USA > Missouri > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Missouri : carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri ; the Constitution of the United States, and State of Missouri ; a military record of its volunteers in either army of the Great Civil War ; general and local statistics ; miscellany ; reminiscences, grave, tragic and humorous ; biographical sketches of prominent men and citizens identified with the interests of the country > Part 53
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In this, as in many other townships, Dr. Geo. W. Folger was the first practicing physician.
In 1842, on section 10, John Shirely, a Christian, or Campbellite, min- ister, held the first religious service. In the same year, on section 20, Thos. Moore, of New Orleans, opened the first school. He had about fifteen pupils, and received about $2.50 per quarter for each scholar.
The first school-house was built on section 20, by A. F. and John Rhoads, Wm. Thanning,' Turner Elder and others, the material being hickory logs. All the wives and daughters of those days were skilled in the domestic affairs of the household, and all shared their portion of work not as a matter of necessity alone, but as a matter of duty. From 1839 to about 1850 nearly all their supplies were brought from Lexington, a distance of about 26 miles. There is but one store in Fairfield township, that kept at Cross Lanes in section 10, by Fleming Bros. The oldest inhabitant is John P. Young, living on section 27. He was born in Penn- sylvania and is in his 86th year. He was a volunteer in the war of 1812.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
At the burying ground on section 12, was buried a stranger who had come to visit Drury Elder. While there, 1849, he took the Asiatic chol- era, and died in about 12 hours.
Since the county organization the following persons have served as magis- trates for Fairfield: 1850, R. A. Taylor; 1854, R. A. Taylor; 1860, R. A. Taylor; 1862, Thomas Roney; 1871, Thomas Roney; 1872, S. Dennison; 1872, K. Elder; 1873, K. Elder; 1873, S. Dennison; 1875, T. Roney; 1875, M. S. Traughber; 1877, Dan Price; 1877, Thomas Roney; 1877, Dan E. Price; 1878, Dan E. Price; 1881, W. W. Jenkins; 1881, Dan E. Price.
BAILVILLE.
A town by the name of Bailville, as early as 1856, was proposed to be located here, and was actually laid out, embracing 6 blocks of 6 lots each. Baily Elder was the founder, and entertained high hopes of building a city of some magnitude. Speculation was rife, but a few weeks opened the eyes of those who had contemplated visions of fortunes in corner lots, and the bubble exploded. The city still remains on paper in the Recor- der's office of the county, but the city in fact that was to be is numbered with the things that were.
CHURCHES.
Union United Brethren .- This denominational sect was organized in 1867, by Rev. John Estep, and their frame church building is located on section 12. The original members were Walker Main and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Bush, Charles Grigsby and wife, E. C. Grigsby and wife, and others. The pastors were Revds. John Estep, F. Munn, - Trich, - Gardener, E. W. Carpenter, P. Brundage, R. W. Guslin, and L. Fisher, present pastor. Present membership, 24.
Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian, -This denomination was organized in 1860, and re-organized January 1, 1873. The original members were T. S. Steele and wife, John P. Minnis, S. Johnson, Mrs. D. Davis, Mrs. Nichols and others. For the present the services are held in Burr Oak school-house, on section 29, the congregation not yet having built a house of worship. Thus far, Revds. A. T. Cooper, James Ragan, Amos Coen, J. L. Riley, with E. S. Ragan, the present minister, have labored at the altar. The organization has united with the Shady Grove congregation, of Leslie township, always having had the same pastors, and are now building a new church in section 23, the ground having been donated by Thomas Brown.
Low Gap Baptist Church .- Organized August 26, 18 -; their build- ing, a frame structure, splendidly located and of modern architecture, is located on section four. The original members were G. W. Craven and wife, Lafayette Burr and wife, R C. Strickland, P. Griffin, Rev. J. L.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
McLeod and wife, P. Wilds and wife, E. S. Havens and wife, Fannie McCallahan, and. Eli Riggle and wife. The church house was erected in 1879; and cost $1,500. It has not yet been dedicated. The present pastor, J. L. McLeod, has been in charge since the building of the church. The church location was donated by Mr. G. B. Rothwell, of Caldwell county, and the original membership was composed partly from Mt. Hope church and partly from Union Baptist church. Present membership, fifty-eight.
CHERRY VALLEY.
