USA > Kansas > Jewell County > History of Jewell County, Kansas : with a full account of its early settlements and the Indian atrocities committed within its borders. > Part 4
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notices posted up in each Township, and came off on the day designated. The result of this first election was as follows :
For County Commissioners: First District, Dennis Taylor; Second Dis- trict, Thomas Coverdale. Third District, Samuel C. Bowles. For Coun- ty Clerk, James A. Scarbrough; for County Treasurer, Henry Sorick; for County Surveyor, N. H. Billings; for Register of Deeds, S. O. Carman; for Probate Judge, Charles L. Seeley; for Sheriff, A. J. Davis; for Coroner, Will- iam Cox; for County Superintend- ent, S. R. Worick; for County seat, Jewell City. An imaginary town on the divide between White Rock and the head of East Buffalo, called Springdale, received 24 votes "for the county seat." It is almost useless to add that Springdale never had an ex- istance in this county, and was never heard of after the county seat elec- tion of 1870.
THE SECOND ELECTION
in Jewell county was held on Tuesday, 1 November 8, 1870, at which Felix T. Gandy was elected Representative to the State Legislature; John Hoffer, County Commissioner, First District; Thomas Coverdale, County Commis- sioner Second District; Seth Hoag, County Commissioner, Third District, James A. Scarbrough, County Clerk; A. B. Kellogg, County Treasurer; N. H. Billings, County Surveyor; S. O. Carman, Register of Deeds; A. J. Davis, Sheriff; Abraham Jackson, Probate Judge; Thomas R. Comstock, County Superintendent; R. F. Hud- sonpeller, County Attorney, and Will- iam Cox, Coroner.
TOWNSHIPS.
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP
was organized at the first meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, August 22, 1870, and was composed of Townships 3, 4, and 5, south, Ranges 7 and 8, west.
THE FIRST ELECTION
for Township officers was held on Tuesday, September 27th, 1870, a: which David H. Halstead was elected
Justice of ine Peace; Jesse N. Car- penter, Township Trustee; Z. F. Dodge, Township Treasurer; Wm. M. Jones, Township Clerk, and John K. Dodge, Constable. Jesse N. Carpen- ter failed to qualify as Township Trustee, and on February 20th, 1871, Wm. H. Cameron was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to fill vacaney, and qualified the sanie day. The first regular election for Township officers in Buffalo Town- ship was held April 3d, 1871, at which the following officers were elected: J. L. Wageman, Trustee ; Z. F. Dodge, Treasurer; Win. M. Jones, Clerk; Wm. II. Cameron and B. G. Williams, Justices of the Peace, and James Presler and John K. Dodge, Con- stables.
THE FIRST SETTLERS
of Buffalo Township have already been named among the "Buffalo Pio- neers." Hence we omit them here.
Buffalo Township, since its first or- ganization, has been reduced to one (Government Township (Township 4, Range 7,) Prairie, Brown's Creek, Calvin, Centre and Washington hav- ing been formed out of its original territory. It now contains six miles square of the finest land in the county, all of which is susceptable of the most successful cultivation, and all of which is taken up. It is well watered by Buffalo and Spring ereeks, and is thickly settled by as inteiligent, en- orgetie, industrious and moral a com- munity as can be found in any country. There are four school dis- triets, in all of which are good sub- stantial school houses, in which reg- ular terms of school are taught. There are six church organizations-Meth- odists, Evangelicals, Christians, Bap- tists, Presbyterians and Catholics, all of whom have regular preaching. The Methodists and Evangelicals each have a nice church building, and the Christians and Catholics are pre- paring to build. There are four Sun- day Schools in the Township, all of which are largely attended. The pres- ent population of the Township is 613.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS,
urember 6, 1877, are: James sbrough, Trustee; M. F. Knap-
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penberger, Clerk; R. W. Hill, Treas- urer; A. L. Marks and Nicholas Gish- willer, Justices of the Peace, and M. W. George and S. B. Scott, Constables.
