USA > Missouri > Platte County > History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 60
USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay and Platte Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
The following is a copy of the assessment roll of personal property already referred to : -
James A. Anthony, Cromwell Ashby, Samuel Ausbin, David Allen, Solomon Allen, Isaac Allen, Jeremiah Atkins, Samuel Adamson, Thos. Adams, Levi Adamson, Joseph Alfry, Thomas Atterbury, James Atterbury, Larken Adamson, R. Allen, Allen Ashley, Reuben Arnold, Thomas M. Aull, Isaac Archer, Jesse R. Allen, Robert Anderson, Samuel Allen, Thomas Allen, Jacob Anderson, William Anderson, Joel Albright, William B. Allman, Starling Ashworth, David D. Ashworth, Bethel Allen, Moses Allen, James Arter, Joseph Atkins, David Anderson, James Anderson, John Artman, John Allen, Will- iam Asher, Williamson Atterbury, Jacob Adamson, George W. Anderson, W. B. Aldman, Manasseh Beth, James Bird, Bane Baldon, William Bane, Milton Brown, John Bryant, D. G. Beauchamp, Isaac Blanton, Martin Baldwin, M. Bryam, Henry Bradley, John B. Bounds, Joseph Baker, Henry Butts, William Bell, Edward Bedford, Martin T. Berry, Jackson Butts, Henry F. Burk, Joseph Britian, Lewis W. Bell, William Baley, Caleb Baley, Philip Bolwar, Wesley Baker, Cyrus Barnes, Sidney Brooks, Perry Bales, Sampson Butler, Lossen Baker, David Bell, Thomas Beagle, James Beagle, William Beagle, Henry Brail, Green H. Barnes, R. P. Beauchamp, Randal Baber, David Brown, John Baber, Isham Baber, David Bruton, Sr., John Belieur, Micajah Belieur, J. Burnes, Henry Boilston, John Burge, Nathaniel Boydston, Thos. Boydston, John Bywaters, J. Blak- ley, James Brown, HughBrown, Nancy Baits, Jackson Baits, Andrew Baker, John R. Buchanan, John Brown, Calvin Brown, Harrison
563
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Brown, G. W. Burnett, James Brooks, Gotham Brown, John Bigham, James W. Bigham, Elisha Barnes, Wm. Best, D. Best, M. Barnes, Felix G. Bush, Eliam Brown, Abner Bayarth, J. Bane, C. Bennett, D. Boland, Benj. Boland, Ezekial Blanton, H. Barker, William D. Bullard, W. Bennett, L. Burnes, E. Barker, J. Barker, Wm. Bennett, Micajah Brown, John Brink, Martin Buff, Carr Baley, Michael Bird, Samuel Brown, John E. Brown, Jordan Baber, William Bird, Andrew Brown, Stephen Bedwell, Richard Bickerstaff, Thomas Blakenship, William Banta, Sylvester Blakenship, James Butler, William Butler, Isaac Burnes, Abram Burton, James Brasfield, Willis Bledsoe, James H. Berry, Moses Boydston, Addison Bruton, L. F. Brown, -William Brown, Sr., William Brown, Jr., Archibald Brown, Sarchel C. Bawn, Adam Brown, Gray B. Brown, B. C. Brown, Stephen Beauchamp, Squire Babcock, Joel Blanton, John Bowlwar, William Borden, David Borden, Adam Christison, Andrew Campbell, Daniel Clarey, Daniel Carey, Berry Carwood, James Canter, James Coleman, Gabriel Clark, Eli Casey, John B. Collier, Beaufort Carpenter, Matthias Cline, Abra- ham Cline, Joseph Cox, William Chance, L. B. Church, Allen Crook, John P. Kincaid, Archibald Campbell, Jacob Cox, James Cox, Will- iam Cox, William Clay, Abraham Collett, Johnson Clay, Beery Creek, George W. Cannon, Joseph T. Cannon, W. M. Carter, Lacy Carter, Wiley Cooper, Henry Cooper, Robert Cain, David Carson, Joseph W. Cox, Rev. James, W. Cox, Wakefield Cox, Washington Camp- bell, Willis Cartwright, Jas. Cartwright, Isaac Cartwright, Sam. Can- non, Jonathan