USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 13
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Barry Christian Church .- In the winter of 1840 a frame house of worship was built at Barry for a congregation which had been formed as a church organization on the 26th of April of that year. Among the original members were Thomas Chisis, Annie Chisis, William Beal, John Callerman, Bass Callerman, Archibald Woods, Jane Woods, Adam Woods, Mary Woods, James and Catherine Cerry, Ann Ham, and Catherine Endi- cott. Some of those who have filled the pulpit of the church are John Callerman, Bayard Waller, Josiah Waller, G. R. Hand, Preston Aker, A. E. Higgason, J. A. Lord, S. G. Clay, W. S. Ramey, William C. Rodgers, and others whose names are not now recalled. In 1859 a second church edifice was erected; it was also a frame one.
Ebenezer Christian Church at Minaville was organized in 1865, with John Foster, Thomas and Betsey Stevens, John Tipton, Lucinda Tipton, John J. and Mary Brost, Elizabeth Lindenman, Thomas and Dinah Gib- bons, John F. and Susan Foster, Eleanor Foster, and James and Lucinda Stevens as constituent members. The pastors in charge have been Rich- ard Morton, Bro. Pickerall, Joseph Wollery and Bayard Waller.
Big Shoal O. S. Baptist Church, located eight miles southwest from Liberty, was organized May 21, 1823, by Rev. William Thorp. This church building is of brick, erected in 1851 at a cost of $2,200.
Bethel Baptist Church, located on the Barry road, five miles west of Liberty, was organized in Pleasant Valley school house, in 1872, by Elder James Rouse. Their present house of worship, a frame building, was erected in 1883, at a cost of $1,500.
Antioch Christian Church, located five miles northeast of Kansas City, was organized in 1854. This church building is frame, erected in 1858 at a cost of $1,800. Rev. Fred V. Loos is the present pastor.
Faurbion Chapel M. E. Church South, located eight miles southwest
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of Liberty, was organized in 1837. Their present house of worship, a frame structure, was erected in 1870, at a cost of $2,150.
Rising Sun Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M .- May 6, 1852, this lodge was organized. Of the first officers and members there were but two names furnished, William Conway, master, and James W. Smith, senior warden.
PUBLIC SCHOOL, SMITHVILLE, MO.
BRIDGE ACROSS SMITH'S FORK, NEAR SMITHVILLE
CHAPTER XIV
PLATTE TOWNSHIP.
LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES-PHYSICAL FEATURES-GOOD FARMS-EARLY SET- TLERS-"YANKEE" SMITH-OTHER SETTLERS-TOWNSHIP CREATED FROM GALLATIN IN 1827-ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES-FIRST OFFICERS AND ELEC- TIONS-ELM GROVE, FIRST POST OFFICE-CIVIL WAR TRAGEDIES-PIONEER CHURCHES-SMITHVILLE-GOSNEYVILLE.
Platte township comprises the northwestern portion of Clay, its present boundaries being as follows: Beginning at the northwestern corner of the county, thence south along the county line between Clay and Platte to the southwest corner of section 22, in township 52, range 33, thence due east to the southeast corner of section 21, township 52, range 32, thence north to the southeast corner of section 33, township 53, range 32, thence east to the half section line north and south through section 35, township 53, range 32, thence due north to the county line between Clay and Clinton, thence west along the county line to the initial point.
The greater portion of the township is well timbered and watered, and the principal farms have been hewed and dug out of the timber. Generally the face of the country is broken and the land rolling and elevated. The numerous branches of the Platte-Smith's fork, Camp branch, Owen's branch, Second creek, Wilkinson's creek-afford plenty of water and render the country hilly in their vicinity. The eastern part of the northern portion of the country was originally-at least many sections-prairie.
Some of the best farms in the county are in Platte township. Con- siderable labor was expended in making them and those who performed
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this labor in most instances did not live to enjoy the full fruits thereof. It has been left for their successors to realize the good fortune. Many large farms and wealthy-albeit the latter are plain and simple in their lives-are to be found in Platte township.