ALLEN TOWNSHIP
is situated in the extreme southeast corner of Jewell county; it is six miles square and is well watered by Buffalo and Little Cheyenne crecks, on which a liberal supply of good na- tive timber is found. These streams afford good running water all the year round. In addition to the tim- ber, theresa most abundant supply of building stone, of excellent quality, from which good, subtantial houses are built.
THE FIRST SETTLERS
of Allen Township were A. J. Davis, John B. Keyes, M. L. Stults, M. Betz- ner, Milton Sadler, William Jones, Ed. D. Randall and R. M. Brigham.
Allen Township was organized Au- gust 10, 1872, and was named in honor of our present efficient County Clerk. When organized M. L. Stults was ap- pointed Trustee; Geo. W. Clark, Clerk; D. McKellar and - Rogers Justices of the Peace, and W. Latti- more, Constable. The majority of these officers were elected at the first regular election the next spring.
Taken as a whole, Allen is a fair av- erage township, with regard to the beauty and fertility of its lands; the energy and intelligence of its people; its numerous well cultivated farms and its neat and substantial farm houses, all of which speaks of thrift, happiness and prosperity.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are two good, substantial school houses in the township-one in District No. 23, and the other in District No. 52, in both of which reg- ular terms of school are taught, and religious services held by tho Pres- byterians and Methodists.
The public land is all taken, with the exception of School land, and all that is sold that is worth buying.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS,
of the Peace, and M. W. Loop and Thomas J. Hutchison, Constables.
BROWN'S CREEK TOWNSHIP
was originally a portion of Buffalo Township. It was organized August 10, 1872.
THE FIRST ELECTION
was held April, 1, 1873, at which An- drew S. Clelland was elected Trustee; John O'Conner, Clerk ; B. G. Williams, Treasurer; Judge A. Jackson and Ja- cob Presler, Justiecs of the Peace, and A. G. Williams and Jame's Bar- ton, Constables.
THE FIRST SETTLERS
were B. G. Williams and wife; Jacob Presler, wife and daughter; Wesley Harberson and wife; A. G. Williams, James S. Williams. James Presler, William Booth and James Lampson, who all took claims on the 5th day of June, 1870. The first homestead taken in the Township was by A. G. Will- iams. The first death was that of Benjamin Lyons, which occurred Feb- ruary 22, 1872. The first birth was a boy born to Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Sny- der. The first marriage was Estep Munks to Miss Emily Barnett, in Oc- tober 1872.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are five school districts in the Township, all of which have school houses, in which regular terms of school are taught. The religious de- nominations are the Christians and Methodists, both of which have regu- lar preaching and Sunday Schools. There is also a Union Sunday School, which was organized March 25, 1877. All of them are well attended, and are in a flourishing condition. The morals of the Township are most excellent; the people aro intelligent, industrious and sociable. Consequently they are prosperous and happy.
Brown's Creek Township comprises all of Township 5, south, Range 8, west, and is by far the finest Town- ship of land in the county, there not being a forty acre lot in the whole Township but what can be success- fully cultivated. It is watered by Brown's Creek and a small tributary of Buffalo, both of which afford an
elected November 6, 1877, are Jona- than Corn, Trustee; Milton Sadlen, Clerk; J. Chitty, Treasurer; P. F. Pierce, and W. R. Phillips, Justices | abundance of running water the year
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round. Mayview is the postoffice.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. are H. H. McGugin, Trustee; James W. Adams, Clerk; H. C. White, Treas- urer; A. S. Clelland and J. D. Hollen- beck, Justices of the Peace, and A. G. Williams, and J. G. King, Con- stables.
LIMESTONE TOWNERIP
was organized at the first meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, August 22, 1870, and was composed of Townships 3, 4 and 5, Ranges 9 and 10. It has since been reduced to one government Township (Town 3, Range 9). Athens, Erving, Ionia and Ezbon, having been formed out of its original territory.
