Veteran: Civil war (CSA)
h/o Mary J Broome.
Birth 4th of nine known children in Greene county, Tennessee.
Served as 1st Lieutenant in Matthews' Company, Georgia Infantry.
John C Guinn, reportedly, first arrived 1865 in Jasper county, Missouri to manage his wife's younger brother, murdered by bushwackers August 1861, properties, George W Broome, who had removed to area in 1856 (near Georgia City, created in 1868 by John) and had bought property from original white owner, John A Shirley (father of Belle Starr) with trading post overlooking Spring river and like several others, was killed by Jayhawker bushwhackers (or neighbors, the Ireland brothers), in his own doorway ~ ~ and following John's service as a Confederate officer in the Civil War. It was a dangerous life in that area of Jasper county for a few years, then he brought his family from Georgia around 1870, when things settled down. after creating Georgia City. He became a land baron, a millionaire, one of the best known charitable persons in the county ~ ~ sixty-two years later proclaimed as the wealthiest man in the county when passing away 8 June 1927. One of his last gifts was from his estate providing $75,000 for the construction of the second hospital building, which, by city council action, became McCune-Brooks, provided however, that the community matched his donation which it did and Busboom Brothers (George & Frank) construction company built same in 1929-'30 .
John and Mary were charter members of the 2nd old timers organization, named Carthage Pioneer Club formed 14 DEC 1878 of folks in the county prior to JAN 1865, then several years later merging with the original Old Settlers Association, the one started ten days earlier, 4 DEC 1878, and open to anyone in the county before JAN 1870!
Census: 1870, age 38 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia with wife & two sons, a farmer.
Census: 1880, age 48 Georgia City, Jasper township, Jasper county, Missouri with wife & three children.
Joplin Globe
11 January 1923
"Central National bank of Carthage elected officers & directors: Samuel McReynolds was re-elected chairman of the board; J. E. Lang, president; John C. Guinn, vice president; H. M. Boggess, cashier and Charles A. Scott, assistant cashier; Mr. McReynolds, Mr. Guinn, Mr. Lang, Mr. Boggess, T. N. Davey, W. K. Caffee, W. J. Sewall, G. M. Calhoon, L. E. Koken, J. C. Squires, A. M. Drake and D. W. Replogle, directors."
Death: in Jasper county, Missouri, Now interred in the Park cemetery's Abbey Mausoleum with his wife who in 1956 was re-interred next to him.
Father: P R Guinn b: 4 MAR 1800 Greene county, Tennessee.
Mother: Lotty Lauerdale b: 1802 Greene county, Tennessee.
Marriage: Mary J Broome b: APR 1829 Georgia.
Married: 7 NOV 1861 in LaGrange, Troup county,Georgia.
Known Children (middle name of first three likely mother's surname, Broome)
Charles B Guinn b: 14 FEB 1864 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
George B Guinn b: 4 JUL 1866 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
John B Guinn b: 18 OCT 1868 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
Lottie H Guinn b: 14 SEP 1872 Jasper county, Missouri.
His wife was first interred at the Georgia City cemetery in Jasper county, Missouri until July 1956 when her remains were re-interred next to John in Park cemetery's Oak Crest Abbey Mausoleum, with her 1895 stone remaining as a CENOTAPH in the Georgia City cemetery, once a town which he created in 1868.
____________________
JOHN C. GUINN
Among the old settlers of Jasper County and one of the prominent citizens is John C. Guinn. He resided on section 5, and owned about three thousand acres of land in Jasper County.
Grandfather Alexander Guinn came to America an emigrant from Ireland, and located very many years earlier in Virginia.
His son, P.R. Guinn was born in Greene County, Tennessee, where he followed farming and died at the age of sixty-six years.
He was the father of John C. Guinn and he married Lotty Lauderdale, who was born in Tennessee, where she died in 1842. Her ancestry was Welsh. They had eight sons and one daughter. Two of these died in infancy and John C. Guinn was the 4th child and the third son in the family.
John C. Guinn was born in Greene county, Tennessee on August 29, 1832 and he remained in his native place until he reached his eighteenth year, when he went to Georgia.
His education had been born that of the common schools, but from his sixteenth year he had shaped his own career. He found employment in the agricultural districts and on November 7, 1861, he was united in marriage to Mary J. Broome who was born in Georgia and whose death took place in 1895.
The three children of this union were: Charles B., John B. and Lottie H. who is the wife of R. M. Young of Georgia
In 1865 Mr. Guinn came to Jasper county and in 1867 he located here permanently, although his family did not come until 1871. Mr. Guinn was one of the large landholders in this section and owns much land and many mining interesting in Webb City. His life was one of industry, and by close attention to business and the exercise of good judgment he has become possessed of large means, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. In politics, Mr. Guinn has been a lifelong Democrat, and is one of the most esteemed citizens of Jasper County.
SOURCE: *Biographical Record of Jasper County by Malcom McGregor
Prepared in part by Bill Boggess.
_________________________
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
June 9, 1927
JOHN C. GUINN IS CLAIMED BY DEATH TODAY
County's Wealthiest Citizen Came Here in 1865
FORTUNE 1 1/2 MILLION
Pioneer Acquired Thousands of Acres of Rich Farm and Mineral Lands
John C. Guinn died at his home two miles south of Carthage at 5 o'clock this morning. Almost 95 years old, the pioneer settler, extensive landowner and reputed wealthiest citizen of Jasper county had been weakening gradually for the last 10 days after alive of activity and determination to carry on that had kept him alive and active well past the allotted span of three score and ten. Uremic poisoning was the direct cause of death.
Although his advanced age had handicapped him physically, Mr. Guinn's mind remained active and alert almost to the last, retaining the business acumen that enabled him to amass a fortune estimated to be easily in excess of 1 1/2 million dollars.
Gives Liberally to Worthy Causes
Interested principally in farming, Mr. Guinn was not a man who mixed freely with his fellow citizens or exhibited to any marked degree a so-called trait of public spiritedness in promoting public affairs, yet he gave and gave substantially to causes and charities which he approved. As in making his private investments, Mr. Guinn had a strong disinclination to give to causes where he felt that the money would be wasted or lost.
Mr. Guinn's personal fortune had its origin in large land holdings in the northwest part of the county around the now virtually abandoned settlement of Georgia City which Mr. Guinn founded. At his death he owned 3,300 acres of the rich farm lands of the Spring River bottoms and its tributaries in that district. He had some other small land holdings in Jasper county and considerable acreage in Oklahoma with some other scattered farm interests, owning in all probably 6,000 acres at the time of his death. The Jasper county title really is in the name of the Guinn Investment Company, which Mr. Guinn organized some years ago to facilitate handling of his extensive interests.
Sold Mining Land
A few years ago he disposed of 640 acres of mining land north of Webb City, which alone had paid to Mr. Guinn in royalties a very comfortable fortune. He also had sold some other farm lands but generally through his life had displayed a strong tendency to retain ownership of lands which he acquired.
All of his real estate holdings were in rural lands. it is said that he owned no city property.
