HERVY A. MASSEY. This worthy citizen, who is one of the leading farmers and stockraisers of Stone County, Missouri, was born in Greene County, Missouri, in 1846, and is a son of Nathaniel and Nancy (Ellison) Massey, who were natives of Tennessee. Previous to marriage, and when children, they came with their parents to Greene County, Missouri, and there, after growing up, their nuptials were solemnized. After marriage they located four miles east of Springfield, on the wild prairie, where they improved a good farm and spent the balance of their days, he dying in 1869, when about forty-seven years of age, and she in 1860. The mother was a Cumberland Presbyterian in her religious views. Mr. Massey was a successful farmer and stock trader and a public-spirited, self-made man. During the war he was a Government contractor, furnishing stock and general supplies to the army. In politics he was a Democrat and a Union man. His father, James Massey, was probably born in the green isle of Erin, but came to this country at an early day and settled in Tennessee. Later he moved to Greene County, Missouri, and located a few miles east of Springfield, where he became the owner of a good farm. There his death occurred during the war. He was twice married and was the father of twenty-two children. His last wife, who died February 15, 1894, married Allen Gentry, of Stone County. Grandfather Thomas Ellison was a Revolutionary soldier, coming to this country from Ireland at an early day and settling in Greene County, Missouri, where his death occurred before the war. His wife died a few years later. They were the parents of seven or eight children. To the parents of our subject were born three children: Thomas V., in the Home Guards during the war, died in Greene County, Missouri; John H., a farmer of Greene County, was a soldier in the Confederate Army and lost a leg at Chickamauga; Lititia, who died in March, 1894, was the wife of Thomas Patterson, of Springfield; Josephine, is the wife of L. T.Watson, of Springfield; Hervy A., subject; James N., of Springfield, and one or two died in infancy.
Our subject’s youth was spent principally in farming and attending the country school. When about twenty years of age he began farming for himself on his father’s farm. Until his father’s death he remained under the parental roof, but on the 2d of January, 1868, he was married to Miss Elizabeth R. Jarrett, a native of Greene County, Missouri, where she was educated. Her father, Col. Higdon Jarrett, came from Tennessee to Greene County, Missouri, at an early date and located northeast of Springfield, where his death occurred. He was a farmer and blacksmith, and worked at his trade in Springfield for a number of years. During one of the early wars he held the rank of colonel. To Mr. and Mrs. Massey were born twelve children: LeRoy, a farmer and teacher of Stone County; Jesse L.; Laura, wife of William Inmon, of Stone County; Josephine, Nancy Adline, Anna, Almer, Ava, Tipton, Frank, Leslie and Sallie. Until the year 1871 Mr. Massey made his home in Greene County and then came to his present farm, then consisting of seventy-three acres, twenty-three acres of which had been cleared. Since that time he has added to the original tract, until now he has one of the most desirable and valuable farms in the county, 373 acres being in this tract, 50 acres on White River. He has about 225 acres cleared and well improved. A few years ago he erected one of the largest dwellings in the county, and everything about his place indicates the thrift and energy of the owner. He has devoted his time almost exclusively to farming and trading in stock, and is authority on all such subjects. From 1878 until 1882 he was county surveyor of Stone County, and is one of the few Democrats who have held office in that county since the war. He and wife hold membership in the Christian Church.