My Genealogy Hound

REV. YOUNG W. WHITSETT, Treasurer of Johnson County, was elected by the Democratic party to this responsible office in 1892, polling a greater majority than any other on the ticket, and again in 1894 was re-elected in the face of the notable Republican landslide. His personal popularity could be shown in no better manner than by the aforesaid victory, and that he is worthy of the confidence reposed in him is well known to his political opponents as well as to the friends of his own party. His main life work has been that of the ministry, and in the Master’s cause he has been a faithful and capable servant.

A native of this county, the Rev. Y. W. Whitsett was born in Center View Township, April 20, 1850. His parents. Rev. John R. and Sallie (Cull) Whitsett, were both natives of Warren County, Ky., the former a son of John Whitsett, likewise of Kentucky birth, but of Irish descent. In 1818 he moved to Lafayette County, this state, before it had been admitted to the sisterhood of states. He was one of the foremost pioneers of that county, and necessarily suffered many of the privations of frontier life, the main diet of the family for many years being venison, honey and corn bread. Rev. J. R. Whitsett was born in 1803, and was about fifteen years of age when the family moved to Missouri. Ten years later he returned to his native state and there became acquainted with and married the lady who was thenceforth his companion and helpmate in life. He was absent from Missouri only a few months, when he returned and settled near Lexington, living there for a number of years. Later he moved to Columbus Township, Johnson County, and in 1842 located in Center View Township.

When about twenty-seven years of age he began to preach in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and followed this occupation during the remainder of his life in connection with the management of his farm. A strong Democrat, though not a politician, he was an ardent believer in Thomas Benton. To himself and his wife were born three sons and seven daughters, of whom only the sons and one sister, Mrs. Xantippe Burke, of Center View Township, remain. The mother died in 1864, and the father in 1879, and both were buried in Center View Cemetery. The boyhood of Rev. Y. W. Whitsett passed uneventfully on his father’s farm and in the neighboring schools he obtained a fair education. The religious atmosphere in which he was reared had a strong influence upon his character, and when he was about fifteen years old he became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. When in his twenty-first year he concluded that it was his duty to begin preaching the Gospel, and delivered his first sermon at a schoolhouse about eight miles southwest of Center View. After a time he began to feel the need of a better education and went to Macon County, Mo., where he attended McGee College about three years, preaching during the vacations. He was obliged to borrow money in order to pay his way through school, but was very industrious, and ere long had discharged his debt. In 1874 he entered Lincoln (Ill.) College, but at the end of two years of severe and unremitting study, his health failed and he was obliged to change his plans. Returning home, he continued to preach for a country congregation for a number of years. Though he kept no record of the number of conversions under his teaching, he has married about one hundred couples.

June 14, 1877, Rev. Mr. Whitsett and Jennie Duff were united in marriage in Lincoln, Ill. They became acquainted while he was a student in the college there. The lady was born in Sangamon County, Ill., February 14, 1851, and received a college education. She also was brought up in the faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and has been of great assistance to her husband in his arduous labors. Since 1890 their home has been in Warrensburg, prior to which time they lived in various places, or wherever Mr. Whitsett happened to have a pastoral charge. Their six children are as follows: Annie, born in Henry County, Mo., August 7, 1878; Julian, born in Jackson County, November 5, 1879; Harry L., born in Cass County, Mo., September 3, 1881; George Ray, born in Center View, this county, October 7, 1883, Thomas G., born in the same village, September 6, 1885; and William Sloan, at Knobnoster, August 21, 1890.