USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 6
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Next to the friable subsoil phase of the Summit silt loam the Craw- ford silt loam is the most highly prized by the farmers. The two soils have nearly the same value.
The soil of the Crawford stony clay loam is a dark-brown to reddish- brown clay loam or silty clay loam, underlain at variable depths, usually about six to ten inches, by rather stiff, brittle, red or reddish-brown clay, which extends to depths ranging from ten or fifteen inches to three feet. The bedrock generally consists of limestone. Fragments and out- crops of limestone are abundant. The soil is residual, being derived from the weathering in place of beds of limestone, and in this respect differs from the Summit stony clay loam, which is derived from both shale and limestone. Some included patches of Summit stony clay loam were not mapped separately on account of their small size.
The Crawford stony clay loam occupies steep slopes along drainage ways, frequently representing bluff lines, and some of the higher outly- ing elevations. The abundance of rock fragments and rock outcrops and the steep slopes render the greater part of the type unfit for culti- vation. It has its greatest development in the west-central part of the country, and most of it is forested. When cultivated the type produces good crops of grass and small grain. Its best use is for pastures, orchards and forests.
Several small areas of Oswego silt loam were mapped in the south-
83
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
ern part of the county. They represent the northern edge of the type, which has its extensive development to the south, in Bates County.
The soil consists of a black or dark-gray silt loam, underlaid at ten to twelve inches by a light-gray or drab, crumbly silty clay loam, which at eighteen inches passes abruptly into a tough, plastic, waxy, heavy clay of a vary dark brown, black or dark yellowish brown color. In the lower portion the color is more nearly yellow, and usually is mottled gray and yellow. On drying the soil at the surface becomes grayish, but it never assumes the decided light color of the "white ashy land," or Cherokee silt loam, which occurs to the south. The soil material is derived from shale. The type occupies low, flat areas having rather poor surface drainage. Iron concretions are abundant in the subsurface soil and subsoil of some areas.
All of the type is in cultivation. It is devoted mainly to the pro- duction of wheat, oats and grass, for which it is best suited. The yields are somewhat lower than on the Summit silt loam. In the management of the soil, good surface and underground drainage should be provided. With a liberal use of ground limestone, phosphatic fertilizers and legumes, the productivity can be materially improved. Clover and cowpeas should be grown every three or four years and the green crop turned under in order to supply much needed organic matter.
The Bates silt loam is one of the most variable types in the survey. In its typical development the soil consists of a grayish-brown, fairly mellow silt loam, underlain at about ten inches by a yellowish-brown, friable silt loam or silty clay loam, which at sixteen to eighteen inches overlies yellow silty clay, mottled faintly with gray or shades of yellow and brown. This becomes heavier and more plastic with increase in depth.
The type occupies ridges and ridge slopes, and relatively low, flat to undulated areas. On the ridges and slopes shale fragments are com- mon in the soil and bed shale is occasionally reached within the three-foot section. The relatively low, flat to undulating areas, usually adjoining streams, have a heavy, plastic subsoil which is similar to the lower sub- soil of the Summit silt loam.
The soil material is derived almost wholly from shale. In places thin limestone beds and some chert were noticed in association with the type, but limestone has influenced the soil only to a negligible degree. This development of the Bates silt loam is not altogether representative of the typical soil as elsewhere mapped, because of the absence of the
84
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
red clover in the subsoil. In other respects the soil possesses the Bates characteristics, so that its correlation as Bates silt loam is considered advisable.
The surface drainage of the type is good, yet in places the soil is wet and soggy, owing to the accumulation of seepage waters from higher areas, the downward course of the water being obstructed by the impervious shale strata in the lower subsoil. Such areas should be improved by tile drainage.
The rougher land of the type was originally forested, but the smoother portions were prairie. A part of the bench-land phase, includ- ing the low areas, is characterized by its growth of post oak. The Bates silt loam is probably the poorest soil in the county. It is used most extensively for pasture land, for which use it is best suited. When cultivated, fair yields of corn and wheat are secured. The soil is low in humus, which should be supplied by methods previously described, in order to get the best results.
The Bates loam was mapped only in the southern half of the county, the greatest development consisting of small, scattered areas in the south- eastern corner. The typical soil consists of about twelve to fifteen inches of mellow, fine loam, brown or dark brown in color. The subsoil is a yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, friable, heavy loam to fine sandy clay loam. The lower portion varies to nearly red or red mottled with yellow. Bedrock is usually encountered at about three feet, although in places on the steeper slopes it is nearer the surface.