Among the first bona fide settlers in Platte township was Humphrey Smith, the old "Yankee", mentioned elsewhere. His mill, at what after- wards became Smithville, was the nucleus or head of subsequent settle- ments. Smith came in the summer of 1822. His son, Calvin, said his nearest neighbors were eight miles off, and were Ezekiel Huffman, Tarl- ton Whitlock, David Magill, Abraham Creek and James Wills.
Prior to 1824 there were in what is now Platte township, Rice B. Davenport, five miles east of Smithville; Capt. James Duncan, at Elm Grove, one mile south of Davenport; Capt. William Duncan, three miles south of Smithville, and in the fall of 1824 came Eleven Thatcher, to his claim, two miles south, or about one mile north of Duncan. One account given fixes the date of the settlements of the Duncans as in the spring of 1824. In the eastern part of the township (west half of section 14- 53-32) a squatter named Castle White lived in 1826. The dates and loca- tions of other settlers in the township, prior to the creation of the town- ship in 1827, can not now be obtained, but it is known that there were at least thirty families in what is now the township before 1828.
Upon the organization of the county what is now Platte township was included in Gallatin. But in time it became necessary to have a third township, this portion being then thickly settled and needing separate organization. Accordingly at the special term of the county court, in June, 1827, Platte township was created with the following boundaries :
Beginning on the boundary line of the state where the sectional line dividing sections 22 and 27 strikes said boundary line, in range 33, from thence due east along said sectional line dividing 22 and 27, to the sec- tional line dividing sections 21 and 22, in range 32, and from thence due north along said sectional line between 21 and 22 in range 32, to the towship line dividing 52 and 53, and from thence due east to the western boundary line of Fishing River township, in section 36, township 53, and from thence due north to the northern boundary line of the county.
The first justices of the peace of the township were William Duncan and James Duncan. The first constable was Jesse Yocum. Elections
V
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were held at James Duncan's and the judges were James Winn, William Yocum and John Loyd.
The first post-office in the township was at Elm Grove, the residence of Capt. James Duncan, six miles southeast of Smithville. It was estab- lished some time prior to 1835. This was the first post-office in this region of country, and was resorted to for years by the settlers in the Platte Purchase and by many others.
During the Civil War a number of the citizens of Platte township were killed at or near their homes. The bushwhackers killed Bishop Bailey and Columbus Whitlock, and the Clay County militia killed Thomas D. Ashurst while on the way with him to Liberty, as narrated else- where.
John Ecton, Jr., had been in the Southern army, but had returned and was living quietly at home. A Federal detachment took him from his work of breaking hemp, carried him away and killed him.
In the first week of June, 1863, a squad of Federal state militia took prisoner Rev. A. H. F. Payne, a prominent member of the Christian church, residing in the southern part of Clinton County, but well known and universally respected in Clay. They carried the prisoner with them on a raid through this township and halted one night at Smithville, where Mr. Payne passed his last night on earth at the residence of Col. Lewis Wood. The next day he was taken out, near his residence, and shot to death.
Near the time when Reverend Payne was killed, Capt. John Reid was shot by a detachment of Federals at a point about three miles northeast of Smithville. Captain Reid was a prisoner and was mounted on a fine swift horse. He sought to escape by the superior speed of his horse and dashed away, but the Federal bullets were swifter than the horse and he was shot out of his saddle. Many a prisoner was shot during the war in an alleged attempt to escape, but it is said by good Southern friends of the captain that he really was attempting to obtain his freedom when he was killed.
