John H. BROCKMAN

1. Copied from the History of Audrain County, MO (1884), pages 870-872:

"JOHN H. AND JAMES W. BROCKMAN, proprietors of Elmwood farm. Such is

the reputation of the people of the Blue Grass Regions of Kentucky for

being successful and neat farmers and enterprising stockmen, that in this

State, before the war, when one traveling through the country came in

view of a place of unusual beauty and in a more than ordinarily advanced

state of cultivation, he was almost sure to remark that "here lives a

farmer from the Blue Grass Regions of Kentucky." And although there are

many good farmers in Missouri now, from other States than Kentucky, as

there were not a few before the war, still one can go through the

country even at this day and pick out, with hardly a mistake, the places

belonging to former citizens of the Blue Grass Regions. Elmwood Farm,

the homestead of the subjects of the present sketch, is a striking proof

of the advanced ideas the Blue Grass farmers have of carrying on and

improving the appearance of a place. Its owners and proprietors coming

from Clark county, Kentucky, the very heart of the Blue Grass Regions,

it is not surprising, but is as should be expected, that it is one of

the handsomest farms in Audrain county. It contains 600 acres of

beautiful land, and is improved in a style to compare favorably with the

natural beauty of its site. It is such a place, in a word, as Clark

county (Kentucky) farmers would be expected to have. The Messrs.

Brockman are largely engaged in grain raising and handling stock. They

were the sons of Asa T. Brockman and his wife, whose maiden name was

Susan A. Huguely. The parents were both of old and well respected

Kentucky families. Asa T. Brockman was one of the prominent farmers and

fine stock men of Clark county. But in 1877 he sold out in Kentucky and

came to Missouri, locating first in Boone county, but afterwards settling

in Saling township, of Audrain county, where he died three years

subsequent to his removal to this state. His widow is still living, and

finds a welcome and pleasant home with her sons on Elmwood Farm. Six

of their family of ten children are living: John H., James W., Roger Lee,

Rachel H., Asa T. and Maggie D. Four others are deceased: Mary E., the

wife of Willis Green, of Kentucky; Flora, Alice and an infant, whose name

was Willis. John H. was born in Clark county, Ky., May 27, 1854, and

James W. in the same county, February 14, 1858. They were reared on

their father's homestead in Kentucky, and there learned those methods of

advanced farming and those ideas of carrying on a place of which they

have since given such a marked proof in their career as farmers in

Audrain county. They, of course, came to this county with their parents.

At the time of their father's death the place contained but 280 acres.

To this they have since added by their industry and good management until

the farm has expanded into the large place which it is to-day. Both

still young men, it is but the truth to say that they have shown a degree

of enterprise and intelligence in carrying on their farming operations

equaled by but few farmers, if any, in Audrain county. They deal to a

considerable extent in stock, particularly in horses and mules. They

also raise and buy cattle and hogs for shipment. They are expecting soon

to turn their attention largely to wheat raising, and also to Southdown

sheep. Both gentlemen are worthy members of the Christian Church. John

H. Brockman, the eldest brother, on the 3d of October, 1882, was married

to Miss Florena Dawson, an amiable and accomplished daughter of Nathaniel

Dawson, a prominent citizen of Monroe county. Asa Brockman, the father,

has been once married before his marriage to the mother of his sons, John

H. and James W., and the other children mentioned above; but the only two

children born of his first marriage died before reaching maturity."

SOURCES INCLUDE: Brockman Scrapbook, page 242.

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