The soil material is derived mainly from thin beds of fine-grained sandstone, together with shale. Small sandstone fragments are scat- tered throughout the soil. The type occupies slopes to streams and narrow ridges. Drainage is frequently excessive. The soil is best suited to corn, vegetables and clover. Lime and large quantities of organic matter should be applied to the land. Crop yields could probably be increased by the use of phosphatic fertilizers or even complete fertilizer mixtures.
The Osage silt loam is a black to dark-gray, mellow silt loam, which at about eighteen to twenty inches grades into very dark gray or drab to black, plastic silty clay. Rusty-brown mottlings are common through the soil section, while the deeper material is sometimes mottled with yellowish and gray. Adjoining the stream banks the material is usually lighter in texture, occasionally approaching a loam or fine sandy loam,
85
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
but these areas were too small and irregular to be shown separately on the map. Along the smaller streams the texture is more variable than in the broader bottoms of the larger streams, ranging from silt loam to loam within small areas. The forested areas of the type are usually lighter in color than the typical soil. In general, the type is darker in color in the northern half of the county than in the southern half.
The Osage silt loam occurs along nearly all the streams and occupies the valley bottoms completely, except where interrupted by the Osage clay. The material consists of recent alluvium, deposited in times of over- flow. It is derived wholly from the residual prairie soils of the uplands. Along the outer edge of the larger stream bottoms, and along all the smaller draws, the material is frequently influenced by colluvial wash from the adjoining slopes. A few small patches of grayish silt loam are mapped with the type. These are of little importance because of their small total area. They really include soils which have a lighter color than the typical soil, due to some peculiarity of drainage.
Where the stream bottoms are incuded within areas of the Crawford soils, the edge of the valley is usually marked by abrupt banks, but where included within the Summit soils the rise from the valley to the upland is usually a very gradual one. The type is subject to overflow, and for this reason much of it remains forested, especially the wider bottoms. Where the type is not overflowed deeply the drainage conditions are good, although tiling would be beneficial in most places.
The soil is easily handled and is highly productive. It is adapted to all the staple crops of the region, especially corn and clover. Corn produces from forty to eighty bushels per acre. Where moisture condi- tions are good, and the land is not subject to overflow, it is an excellent alfalfa soil. The soil is in need of good drainage and organic matter. Lime should be added to correct any acidity in the soil and subsoil. It is doubtful if the use of commercial fertilizers would prove profitable.
The Osage clay is a black, heavy, plastic clay, grading at about nine or ten inches into a black, dark-gray or bluish-black to drab, heavy, waxy, tenacious clay. The material, especially at lower depths, is usually stained with brownish iron compounds. The soil cracks on drying and is very sticky and plastic when wet. This is a bottom-land soil found in the first bottoms of streams. It is generally developed in the broader bottoms and is subject to overflows which are often prolonged. The largest areas of the type are found along Grand River and Big Creek. It has been formed by
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
deposition from stream-overflow water and back-water. Each inundation deposits a thin layer of fine clay material washed from the upland soils.
The greater part of the clay bottom is covered with wild grass, which yields from one to four tons of coarse hay. The soil in forested areas has a lighter texture and a lighter color. Very little of the type is cul- tivated on account of poor drainage and the difficulty with which the soil is handled. It is a good corn and grass soil, and when moisture conditions are favorable yields of fifty to seventy-five bushels of corn and one to two and one-half tons of hay are obtained. Small grains would probably make too rank a growth, and alfalfa will not thrive well. Tile drainage would probably be of great benefit to all of this soil. Heavy applications of lime should be made, and fall plowing and the plowing under of large quantities of coarse vegetable matter should be practiced in order to improve the structure and the moisture condition of the soil.
The natural resources under such soils, is given in the State official report by the "Missouri Bureau of Labor Statistics," made in 1914 in tabular form. This shows a satisfactory use of the soils. The future with improved methods gives promise much greater than this.
CHAPTER XII.
-
GAME.
THE BUFFALO, BEAR AND DEER-SMALLER ANIMALS-WATER FOWL AND OTHER BIRDS-WILD TURKEYS WERE NUMEROUS-WANTON DESTRUCTION BY THE WHITE MAN-LAND OF BEAUTY-ABUNDANCE OF FISH-BEAVER, MARTEN AND OTHER FUR-BEARING ANIMALS.