Mr. Guinn came to Jasper county in 1865, settling in the Georgia City neighborhood, where his brother-in-law, George W. Broome, had been killed [August 1861] during the Civil War by bushwackers or marauders, who drove of Mr. Broome's cattle and confiscated other personal property. Mr. Broome had come to this county in 1856, acquiring acreages of land at a price of 75 cents per acre, according to histories. It was to look after this property that Mr. Guinn came to this section.
Escapes Death Traps
He went through the after-the-war disturbances of which the northwest part of the county was a proverbial hot bed and which caused the name of "Hell's Neck" to be applied to that particular territory, lying between Spring River and North Fork for some distance above the junction of the two streams near Georgia City. Mr. Guinn, according to his friends, has related numerous narrow escapes from traps set to ambush and slay him in those unsettled days.
It was not until five years after he first came to this county that Mr. Guinn brought his family here, conditions becoming sufficiently settled to make this feasible. Mr. Guinn purchased the interests of other heirs in the then cheap lands, acquiring a large acreage at a cost of a few dollars per acre. It included some of the most fertile land in Jasper county and produced very profitable crops as histories of grain yields attest. Mr. Guinn added to his holding. One history referred to him as owning 17,000 acres of land at one time. This probably was an error, however.
Mr. Guinn laid out Georgia City January 18, 1868. That community for a time was a thriving trading point, population figures reporting the town as having as many as 200 residents at one time. The town since has reverted to farm tracts. Georgia City was named after Mr. Guinn's adopted state of Georgia, where he lived before coming to Missouri and Jasper county.
He was a native of Tennessee, having been born in Greene county, that state, August 29, 1832. He was 33 years old when he came to Jasper county. He moved to the farm south of Carthage four years ago. His wife died about 20 years ago. He leaves surviving him, one son, Dr. C. B. Guinn of Carthage, and one daughter, Mrs. Lottie H. Young of La Grange, Georgia, who has been at her father's bedside for several days past. Her husband, R. M. Young and their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Guinn Young, arrived last night from La Grange. Richard Guinn of Inola, OK., a grandson of J. C. Guinn, also is here. Other grandchildren are mrs. E. E. Guinn (Mary Guinn) Nelson, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Robert Young of Milwaukee, and Joseph Young of Jefferson City, MO. Six great grandchildren also survive. Mr. Guinn was the last of his own family of brothers and sisters.
Interested in Carthage Bank
Associated intimately with Mr. Guinn, as his private secretary and as secretary of the Guinn Investment Company, for many years was Perry Riley, who virtually was reared by Mr. Guinn, his mother having been employed in Mr. Guinn's home for some years before her death as housekeeper.
Mr. Guinn was one of the original stockholders of the Central National Bank of this city, having been associated with the bank since its organization in 1890. For a number of years he has been vice president of the bank.
Mr. Guinn's body was removed to the Knell parlors here pending the funeral. Services will be held at the home of his son, Dr. C. B. Guinn at Thirteenth Street and Grand Avenue, at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The Rev. W. W. Pierce, pastor of the First Baptist church, assisted by the Rev. W. L. Perryman, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, will have charge of the services. The body will be laid to rest in Oak Crest Abbey mausoleum in Park Cemetery where the caskets of Mrs. Guinn and a son repose.
County's "Wheat King"
A Jasper county history of 1883 gave the following account of Mr. Guinn's life and activities as of that date.
"John C. Guinn, the kind of wheat-growers in southwest Missouri. His home is situated at Georgia City, 18 miles northwest of Carthage, near the Kansas line and neighboring to the town of Waco on the line of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway.
His landed estate consists of 4,000 acres of fine land, which is drained by Spring River. It is covered with a dark, rich, flexible alluvial, from six to ten feet deep, enormously productive of all crops grown in that region. Mr. Guinn has in cultivation some 1,600 acres devoted to wheat and corn, also many to timothy and meadow; and for the past 10 consecutive years his broad wheat fields have averaged 24 bushels per acre. In 1874, 80 acres gave an average of 47 bushels. He has grown 12 consecutive crops of wheat from the same land with no sign of diminution in yield. The crop of 1882 consisted of some 27,000 bushels of wheat from 1,000 acres.
Raised Fine Stock
He keeps many high grade cattle, hogs and fine pigs. He employs some 30 men and works some 30 teams. In active seasons he runs some 12 self binders and is the most successful and practical wheat grower in southwest Missouri.
The beautiful estate is well improved, surrounded by subdivided hedge and plank fences; he has a large, new and commodious barn, 40 by 40. He contemplates building a handsome residence. On his estate there is a strong water-power, having a fall of 5 1/2 feet, which might be made one of the most valuable properties in the state. Mr. Guinn, in connection with Mr. Lloyd owns a large section of valuable mineral land in Webb City and Joplin and also are extensive stockholders int he Parr Hill mines at the latter city.
Native of Tennessee
The above gentleman is a native of Greene county, east Tennessee, born August 9, 1832, being a son of P. R. and Lottie (Landerdall) Guinn, both natives of Greene county, east Tennessee. the father was born March 4, 1800, and lived to the age of 66 years, being a farmer by occupation. The mother was born in 1802, having a family of six children, as follows: George W., William M., Caroline M., John C., Pleasant M., and P. E. Guinn. Mr. Guinn grew up on a farm, having received a good education. He started out single handed to contend with the rough edge of the world. In 1850 he entered a mercantile establishment in Atlanta, GA., and remained some two years; then turned his attention to railroading, continuing at the same until 1856. He then spent many months in Central America, finally returning to Atlanta, Georgia. He came to Jasper county in 1856 (sic), making purchases and improving lands, but did not move his family until 1870. the most important event of Mr. and Mrs. Guinn's lived transpired November 7, 1861, when they were married, she being Miss Mary J. Broome, one of Georgia's fair daughters, her birthplace being La Grange, True (sic) county born August 15, 1832 being a daughter of Ruben and L. W. (Pitts) Broome, both natives of Georgia (sic). The family consists of eight children, Elizabeth E., Julia, John R., Mary J., George W., Henrietta, J. A. and C. W. Broome, Mrs. Guinn being the fourth child. Her education was received at La Grange. Afterwards, in 1849, she was graduated at the Wesleyan Female Seminary at Macon, GA., it being one of the oldest institutions in the southern states. Mr. and Mrs. Guinn have a family of three children living, as follows: Charles B., born February 14, 1864; John B., born October 18, 1863 (sic); and Lottie H., born September 14, 1872; have lost George D., born July 4, 1866 and died September 17, 1868.
Founded Georgia City
Livingston's Jasper county history of 1912 reported the founding of Georgia City by Mr. Guinn as follows:
"Georgia City was laid out January 18, 1858, by John C. Guinn and named after his native state. William A. Fugitt, John C. Cox & Son started stores there and Georgia City for a time was a flourishing town. some years ago the town plat was vacated and is now farm land, there remaining of the original town only a store and blacksmith shop. John C. Guinn, the founder of the town, is rated the largest real estate owner in the county, possessing 17,000 broad acres of Jasper county land."
h/o Mary J Broome.