First Baptist Church of Platte .- This is probably the oldest church located in the limits of Clay County, and certainly the first one of Platte township, having been organized at Duncan's school house, on Saturday, June 23, 1827. It is located on the northeast quarter of section 36, in township 53 north, range 38 west. Here the church building, originally
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constructed of logs, stood, but in 1876 a frame building was erected, cost- ing $1,000. The first members were William Vance, Barbara Vance, Richard Jesse, Frances Jesse, Juliet C. Jesse, John Thatcher, Woodford F. Jesse, William Corum, Bersheba Corum, Abijah Brooks, John Lloyd, Nancy Lloyd, Eleanor Corum and Polly Nance. Abijah Brooks was the first church clerk, being succeeded by Woodford Jesse. Revs. D. W. Riley, William Thorp, Eppa Tillery, Thomas Turner, Darius Bainbridge, William Warren, T. W. Todd and John E. Goodson have been the pastors in charge.
Mount Olive Christian Church .- This church is located on the north- west quarter and southwest quarter of section 8, township 52, range 32, where stands an excellent frame building, erected in 1875, and costing about $2,000. In connection with it is a handsomely laid out cemetery. Twenty-six persons comprised the original membership, as follows: Louis Grimes and Jacob R. Wilson, who were made elders; Samuel Hunt, William Christa, B. T. Gordon, G. C. Clardy, chosen as deacons; Bennett Smith, who was made clerk; Ellen Christa, Ruth Grimes, Mattie Wilson, Isaac P. Wilson, Isabella Wilson, Joel E. Grimes, Sallie Grimes, Sallie Hunt, Ellen Hunt, Nancy E. Smith, Sarah M. Crow, Mattie H. Crow, Lavena Black- stone, Elizabeth Dickerson, Giles C. Clark, Mattie Adams, Jeff T. Thomp- son, Lizzie Grimes, Ruth B. Grimes. The pastors who have filled the pulpit here are W. C. Rogers, Bayard Waller. A. B. Jones, H. B. Clay, S. R. Hand, Rev. Mr. Watson and Rev. Fred V. Loos, present pastor.
Smithville.
The town of Smithville stands on section 23, township 53, range 33, or one mile from the Platte county line and about five miles from Clinton County. It is a thriving town and all branches of business are repre- sented.
The first settler on the present site of Smithville was Humphrey Smith, who came in the spring of 1822, and two years later, or in 1824, built a mill on the fork of Platte River. He was born in New Jersey in 1774, lived in Pennsylvania from 1784 to 1800, in Erie County, New York, from 1800 to 1816. and then removed to Howard County, Missouri, where he resided three years and a half; then he removed to what is now Car- roll County-then Chariton-where he remained until 1822, when he came to Clay. He was universally known as "Yankee" Smith.
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With something of Yankee enterprise and shrewdness Smith located where he did and built his mill in order to catch the patronage of the government Indian agencies in the Platte country, and also the custom of the settlers who, he rightly conjectured, would push out in considerable numbers to the extreme frontier. The mill at first was but a "corn- cracker", but in a few years, when wheat was first raised in the country, Smith added a bolting apparatus, and it is said that this was the first flouring mill in Clay County. It stood near the site of Smith's dwelling house, a log cabin, which was built on the south side of Main street where the Liberty road turns south, and east of the road. The mill was operated by Smith and his sons for thirty consecutive years and then purchased by Col. Lewis Wood. It was washed away by a flood in 1853.
"Yankee" Smith was all his life an avowed Abolitionist. He de- claimed against what he considered the sin of human slavery at all times and under all circumstances. For his principles he was mobbed in Howard County and driven away. His family fled to what is now Carroll, and he joined them as soon as it was safe to do so. But no sort of persecution, blows, mobbings, threats, denunciation, or raillery moved him or deterred him from speaking his mind. Frequently some bully would approach him and call out: "Smith, are you an Abolitionist ?" "I am", was always the reply. The next instant he would be knocked down, but he would rise and calmly say, "O, that's no argument. You are stronger than I, but that don't prove you are right". Finally his soft answers turned away the wrath of those opposed to him, and he was allowed to hold and ex- press his opinions in peace.