Under this head, for brevity's sake, we will class the buffalo, bear, deer, wildcats, wolves, wild turkeys, the wild goose, the wild duck, the prairie chicken, quail, pheasant, and the four-legged as well as the feath- ered tribe. If we could imagine ourselves back to a time before the advent of the white man to Cass County, probably we would see the aboriginal inhabitant fighting his way for existence, with his crude im- plements, with the wild beasts. Then animals and birds, freed from the white man, fearless and undisturbed, on our prairies and among the forest, propagated and filled this land with this numberless broods. The swan, the goose, the duck and the pigeon, each in their season would cloud the earth with their shadow and fill the air with their trumpeting as they took their migratory flights. The Indians killed with sticks and clubs and caught them in their snares and pens. The writer can remem- ber when flocks of wild pigions, fully a mile wide and many miles long, flew across the county, obscuring the sunlight, and in their swift motion created a rushing, startling sound.
These birds lighting upon trees, covering the trees from top to bot- tom, and many times their weight breaking branches and trees. So also, the wild turkey was numerous when our early settlers came to the county. Within the memory of persons now living the wild turkey was seen in flocks of several hundreds within a mile of the town of Harrison- ville. This is also true relative to all other towns in the county. Deer in herds of half a hundred and more was a common sight even after the
88
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
organization of our county. The raccoon and opossum had his home here and a few of their descendants still remain. The buffalo, the deer, the wild turkey has disappeared on the coming of the white man. Many have gone to satisfy the hunger of man, but, alas, too many of these friends of man have been ruthlessly and wantonly slaughtered for the mere purpose of sport.
What an economical loss to the present day. Extinct! Yes, these masters and proud birds and animals who occupied our county are no more. The sight of one is a curiosity. More gratifying to the man of today than was this wanton destruction of days agone. We need scarcely men- tion the millions of prairie chickens, quails and lesser birds, which, too, have disappeared from before the awful tread of the white man. And it is surprising such prodigious quantities of wild fowls disported them- selves on the streams and pools of this interior county and that the air was filled with the whirring and croaking of the cranes and wild geese. This was the very haven of both fowl and animal.
In those early days this inland part of the country, in its state of nature, was a land of beauty. Before the white man's touch defaced this work of God, the land now composing Cass County was a veritable terrestial paradise. Indeed "nature had done everything to make the landscape one of ravishing beauty." Nowhere else did nature "lavish more prodigally her charms, excelling all that the highest art of man could create, and a scale magnificent and stupendous, soaring knobs, in high, grassy plateaus" through which ran crystal streams, mirroring the varied sky, lined with odorous flowers and trees. Here the wild fruits were abundant, and walnut, hickory nut, pecan and hazel nut covered the ground in their maturing seasons. The prairies, by their luxur- iance, seemed to mock labor.
We cannot imagine the natural beauty of this virgin landscape. The outline of which remains the swelling hills, the valleys, the rocks and streams, but the picturesque clumps of trees, the narrow line of wood- land here and there, along creek or isolated hill tops are gone; then, too, bordering the prairies the immense thickets of wild plum and crab apple and copses matted with grapevines, have likewise disappeared. From the open oak woods, crowning here and there a hill top, the emerald prairie then gleamed to the far-away horizon. In the summer a green carpet covered the landscape. The high wild grass undulated in the breeze like the billows of the sea. Here the prairie flowers, some in purple, some creamy, some in golden yellow lillies, some in white, others
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
tossing and swaying their red cups in the breeze. Here the gorgeous sunflower, the lobelias, all fragrant when in full blossom in the sum- mer's sun. Here, too, the wild rose bloomed and blossomed. "When summer was past, autumn followed with its mellow sunshine stealing through the hazy atmosphere, with trees and woods panoplied with a thousand varied colors, with a golden glory unparalleled at any other season of the year or in any other land.
Is it strange that in this favored park-like land all animal life lived, feasted and flourished, or that the clear pure waters were literally alive with fish, or the air and grounds full of birds, or that the woods and prairies were the haunts of wild and ferocious beasts, or that the lordly bison delighted to roam herein. Nor can we wonder at this prolific life. Could it be otherwise. There were practically ages no one disturbed its increase. The scant population in those remote days had no firearms and their bows and arrows were not destructive to the bird, the deer, elk or buffalo, and the form of enticing the fish and bird by net or snare was cruel. The beaver, the marten and other fur bearing animals had their haunts along Grand River and Big Creek and their tributaries. Time came, however, on the advent of the white man-our early settler, when all this changed, and we see now but the scarred form of this erstwhile scene of beauty, plenty and peace.