Birth 4th of nine known children in Greene county, Tennessee.
Served as 1st Lieutenant in Matthews' Company, Georgia Infantry.
John C Guinn, reportedly, first arrived 1865 in Jasper county, Missouri to manage his wife's younger brother, murdered by bushwackers August 1861, properties, George W Broome, who had removed to area in 1856 (near Georgia City, created in 1868 by John) and had bought property from original white owner, John A Shirley (father of Belle Starr) with trading post overlooking Spring river and like several others, was killed by Jayhawker bushwhackers (or neighbors, the Ireland brothers), in his own doorway ~ ~ and following John's service as a Confederate officer in the Civil War. It was a dangerous life in that area of Jasper county for a few years, then he brought his family from Georgia around 1870, when things settled down. after creating Georgia City. He became a land baron, a millionaire, one of the best known charitable persons in the county ~ ~ sixty-two years later proclaimed as the wealthiest man in the county when passing away 8 June 1927. One of his last gifts was from his estate providing $75,000 for the construction of the second hospital building, which, by city council action, became McCune-Brooks, provided however, that the community matched his donation which it did and Busboom Brothers (George & Frank) construction company built same in 1929-'30 .
John and Mary were charter members of the 2nd old timers organization, named Carthage Pioneer Club formed 14 DEC 1878 of folks in the county prior to JAN 1865, then several years later merging with the original Old Settlers Association, the one started ten days earlier, 4 DEC 1878, and open to anyone in the county before JAN 1870!
Census: 1870, age 38 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia with wife & two sons, a farmer.
Census: 1880, age 48 Georgia City, Jasper township, Jasper county, Missouri with wife & three children.
Joplin Globe
11 January 1923
"Central National bank of Carthage elected officers & directors: Samuel McReynolds was re-elected chairman of the board; J. E. Lang, president; John C. Guinn, vice president; H. M. Boggess, cashier and Charles A. Scott, assistant cashier; Mr. McReynolds, Mr. Guinn, Mr. Lang, Mr. Boggess, T. N. Davey, W. K. Caffee, W. J. Sewall, G. M. Calhoon, L. E. Koken, J. C. Squires, A. M. Drake and D. W. Replogle, directors."
Death: in Jasper county, Missouri, Now interred in the Park cemetery's Abbey Mausoleum with his wife who in 1956 was re-interred next to him.
Father: P R Guinn b: 4 MAR 1800 Greene county, Tennessee.
Mother: Lotty Lauerdale b: 1802 Greene county, Tennessee.
Marriage: Mary J Broome b: APR 1829 Georgia.
Married: 7 NOV 1861 in LaGrange, Troup county,Georgia.
Known Children (middle name of first three likely mother's surname, Broome)
Charles B Guinn b: 14 FEB 1864 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
George B Guinn b: 4 JUL 1866 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
John B Guinn b: 18 OCT 1868 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
Lottie H Guinn b: 14 SEP 1872 Jasper county, Missouri.
His wife was first interred at the Georgia City cemetery in Jasper county, Missouri until July 1956 when her remains were re-interred next to John in Park cemetery's Oak Crest Abbey Mausoleum, with her 1895 stone remaining as a CENOTAPH in the Georgia City cemetery, once a town which he created in 1868.
____________________
JOHN C. GUINN
Among the old settlers of Jasper County and one of the prominent citizens is John C. Guinn. He resided on section 5, and owned about three thousand acres of land in Jasper County.
Grandfather Alexander Guinn came to America an emigrant from Ireland, and located very many years earlier in Virginia.
His son, P.R. Guinn was born in Greene County, Tennessee, where he followed farming and died at the age of sixty-six years.
He was the father of John C. Guinn and he married Lotty Lauderdale, who was born in Tennessee, where she died in 1842. Her ancestry was Welsh. They had eight sons and one daughter. Two of these died in infancy and John C. Guinn was the 4th child and the third son in the family.
John C. Guinn was born in Greene county, Tennessee on August 29, 1832 and he remained in his native place until he reached his eighteenth year, when he went to Georgia.
His education had been born that of the common schools, but from his sixteenth year he had shaped his own career. He found employment in the agricultural districts and on November 7, 1861, he was united in marriage to Mary J. Broome who was born in Georgia and whose death took place in 1895.
The three children of this union were: Charles B., John B. and Lottie H. who is the wife of R. M. Young of Georgia
In 1865 Mr. Guinn came to Jasper county and in 1867 he located here permanently, although his family did not come until 1871. Mr. Guinn was one of the large landholders in this section and owns much land and many mining interesting in Webb City. His life was one of industry, and by close attention to business and the exercise of good judgment he has become possessed of large means, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. In politics, Mr. Guinn has been a lifelong Democrat, and is one of the most esteemed citizens of Jasper County.
SOURCE: *Biographical Record of Jasper County by Malcom McGregor
Prepared in part by Bill Boggess.
_________________________
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
June 9, 1927
JOHN C. GUINN IS CLAIMED BY DEATH TODAY
County's Wealthiest Citizen Came Here in 1865
FORTUNE 1 1/2 MILLION
Pioneer Acquired Thousands of Acres of Rich Farm and Mineral Lands
John C. Guinn died at his home two miles south of Carthage at 5 o'clock this morning. Almost 95 years old, the pioneer settler, extensive landowner and reputed wealthiest citizen of Jasper county had been weakening gradually for the last 10 days after alive of activity and determination to carry on that had kept him alive and active well past the allotted span of three score and ten. Uremic poisoning was the direct cause of death.
Although his advanced age had handicapped him physically, Mr. Guinn's mind remained active and alert almost to the last, retaining the business acumen that enabled him to amass a fortune estimated to be easily in excess of 1 1/2 million dollars.
Gives Liberally to Worthy Causes
Interested principally in farming, Mr. Guinn was not a man who mixed freely with his fellow citizens or exhibited to any marked degree a so-called trait of public spiritedness in promoting public affairs, yet he gave and gave substantially to causes and charities which he approved. As in making his private investments, Mr. Guinn had a strong disinclination to give to causes where he felt that the money would be wasted or lost.
Mr. Guinn's personal fortune had its origin in large land holdings in the northwest part of the county around the now virtually abandoned settlement of Georgia City which Mr. Guinn founded. At his death he owned 3,300 acres of the rich farm lands of the Spring River bottoms and its tributaries in that district. He had some other small land holdings in Jasper county and considerable acreage in Oklahoma with some other scattered farm interests, owning in all probably 6,000 acres at the time of his death. The Jasper county title really is in the name of the Guinn Investment Company, which Mr. Guinn organized some years ago to facilitate handling of his extensive interests.
Sold Mining Land
A few years ago he disposed of 640 acres of mining land north of Webb City, which alone had paid to Mr. Guinn in royalties a very comfortable fortune. He also had sold some other farm lands but generally through his life had displayed a strong tendency to retain ownership of lands which he acquired.
All of his real estate holdings were in rural lands. it is said that he owned no city property.
