SEVEN CENTURY FARMS SELECTED IN COUNTY

JACKSON -- When George Frederick Williams Jr. retired, he moved to the family farm near Jackson.

"That was in 1985," said Williams. "This farm has been in the family almost 200 years. I had visited the farm a number of times and liked the idea of living here."

Williams is a great-great-great grandson of the original owner of the farm, William Daugherty, who received his land grant for 123 acres in 1796. A great-great-great granddaughter, Mary Kate Johnson, lived on the farm before moving to Florida, said Williams.

The two-story brick home on the property was constructed more than 135 years ago, in 1855, noted Williams.

Williams attended a special ceremony at the University of Missouri Extension Office here Tuesday night, where the farm was recognized as a Missouri Century Farm.

The farm, called the "Fair Lawn Plantation," is the oldest of seven Cape Girardeau County farms that were selected for listing on the Century Farm program.

Farms selected in the county this year also included two farms that date back 100 years to 1891.

Current owners of the new Century Farms, and the dates that the farms were organized, are:

George Frederick Williams Jr., Jackson, and Mary Kate Johnson, Florida, 1796.

Alma Muster, 1853-54, Jackson.

David and Sarah Nussbaum, 1872, Gordonville.

Orval Birk, Jackson, 1876.

Fred McLard, 1890, Jackson

J.G. and Lila B. Hahn, 1891, Advance.

Albert W. Kamp Jr. and Dena S. Kamp, 1891, Burfordville.

The Century Farm Program was initiated in 1986 as a continuation of the "Centennial Farm" program of 1976, a one-year program for the American Revolution Bicentennial Year, when a total of 2,850 Missouri Farms were recognized as Centennial Farms.

"These are two different programs," said Gerald Bryan of the local extension office. "The Centennial program was held during the one year, 1976. The Century program was started a decade later, in 1986.

Since 1986, more than 4,250 Missouri farms and families have been recognized through the Century program.

Thirty-four Cape County farms have been recognized as Century Farms.

Four Cape County farms were recognized during the first year.

"This created a lot of interest in the program," said Bryan. "In 1987, nine more Cape County farms were named to the list. Ten were added in 1988, and two each in 1989 and 1990.

The Century Farm Program is jointly administered by the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Agriculture and University Extension, along with the Cape County Extension Council as co-sponsor.

Acceptance of a farm as a century farm depends upon three guide~lines.

The farm must have been owned by the same family for 100 years or more.

The family shall consist of direct descendants only: sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters.

The farm must consist of no fewer than 40 acres and still make a financial contribution to overall farm income.