CHAPTER XIII.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH.
TEMPERATURE-PRECIPITATION-SHORT WINTERS-SUMMERS-FROSTS-WEATH- ER TABLE-HEALTH CONDITIONS-AGUE OF BYGONE DAYS-MALIGNANT DISEASES NOT COMMON-CLIMATE ANTAGONISTIC TO CONSUMPTION-BET- TER MODES OF LIVING.
The climate of Cass County is essentially the same as that of all western Missouri. The mean annual temperature as given by reports of the general government is 53.1 F., and the mean precipitation is 37.88. The fall of the year is characterized by long periods of mild, pleasant weather, extending often to Christmas. The winters are short and mild. Zero weather is rare before the first of the year. During the winter the extreme cold seldom continues more than three or four days at a time. The annual snowfall seems of late years not to be as great as of former years. The general government reports give the average snow- fall for ten years prior to 1914, at 20.6 inches. It is seldom a snowfall is more than six inches at a time. Warm spells of winter sometimes start the buds and the later freezes and occasional frosts as late as May damage the fruit. The heat of summer is tempered by breezes.
The government reports made in 1914 say the average date of kill- ing frost in the spring made on a period of nineteen years prior to 1914, is April 19, and the early killing frost in the same period is October 26. The latest given in this report is May 28 and the earliest in fall is Sep- tember 28. The growing season is about 190 days. This is sufficient for maturing crops grown in the county. Precipitation is greatest during the summer months. August and September are the months when our usual droughts occur. These, however, are withstood by the soils when proper cultural methods are used.
We give below a table, made by the government weather bureau, which represents approximately the climatic conditions of the county.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Temperature. Average for a period of 15 years.
Month.
Mean. 1912.
Total. 1912.
Number days with 0.01 inch or over (average for 15 yrs.).
ºF
ºF.
OF.
ºF.
Inhes.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Days.
December
31.3
68
-16
34
1.85
0.44
1.02
2.70
6
January
27.0
70
-16
16
1.58
1.15
0.45
0.90
7
February
29.1
81
-28
27
2.10
1.25
3.40
1.89
6
Winter
29.1
26
5.53
2.84
4.87
5.49
19
March
40.2
92
1
31
2.49
0.87
3.44
7.53
April
54.0
96
15
56
3.58
2.05
7.41
4.60
9
May
63.8
93
25
69
4.96
2.60
4.64
2.25
12
Spring
52.7
52
11.03
5.52
15.49
14.38
29
June
73.2
104
41
70
4.66
2.18
12.16
8.52
12
July
77.4
112
52
80
4.01
3.52
10.66
1.95
9
August
75.0
108
50
78
4.14
5.27
6.45
4.46
8
Summer
75.2
76
12.81
10.97
29.27
14.93
29
September
68.2
103
29
67
4.12
1.26
8.09
1.93
8
October
56.0
95
21
60
2.39
2.09
0.74
2.23
6
November
41.7
79
4
44
2.00
1.57
0.04
0.33
6
Fall
55.3
57
8.51
4.92
8.87
4.49
20
Year
53.1
112
-28
53
37.88
24.75
58.50
39.29
97
Mean.
maxi- mum.
mini-
Mean.
Tot. for driest year.
Tot. for wettest
year.
How is Cass County for health? There are no epidemics peculiar to this section, and are no more frequent and no more severe than else- where; really such diseases are less frequent and much less severe, the state health department report healthier than most any other locality. The land, except along the streams, is rolling or hilly, rendering drain- age almost perfect, and with little effort is made quite healthy. There are no extensive bogs or marshes, and those of limited extent are being rapidly drained. The streams, names of which are given elsewhere, serve to drain as well as water the county. Good healthy water for house purposes is easily obtained from natural springs and wells at from twenty to thirty feet in depth. Such water is for the most part of ex- cellent quality. The soil of that dark sandy loam serves as excellent filter to any unhealthy increments which might run upon the surface of the ground. The climate is alike conducive to health, by purifying the atmosphere of any impurities adrift therein.