Cherry Valley Township is situated in the extreme southwest part of the county, and embraces nineteen full and fractional sections. Its houn- dary line on the south is the Missouri river, and on the west, Ray county. It is, with exception of the timber on the river, level bottom lands as rich as the famed valley of the Nile, and has some of the finest improved farms in the county. It was settled as early as 1819, and from the best information we have been able to obtain from reliable and authentic sources, its pioneer settler was David McWilliams of Tennessee, who located close to the river in section 15, about 1819. Shortly after, John Standley settled near Carrollton. Shortly after came the McCollums and located near Mc Wiliams. In 1823, near the Ray county line a man named Leonard Garmen settled close to the river, and in 1825, Jacob Snowden, a Ray county man, moved into this township. Several years after came P. W. Estes, exact year not known. 'Among the other early settlers were Nels McReynolds, John Boils, Paul Alder, Jas. Kilgore, Jim Fuller, Jno. Willis, A. Stephenson, and Nath. King. After these came John Kenton, and in 1842, G. C. Vanrensaeller, who located near where Miles Point now stands. In. 1844, .Samuel Cole located on Section 10, and in 1847, near to the Ray line, John Freeman. From 1847 up, the increase in pop- ulation of the township has been slow but permanent.
It is related and vouched for by reliable authority, that during the administration of Wm. Hudson, as Justice of the Peace of the township, a constable horsewhipped one of the residents and was arrested, on a writ issued by the Justice. The constable employed a lawyer, still practicing in Carrollton, to take charge of the case. When the case was called, the defense set up the plea that the person charged being an officer of the law was not subject to arrest, at the same time showing the commission or warrant issued by the county court to the constable. The justice exam- ined it, and being struck with the big letters at its head, and the flashing yellow wafer with the county court seal affixed, turned pale, rose to his feet, apologized to the constable for the mistake he had made, agreed to
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
and paid all the costs that had accrued and discharged the prisoner. The ·counsel for the prosecution was so astonished and tickled at the result, that he laughed outright. Whether this laugh aroused the suspicion of the justice, is not known, but from his action, it is presumable it did, as he mounted his horse, and rode to the home of B. F. Lucas, telling him what had been done. Lucas told him that the defense had made a d-d fool of him, and an idiot would have known better. The justice returned to his home, a wiser but sadder man and immediately tendered his resignation to the court.
In Cherry valley the following persons have served since the organiza- tion of the county as magistrates: 1840, Jacob Francis; 1842, Geo. Craig; 1846, James Craig, D. Whicklow; 1852, James Kenton; 1853, D. Hud- son; 1854, S. Fuller; 1856, Geo. Craig, G. C. Vanrensaellear; 1858, S. Fuller; 1860, D. Hudson, D. Evans, E. J. Jewell; 1862, D. Evans, D. Hud- son, James Kenton, G. C. Vanrensaellear; 1870, G. W. Craig; 1872, Enos Hays; 1873, G. C. Vanrensaellear; 1875, G. J. Wethers; 1876, H. Giger; 1877, G. C. Vanrensaellear: 1878, J. V. Lewis; 1881, G. J. Wethers, J. V Lewis.
MILES POINT.
The founder of Miles Point was Jonathan Miles, who conceived the building of a town, more for local trade than any expectation of its assum- ing any importance beyond the ordinary dimensions of a country village. It waslaid out in 1855 and comprises fifteen blocks of eight lots each, block eight having been reserved as a public square.
For a number of years after it had been laid out it was called "shanghai" on account of a lot of shanghai chickens having been shipped to that point. Its correct name in time, however, asserted itself, and the name shanghai has been dropped.
In 1859 Geo. C. Vanrensellear filed an addition to the original town comprising two blocks of eight lots each.
At one time it was a point of large trade and shipping by the river, but the line of railroad having been completed through the county the largest part of its trade was cut off. Its trade now is exclusively local.
CITY OF OHIO.
A city of rather large proportions was laid out (and the plat filed of record), by Benjamin Foster, in 1833, on the northeast fractional quarter of section twenty. It contained forty blocks of six lots each, the lots being 66x132 feet in dimensions. What the aspirations of its founder was we are at a loss to definitely say, but from the extent and regularity of the plat it is presumable that he had strong hopes that a magnificent centre of trade was in prospect, and that the commerce of nations would float to its wharves.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
A greater number of streets and alleys than is usual having been marked and designated on the town plat is an evidence that an immense trade was expected for distribution through the vast country back of the city.
Whatever the expectations of its founder may have been, these expecta- tions havenever been realized, and the city that was to be is to-day what it was when founded, resting still in embryo.
