The Toothman Farm

The Toothmans came to Bates County from Virginia sometime between 1850 and 1860. On February 27, 1860, the Toothmans purchased 80 acres of land from James S. Robinson. Interestingly, the deed is in the name of Christiana Toothman only. (Perhaps Enoch Toothman had previously encountered financial difficulties in Virginia.) View the deed in pdf format.

At the time, their newly purchased farm was within Mount Pleasant Township and the Toothmans were enumerated as such on the 1860 Federal Census conducted on June 19, 1860.

				Value of Property			In School
Name	Age	Sex	Occupation	Real Estate	Personal Prop.	Place of Birth
E. [Enoch] Toothman	46	M	Farmer	800	400	Virginia
Christiana	48	F	"			"
Josephus	23	M	"			"
J. E [John] (middle initial could be 'F')	21	M	"			"
Mary J.	19	F				"
Enirzetia ?	17	F				"	1
Amanda	16	F				"	1
Martha	14	F				"	1
Bell J.	11	F				"	1

From the deed of February 27, 1860, we know the legal description of the Toothman farm as being; The West half (1/2) of the North West quarter (1/4) of Section thirtyfive (35) Township (40) Range, Thirty two (32). The Enoch farmhouse is described as being of "double-log" construction, a typical home in western Bates County Missouri. Perhaps the Robinsons had previously built the house and the Toothmans simply moved in, or maybe the Toothmans constructed the house sometime before October of 1862.

Earlier research, by other historians, determined the location of the Toothman house to be in the extreme northwest corner of the farm. However, my research shows that a Methodist Episcopal church was in fact located there, having been erected sometime after the Civil War. The church is clearly indicated on the map for Charlotte Township in the 1875 Bates County Plat Book.

It is not known if the Toothman family continued to reside at the farm after the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers left on November 1, 1862. Apparently, Christiana Toothman died sometime during the Civil War, or immediately thereafter, for her children sold the farm to James Cowgill on October 6, 1867. (In Missouri, at that time, land could be transfered to a spouse or children without the need for a new deed.) According to the deed of sale to Mr. Cowgill, the Toothmans had relocated to Henry County probably as a result of General Ewing's infamous "Order No. 11." As of the time of the 1870 Federal Census, Enoch was living with the family of his son, Josephus, in Blackwater Township of Pettis County, Missouri. By 1880, Enoch was living in Kaufman County, Texas near his other son John.

From interviews, I have determined that James Cowgill constructed his own home in the southwestern corner of the farm and apparently did not reside in the old Toothman home. Over the years the 80-acres that was the Toothman home was split up through land sales, and today the old Toothman farm is owned by two seperate land owners. (The north forty by one land owner and the south forty by another.)