In early days we had malaria along the river bottoms. This gave us our "old-fashioned ague" shakes. The medical profession, with the general improvement of the physical conditions of the county, have about eradicated this disagreeable disease. We seldom now see a person cling- ing to the stove or warmth of the window, enjoying this old-time luxury.
The typical typhoid fever is seldom seen, it is usually in its typho- malarial form. Occasionally the pure type of typhoid occurs as in the
1
Precipitation. Average for a period of 44 years.
Ab'lute Ab'lute
mum.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
crowded cities or illy ventilated places; these are, however, traceable to neglect of the individual in not attending to proper ventilation. Remit- tent and intermittent fevers prevail to some extent, but they cannot be said to be more prevalent than in other localities. Malaria, so called, is quite often associated with other diseases not generally regarded as of a malarial nature. This, however, is not at all a peculiar circumstance, for this condition is found in most any locality.
Malignant diseases are not common, though occasionally cases of malignant diphtheria appear. Old-fashioned consumption is hardly known, except in cases established prior to locating in the county, and it is creditably asserted the climate is antagonistic to this much-feared disease. There is some trouble from catarrh and its classmate, hay fever. It is believed, however, this is due not so much from climatic conditions as from the mode of the individual living, not sufficient care is taken in ventilation and habits of living. Too often too little attention is paid to proper health preservatives in the erection of our dwellings. Low stuffy rooms, whether upper or lower story, are not conducive to health, nay, it is inviting disease. It is a harboring place for microbes. It is quite encouraging, however, that the state of affairs is rapidly changing for the better. Good houses are taking the place of bad ones. Thrift is taking the place of slothfulness. People are reading and con- sider the suggestions of doctors and health officers generally.
The county, from the standpoint of health, is a desirable place to live. With more of God's pure air in our living places and the removal of barns and offensive odors further therefrom is being seen every day. The physical features, the soil, the health, the climate of Cass County are scarcely equaled and are not excelled anywhere. All classes of our people are intelligent, industrious, happy and prosperous. To be happy you must first be healthy.
CHAPTER XIV.
FIRST SETTLERS.
SOME OF THE FIRST SETTLERS-FIRST COURT HELD-MASTIN BURRIS-WILLIAM ADAMS AND OTHER EARLY SETTLERS-ALFRED BYBEE-WILLIAM C. BUR- FORD-ROBERT A. BROWN-JOSEPH F. BROOKS-JOHN COUGHENOUR-WIL- SON DAVENPORT AND OTHERS-ACHILLES EASLY-HUGH GIBSON GLENN- THOMAS HOLLOWAY-DAVID AND ISHAM MAJORS-JAMES H. WILLIAMS- "THE TWENTY-THREE"-"WHEN FATHER SHOOK THE STOVE."
The first to occupy our county will never be known. However, we gather from records and traditions names whose deeds of heroism are forgotten. Yet the names reuttered brings in our imagination scenes of long ago. How they served their day and passed off the stage of action. We know by tradition David G. Butterfield came to the present Big Creek township in 1827. David Creek probably came the next year, settling in the same neighborhood. Immediately thereafter came Charles Myers, William Johnson, Joel Walker, William Lynch and brother, the Hinshaw family, William, Henry and Jeremiah Farmer, the Hoopers, the Baileys and Blois, all of whom settled in the north part of the county. The Wardens, Jeremiah X. Sloan, Butlers, Riddles and others in the north- eastern part of the county. Very soon thereafter, most probably in 1830, came Andrew J. Peck, Fleming Harris, John Cook, Anderson Davis, Jesse Davis, Brisco Davis, Joseph Davis, William Davis, Arthur Fulton, Abram Fonday, William France, Peter France, John France, John L. Brooks, Lynch Brooks and Newton P. Brooks, Joseph Hedspath, Mastin Burris, Hemphrey Hunt, John Blythe and James Lackey, and located at, or near, the present site of Harrisonville. While James Walker McClellan, Sidney Adams, John Jackson, Hugh Harlan and their com- rades settled on Grand River near and southeast of the present town of Peculiar.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
It was at the home of James W. McClellan, then located southeast of Peculiar, and northwest of Harrisonville, about half way between the places, the first court was held within the boundary of the county. These men without exception have joined that numbered host in the great be- vond. Of those who met in 1879, some have left some small remem- brance of whom they are and from whence they came.
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