It is related that an irishman named Monahan came early into the town- ship and hired out to do farm work. After working several months steadily, he was sent to Carrollton to do some trading. When he left for home he carried a small jug filled with the "crathur." When he arrived home he was mellow, and full of fun, and in order to gratify his love of it assaulted a young bull kept in a lot on the farm. He first tried to' knock the bull down with his fist, but his blows failing to have the desired effect, he used his foot, kicking with such force that he threw himself on the broad of his back, the bull taking advantage of the situation, lifted -Mona- han over the fence, dropping him with more force than elegance. This riled Monahan, and he was about to re-enter the lot for a second tussle when the owner came out and remonstrated with him. This angered Monahan still more, and he pitched in and cleaned out the " boss." The boss had him arrested and at the trial, Monahan was asked the usual question: "Guilty, or not guilty?" when Irish like his reply was apt and to the point, " Sure, your honor, how the devil can I tell till I hear the evi- dence." The case was proven against Monahan and he was ordered to split 1800 rails for the boss to pay for the damage done, which he did, leaving the county immediately after completing the work.
RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
Ridge Township embraces thirty six full sections of 640 acres each and is high rolling prairie, rich and fertile and every acre is susceptible to the highest state of cultivation. Big Creek runs through the south-west part of the township and Little Hurricane through the north east. They are streams of little importance however, and are the greater portion of the time dry.
Ridge was settled at a later period than many of the townships of the county, the first being made about the year 1835, by old Dan'l Hill, in the southern part of the township near Big Creek, the exact location not being known. Hill appears to have been the pioneer of the township and we have no information of any other settler until about 1839, when Jack Phillips, who had located in Van Horn in 1834, came into the township and located at the ford of the Little Hurricane. Phillips having been regarded as the greatest bee-hunter of the county, it is supposed that the
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
field for plying his vocation had been pretty well exhausted, and he changed his location to better his fortunes in this respect.
It is related of him that he became so expert in following the trail, that he frequently kept within sight of the bee, and arrived at its home as soon as the bee itself. This statement must however, be taken with a degree of allowance, but that he was the most celebrated of all the bee-hunters, cannot be gainsaid. Sometime during the year 1843 a settlement was made on Wolff Branch one of the tributaries of Big Creek, by Nodding Calvert and his brother, and made some improvements. Charles Mitchell, from Boone Co. Missouri, came to Carroll in the early spring of 1849, locating on section 19. His son Stephen is surveyor of the county. In the spring of 1848, Asa McClain of Cooper county, formerly from the state of Tennessee, located the farm where he still resides, in the north west of section 6. Jas. R. Boley, in 1840, located on the north half of the north west, of section five, on Wolff Branch. Mrs. Boley's maiden name is reported to have been Elizabeth Lynch, daughter of David Lynch who came to the county with Nathaniel Carey and party in 1818. She was a child of four years of age at the time, and says she was ten years old when she first saw a biscuit. Dr. Thos. Brown came to the township about 1853, and began the practice of his profession in which he is still engaged,
From 1853 up to the close of the war, there were but few accessions to the population of the township, comparatively speaking. But in 1866 the tide commenced to set in. Among the first this year was Robert Ord, who located on section 12, and put in a crop of seed wheat brought from Ohio. The people were averse to fencing up the land, desir- ing it for range for cattle, the excitement some times grew high and trouble was often feared from the matter. Better feeling gained the ascendency at length, and the people soon learned that every settler in their midst who became a land owner enhanced the value of their farms. The unsettled state of matters here from 1861 to the restoration of peace in 1865, was one of the great drawbacks to the settlement of the county, and Ridge, like most of townships, lost considerably by the result.
'Since 1867 a heavy influx of settlers has poured into the country and Ridge has received her portion. The fertile prairies are now dotted over with permanent improvements and fenced into splendid farms, all culti- vated as good farmers know how to cultivate. Although later than others in settling up, it is not behind them in intelligence, wealth and thrift, and the character of the improvements are such as they can well be proud of
In Ridge, the following named persons, since the organization of the county have served as magistrates: 1842, James M. Walden, M. Ste- phenson, S. Causon; 1844, M. Stephenson; 1846, P. Jackson, J. W. Mc- Lain; 1847, James M. Walden; 1848, S. M. Lauck, M. Stephenson; 1852, A, G. Taylor; 1854, Leland Barnes; 1855, M. Stephenson; 1856, James
PRESIDENT'S DWELLING.
I'NIVERSITY HALI ..