Smith always declared that slavery would be abolished in the United States, but he did not live until his eyes had seen "the glory". In June, 1857, he died of small-pox. It has always been supposed that he caught the disease from an infected Abolition paper, called the Herald of Freedom, published at Lawrence, Kansas, and to which his son. Calvin, was a sub- scriber. The postmaster, James Brasfield, who handed Smith the paper, took varioloid, and Smith himself had small-pox in a violent and fatal form. At first his disease was not known, and persons who called to see him were infected and spread the contagion through the neighborhood. Many died therefrom and the incident was one long and sadly remem- bered.
Humphrey Smith had a store at his mill before 1828 and soon after
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a little village sprang up. Calvin Smith, a son of Humphrey, managed the store at first. Next to him were Henry Owens and John Lerty, both of whom were small merchants here before 1840. James Walker was another early merchant. Dr. Alex. M. Robinson, afterward a prominent Democratic politician of Platte, Dr. J. B. Snaile and Dr. S. S. Ligon were the first physicians in the community.
Old settlers assert that as early as 1845, Smithville was a place of much importance. The failure of the Parkville Railroad delayed the de- velopment of the place and entailed considerable loss on many of the citizens who were subscribers to the stock, but now the Q. O. & K. C. R. R. passes through Smithville.
Smithville has been several times incorporated. The first incorpora- tion was by the county court, August 7, 1867; this was amended April 8, 1868, but the trustees appointed never qualified, and July 6, following, the county court appointed Erastus Smith, Jacob Kraus, Otis Guernsey, Theodoric Fitzgerald and Matthew McGregory in their stead. February 4, 1878, there was another incorporation, the territory incorporated being described as "all that portion of the southwest quarter of section 23, town- ship 53, range 33, lying south of Smith's fork of Platte River". October 8, following, there was a reincorporation as "a town", with J. D. DeBerry, J. C. Brasfield, William Clardy, W. H. Rhoads and John Swartz as trustees. The town is now running under this incorporation.
Church of Christ at Smithville .- There are but few facts mentioned in connection with the history of this church which have been preserved and some of the most important items of interest can not now be given. The organization of the church was effected October 13, 1843. The mem- bership in that early day was composed only of Alexander B. Duncan, Preston Akers, Henry Owens, L. J. Wood, Christopher C. Bailey, James G. Williams, Sr., Jonathan Owens, James H. Thorp, John Grimes, James Krauss, Margaret Krauss, Helen M. Duncan, Rachel C. Buchanan, Lucinda G. Grimes, Eleanor Breckenridge, Elizabeth Ecton. Juda Strode, Missouri A. Owens and Joseph Shafer. Some of the pastors have been Moses E. Lard, Preston Aker, A. H. F. Payne, William H. Robison, G. B. Waller, John W. Tate, and Fred V. Loos, the present pastor. In 1848, at a cost of $1,000, a plain, unostentatious brick church edifice was built. In 1883 a new building was erected at an expenditure of $4,500. This is one of the handsomest brick churches in the county.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Smithville Baptist Church .- J. D. DeBerry and wife, Mary A. De- Berry, J. B. Colley and wife, S. P. Herndon, Eliza and Emeline Herndon, Mary J. Parker and Clarissa H. Basley were the constituent members of this church, which was organized in the spring of 1873. Rev. Mr. Liv- ingston was instrumental in its formation. The first pastor was L. D. Lampkin and he was succeeded by R. H. Jones, W. W. Wilkerson and A. Barton, after whom again came Mr. Jones. In 1882 the frame church building in which they now worship was constructed at a cost of about $1,700.
Vigilant Lodge No. 289, I. O. O. F., at Smithville, was organized November 28, 1872. The original members were John H. Marr, S. S. Johnson, F. O. Estes, G. H. Hays and John Swartz. A. B. Crawford, L. J. Wood, Erastus Smith and Samuel Venrick were initiated the first night.
Gosneyville.
Gosneyville, a small hamlet in the northern part of Platte township (on the southeast quarter of section 5, township 53, range 32), has half a dozen houses, two churches, stores, etc. It was never regularly laid out, and has no official history. Many years ago John Gosney established a blacksmith shop here and for him the village was named. The post office is called Paradise.