THE FIRST ELECTION
for Township officers was held at the house of Thomas Coverdale, April 3, 1871, and resulted in the election of Adam Reimenschneider, Trustee ; Sen- oca Sumner, Treasurer; O. S. Baxter, Clerk; John McAffee and A. D. W. Carman, Justices of the Peace, and Thomas Grimes, andC. E. Pound, Con- stables.
On February 12, 1874, it was organ- ized as it now stands, with Geo. S. Vilott, Trustee; Ransom J. Harwick, Clerk, and George Snyder, Treasurer.
The Township contains six miles square of excellent rolling land, rich and productive. It is well watered by the second and third branches of Limestone creek, on which is found an abundance of good timber.
THE FIRST SETTLER
of the Township was Captain Garland .. an old sea captain, who settled on the third branch of Limestone in the fall of 1870. The second batch of settlers were Robert Pattison and family, who settled on the fourth branch of Lime- stone, the same fall, though a little later.
The first white child born in the Township was born to Mrs. Anna Bur- gess, in 1871; it was also the first death, as it died a very short. time after its birth, followed in a few days by its mother.
Every quarter section of land in the Township is taken, and nearly all of them contain actual settlers. The people are intelligent, moral and in-
dustrious, and the society is goor . There are four school districts in the Township, in all of which regular terms of school are taught. There is only $600 bonded indebtedness in the Township. There are two church or- ganizations in the Township-the Methodists and Presbyterians, both of which have regular preaching, and Sunday Schools. Present popula- tion-470. Ezbon is the post office.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, elected November 6, 1877, are: John McCammon, Trustee ;. Geo. W. Con- gleton, Clerk ; W. H. Isaacs, Treasurer ; F. E. Cannon and W. P. Walker, Jus- tices of the Peace, and. A. W .. Park- hurst and S. E. Maxson, Constables.
PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP
was organized April 16, 1872, being cut off from Buffalo and containing all of Township 5, Range 7, with the excep- tion of the first tier of sections which remained a portion of Buffalo Town- ship until the October 1877 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, when it was taken away from Buffalo and declared. the legitimate property of Prairie. It is a beautiful, rich and fertile Township of land, and is thick- ly settled by an industrious, energetic and intelligent class of citizens, well and favorably known for their piety and morality. They all came here poor, but they went to work with & will and determination to make their beautiful prairie homes bloom and blossom like the rose, and we are pleased to chronicle the fact that their efforts have been crowned with entire success.
THE FIRST SETTLERS
of Prairie Township were: Wm. D. and Jonathan Street, Benjamin Lewis and J. A. Zimmerman, who came here in October 1869, and Jesse N. Carpenter and Eugene Carpenter, who came early in the spring of 1870. Wm .. M. Jones, Isaac A. Sawin and Charles L. Seeley followed soon after, arriving here April 29, 1870. . Wm. W. and John McCracken, the proprietors. of "MeCracken's Ranche," came in August 1870. A host of others came in about the same time, but our limit- ed space forbids further particulars, under this head.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
Prairie Township contains four school districts, in all of which there are good substantial school houses, in which regular terms of school are taught. The religious element is also well represented-the Methodists, Christians and Baptists, all having regular organizations and places of worship.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, elected November 6, 1877, are: Ste- phen Kilgore, Trustee; J. F. Harring- ton, Treasurer; D. A. Salley, Clerk; E. Gard and J. B. Allen, Justices of the Peace; J. T. Whitney and J. C. Thornton, Constables.
VICKSBURG TOWNSHIP
was organized at the first meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, August 22, 1870, and was composed of Townships 3, 4 and 5, Range G.
THE FIRST ELECTION
for Township officers took place at A. J. Davis' house, April 3, 1871, and resulted in the election of O. F. Jchn- son, Trustee; Thos. Dale, Treasurer; A. J. Highland, Clerk ; James Fogle, Jr. and Abraham Alsdurf, Justices of the Peace; J. M. Welch and Jeremiah Burnett, Constables.