OBSERVATORY. STATE UNIVERSITY, AT COLUMBIA. BOONE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Rippetoe, M. Stephenson; 1860, James Rippetoe, M. Stephenson; 1862, David Utt, S. M. Lauck; 1866, P. S. Huff; 1870, Robert Young; 1872, Jeff Pennington; 1873, Jeff Pennington; 1875, Sid. Parker, Jeff Penning- ton; 1877, D. Kinsey; 1877, Jeff Pennington, D. Kinsey; 1878, D. Kinsey; 1880, B. C. Grossman; 1881, B. C. Grossman, G. J. Green.
CHURCHES.
Snow Branch Dunkard-organized 1871 with Jas. Morris, Dan'l Love, Wm. Kepper, Henry Kaylor, Samuel Kepper, Mrs. Love, Mrs. Pow- ers and Mrs. Kepper as original members.
Their house of worship was erected in 1880 and is located on section 36. It is a frame building and cost about $400.
Jas. Morris, Eli Metz, Daniel Love and Jas. Evans have officiated at the altar.
Present membership, 30.
Big Creek Baptist Church was organized June 22, 1844, with Noding Calvert, William Hill, Norflet Newson, James Rippetoe, Nancy Hawk. ins, Jane Calvert and Mary Crouch as original members.
Their first house was built of logs in 1848, and was replaced in 1870 by a neat frame. The new house was dedicated the second Monday in January, 1870.
The pastors who have had charge are John Curl, Joseph Riffe, Keeny Scott, Geo. T. Kinnaird, R. Scott, E. Surgeon, Thos. Graves, W. S. Huff, M. Goodson, Geo. Crouch, C. Bullock and F. Menefee.
Present membership, 89.
MIAMI TOWNSHIP.
Miami township embraces seven full and nine fractional sections, the greater portion being bottom lands, rich and mellow, and capable of the highest state of cultivation. Its eastern and southern border is washed by the Missouri river, which sometimes makes heavy inroads, materially les- sening the acreage of the township.
The Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific railroad traverses the township from northeast to southwest passing through sections four, eight, and emerging at the southwest corner of seven.
On the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section four is ocated the town of Miami Station, founded by W. Z. Darr, in June, 1869. It has been one of the best shipping points in that section, but of late years has lost. A heavy trade has been taken from Saline county, but on the completion of a line of railroad to eastern markets through Saline, and the
R
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
obviating the crossing of the Missouri river at the town of Miami, trade fell off, and diverged to a different route .. The station has yet a good local trade, which will keep it up for the present, and so long as the line of railroad is not changed.
The point of great interest in Miami township is the celebrated " White Rock Quarries," located on the line of railroad, in the south half of the northwest quarter of section eight. They were opened in 1840, and have been worked ever since. The quantity is almost inexhaustible, and the quality is very superior. Its color and adaptability for finishing purposes is becoming widely known, and it is being shipped to many of the cities in different states. It is used extensively for public buildings, bridges, etc., owing to its tough, close grained qualities, and is easily dressed and pol- ished. Heavy shipments are made to St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Joseph, and the new capitol building at Des Moines, Iowa, is drawing largely from it for the fine portions of the work. From the sing- ular formations often found embedded in the rock, forty and fifty feet from the surface, the geologist, by scientific investigation, would no doubt find food for deep research.
But little, if anything, is known of the earlier settlements of this town- ship. Prior to 1831, Henry Philips and Thomas Booth appear to have been the only settlers. What part of the township they located in when they arrived, and what improvements, if any, were made, is not known. The simple fact that they were there previous to 1831, seems to be a limit to the knowledge of the oldest settler now there. In 1839 Benj Kendrick located eighty acres of land in section eight, embracing the quarries. Up to Mr. Kendrick's coming, no dates are given of the location of the earlier settlers. John Adkins opened a wood yard on the Missouri, Richard Thomas coming about the same time.
John Hailbert and Geo. Manning located somewhere above the station, and Wm. R. Hill settled at Yellow Rock, near the station. On section five John Simpson located, as did also Dudley Thomas.
The sluggish Wakanda winds through the township from the south- west to the northeast aad approaches the Missouri river at several points very closely.
From Miami station due southeast to the Missouri river is two miles. The route is through a low bottom, often in wet weather being wholly impassible, the soil being a black, loam, rich and mellow as any in the county. This bottom is subject to overflow at every big rise in the river and is often covered to a depth of two or three feet. This fact interfering with the ready shipment of produce, stock, etc., has been the means of curtailing the trade from the south side of the river, and driving it to market by a further route.