Mr. Guinn came to Jasper county in 1865, settling in the Georgia City neighborhood, where his brother-in-law, George W. Broome, had been killed [August 1861] during the Civil War by bushwackers or marauders, who drove of Mr. Broome's cattle and confiscated other personal property. Mr. Broome had come to this county in 1856, acquiring acreages of land at a price of 75 cents per acre, according to histories. It was to look after this property that Mr. Guinn came to this section.
Escapes Death Traps
He went through the after-the-war disturbances of which the northwest part of the county was a proverbial hot bed and which caused the name of "Hell's Neck" to be applied to that particular territory, lying between Spring River and North Fork for some distance above the junction of the two streams near Georgia City. Mr. Guinn, according to his friends, has related numerous narrow escapes from traps set to ambush and slay him in those unsettled days.
It was not until five years after he first came to this county that Mr. Guinn brought his family here, conditions becoming sufficiently settled to make this feasible. Mr. Guinn purchased the interests of other heirs in the then cheap lands, acquiring a large acreage at a cost of a few dollars per acre. It included some of the most fertile land in Jasper county and produced very profitable crops as histories of grain yields attest. Mr. Guinn added to his holding. One history referred to him as owning 17,000 acres of land at one time. This probably was an error, however.
Mr. Guinn laid out Georgia City January 18, 1868. That community for a time was a thriving trading point, population figures reporting the town as having as many as 200 residents at one time. The town since has reverted to farm tracts. Georgia City was named after Mr. Guinn's adopted state of Georgia, where he lived before coming to Missouri and Jasper county.
He was a native of Tennessee, having been born in Greene county, that state, August 29, 1832. He was 33 years old when he came to Jasper county. He moved to the farm south of Carthage four years ago. His wife died about 20 years ago. He leaves surviving him, one son, Dr. C. B. Guinn of Carthage, and one daughter, Mrs. Lottie H. Young of La Grange, Georgia, who has been at her father's bedside for several days past. Her husband, R. M. Young and their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Guinn Young, arrived last night from La Grange. Richard Guinn of Inola, OK., a grandson of J. C. Guinn, also is here. Other grandchildren are mrs. E. E. Guinn (Mary Guinn) Nelson, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Robert Young of Milwaukee, and Joseph Young of Jefferson City, MO. Six great grandchildren also survive. Mr. Guinn was the last of his own family of brothers and sisters.
Interested in Carthage Bank
Associated intimately with Mr. Guinn, as his private secretary and as secretary of the Guinn Investment Company, for many years was Perry Riley, who virtually was reared by Mr. Guinn, his mother having been employed in Mr. Guinn's home for some years before her death as housekeeper.
Mr. Guinn was one of the original stockholders of the Central National Bank of this city, having been associated with the bank since its organization in 1890. For a number of years he has been vice president of the bank.
Mr. Guinn's body was removed to the Knell parlors here pending the funeral. Services will be held at the home of his son, Dr. C. B. Guinn at Thirteenth Street and Grand Avenue, at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The Rev. W. W. Pierce, pastor of the First Baptist church, assisted by the Rev. W. L. Perryman, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, will have charge of the services. The body will be laid to rest in Oak Crest Abbey mausoleum in Park Cemetery where the caskets of Mrs. Guinn and a son repose.
County's "Wheat King"
A Jasper county history of 1883 gave the following account of Mr. Guinn's life and activities as of that date.
"John C. Guinn, the kind of wheat-growers in southwest Missouri. His home is situated at Georgia City, 18 miles northwest of Carthage, near the Kansas line and neighboring to the town of Waco on the line of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway.
His landed estate consists of 4,000 acres of fine land, which is drained by Spring River. It is covered with a dark, rich, flexible alluvial, from six to ten feet deep, enormously productive of all crops grown in that region. Mr. Guinn has in cultivation some 1,600 acres devoted to wheat and corn, also many to timothy and meadow; and for the past 10 consecutive years his broad wheat fields have averaged 24 bushels per acre. In 1874, 80 acres gave an average of 47 bushels. He has grown 12 consecutive crops of wheat from the same land with no sign of diminution in yield. The crop of 1882 consisted of some 27,000 bushels of wheat from 1,000 acres.
Raised Fine Stock
He keeps many high grade cattle, hogs and fine pigs. He employs some 30 men and works some 30 teams. In active seasons he runs some 12 self binders and is the most successful and practical wheat grower in southwest Missouri.
The beautiful estate is well improved, surrounded by subdivided hedge and plank fences; he has a large, new and commodious barn, 40 by 40. He contemplates building a handsome residence. On his estate there is a strong water-power, having a fall of 5 1/2 feet, which might be made one of the most valuable properties in the state. Mr. Guinn, in connection with Mr. Lloyd owns a large section of valuable mineral land in Webb City and Joplin and also are extensive stockholders int he Parr Hill mines at the latter city.
Native of Tennessee
The above gentleman is a native of Greene county, east Tennessee, born August 9, 1832, being a son of P. R. and Lottie (Landerdall) Guinn, both natives of Greene county, east Tennessee. the father was born March 4, 1800, and lived to the age of 66 years, being a farmer by occupation. The mother was born in 1802, having a family of six children, as follows: George W., William M., Caroline M., John C., Pleasant M., and P. E. Guinn. Mr. Guinn grew up on a farm, having received a good education. He started out single handed to contend with the rough edge of the world. In 1850 he entered a mercantile establishment in Atlanta, GA., and remained some two years; then turned his attention to railroading, continuing at the same until 1856. He then spent many months in Central America, finally returning to Atlanta, Georgia. He came to Jasper county in 1856 (sic), making purchases and improving lands, but did not move his family until 1870. the most important event of Mr. and Mrs. Guinn's lived transpired November 7, 1861, when they were married, she being Miss Mary J. Broome, one of Georgia's fair daughters, her birthplace being La Grange, True (sic) county born August 15, 1832 being a daughter of Ruben and L. W. (Pitts) Broome, both natives of Georgia (sic). The family consists of eight children, Elizabeth E., Julia, John R., Mary J., George W., Henrietta, J. A. and C. W. Broome, Mrs. Guinn being the fourth child. Her education was received at La Grange. Afterwards, in 1849, she was graduated at the Wesleyan Female Seminary at Macon, GA., it being one of the oldest institutions in the southern states. Mr. and Mrs. Guinn have a family of three children living, as follows: Charles B., born February 14, 1864; John B., born October 18, 1863 (sic); and Lottie H., born September 14, 1872; have lost George D., born July 4, 1866 and died September 17, 1868.
Founded Georgia City
Livingston's Jasper county history of 1912 reported the founding of Georgia City by Mr. Guinn as follows:
"Georgia City was laid out January 18, 1858, by John C. Guinn and named after his native state. William A. Fugitt, John C. Cox & Son started stores there and Georgia City for a time was a flourishing town. some years ago the town plat was vacated and is now farm land, there remaining of the original town only a store and blacksmith shop. John C. Guinn, the founder of the town, is rated the largest real estate owner in the county, possessing 17,000 broad acres of Jasper county land."