THE FIRST SETTLERS,
as the Township now stands, were: Captain O. F. Johnson, Mathias Hof- weimer, Lewis Speigle, Wm. R. Friend, C. James Jones, Abraham Alsdurf, George Zimmer, James Fogle, Jr., Thomas Dale, William Taylor and Silas Mann, all of whom settled in the Township in the fall of 1870, the three first taking their claims August 11, 1870.
THE FIRST MARRIAGE
in the township took place June 17, 1871, Captain O. F. Johnson and Miss Elizabeth Zimmer being the contract- ing parties. This was also the first marriage in the county, standing No. 1 on the marriage record of the Pro- bate Judge's office.
The Township is well watered by Marsh creek and its tributaries. Its present territory is township 4 south, Range 6 west, and contains six miles square of excellent table land, rich and productive. Its inhabitants are
intelligent, moral and industrious. It contains four school districts, in all of which regular terms of school are taught. Every quarter section of land in the Township is taken, nearly all of which contains actual settlers. Its present population is 441.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, elected November 6, 1877, are Edwin Wertenberger, Trustee; John Kissin- ger, Treasurer; J. K. Adams, Clerk; A. Alsdurf and J. K. Adams, Justices of the Peace; J. A. Bell and B. F. Hardin, Constables.
OMIO,
the only town in the Township is a thriving, enterprising little place, started in 1877. It contains a post office, two general stores, two black- smith shops, and several handsome private residences. Johnsonville, named in honor of Captain O. F. Johnson, is a post office near the cen- ter of the Township.
EEDON TOWNSHIP
was originally a portion of Lime- stone Township. It was organized August 10. 1872, and at that time con- tained all of Township 3, south, Ranges 9 and 10, west. It now con- tains Township 3, south, Range 10, west.
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
of the Township, as it now stands, were Henderson Ward, John W. Ward, Levi Ward and Geo. W. Ward, who settled and took elaims on the west branch of the West Branch of Limestone creek in October, 1870. Several other settlers came in that fall and the next spring, but we are unable to get the names and date of but very few. Among them were Hon. D. W. Pate, afterwards Representative; A. W. D. Carman, afterwards Justice of the Peace and S. O. Carman, after- wards Register of Deeds. The Car- mans came in 1870, and Mr .. Pate came in March, 1871.
THE FIRST ELECTION
held in the Township was the gener -. al election of 1872, held November 5, 1872, at which 20 votes were cast, all of them for the Republican ticket. The first Township election was held on the first day of April, 1871; at.
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which Geo. S. Vilott was elected Trustee; C. W. Tillotson, Clerk; M. F. Rozell, Treasurer; S. C. Jackson and Gideon Brown, Justices of the Peace and Clarence E. Pound and Frank S. Griffith, Constables.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are four school districts in the Township, in which regular terms of school are kept. There are also four church organizations-the Cath- olies, Frec Methodists, Dunkards and United Brethern, all of whom have Sunday Schools in connection there- with, and regular preaching. The people are intelligent, industrious, thrifty farmers, and the society is good. The Township' contains six iniles square of fine rolling land, rich and productive, and is well watered by Limestone and its numerous tribu- taries. The only
CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILDING
In the county is a neat one story stone ยท lific e, 23x33, situated near the resi- dener of Martin Regan, in Ezbon Township, Father Timphaus, of Be- loit, Priest in charge. The building cost $600, is nicely finished, and is a credit to the county.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, elected November 6, 1877, are : Martin Regan, Trustee; N. Z. Lewis, Clerk; Henry Hershner, Treasurer; J. C. Hubbard and Percival Sheard, Jus- tices of the Peace; P. G. Regan and S. C. Jackson, Constables.