In Miami township the following named persons have served as magis-
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
trates since the organization of the county: 1865, James M. Jones; 1873, S. Robertson; 1873, W. Surbaugh; 1874, Robt. Ferrill; 1875, J. A. Fra- zier; 1875, S. Robertson; 1877, J. A. Frazier; 1877, S. Robertson; 1878. S. Robertson; 1881, J. A. Frazier; 1881, S. Robertson.
VAN HORN TOWNSHIP.
Van Horn township embraces thirty-six full sections of 640 acres each, and is mostly rolling prairie. It lies directly north of Carrollton, and con- tains some of the finest farms in Carroll county. It takes its name from Col. R. T. Van Horn, of Kansas City, editor of the fournal.
John, familiarly called Jack Phillips was its first settler, locating on sec- tion 28, in the summer of 1834. In 1836, Jas. Phillips, a brother of old Jack, came in and improved the place known as Morris Miller's, Geo. Nance, Sr., came in 1837, locating on section 16. Jas. Sandusky also came in 1837, and squatted in the western part of the township. B. J. Godsey came in 1840. Maj. Chas. Sterne located in 1839. Thos. Phillips also came in 1840, and settled in the northern part of the town- ship. Burley Godsey arrived in 1854, having lived in Leslie township for ten years prior to coming to Van Horn. In 1842, Abbott Hancock loca- ted on section 34. In 1848 came Wm. Sterne, locating on section thirty. John Zimmerman was one of the early settlers, locating on section 24 or 25. Asa McLain of Cooper county, Ky., came in 1848 and improved in section one. Jas. R. Boley from Kentucky is also one of the old settlers. Foster Masters with others whose names we failed to get settled later.
Jack Phillips was known as a celebrated bee hunter, and many stories are yet told of the unerring certainty of his trail, and of the immense amounts of honey he discovered in out of the way places. Thomas Thurman was one of the old comers, and is said to have been the first to marry in this section. He married a Miss Phillips in 1850. William and Elizabeth Godsey, in 1846 had born to them a son named John H., and in the following year a daughter named Nancy C., was born to Abner and Sarah L. Godsey.
The first death in this locality was William Godsey, in 1848, and his remains lie in the Big creek churchyard.
In Van Horn, as well as in several other townships, Dr. G. W. Folger was the practising physician. Dr. Taylor, however, was the first physi- cian who permanently located. What became of him is not known.
In the residence of Burley Godsey, the first religious service was held, by Rev. Kemp Scott, Baptist.
Asa Mc Lain, now living, taught the first school on section one, having 20 pupils and receiving $20 per month for his services, and the first school
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
house was built by Burley Godsey, Asa McLain, and the Phillips boys, on section one. The house was the work of the neighbors, and of course its cost was but nominal.
The township has filled up rapidly since the war, with a vigorous push- ing population, and is as far advanced in improvement as any. Much has been said and a good deal of fun made of the way justice was admin- istered in the earlier settlement of the different townships in the county, and no doubt great errors and laughable incidents can be remembered. But we doubt if the earliest trials in the county can afford a case where so much fun and ignorance characterized it, as is contained in the incident we are about to relate.
Happening in recent years, when a knowledge of common and statute law is almost part of the ordinary education of our children, it seems almost incredible that a jack-leg lawyer could carry the point before the court, as was the case in this trial. . But to the incident. The case involved was where a constable was liable on his official bond for a debt, and the justice of the peace for the township was to try the case. The prosecution was represented by a lawyer from, Carrollton, and the defense called in a granger lawyer of the neighborhood. When the case was called, the first question that was raised was by the defence claiming that the justice had no jurisdiction in the case. The question was discussed at length, both parties gettnig somewhat animated and excited. At length the Carrollton lawyer produced a decision from the supreme court of the state, as laid down in the 10th Missouri reports, covering every feature of the case then on trial, introducing no other evidence, the decision he referred to being all sufficient, as he supposed, and ending the reading of the deceision with a little eloquent speech. The opposing lawyer was equal to the occasion. Rising from his seat with a sense of the duty he had to perform, and in his sleeve laughing at the ruse he intended practicing on the court and opposing counsel, he argued his side of the case. He said that "fine haired lawyers were in the habit of coming among us grangers, your honor, bringing their books and reading from them stuff that the court nor the lawyer who read could not understand. That it was time the people of the country would ignore the advice and suggestions of those who were trying to, play on the credulity and good sense of your honor, and this community. The decision the gentleman read is not from the supreme court of the state your honor, but is law that is obsolete and was.in use when Cæsar governed Rome. If the gentleman wanted to introduce law, we have the session acts and the statute laws of the state, and we tell your honor that it is wrong to be governed by the shallow device of the.pros- ecution in this case."
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