Veteran: Civil war (CSA)
h/o Mary J Broome.
Birth 4th of nine known children in Greene county, Tennessee.
Served as 1st Lieutenant in Matthews' Company, Georgia Infantry.
John C Guinn, reportedly, first arrived 1865 in Jasper county, Missouri to manage his wife's younger brother, murdered by bushwackers August 1861, properties, George W Broome, who had removed to area in 1856 (near Georgia City, created in 1868 by John) and had bought property from original white owner, John A Shirley (father of Belle Starr) with trading post overlooking Spring river and like several others, was killed by Jayhawker bushwhackers (or neighbors, the Ireland brothers), in his own doorway ~ ~ and following John's service as a Confederate officer in the Civil War. It was a dangerous life in that area of Jasper county for a few years, then he brought his family from Georgia around 1870, when things settled down. after creating Georgia City. He became a land baron, a millionaire, one of the best known charitable persons in the county ~ ~ sixty-two years later proclaimed as the wealthiest man in the county when passing away 8 June 1927. One of his last gifts was from his estate providing $75,000 for the construction of the second hospital building, which, by city council action, became McCune-Brooks, provided however, that the community matched his donation which it did and Busboom Brothers (George & Frank) construction company built same in 1929-'30 .
John and Mary were charter members of the 2nd old timers organization, named Carthage Pioneer Club formed 14 DEC 1878 of folks in the county prior to JAN 1865, then several years later merging with the original Old Settlers Association, the one started ten days earlier, 4 DEC 1878, and open to anyone in the county before JAN 1870!
Census: 1870, age 38 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia with wife & two sons, a farmer.
Census: 1880, age 48 Georgia City, Jasper township, Jasper county, Missouri with wife & three children.
Joplin Globe
11 January 1923
"Central National bank of Carthage elected officers & directors: Samuel McReynolds was re-elected chairman of the board; J. E. Lang, president; John C. Guinn, vice president; H. M. Boggess, cashier and Charles A. Scott, assistant cashier; Mr. McReynolds, Mr. Guinn, Mr. Lang, Mr. Boggess, T. N. Davey, W. K. Caffee, W. J. Sewall, G. M. Calhoon, L. E. Koken, J. C. Squires, A. M. Drake and D. W. Replogle, directors."
Death: in Jasper county, Missouri, Now interred in the Park cemetery's Abbey Mausoleum with his wife who in 1956 was re-interred next to him.
Father: P R Guinn b: 4 MAR 1800 Greene county, Tennessee.
Mother: Lotty Lauerdale b: 1802 Greene county, Tennessee.
Marriage: Mary J Broome b: APR 1829 Georgia.
Married: 7 NOV 1861 in LaGrange, Troup county,Georgia.
Known Children (middle name of first three likely mother's surname, Broome)
Charles B Guinn b: 14 FEB 1864 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
George B Guinn b: 4 JUL 1866 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
John B Guinn b: 18 OCT 1868 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
Lottie H Guinn b: 14 SEP 1872 Jasper county, Missouri.
His wife was first interred at the Georgia City cemetery in Jasper county, Missouri until July 1956 when her remains were re-interred next to John in Park cemetery's Oak Crest Abbey Mausoleum, with her 1895 stone remaining as a CENOTAPH in the Georgia City cemetery, once a town which he created in 1868.
____________________
JOHN C. GUINN
Among the old settlers of Jasper County and one of the prominent citizens is John C. Guinn. He resided on section 5, and owned about three thousand acres of land in Jasper County.
Grandfather Alexander Guinn came to America an emigrant from Ireland, and located very many years earlier in Virginia.
His son, P.R. Guinn was born in Greene County, Tennessee, where he followed farming and died at the age of sixty-six years.
He was the father of John C. Guinn and he married Lotty Lauderdale, who was born in Tennessee, where she died in 1842. Her ancestry was Welsh. They had eight sons and one daughter. Two of these died in infancy and John C. Guinn was the 4th child and the third son in the family.
John C. Guinn was born in Greene county, Tennessee on August 29, 1832 and he remained in his native place until he reached his eighteenth year, when he went to Georgia.
His education had been born that of the common schools, but from his sixteenth year he had shaped his own career. He found employment in the agricultural districts and on November 7, 1861, he was united in marriage to Mary J. Broome who was born in Georgia and whose death took place in 1895.
The three children of this union were: Charles B., John B. and Lottie H. who is the wife of R. M. Young of Georgia
In 1865 Mr. Guinn came to Jasper county and in 1867 he located here permanently, although his family did not come until 1871. Mr. Guinn was one of the large landholders in this section and owns much land and many mining interesting in Webb City. His life was one of industry, and by close attention to business and the exercise of good judgment he has become possessed of large means, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. In politics, Mr. Guinn has been a lifelong Democrat, and is one of the most esteemed citizens of Jasper County.
SOURCE: *Biographical Record of Jasper County by Malcom McGregor
Prepared in part by Bill Boggess.
_________________________
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
June 9, 1927
JOHN C. GUINN IS CLAIMED BY DEATH TODAY
County's Wealthiest Citizen Came Here in 1865
FORTUNE 1 1/2 MILLION
Pioneer Acquired Thousands of Acres of Rich Farm and Mineral Lands
John C. Guinn died at his home two miles south of Carthage at 5 o'clock this morning. Almost 95 years old, the pioneer settler, extensive landowner and reputed wealthiest citizen of Jasper county had been weakening gradually for the last 10 days after alive of activity and determination to carry on that had kept him alive and active well past the allotted span of three score and ten. Uremic poisoning was the direct cause of death.
Although his advanced age had handicapped him physically, Mr. Guinn's mind remained active and alert almost to the last, retaining the business acumen that enabled him to amass a fortune estimated to be easily in excess of 1 1/2 million dollars.
Gives Liberally to Worthy Causes
Interested principally in farming, Mr. Guinn was not a man who mixed freely with his fellow citizens or exhibited to any marked degree a so-called trait of public spiritedness in promoting public affairs, yet he gave and gave substantially to causes and charities which he approved. As in making his private investments, Mr. Guinn had a strong disinclination to give to causes where he felt that the money would be wasted or lost.
Mr. Guinn's personal fortune had its origin in large land holdings in the northwest part of the county around the now virtually abandoned settlement of Georgia City which Mr. Guinn founded. At his death he owned 3,300 acres of the rich farm lands of the Spring River bottoms and its tributaries in that district. He had some other small land holdings in Jasper county and considerable acreage in Oklahoma with some other scattered farm interests, owning in all probably 6,000 acres at the time of his death. The Jasper county title really is in the name of the Guinn Investment Company, which Mr. Guinn organized some years ago to facilitate handling of his extensive interests.
Sold Mining Land
A few years ago he disposed of 640 acres of mining land north of Webb City, which alone had paid to Mr. Guinn in royalties a very comfortable fortune. He also had sold some other farm lands but generally through his life had displayed a strong tendency to retain ownership of lands which he acquired.
All of his real estate holdings were in rural lands. it is said that he owned no city property.