Carpenter, Jas. Collins, Alex. Cannon, Patrick Cooper, Jno. Cooper, Robt. Cooper, Jno. H. Downing, Elias Davis, William- . son Donalson, Truman Day, Thos. Dye, Flemmonds Drummons, Bart- lett Dean, Abner Dean, Francis Dean, Ed. P. Duncan, Fred. Dean, Wm. A. Dunn, L. L. Draper, Daurbin Donell, Jas. Dyer, Jno. Dyer, Williamson Duncan, Davis Duncan, Thos. Duncan, Xury Duncan, Jas. Derland, Wade Davis, Madison Draice, Jackson Draice, Jno. S. Davis, John Deacon, G. P. Dorriss, William Duff, Washington Dyer, Joseph Davis, James M. Davis, James Dougherty, James Duncan, John Dun- igan, George Dyle, Preston Dunlap, Allen Davis, Benjamin Davis, Lott Drummons, Robert Davis, Archibald Elliott, Thomas Edwards, Elisha J. Edwards, Isaac M. C. Ellis, Thomas F. Ellis, John Elliott, Thomas J. Easbonn, Benjamin F. English, Robert T. Evans, Thomas H. Evans, John H. Evans, John Eldridge, John Eaton, Joseph Elder, Doctor Ellis, William Ellington, Isaac Eads, Jesse Eads, Solomon Eads, Moses Eads, Charles Early, W. M. English, James Flannery, Sr., William Fox, John F. Fry, James Fulkerson, Mathias. Frickle, Jacob Foreman, George Funderburk, Washington Funder- burk, George W. Ford, Levi Fowler, Elisha Francis, George Fergu- son, Neeley Frame, Sashel Fugett, John M. Foris, Ezekiel Fugett, John W. Faris, William Fulton, James Fox, William A. Fox, Samuel Finley, Allen Furgerson, Andrew Foster, Benjamin Fields, Levi Fields, Thomas Fields, Hiram Ferrel, Thomas Farmer, Ansom Far- mer, M. D. Faylor, Ambrose Foster, Absalom Fickle, John Fleming, David Fleming, Samuel Ford, William M. Fox, Jesse Fleming, James
564
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Flannery, Jr., Abner Fickle, Jesse Gibson, James Gibson, William Gibson, Alvey Graves, Philip E. Gill, Jesse Gillum, Riley Gregg,
Jacob Guyer, John Greene, John Gillam, Robert P. Gillam, David Gladden, Harmon Glasscock, John K. Gyle, A. Gordon, Iasac W. Gibson, Stephen Gibbs, Daniel Grober, Elisha Green, Jack- son Gann, Caswell R. Gray, David Gregg, James H. Grib- ble, Benjamin Green, George W. Gason, Charles Gray,
James Gray, Silas Glenn, Gregg Jefferson, James Gregg, Henry Gunn, David Gunn, Thornton Gunn, John Grooms, James Griffith, Rebecca Gunn, Andrew Henson, William M. Hayes, John Hendricks, John Henderson, Daniel Hunsaker, Isaac Hunsaker, Joseph Hunsaker, Atison Hill, Gideon Harson, John Hognight, John Herron, Robert Haston, William B. Henson, B. M. Hughes, Orum Hulett, Jefferson Harris, Charles Hungerford, Anna Hungerford, Ben. Holland, Thomas L. Holland, Robert W. Holland, Nathaniel Holland, Derman Henderson, John Henderson, W. B. Hungerford, Thomas Harrison, James S. Holeman, Joseph Henderson, Giles Hen- derson, Miles Harrington, James Hull, Lyvester Hunt, William Huff- man, Jacob Hayes, S. C. Hayes, D. R. Hayes, David R. Holt, James Hall, Alfred W. Hughes, David Hunt, Enoch Howard, James Halford, John Harris, John Howard, Elisha Hartley, Solomon Hater, Thomas Henderson, John Higgins, Jonathan Hincher, Archibald Hill, George Hunter, Adam Hornback, James Hamlin, Henry Hamlin, Peter Hen- dricks, David Hamilton, Mathias M. Hughes, Samuel Hoy, Philomen Higgins, Jacob Higgins, Josiah Higgins, Jackson Higgins, Jacob Hoover, Josiah Harris, William Hardey, James Henshaw, Henry Iler, Richard Iler, William Endicott, Richard B. Endicott, Jacob Iler, Will- iam Ish, William Jack, Sr., William Jack, Jr., Stephen Johnston, Alfred Jack, David Johnston, Jefferson Jones, Lewis Johnson, Benj. Johnston, Edward