Vandivort family honors tenant farmers

A toast was made Saturday to the tenant farmers who tend 2,672 acres of Vandivort family farmland in Southeast Missouri and Arkansas.

Robbie Johnson of Michigan made the toast during the family's 50th reunion, held Friday through Sunday in Cape Girardeau County. His great-grandfather, C.A. Vandivort and great-grandmother, Julia, owned the farms that were passed down to seven brothers and sisters who formed a family partnership and hired tenant farmers because most of them reside outside Missouri. The children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren return to Cape Girardeau at least once a year to celebrate the Vandivort family reunion.

In 2006, descendants and their spouses numbered 122; about 110 were in attendance this year.

The lunch at the Royal N'Orleans Restaurant honored the farmers and their families, some of whom have been farming the land for up to three generations.

Eddie Todt, who has farmed about 700 acres of Vandivort corn and soybeans near Morley, Mo., for the past 25 years said the advantage of tenant farming for another family is not having the capital expense of the land and the opportunity to share in good times and in bad times. "They're good people to work for," he said.

Rita Beth Warren, Vandivort Property chairwoman, said, "It takes a strong spirit to be a farmer. If it weren't for you, there wouldn't be a Vandivort Properties or a family reunion."

C.A. Vandivort, who was born in Butler County, Pa. came to Cape Girardeau when he was 3 years old. He was educated in public schools and State College of Cape Girardeau and Washington University in St. Louis, returning to Cape Girardeau in 1901. He and Julia A. Sanford of Jackson were married in 1904. She later taught at the Normal School in Cape Girardeau where the couple lived at 630 North St., and in Jackson a few years. In 1920 Vandivort was appointed by Gov. Frederick D. Gardner to serve as presiding judge of the county court after the death of William Paar. Vandivort served in the Spanish-American War. Other business interests included insurance and banking.

The Vandivorts are descendants of George Frederick Bollinger through Julia Vandivort. Bollinger built the mill in Burfordville, that was donated to the state in 1967.

Some of the other places with connections to the family include the old Cape bridge, Main Street (site of the Vandivort Mercantile Co.), The Sturdivant Bank and Christ Episcopal Church.