Gosneyville M. E. Church South .- This church was organized at the old Corum school house, near Smithville, in 1843, by Rev. E. M. Marvin and Rev. Amos Tutt, and was the first M. E. church organized in Platte township. The original members were: George W. Douglas, Jane Doug- las, Mahala McGee, James O. McGee, Julia McGee, Thomas McGee, Samuel J. McGee, Jane McGee, Polly Hulse, Mary Hulse, Moses McCall, Abner Loyd, William Slayton and John K. Rollins. The first pastor was Rev. Amos Tutt.
Gosneyville Christian Church was instituted July 18, 1868, by Rev. Preston Aker and Josiah Waller. The constituent members were John Gosney, Thomas D. Parks, F. M. Graham, A. J. Lawrence, Samuel Moore, N. W. Litton, Bird Benton, William H. Shannon, Rufus Patcher, Peter L. Holtzclaw, Henry Anderson, W. M. Endicott, Archibald Holtzclaw, Frank- lin Holtzclaw, Amos Anderson, James L. Vaughn, John Anderson, Francis McCracken, John W. Youtsey, Peter Youtsey, James C. Youtsey, David
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Summers, A. E. Mackabell, George E. T. Parker, Alex. C. Scott, Jasper Perrin, John Bernard, Robert A. Hamilton, Peter C. Callaway, Henry Snow, T. K. Ross, Samuel Fleming and William Grooms. The church now has about sixty-five members. In 1870, a plain frame edifice was built, costing $1,500. Revs. Thomas Williamson, Bayard Waller, A. J. Pickrell, Benjamin Hyder, - Blake and R. C. Watson have all ministered to this church as pastors
CHAPTER XV
KEARNEY TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION-BOUNDARIES-FIRST JUSTICE OF THE PEACE-TOPOGRAPHY- SETTLEMENTS-WILD ANIMALS-CIVIL WAR TRAGEDIES-CHURCHES-THE TOWN OF KEARNEY-HOLT.
Kearney township was organized June 4, 1872, with the following boundaries : Beginning on the line between Clinton and Clay Counties, at the northeast corner of section 36, township 54, range 31, thence along the county line to the half section line running north and south through section 35, township 54, range 32, thence due south to the township line dividing townships 52 and 53, thence east one mile and a half to the southeast corner of section 36, township 53, range 32, thence south one mile, thence east one mile, thence south one mile, thence east to the range line between ranges 30 and 31, thence north along the range line to the beginning.
Anthony Harsell was appointed by the county court the first justice of the peace pro tem. The township was named for the town of Kearney.
The general surface of the township partakes of the character of that of the county and is rolling and broken, but some of the most valu- able farms of the county are situated herein. The northern portion of the township-at least the northeastern-was heavily timbered. This is true of much of the eastern portion. along Clear creek. Clearings were made and land reclaimed from the wilderness.
Settlements were made in this township at a very early day. In the northwestern part of the township, two miles south of Camp branch (east half section 23, township 53, range 32), Anthony Harsell settled
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in the fall of 1827. A mile and a half northeast of Harsell, William Liv- ingston had come in 1825; James MeCown settled one mile north of Har- sell in 1826; Hezekiah Riley and James Marsh settled east of Harsell in 1827, the latter in the spring and the former in the fall. In the spring of the same year Edward Clark located one mile south.
For some years after the township was first settled bears and panthers were unpleasantly numerous. As late as the winter of 1836 a large bear was killed on Camp branch, two miles north of Harsell's spring.
Over on Camp creek, on one occasion, John McCown, Jr., killed a large panther which his dog had attacked and was being worsted in the encounter.