ATHENS TOWNSHIP
was originally a portion of Limestone Township. It was organized August 10, 1872, and the first election was held at the house of T. B. Johns, August 28, 1872, which resulted in the election of E. D. Plumb, Justice of the Peace; Thomas B. Johns, Township Treas- urer, and Robert Day and Jacob Gil- more, Constables. No other Town- ship officers were elected at this time. John McAffee, Justice of the Peace, and A. S. Hoag, Township Clerk, who had been appointed, held over until the next regular election.
THE FIRST SETTLERS
of Athens Township were Fred Bee- ler, E. D. Plumb, Richard Albertson, Robert White, John McAffec, all of
whom came onto Limestone creek in April 1870.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are four School Districts in the Township, all of which have school houses, and regular terms of school. The religious denominations are Methodists, Presbyterians and Dunkards, all of whom have regular preaching.
The people are moral, intellegent, industrious and prosperous, and the society is unsurpassed.
Athens Township is one of the finest Townships of land in the coun- ty and' is well watered by Limestone creek and its tributaries, which af- ford an abundance of running water the year round, and is bordered by a wide belt of excellent timber.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, elected November 6, 1877, are Morris Gray, Trustee; J. C. Slagle, Clerk; Geo. B. Steen, Treasurer; M. B. Bar- ton and Charles Stoner, Justices of the Peace, and John Yantis and D. C. Slagle, Constables.
ERVING TOWNSHIP
was originally a portion of Limestone. It is situated in the southwest corner of Jewell county, and comprises Township 5 south, Range 10 west. It was organized November 10, 1872, and named in honor of Dr. Erving, of Hiawatha, Kansas, from which place quite a number of the first settlers emigrated.
THE FIRST ELECTION
took place April 3, 1873, at which Fred J. Vosburg was elected Trustee. The records fail to show the election of any other officers. Perhaps the peo- ple were just as well off without them.
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
Fred J. Vosburg took the first claim in the township in June 1870. He was followed in the spring of 1871 by Wm. Babcock, Frank Clark, R. Snider, Al. Chandler, George Engleheart, F. J. Heller, Peter De Young, George Schoonmaker, Henry Van Tilborg and a great many others. In fact so great was the rush of emigration that spring that before the close of 1871, all the land in the Township was ta- ken up. The Township is well water- ed by Oak creek and its tributaria
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along the banks of which an abund- ance of excellent timber is found. The soll is rich and productive.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are three School Districts, in two of which are good substantial school houses, in which regular terms of school are taught. The other dis- triet contemplates building this fall. The church organizations are-the Dutch Reformed Church, who have a commodious, church building and parsonage; the Advents and the Congregationalists. The tvo latter have no church buildings, but all have regular preaching. The majority of the inhabitants are Hollanders. They are honest, industrious, hardworking people, and make good citizens.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, elected November 6, 1877, are : Henry Van Tilborg, Trustee; R. W. Mayri- hugh, Clerk; George Schoonmaker, Treasurer; Fred J. Vosburg and F. J. Heller, Justices of the Peace, and Will- iam ,Orchard and Geo. M. Stanton, Constables.
WHITE MOUND TOWNSHIP
was originally a portion of White Rock Township, which was organized August 22, 1870, the date of the county's organization. It now com- prises Township 2 south, Range 10 west. Organized January 7, 1873
THE FIRST SETTLERS
were Nelson Frost, Jolun Brittan, H. C. Bachelder, and Wesley Clemens, who took claims on White Rock in June- 1870. The next settler was Menzo W. Smith, who came in July 1870. The next settlers were W. H. McKimmey, the first and present township trustee, J. B. Aringdale and A. J. Dodd, who took their claims on the 7th day of October, 1870.
THE FIRST ELECTION
held in the township was at Salem, November 5th, 1872. The result of the election was very satisfactory to the Republican party, every vote cast be- ing for the Republican ticket.