Johnson, Beremore Johnson, David James, Stephen Jones Thomas E. Jordan, James Jackson, Henry Jones, Barbara Johnson Henry James, James C. Jordan, John S. Jordan, L. C. Jack, John E. Jackson, William S. Jones, F. B. Jones, John H. Johnson, David Jackson, Wallis Jackson, James Jackson, Jr. James Johnson, Lewis Jones, Uptiam Jenkins, Moses Jennings, Broking Jeffrs, Leander Jones, William Kavinaugh, Benj. Kuykendall, M. W. Kyle, William Kincaid, Johnson Kimsey, Harvey Kincaid, James Kincaid, John F. Kimsey, James Kimsey, Thomas A. Key, James C. Key, James Kave, Benjamin Kimsey, Daniel King, Miles Keyton, George P. Kave, John Kimsey, Alois Kimsey, Will- iam Little, Caleb P. Lowns, John Lewis, William Lovelady, James Lovelady, Sr., Thomas Lovelady, L. L. Leonard, Levi Law- ler, James Lynch, Isaac Lynch, Isaac F. Lewis, Richard Linville, Adam J. Lucas, Moses Lovelady, Robert F. Logan, Marcus Lips- comb, James Lindsay, William Lewis, Sr., Bryan Lewis, John Lewis, Abraham Linville,Jackson W. Lee, John Larker, William Lockhart Jesse Lively, John Long, Willis Long, Thomas Langley, Isaac Lebo, John Lewis, Jesse Lewis, Sloan Lewis, Isaac Lewis, John Liggett, Joseph Lynch, John Lynch, John Linville, Granville Linville, Har-
565
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
rison Linville, Simon W. Levendy, Joseph Mooneyham, Irvin Mooneyham, William Mooneyham, James Mobley, John S. Malott, Patton Murphey, Charles Mullins, Anthony Mahan, Jesse McCall, Jonathan Mosure, Nimrod McCracken, Isaac Moody, Greenfield Matthews, Jesse Moore, Thomas Marchael, Lewis Medlin, Anderson McFall, Matthias Maston, Felix G. Mulligan, L. W. McManus, Jon- athan Mitchell, John Morin, Charles Mucey, David McCollum, George McAfee, John Marsh, John McCarty, W. S. May, Jesse Morin, Silas May, George Martin, Isaac Miller, William McBride, Jacob McKis- sick, John Martin, Robert McCracken, Henry Matheney, David McGee, James Miller, Jacob Millihan, William Moore, Samuel McGown, Anson McCracken, John McCord, Albert W. Mason, William Mc- Guire, William Malotte, Abraham Miller, Joseph Martin, Den Med- dlin, Thomas McClair, George McClair, James McClair, William McClair, Samuel T. Mason, Richard McMahon, James C. McMahon, Samuel McAdow, George B. McAdow, Robert B. Mitchell, William Manian, John McClair, Woodson Manian, George Martin, John Mil- ler, James C. Means, Wesley McCollom, Jackson McCollom, David S. Mc Williams, Jesse Moras, David M. William, Houston McFarland, Joseph Moore, Wm. S. Murphy, John F. McWhiter, A. J. Markwell, J. M. Marchael, Elisha Morgan, Sandy H. Moreland, Alexander Mc- Donald, Daniel Moreland, John H. Meador, John McClarey, Thomas Malott, Nathaniel Mann, Hugh McCafferty, Samuel McCafferty, Ed- ward McFerson, Nicholas McFerson, Benjamin Moncus, William Mar- tin, Franklin Martin, Harden Martin, Zadoc Martin, Joseph Martin, William McCray, Bright Martin, Frederick Marshall, J. D. Mulligan, Jesse . Masse, William Masse, Joshua Noland, Hosea Norris, Gabriel Nilson, William Nave, Daniel Night, Abner Norris, James Nichles, C. C. Nichles, Isaac Norman, Thomas H. Noble, Nicholas Noland, Obed Noland, John Noland, William Newman, Joel Noland, Jonathan Owen, Aaron Owen, Timothy O'Keef, E. C. Owen, N. P. Owen, John R. Owens, M. N. Owen, J. H. Owen, William O'Vanion, Isham Owen, Henry D. Oden, John Packwood, William Packwood, W. Pear- son, John Pearson, William Praiter, David Poor, William Portice, Wm. Peters, Ervin Parrott, Jas. Pennington, Henderson