Springfield-Greene
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JESSE O. REDFEARN. One farmer may develop particular skill in feeding cattle; another has great success in raising horses; another has a special knack for planning crops, still another farmer can make fruits and vegetables do exceptionally well. Such farmers are experts in these lines of work. They ought to be made the experts for the community so their skill can be brought on to all the farms in the locality. If this could he carried out the production of the farms in any section would be greatly increased. While Jesse O. Redfearn, of Center township, Greene county, does not seem to have specialized on any one phase of agriculture he has studied all carefully and has made a success as a general farmer. His neighbors might do well to observe his methods in many lines.
Mr. Redfearn was born in Greene county, Missouri, April 10, 1856. He is a son of Josiah F. and Lucy K. (Bennett) Redfearn, the mother being a daughter of Perminter Bennett, of Tennessee. However, she was born in South Carolina. The father of our subject was born in Tennessee and was a son of Townley Redfearn. The latter was a farmer and stock man and he migrated to Greene county, Missouri, in the early thirties among the first settlers, worked hard developing a farm from the wilderness and spent the rest of his life here as did his wife, both being buried in the Yeakley cemetery. Their six children were named as follows: Josiah, Jesse, Henry, Louisa, Polly and Susan. They are all deceased.
Josiah Redfearn grew up on the home farm, assisting his father clear up the land, and he received a meager education in the old-time subscription schools. His family consisted of five sons and four daughters, namely: Mrs. Harriet E. Hoyal lives at Bois D'Arc, this county; Mary is deceased; Sarah died in infancy; Leonidas died in infancy; Jesse O., of this sketch; George H. is teaching school at Republic; William E. is engaged in merchandising at Bois D'Arc; John Perminter is deceased; Redella A. lives in Bois D'Arc. Politically Josiah Redfearn was a Democrat and during the Civil war he was a member of the State Militia. His death occurred on August 13, 1902, at an advanced age. His wife preceded him to the grave on July 17, 1896. They were buried in the Yeakley cemetery.
Jesse O. Redfearn grew to manhood on the home farm where he assisted with the work when a boy and he received a limited education in the country schools. On December 21, 1876, he was united in marriage with Catherine H. Johnson, a daughter of Richard and Cecilia (Morris) Johnson. The father was a farmer and a native of Greene county, Tennessee, from which state he came to this county in an early day and here our subject's wife grew to womanhood and attended the public schools. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, namely: Mary P., deceased; Barton F., deceased; James William, deceased; Mrs. Susan Jane Baker is the wife of a farmer in this county; Mrs. Martha C. Harrelson is also the wife of a Greene county farmer; George C. is deceased; Catherine H., wife of our subject; Benjamin B. lives on a farm in this county; Alexander S. lives in Greene county; Julia Ann is deceased; Joseph Ross lives on a farm in this county; Mrs. Emma D. Dyer lives-in California.
The following children have been born to Jesse O. Redfearn and wife: Mrs. Bertha C. Barrett is the wife of a Greene county farmer; Mrs. Carrie Jane Sweeney lives at Willard, this county; William Ross died when thirty-two years of age; Melvin Floyd has remained unmarried and lives in Los Angeles, California; James H. lives at home; John Carlos married Neva Mayes, November 25, 1914; she is a daughter of J. A. Mayes; J. Clives lives on a farm near the home place; Mrs. Lucy M. Elson is the wife of a Greene county farmer.
Mr. Redfearn has devoted his life to general farming. He located on his, present place in 1878, which at that time consisted of sixty-three acres, but he prospered with advancing years by hard work and good management and is now owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres. This land was formerly owned by his father. Our subject has made practically all the present improvements on the place. In connection with general farming he makes a specialty of raising blooded live stock, in which he is very successful.
Mr. Redfearn is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. In 1882 he joined Masonic Blue Lodge No. 449 at Bois D'Arc. He is active in church work, being at this writing a trustee in the church where he holds membership, and he has been superintendent of the Sunday school for a period of twenty years. He has also been clerk of the school board in his district for some time. He has assisted in furthering any movement calculated to be of general benefit to his community.
[1851-1853]
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