Mr. Guinn came to Jasper county in 1865, settling in the Georgia City neighborhood, where his brother-in-law, George W. Broome, had been killed [August 1861] during the Civil War by bushwackers or marauders, who drove of Mr. Broome's cattle and confiscated other personal property. Mr. Broome had come to this county in 1856, acquiring acreages of land at a price of 75 cents per acre, according to histories. It was to look after this property that Mr. Guinn came to this section.
Escapes Death Traps
He went through the after-the-war disturbances of which the northwest part of the county was a proverbial hot bed and which caused the name of "Hell's Neck" to be applied to that particular territory, lying between Spring River and North Fork for some distance above the junction of the two streams near Georgia City. Mr. Guinn, according to his friends, has related numerous narrow escapes from traps set to ambush and slay him in those unsettled days.
It was not until five years after he first came to this county that Mr. Guinn brought his family here, conditions becoming sufficiently settled to make this feasible. Mr. Guinn purchased the interests of other heirs in the then cheap lands, acquiring a large acreage at a cost of a few dollars per acre. It included some of the most fertile land in Jasper county and produced very profitable crops as histories of grain yields attest. Mr. Guinn added to his holding. One history referred to him as owning 17,000 acres of land at one time. This probably was an error, however.
Mr. Guinn laid out Georgia City January 18, 1868. That community for a time was a thriving trading point, population figures reporting the town as having as many as 200 residents at one time. The town since has reverted to farm tracts. Georgia City was named after Mr. Guinn's adopted state of Georgia, where he lived before coming to Missouri and Jasper county.
He was a native of Tennessee, having been born in Greene county, that state, August 29, 1832. He was 33 years old when he came to Jasper county. He moved to the farm south of Carthage four years ago. His wife died about 20 years ago. He leaves surviving him, one son, Dr. C. B. Guinn of Carthage, and one daughter, Mrs. Lottie H. Young of La Grange, Georgia, who has been at her father's bedside for several days past. Her husband, R. M. Young and their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Guinn Young, arrived last night from La Grange. Richard Guinn of Inola, OK., a grandson of J. C. Guinn, also is here. Other grandchildren are mrs. E. E. Guinn (Mary Guinn) Nelson, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Robert Young of Milwaukee, and Joseph Young of Jefferson City, MO. Six great grandchildren also survive. Mr. Guinn was the last of his own family of brothers and sisters.
Interested in Carthage Bank
Associated intimately with Mr. Guinn, as his private secretary and as secretary of the Guinn Investment Company, for many years was Perry Riley, who virtually was reared by Mr. Guinn, his mother having been employed in Mr. Guinn's home for some years before her death as housekeeper.
Mr. Guinn was one of the original stockholders of the Central National Bank of this city, having been associated with the bank since its organization in 1890. For a number of years he has been vice president of the bank.
Mr. Guinn's body was removed to the Knell parlors here pending the funeral. Services will be held at the home of his son, Dr. C. B. Guinn at Thirteenth Street and Grand Avenue, at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The Rev. W. W. Pierce, pastor of the First Baptist church, assisted by the Rev. W. L. Perryman, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, will have charge of the services. The body will be laid to rest in Oak Crest Abbey mausoleum in Park Cemetery where the caskets of Mrs. Guinn and a son repose.
County's "Wheat King"
A Jasper county history of 1883 gave the following account of Mr. Guinn's life and activities as of that date.
"John C. Guinn, the kind of wheat-growers in southwest Missouri. His home is situated at Georgia City, 18 miles northwest of Carthage, near the Kansas line and neighboring to the town of Waco on the line of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway.
His landed estate consists of 4,000 acres of fine land, which is drained by Spring River. It is covered with a dark, rich, flexible alluvial, from six to ten feet deep, enormously productive of all crops grown in that region. Mr. Guinn has in cultivation some 1,600 acres devoted to wheat and corn, also many to timothy and meadow; and for the past 10 consecutive years his broad wheat fields have averaged 24 bushels per acre. In 1874, 80 acres gave an average of 47 bushels. He has grown 12 consecutive crops of wheat from the same land with no sign of diminution in yield. The crop of 1882 consisted of some 27,000 bushels of wheat from 1,000 acres.
Raised Fine Stock
He keeps many high grade cattle, hogs and fine pigs. He employs some 30 men and works some 30 teams. In active seasons he runs some 12 self binders and is the most successful and practical wheat grower in southwest Missouri.
The beautiful estate is well improved, surrounded by subdivided hedge and plank fences; he has a large, new and commodious barn, 40 by 40. He contemplates building a handsome residence. On his estate there is a strong water-power, having a fall of 5 1/2 feet, which might be made one of the most valuable properties in the state. Mr. Guinn, in connection with Mr. Lloyd owns a large section of valuable mineral land in Webb City and Joplin and also are extensive stockholders int he Parr Hill mines at the latter city.
Native of Tennessee
The above gentleman is a native of Greene county, east Tennessee, born August 9, 1832, being a son of P. R. and Lottie (Landerdall) Guinn, both natives of Greene county, east Tennessee. the father was born March 4, 1800, and lived to the age of 66 years, being a farmer by occupation. The mother was born in 1802, having a family of six children, as follows: George W., William M., Caroline M., John C., Pleasant M., and P. E. Guinn. Mr. Guinn grew up on a farm, having received a good education. He started out single handed to contend with the rough edge of the world. In 1850 he entered a mercantile establishment in Atlanta, GA., and remained some two years; then turned his attention to railroading, continuing at the same until 1856. He then spent many months in Central America, finally returning to Atlanta, Georgia. He came to Jasper county in 1856 (sic), making purchases and improving lands, but did not move his family until 1870. the most important event of Mr. and Mrs. Guinn's lived transpired November 7, 1861, when they were married, she being Miss Mary J. Broome, one of Georgia's fair daughters, her birthplace being La Grange, True (sic) county born August 15, 1832 being a daughter of Ruben and L. W. (Pitts) Broome, both natives of Georgia (sic). The family consists of eight children, Elizabeth E., Julia, John R., Mary J., George W., Henrietta, J. A. and C. W. Broome, Mrs. Guinn being the fourth child. Her education was received at La Grange. Afterwards, in 1849, she was graduated at the Wesleyan Female Seminary at Macon, GA., it being one of the oldest institutions in the southern states. Mr. and Mrs. Guinn have a family of three children living, as follows: Charles B., born February 14, 1864; John B., born October 18, 1863 (sic); and Lottie H., born September 14, 1872; have lost George D., born July 4, 1866 and died September 17, 1868.
Founded Georgia City
Livingston's Jasper county history of 1912 reported the founding of Georgia City by Mr. Guinn as follows:
"Georgia City was laid out January 18, 1858, by John C. Guinn and named after his native state. William A. Fugitt, John C. Cox & Son started stores there and Georgia City for a time was a flourishing town. some years ago the town plat was vacated and is now farm land, there remaining of the original town only a store and blacksmith shop. John C. Guinn, the founder of the town, is rated the largest real estate owner in the county, possessing 17,000 broad acres of Jasper county land."
h/o Mary J Broome.