Among the tragedies of the Civil War, not especially mentioned else- where, may be mentioned the murder of two citizens of this township, David L. Ferrill and Dr. John Norris. They were Confederate sym- pathizers and their murder was accomplished by some of Colonel Cather- wood's regiment the Sixth Missouri State Militia. Ferrill was an old and well respected citizen of the township. His sons were in the Confederate army and his grandson, Red. Munkers, was a bushwhacker, but Ferrill himself was an old man about seventy years of age, and had never been guilty of overt acts against the Federal authority. One day in September, 1864, a squad of militia, led by Lieut. James N. Stoffel, of Company A. Catherwood's regiment, took out the old man and hung him to a tree near his residence.
John Norris had served six months under Price, but for some time he had been living peaceably at home. One night, a short time after Ferrill was hung, a squad of Catherwood's men took him from his home and shot him.
Richard Sloan was a member of the party that hung Ferrill. He was a citizen of this township and in September, 1866, he was waylaid and shot and his body left lying in the road.
Mount Gilead Christian Church .- This church is an outgrowth of what was originally a Calvinistic Baptist Church, as it was first organized. In March, 1844, there was a division in the congregation, some of the members still adhering to the Baptist denomination, while others, among whom were some of the old and most prominent Baptists, constituted themselves into a body of Christians. The church building first put up was erected in 1844, but becoming defective and unsafe from the ravages
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
of time, it was torn down and in its place a handsome brick edifice was built in 1873, costing $2,569.95. It stands on section 29, northwest quarter, township 53, range 31. The first members were Elders Mason Summers, Timothy R. Dale and wife, Alfred M. Riley and wife, Hezekiah Riley, Robert Officer and wife, Weekly Dale and wife, James Riley and wife, George Dallis, Alexander Mooney and wife, A. H. F. Payne and wife, and John Dykes and wife. The deacons were Hezekiah Riley, Robert Officer and Weekly Dale. Following Augustus H. F. Payne, who was the organizer, the pastors have been Revs. Williamson, A. B. Jones, J. T. Tate, J. W. Perkins and others. The first Sunday school connected with this church was organized on the last Lord's day of May, 1868. The superin- tendent was O. G. Harris, assisted by E G. Gill; the secretary was P. T. Soper.
Clear Creek Old School Baptist Church, located in section 14, Kear- ney township, was organized August 6, 1840. Its original members were Benjamin and Nancy Soper, Joel and Rachel Estes, Annie Palmer, Charles Waller, Margaret Waller, Henry and Lucinda Estes, Robert and Sarah Thompson, Alvira Arnold, Arabella Arnold, Harriet Arnold, William and Nancy Yates, and Elizabeth Groomer. The names of the pastors who have served this church are Revs. John Edwards and Wolverton Warren. The present frame church building was built in 1853 at a cost of about $1,000. The constitution was formed by the following body, of whom John Ed- wards was moderator: William Clark, Henry Hill, John Atkins and E. Fillery, none of whom survive.
Arley M. E. Church in this township has a membership of 150 per- sons. As originally constituted, in 1845, by the efforts of Heinrich Nuel- son, the constituent members were Fred Hartel, Peter Hartel, John Suter, Conrad Hessel, Jacob Hessel, Louis Feigat, Charles Fowler, Nicholas Frick, and perhaps others. After Heinrich Neulson, the first pastor, the pulpit was filled by Heinrich Hogrefe, Reverend Neidermeier, John Raus, Joseph Zimmerman, William Shreck, Andreas Holz Beierlein, Henry Muehlenbrock, H. Dryer, Peter Hebner, Carl Steinmeier, P. Mayer, Rev- erend Priegal, Henry Bruene, H. Brinkmeier, J. J. Jung, H. Deiner, C. Bauer, H. M. Menger, H. Eorphage, J. J. Eichenberger, J. W. Buchholtz, George Koenig, F. Kaltenbach, Henry Hoffman, J. J. Hammel, H. H. Peters, C. H. Schmackenberg, H. A. Hohemwald, E. Clepin, John Klein, E. T. Asling, W. B. Woestemeyer, R. D. Winker, L. H. Irminger, C. L.
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