Pinkston, Har- rison Pinkston, Hezekiah Porter, Enoch Patrick, John Pace, Thomas M. Page, Levi Pilkinton, Robert Patton, Daniel K. Parker, James Parker, L. M. Pittman, Reuben Pigg, Berry Pitcher, Hiram Pitcher, Henry F. Powers, William Pearson, Robert Pearson, Jacob Pitts, Foniley Price, Samuel Philips, Wilson Potter, Bentley Potter, Amos Riley, Benj. Robertson, R. M. Robertson, Thomas Ring, Henry Ren- ick, Riley Ramsey, Daniel Reed, John Ramsey, Abraham Risk, Rob- ert Renick, George W. Renick, Mahlon Renick, J. C. Roberson, John Routh, Jeremiah Rose, James Rutledge, David Rutledge, John P. Rogers, Charles Robertson, James B. Riggs, William Roberson, James Roup, William Roup, Robert Ross, Garrison Reed, John Rummons, Alexander Russell, Samuel Ross, John Roup, David Roup, Russell Rogers, Sidney Ray, John Rogers, James M. Rogers, Anderson Rog- ers, F. M. Randolph, William Rolston, Elijah Shepherd, William
566
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Slawn, Benj. Stanton, Bluford Stanton, Jonathan Smith, Jonathan Scaggs, Joseph Shannon, William Sharp, Nicholas Sharp, Alfred Sanders, George W. Smith, William Shafer, Isaac Stobaugh, James Smith, John Stillwell, John Seers, John M. Savage, Jonathan Shaw, Peter Salor, Joseph Still, William M. Sutton, George Stallcup, James Sanders, John C. Statt, Isaac Stoats, Samuel Surney, Wayman St. Clair, Eli Shepherd, Metcalf Smith, William St. John, Job St. John, Zephaniah St. John, John Smith, Abner Smith, Jeremiah Stanford, John Sipes, Jeremiah Spratt, James Spratt, George Southard, Reuben Shackleford, Henry Sharp, Dan- iel Sharp, George Sharp, John P. Smith, Mrs. Nancy Smith, Doctor Smith, James Simpson, Richard Smith, William Simp- son, Robert Stone, Thomas K. Simpson, William G. Smith, D. A. Sutton, James Simpson, Jonathan Shepard, James R. Shepard, Bird Speerlock, Lewis Scott, Benjamin Smith, Joseph Swanson, Jacob Swops, James B. Smith, Gishum Springer, George Springer, P. B. Solomon, Samuel Stitt, Absalom Smith, Josiah Thorp, William Tate, Joseph Todd, Jr., Nathan Thorn, John B. Terry, Isaac Thomas, David Thomas, Joseph Thomas, William Turnhill, S. B. Taylor, John Thornburg, Silas Tribble, Joseph Todd, Sr., Reuben B. Tilley, John Tincher, Daniel Thomas, John Trapp, John M. Tate, Robert Todd, William Todd, " Sr." J. Todd, Andrew Tribble, W. Todd, Jr., Thomas Turner, Andrew Thompson, John Timberlick, Thomas Taw- son, John W. Taylor, Boston Temple, James Thorpe, Terry Trapp, Mrs. Lydia Tebbs, Squire B. Thorp, Albert Tipton, John Tipton, Jonathan Todd, Dudley Tribble, William Usry, Henry Underhill, Wesley Vaughn, Barrel Vaughn, John W. Vineyard, Jesse Vineyard, Joseph Vilatt, David Vaughn, Benjamin Vanmeter, Thomas M. Ward, Charles Wills, W. J. Wainwright, Edward Wilcox, Ellis Will- iams, J. W. B. Winn, James White, James Wood, Stephen Wills, James Wilson, Dalin Williams, David Woody, R. P. Wood, William Walker, James Wills, Martin Warren, William Warren, Elijah Whit- ton, J. B. Wilson, James Walters, N. C. Wilson, Harvey White, William Wilson, Nathaniel Wice, Joseph Williams, Joseph B. Wells, Dudley Wells, Richard Walker, Andrew Welch, Zachariah Warner, Hiram Waller, Hall L. Wilkerson, Samuel Walker, Jeremiah Wil- son, John H. Winston, Joseph Winston, Jacob Yount, Washington Yates, John Young, Solomon Yates, Jesse Yocum, William Young, Rufus Young, John E. Young, Benjamin Yocum, Joshua Yates, Leroy Yates, Abel. Yates, Thompson H. Yates, William Yates.
