Springfield-Greene
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C. W. EARNEST. Nature's remedies and methods for curing the ills of man, beast or soil are always the best and most economical. So we must learn the simple lesson that wherever the necessary mineral elements of plant food are deficient, whether it is because they never were deposited in sufficient quantity by nature or whether they have been exhausted by erosion or repeated cropping, we must not only return them in their natural form, but we must make them available for plant food by supplying organic matter in abundance. No considerable increased crop yields will be realized until these facts are thoroughly understood and methods involving their application adopted. C. W. Earnest, a farmer of Cass township, Greene county, has long been aware of these facts and has governed his methods of agriculture accordingly, and that is the reason that he has prospered.
Mr. Earnest was born, December 3, 1839, in Blount county, eastern Tennessee. He is a son of Wesley Earnest, who was born in Greene county, Tennessee, September 10, 1796. His parents located in that state among the early settlers and there he grew to manhood, attended the early day schools, taught in log cabins, later studying at a college for awhile. His active life was devoted to general farming. He remained in his native state until 1851, when he removed to Missouri. He married, in his native state, Nancy Ramsey, a daughter of John Ramsey. She was born in Tennessee, August 20, 1800. To their union nine children were born, two of whom died when young, namely: John R., deceased, came to Greene county, Missouri, where he became one of the judges of the County Court; William was drowned when a boy; James C., born May 11, 1828 died in 1905; Malinda died a few years ago; Susan died when young; Polly Ann died in girlhood; Nancy Ann died many years ago; C. W. of this sketch; Elizabeth is the widow of George Biggs, he being deceased. A half sister to these children was Eliza Blackburn, who married Charles Hughes.
C. W. Earnest grew to manhood on his father's farm where he worked when a boy. He was twelve years of age when he removed with his family to Greene county, Missouri. He received his education in the common schools. After spending nineteen years on his father's farm in this county, he removed in 1871 to the farm which he now owns, thus he has lived on one place forty-four years, during which he has developed one of the best farms in Cass township, bringing it up to a high state of improvement and fertility. His farm consists of two hundred and five acres. He carries on general farming and stock raising, having formerly devoted much of his attention to raising mules.
During the Civil War he served two years in the militia, on the Federal side, however, he did not have occasion to do any active fighting.
Mr. Earnest was married in 1891, to Elizabeth Murray, to which union three children were born, two of whom died in infancy; Jessie is living at home. The death of the wife and mother occurred June 28, 1903. On November 18, 1906, our subject married Tennie Sneed. This union has been without issue.
Politically, Mr. Earnest is a Democrat, and while he is in no sense a politician, he has always been loyal in his support of all movements looking to the betterment of his township and county in any way. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Cave Spring. Having lived so long in the northern part of Greene county he is one of the best known men in this locality, and his reputation for right living is all that could be desired.
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