiston, St. Louis, Missouri; and Samuel B., Houston, Texas. The mother, Mary Everett (Wilson) Houx, is a native of Virginia. She came to Missouri when about four years of age, with her parents, who settled in Henry county. A sketch of Mrs. James H. Houx appears in this volume. James H. Houx died in 1903 and interment was made in the Warrensburg cemetery.

Charles H. Houx attended the city schools of Warrensburg, Missouri, and the Warrensburg State Normal School for two years. He was reared on the farm in Centerview township and until twenty-one years of age remained at home, assisting with the work of the farm. He then went to Colorado and for six years was engaged in the cattle business in that state, following ranch work. When he returned to Johnson county he entered the stock business here and has been thus engaged ever since. In 1900 Mr. Houx also became interested in a cattle ranch in New Mexico. He is associated with the Felix Cattle Company in this connection and has at present five thousand cattle on the ranch, which is devoted exclusively to the breeding of white-face Herefords. At the present time Mr. Houx in addition ships to the market about twenty cars of cattle and hogs from Johnson county.

In 1907, Charles H. Houx was united in marriage with Ethel Clark, the daughter of H. F. and Rosa (Goff) Clark, of Warrensburg, Missouri, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. To Charles H. and Ethel (Clark) Houx have been born two children: Charles, Jr., and Edwin.

Mr. Houx has been director of the Bank of Centerview since its organization in 1893 and the president since 1900. The Bank of Centerview has at present a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars and a surplus fund of fifteen thousand with deposits at the time of this writing amounting to one hundred thousand dollars. This bank is one of the soundest institutions of its size in the state. Mr. Houx is a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 673, of Warrensburg, Missouri. He is a fine, capable, promising young man who in a quiet and unassuming way is making a splendid success of life. Mr. Houx is the son of an old schoolmate of Senator Francis M. Cockrell, when he was a boy at Chapel Hill College.

“History of Johnson County, Missouri” by Ewing Cockrell, 1918 – Submitted by Karen Hammer -2009

The Matthias Houx home, father of cousin Mary who is standing in the door.
Located 4 miles NE of Centerview, standing and remodeled before 1976.
Matthias married Elizabeth Bradley. Back of photo below.

 Meet Molly and Polly
Description Mrs. Claude O. (Marion H.) Noland, Kingsville, Mo., standing outside with 2 calves, a view of the countryside in the background. “I am enclosing a picture of our twin heifer calves born January 15. Picture is when these were 2 weeks old. Their mother (Susie) is a red Milking Shorthorn, her first calves. Twins names are Mollie and Polly. This is my wife’s picture, Mrs. Marion H. Noland, with them. They are doing fine. – Claude O. Noland, Kingsville, Mo.

Places dear to the heart

Owner James Thomas at Always Inn Cafe and the Modern Tourist Camp in Centerview.

The Always Inn was offmHwy. 50 West of 58

Top, Stoner Residence. Bottom is Ozias Residence 1870

Judge R. B. Graham, Centerview MO
Robert Barnett GRAHAM b. 5 OCT 1842 in Centerview, Johnson Co.,Mo
Death: 1914 in Centerview, Johnson Co.,MO Marr: 2 DEC 1866 in Johnson Co.,MO
Spouse: Nancy Jane King b 21 MAR 1846 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO

BIOGRAPHY: Robert Barnett GRAHAM
Section 10; born in Centerview township, in 1842. His father was J. G. Graham, mentioned elsewhere in connection with the sketch of John H. Graham. Mr. R. B. Graham has lived in the township of Centerview ever since he was born. He was married in 1866 to Miss Nancy J. King. They have had nine children, eight of whom are now living. He has 130 acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. He does a general farming business, mainly raising grain: wheat and corn being the principal products.

MILITARY: He served in the Civil War with the 7th Missouri Cavalry and after the war ended returnedto his home in Johnson county, MO.

INFO: He was an ambitious and industrious man and at the time of his death, in 1914, he was the owner of 400 acres of valuable farm land in Johnson county. He was a Democrat and had been active in political affairs, serving his party long and well.

OCCUPATION: For two terms, he was judge of the county court from the western district and he had given excellent service and splendid satisfaction to all his constituents.

Children of Robert Barnett Graham and Nancy Jane King

1 Ella GRAHAM b: 2 SEP 1867 in Centerview,Johnson Co., MO
2 Mattie GRAHAM b: 24 DEC 1868 in Centerview, Johnson Co., MO
3 Charles Henry GRAHAM b: 18 MAY 1870 in Centerview, Co. Mo

4 Albert Russel GRAHAM b: 26 FEB 1872 in Centerview, Johnson Co., MO
5 George B. GRAHAM b: 13 DEC 1873 in Centerview, Johnson Co., MO
6 Mattie GRAHAM b: 8 JAN 1875 in Johnson Co.,MO
7 Oscar McGee GRAHAM b: 4 JUL 1875 in Centerview, Johnson Co, MO
8 Horace Guy GRAHAM b: 3 FEB 1877 in Centerview, Johnson Co., MO
9 Jess King GRAHAM b: 29 DEC 1878 in Centerview, Johnson Co., MO
10 Stella GRAHAM b: 4 MAY 1881 in Centerview,Johnson Co., MO
11 Robert Paul GRAHAM b: 21 JUN 1885 in Centerview, Johnson Co.,MO
12 Beulah H. GRAHAM b: 1886 in Johnson Co.,MO
13 Laura GRAHAM b: 12 MAY 1886 in Centerview, Johnson Co., MO
14 Stella GRAHAM b: 14 DEC 1892 in Johnson Co., MO

Churches