CHAPTER V.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY, EARLY OFFICIALS, COURTS, PROCEEDINGS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS- 1837-1840
Platte a Part of Clay - Officials of the Annexed Territory - Election of 1838 - Platte County Organized-Act of Organization-The New County-First County Court - Municipal Townships Established -Regular and Adjourned Terms -County Boundary Report - First Term of the Circuit Court -First Grand Jury - First Attorneys - First Instruments Recorded -Early Marriages.
PLATTE A PART OF CLAY.
By act of the Missouri Legislature, approved December 16, 1836, it was provided that in case the General Government approved and ratified the treaty, commonly called the Platte Purchase, entered into September 17, 1836, by and between the United States and the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians, all the territory described in said treaty and ceded by said Indians to the United States, lying south of an ex- tension of the northern boundary line of Clay county due west to the Mississippi river, should be attached to said Clay county for all civil and military purposes, and become an integral part of the same.1 This treaty was formally ratified by the General Government Febru- ary 17, 1837; and thereupon the lower part of said territory, as above described, at once by operation of law became a part of Clay county.
OFFICIALS OF THE ANNEXED TERRITORY.
After the annexation of what is now Platte county (or most of it)2 to Clay, the county court of that county, as soon as population had accumulated in the new territory sufficiently to require it, proceeded to appoint justices of the peace and constables for the new portion of the county, the following named persons receiving the appoint- ments : Michael Byrd, Matthias Maston, Peter S. Benton, Jno. B. Col- lier, Jas. H. Hord, Hugh McCafferty, Robt. Patton, Peter Crockett,
1 By the same act all the balance of the Purchase was attached to Clinton county.
2 When Platte county was surveyed and its boundary lines established in 1839 by Matthew M. Hughes, appointed by the Government for that purpose, he found that to include not less than the constitutional minimum area of a territory in the county it was necessary to place the northern boundary line about five miles [north of the former extension line of Clay county.
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31
568
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Charles Wells (Carroll Tp.), Jno. B. Bownds (Marshall Tp.), Robt. Stone (Pettis Tp.), Jas. Flannery (Carroll Tp.), H. Brooks (Green Tp.), I. W. Gibson (Carroll Tp.), William Banta (Preston Tp.), 'Squire B. Thorp (Pettis Tp. ), Henry D. Oden (Preston Tp. ), Ar- chibald Hill (Preston Tp.), Jno. Stokes (Pettis Tp.), James Feath- erston (Preston Tp.), Jacob Smelser (Pettis Tp.), Jno. B. Rogers (Green Tp. ), William A. Fox (Carroll Tp.), and Daniel Clary (Car- roll Tp. ).
These were the first resident civil officers who ever exercised author- ity and jurisdiction in the country now comprising Platte county - the pioneers of civilized government on the soil of this county, so to speak. They continued in office, to grace the ermine and wield the baton of the law, until the organization of the county and the election of their successors, when those who were not retained by the vote of the peo- ple stepped down and out.
This is the state of man; To-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope; to-morrow blossoms, And bears his blushing honors thick upon him; The third day comes a killing frost ; And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely His greatness is ripening, - nips his root, And then he falls.
ELECTION OF 1838.
The rapid settlement of the country after the extinguishment of the Indian title, particularly of the lower part of the Purchase, soon rendered the organization of one or more counties along the Platte a necessity. At the general State election of 1838 this new territory for the first time had a voice in the decision of public questions, and on the question of pre-eminent importance to the people of the Purchase - the organization of county governments - the voters were a unit. The candidates for the Legislature on the Democratic ticket were elected, namely, James T. V. Thompson and Cornelius Gilman for the Senate, and David R. Atchison,1 James M. Hughes and Jesse Morin for the House, all pledged to support a measure for the organization of one or more counties in the Platte Purchase. Col. Morin was a resident of what is now Platte county at the time, and Gen. Atchison located here - at Platte City - soon afterwards.
1 For whom Atchison, Kansas, was named. Afterwards United States Senator and Vice-President; still living, ripe in honors and in years, and a resident of Plattsburg, in Clinton county, Mo.
569
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
PLATTE COUNTY ORGANIZED.