THE FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS,
appointed by the county commission- ers were: W. H. McKimmey, trustee; Geo. W. C: Smith, clerk; James Gline, treasurer, and Menzo W. Smith, justice of the peace. No constables
were appointed. Mr. Smith did not find out that he was not alegally con- stituted justice of the peace until af- ter he had performed his first marriage ceremony. He was afterwards legally appointed justice of the peace by Gov. Osborn.
THE FIRST FLECTION held in the township for township officers, was held at Salem, April 1, 1873, at which 41 votes were east, resulting in the election of W. H. MeKimmey, trustee; Thos. L. Guthrie, Clerk; James Mounce, treasurer; Menzo W. Smith and James Campbell, justices of the peace, and Isaac Conger and Samuel Frazier, constables.
The first white child born in White Mound Township was a girl born to Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Dodd, August 24, 1871 .. Her name, is Mattie; she is a bright little girl, and is still living with her parents on the old original homestead.
The first and only steam mill in the township was started by H. L. Brown- ing, February 1, 1872. It is still run- ning at Salem, and has done an im- mense amount of good in the improve- ment of the township. II. L. Brown- ing located the claim on which he is now living, August 5, 1871. On De- cember 12, 1871, he returned and set- tled permanently, bringing his steam saw inill with him.
Menzo W. Smith was the first set- tler in the immediate neighborhood of the present town of Salem, being for some time the farthest settler west in Jewell county, or Northwestern Kansas. Mr. Smith still remains an honored resident of the township, and is justice of the peace and Postmaster. at Salem.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are seven school districts, three of them, however, lapping over into other townships. There are school houses in all the districts but two, and regular terms of school are taught in all. There is no bonded in- debtedness in any of them. There are six church organizations-Free Will Methodists, United Brethern, Christ- ians, Dunkards, Quakers and Spirit- ualists. A union meeting house is in course of construction on the north-
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west corner of W. H. McKimmey's | B. Dazy, Treasurer; John W. Mc- claim, which is to be used by all de- Roberts, Jr. and.T. McBride, Justices of the Peace, and John Wyatt, Con- stable. nominations for preaching and Sun- day Schools.
White Mound Township contains six miles square of as fine land as there is in the county, all of which is well watered by White Rock and its numerous tributaries, on all of which an abundance of excellent native tim- ber is found. It is thickly settled by an industrious, intelligent and active class of citizens, and the society is good.
THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, elected November 6, 1877, are: W. H. McKimmey, trustee; James Brown, clerk; H. L. Browning, treasurer; Menzo W. Smith and John Hill, jus- tices of the peace, and F. D. Joy and Thomas Sheard, constables.
SALEM, --
the only town in the township, is a busy, bustling and enterprising little town full of business and in the enjoy- ment of an excellent trade. It was laid out January 25, 1872, by H. L. Browning, C. P. Miller and Geo. W. Smith, the town site being a strip of ground taken from each one of their claims. The first store house was built by Browning and Smith in March 1872, which was occupied for a short time by Wilson Brothers, of Scandia, with a small stock of goods. The first permanent store was opened here by J. M. Parker, June 1, 1872, who done a big mercantile business for a long time, and is now engaged in the stock business. Miller and Smith have both left the county. Miller is preaching for the Free Methodists near Gales- burg, Illinois, and Smith is engaged in the same laudable calling for the same denomination at Council Grove, Kansas. Browning has not yet com- menced preaching. All branches of business are well represented in Salem, as evidence of which we refer with pleasure to the numerous "cards" of that town to be found in our ad- vertising pages.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
was originally a portion of Big Tim- ber. Was organized as Richland Township, February 12, 1874.
THE FIRST SETTLER'S
were Sam. C. Bowles, T. Bowles, G. I. Nelson, Peter Kearns, Peter Tan- ner, Nels Cederburg, John O'Roak, Chris. Ahrens, John W. McRoberts, Sr. John W. McRoberts, Jr. W. R. Scott, Sam. J. Sweet, Alfred Wilde and Urban Wilde, all of whom settled here early in the spring of 1870, some of them coming in February and the remainder in April.
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