Birth 4th of nine known children in Greene county, Tennessee.
Served as 1st Lieutenant in Matthews' Company, Georgia Infantry.
John C Guinn, reportedly, first arrived 1865 in Jasper county, Missouri to manage his wife's younger brother, murdered by bushwackers August 1861, properties, George W Broome, who had removed to area in 1856 (near Georgia City, created in 1868 by John) and had bought property from original white owner, John A Shirley (father of Belle Starr) with trading post overlooking Spring river and like several others, was killed by Jayhawker bushwhackers (or neighbors, the Ireland brothers), in his own doorway ~ ~ and following John's service as a Confederate officer in the Civil War. It was a dangerous life in that area of Jasper county for a few years, then he brought his family from Georgia around 1870, when things settled down. after creating Georgia City. He became a land baron, a millionaire, one of the best known charitable persons in the county ~ ~ sixty-two years later proclaimed as the wealthiest man in the county when passing away 8 June 1927. One of his last gifts was from his estate providing $75,000 for the construction of the second hospital building, which, by city council action, became McCune-Brooks, provided however, that the community matched his donation which it did and Busboom Brothers (George & Frank) construction company built same in 1929-'30 .
John and Mary were charter members of the 2nd old timers organization, named Carthage Pioneer Club formed 14 DEC 1878 of folks in the county prior to JAN 1865, then several years later merging with the original Old Settlers Association, the one started ten days earlier, 4 DEC 1878, and open to anyone in the county before JAN 1870!
Census: 1870, age 38 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia with wife & two sons, a farmer.
Census: 1880, age 48 Georgia City, Jasper township, Jasper county, Missouri with wife & three children.
Joplin Globe
11 January 1923
"Central National bank of Carthage elected officers & directors: Samuel McReynolds was re-elected chairman of the board; J. E. Lang, president; John C. Guinn, vice president; H. M. Boggess, cashier and Charles A. Scott, assistant cashier; Mr. McReynolds, Mr. Guinn, Mr. Lang, Mr. Boggess, T. N. Davey, W. K. Caffee, W. J. Sewall, G. M. Calhoon, L. E. Koken, J. C. Squires, A. M. Drake and D. W. Replogle, directors."
Death: in Jasper county, Missouri, Now interred in the Park cemetery's Abbey Mausoleum with his wife who in 1956 was re-interred next to him.
Father: P R Guinn b: 4 MAR 1800 Greene county, Tennessee.
Mother: Lotty Lauerdale b: 1802 Greene county, Tennessee.
Marriage: Mary J Broome b: APR 1829 Georgia.
Married: 7 NOV 1861 in LaGrange, Troup county,Georgia.
Known Children (middle name of first three likely mother's surname, Broome)
Charles B Guinn b: 14 FEB 1864 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
George B Guinn b: 4 JUL 1866 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
John B Guinn b: 18 OCT 1868 La Grange, Troup county, Georgia.
Lottie H Guinn b: 14 SEP 1872 Jasper county, Missouri.
His wife was first interred at the Georgia City cemetery in Jasper county, Missouri until July 1956 when her remains were re-interred next to John in Park cemetery's Oak Crest Abbey Mausoleum, with her 1895 stone remaining as a CENOTAPH in the Georgia City cemetery, once a town which he created in 1868.
____________________
JOHN C. GUINN
Among the old settlers of Jasper County and one of the prominent citizens is John C. Guinn. He resided on section 5, and owned about three thousand acres of land in Jasper County.
Grandfather Alexander Guinn came to America an emigrant from Ireland, and located very many years earlier in Virginia.
His son, P.R. Guinn was born in Greene County, Tennessee, where he followed farming and died at the age of sixty-six years.
He was the father of John C. Guinn and he married Lotty Lauderdale, who was born in Tennessee, where she died in 1842. Her ancestry was Welsh. They had eight sons and one daughter. Two of these died in infancy and John C. Guinn was the 4th child and the third son in the family.
John C. Guinn was born in Greene county, Tennessee on August 29, 1832 and he remained in his native place until he reached his eighteenth year, when he went to Georgia.
His education had been born that of the common schools, but from his sixteenth year he had shaped his own career. He found employment in the agricultural districts and on November 7, 1861, he was united in marriage to Mary J. Broome who was born in Georgia and whose death took place in 1895.
The three children of this union were: Charles B., John B. and Lottie H. who is the wife of R. M. Young of Georgia
In 1865 Mr. Guinn came to Jasper county and in 1867 he located here permanently, although his family did not come until 1871. Mr. Guinn was one of the large landholders in this section and owns much land and many mining interesting in Webb City. His life was one of industry, and by close attention to business and the exercise of good judgment he has become possessed of large means, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. In politics, Mr. Guinn has been a lifelong Democrat, and is one of the most esteemed citizens of Jasper County.
SOURCE: *Biographical Record of Jasper County by Malcom McGregor
Prepared in part by Bill Boggess.
_________________________
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
June 9, 1927
JOHN C. GUINN IS CLAIMED BY DEATH TODAY
County's Wealthiest Citizen Came Here in 1865
FORTUNE 1 1/2 MILLION
Pioneer Acquired Thousands of Acres of Rich Farm and Mineral Lands
John C. Guinn died at his home two miles south of Carthage at 5 o'clock this morning. Almost 95 years old, the pioneer settler, extensive landowner and reputed wealthiest citizen of Jasper county had been weakening gradually for the last 10 days after alive of activity and determination to carry on that had kept him alive and active well past the allotted span of three score and ten. Uremic poisoning was the direct cause of death.
Although his advanced age had handicapped him physically, Mr. Guinn's mind remained active and alert almost to the last, retaining the business acumen that enabled him to amass a fortune estimated to be easily in excess of 1 1/2 million dollars.
Gives Liberally to Worthy Causes
Interested principally in farming, Mr. Guinn was not a man who mixed freely with his fellow citizens or exhibited to any marked degree a so-called trait of public spiritedness in promoting public affairs, yet he gave and gave substantially to causes and charities which he approved. As in making his private investments, Mr. Guinn had a strong disinclination to give to causes where he felt that the money would be wasted or lost.
Mr. Guinn's personal fortune had its origin in large land holdings in the northwest part of the county around the now virtually abandoned settlement of Georgia City which Mr. Guinn founded. At his death he owned 3,300 acres of the rich farm lands of the Spring River bottoms and its tributaries in that district. He had some other small land holdings in Jasper county and considerable acreage in Oklahoma with some other scattered farm interests, owning in all probably 6,000 acres at the time of his death. The Jasper county title really is in the name of the Guinn Investment Company, which Mr. Guinn organized some years ago to facilitate handling of his extensive interests.
Sold Mining Land
A few years ago he disposed of 640 acres of mining land north of Webb City, which alone had paid to Mr. Guinn in royalties a very comfortable fortune. He also had sold some other farm lands but generally through his life had displayed a strong tendency to retain ownership of lands which he acquired.
All of his real estate holdings were in rural lands. it is said that he owned no city property.
Mr. Guinn came to Jasper county in 1865, settling in the Georgia City neighborhood, where his brother-in-law, George W. Broome, had been killed [August 1861] during the Civil War by bushwackers or marauders, who drove of Mr. Broome's cattle and confiscated other personal property. Mr. Broome had come to this county in 1856, acquiring acreages of land at a price of 75 cents per acre, according to histories. It was to look after this property that Mr. Guinn came to this section.
Escapes Death Traps
He went through the after-the-war disturbances of which the northwest part of the county was a proverbial hot bed and which caused the name of "Hell's Neck" to be applied to that particular territory, lying between Spring River and North Fork for some distance above the junction of the two streams near Georgia City. Mr. Guinn, according to his friends, has related numerous narrow escapes from traps set to ambush and slay him in those unsettled days.
It was not until five years after he first came to this county that Mr. Guinn brought his family here, conditions becoming sufficiently settled to make this feasible. Mr. Guinn purchased the interests of other heirs in the then cheap lands, acquiring a large acreage at a cost of a few dollars per acre. It included some of the most fertile land in Jasper county and produced very profitable crops as histories of grain yields attest. Mr. Guinn added to his holding. One history referred to him as owning 17,000 acres of land at one time. This probably was an error, however.
Mr. Guinn laid out Georgia City January 18, 1868. That community for a time was a thriving trading point, population figures reporting the town as having as many as 200 residents at one time. The town since has reverted to farm tracts. Georgia City was named after Mr. Guinn's adopted state of Georgia, where he lived before coming to Missouri and Jasper county.
He was a native of Tennessee, having been born in Greene county, that state, August 29, 1832. He was 33 years old when he came to Jasper county. He moved to the farm south of Carthage four years ago. His wife died about 20 years ago. He leaves surviving him, one son, Dr. C. B. Guinn of Carthage, and one daughter, Mrs. Lottie H. Young of La Grange, Georgia, who has been at her father's bedside for several days past. Her husband, R. M. Young and their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Guinn Young, arrived last night from La Grange. Richard Guinn of Inola, OK., a grandson of J. C. Guinn, also is here. Other grandchildren are mrs. E. E. Guinn (Mary Guinn) Nelson, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Robert Young of Milwaukee, and Joseph Young of Jefferson City, MO. Six great grandchildren also survive. Mr. Guinn was the last of his own family of brothers and sisters.
Interested in Carthage Bank
Associated intimately with Mr. Guinn, as his private secretary and as secretary of the Guinn Investment Company, for many years was Perry Riley, who virtually was reared by Mr. Guinn, his mother having been employed in Mr. Guinn's home for some years before her death as housekeeper.
Mr. Guinn was one of the original stockholders of the Central National Bank of this city, having been associated with the bank since its organization in 1890. For a number of years he has been vice president of the bank.
Mr. Guinn's body was removed to the Knell parlors here pending the funeral. Services will be held at the home of his son, Dr. C. B. Guinn at Thirteenth Street and Grand Avenue, at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The Rev. W. W. Pierce, pastor of the First Baptist church, assisted by the Rev. W. L. Perryman, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, will have charge of the services. The body will be laid to rest in Oak Crest Abbey mausoleum in Park Cemetery where the caskets of Mrs. Guinn and a son repose.
County's "Wheat King"
A Jasper county history of 1883 gave the following account of Mr. Guinn's life and activities as of that date.
"John C. Guinn, the kind of wheat-growers in southwest Missouri. His home is situated at Georgia City, 18 miles northwest of Carthage, near the Kansas line and neighboring to the town of Waco on the line of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway.
His landed estate consists of 4,000 acres of fine land, which is drained by Spring River. It is covered with a dark, rich, flexible alluvial, from six to ten feet deep, enormously productive of all crops grown in that region. Mr. Guinn has in cultivation some 1,600 acres devoted to wheat and corn, also many to timothy and meadow; and for the past 10 consecutive years his broad wheat fields have averaged 24 bushels per acre. In 1874, 80 acres gave an average of 47 bushels. He has grown 12 consecutive crops of wheat from the same land with no sign of diminution in yield. The crop of 1882 consisted of some 27,000 bushels of wheat from 1,000 acres.
Raised Fine Stock
He keeps many high grade cattle, hogs and fine pigs. He employs some 30 men and works some 30 teams. In active seasons he runs some 12 self binders and is the most successful and practical wheat grower in southwest Missouri.
The beautiful estate is well improved, surrounded by subdivided hedge and plank fences; he has a large, new and commodious barn, 40 by 40. He contemplates building a handsome residence. On his estate there is a strong water-power, having a fall of 5 1/2 feet, which might be made one of the most valuable properties in the state. Mr. Guinn, in connection with Mr. Lloyd owns a large section of valuable mineral land in Webb City and Joplin and also are extensive stockholders int he Parr Hill mines at the latter city.
Native of Tennessee
The above gentleman is a native of Greene county, east Tennessee, born August 9, 1832, being a son of P. R. and Lottie (Landerdall) Guinn, both natives of Greene county, east Tennessee. the father was born March 4, 1800, and lived to the age of 66 years, being a farmer by occupation. The mother was born in 1802, having a family of six children, as follows: George W., William M., Caroline M., John C., Pleasant M., and P. E. Guinn. Mr. Guinn grew up on a farm, having received a good education. He started out single handed to contend with the rough edge of the world. In 1850 he entered a mercantile establishment in Atlanta, GA., and remained some two years; then turned his attention to railroading, continuing at the same until 1856. He then spent many months in Central America, finally returning to Atlanta, Georgia. He came to Jasper county in 1856 (sic), making purchases and improving lands, but did not move his family until 1870. the most important event of Mr. and Mrs. Guinn's lived transpired November 7, 1861, when they were married, she being Miss Mary J. Broome, one of Georgia's fair daughters, her birthplace being La Grange, True (sic) county born August 15, 1832 being a daughter of Ruben and L. W. (Pitts) Broome, both natives of Georgia (sic). The family consists of eight children, Elizabeth E., Julia, John R., Mary J., George W., Henrietta, J. A. and C. W. Broome, Mrs. Guinn being the fourth child. Her education was received at La Grange. Afterwards, in 1849, she was graduated at the Wesleyan Female Seminary at Macon, GA., it being one of the oldest institutions in the southern states. Mr. and Mrs. Guinn have a family of three children living, as follows: Charles B., born February 14, 1864; John B., born October 18, 1863 (sic); and Lottie H., born September 14, 1872; have lost George D., born July 4, 1866 and died September 17, 1868.
Founded Georgia City
Livingston's Jasper county history of 1912 reported the founding of Georgia City by Mr. Guinn as follows:
"Georgia City was laid out January 18, 1858, by John C. Guinn and named after his native state. William A. Fugitt, John C. Cox & Son started stores there and Georgia City for a time was a flourishing town. some years ago the town plat was vacated and is now farm land, there remaining of the original town only a store and blacksmith shop. John C. Guinn, the founder of the town, is rated the largest real estate owner in the county, possessing 17,000 broad acres of Jasper county land."
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