The Legislature convened November 19, 1838, and promptly a bill was brought forward -as soon as the two houses were organized and ready for work - for the formation of the present counties of Platte and Buchanan. With such vigilance and ability was the pas- sage of the measure attended to that within six weeks from the first day of the session it had become a law, receiving the Governor's signature December 31, 1838.
ACT OF ORGANIZATION.
Following is the substance of the act, so far as its provisions relate to Platte county in any important particular : -
1. Boundaries. - On the east by the Clay county line, on the south- west by the Missouri river, and on the north by a straight line to be surveyed from the Clay county line to the Missouri river, far enough up to include an area in the triangle thus forming the county equal to exactly 400 square miles.
2. Survey. - The Governor authorized and required to appoint without delay a competent surveyor to run and establish the boundary lines of the county according to the requirements of the act.
3. Surveyor. - To begin work within 30 days, and when it is com- pleted to report to the Governor and to the county court.
4. County Court and Sheriff. - The Governor authorized and re- quired to appoint three suitable persons, residents of the county, as justices of the county court; and another person of like qualifications as sheriff.
5. Terms of County Court. - Regular terms of the county court to be held on the first Mondays of February, May, August and Decem- ber; but the first term not to be held until the second Monday in March next.
6. County Clerk and Assessor. - The county court to appoint a county clerk and county assessor at the first ( March ) term.
7. Judicial und Senatorial Districts. - The boundaries of the first judicial and twelfth senatorial districts extended so as to include this county.
8. Circuit Clerk. - Judge of the circuit court to appoint circuit clerk and to hold regular terms of court on first Mondays in April, August and December.
9. Tenure of Appointees. - All county officers appointed to hold until the next general election.
10. County Seat. - The Platte Falls was made the temporary seat of justice for the county, and Samuel Hadley, of Clay, Samuel D. Lucas, of Jackson, and John H. Morehead, of Ray counties, appointed as commissioners to select a site for the permanent county seat.
570
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
11. One Representative. - The county was allotted one member of the House of Representatives of the State Legislature.
THE NEW COUNTY.
On the territory and people of Platte county, as Platte county, the sun rose for the first time on the 1st of January, 1839. The county had now been established, and only the work of getting the machinery of county government, provided by the Legislature, in order and to running remained to be done.
Gov. Boggs promptly complied with the requirements of the act of organization, so far as concerned the duties which it devolved upon him, and three justices of the county court, a sheriff and a special surveyor to locate and establish the county boundaries were appointed. Messrs. John B. Collier, Michael Byrd and Hugh McCafferty were appointed the members of the county court, Jones H. Owens was appointed the sheriff, and Matthew M. Hughes to survey and estab- lish the county boundaries. In due time, after receiving notice of their appointments, all qualified as required by law.
FIRST COUNTY COURT - FIRST TERM.
Under the law the first term of the county court was begun at the Falls of the Platte (now Platte City ) on the 11th of March, 1839. The term lasted for three days, and was held in one of the rooms of John B. Fayler's tavern, rented for the purpose, a one and a half story double-hewed log house, in the part of Platte City then included in the old town of Martinsville. The house, at that time, by all odds, the most considerable building of the eight or ten here, had but two complete rooms and a hall between, besides the kitchen in the rear and two half story rooms above. Nevertheless it was made to serve the double purpose of a hotel and court-house. By the records of the court we find that by the close of the 8th of May following, Mr. Fayler had received the sum of $15.50, in two payments of $6 and $9.50 each, for the use of his room by the court, or had drawn war- rants for those amounts. This was not a mean rental, we may go on to say, considering the assessments made upon licenses. The first license granted was to Jonathan and Nicholas Owen, to keep a grocery, on which the State levy was $5. The county court assessed them $1.
However, immediately after assembling, all the judges and the sheriff being present, the court proceeded to organize by the election of Judge Collier as presiding justice, and the appointment of Hall L.
571
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Wilkerson as clerk. Some minor business was transacted and Harri- son Linville was appointed county assessor. At the same time Ira M. Norris was appointed treasurer.
MUNICIPAL TOWNSHIPS ESTABLISHED.
The county was apportioned by the county court into six townships, as follows : - 1
Preston - Beginning in the middle of the main channel of Platte river opposite the mouth of Smith's fork, thence up the middle of said channel to the county line, thence east along the same to the northeast corner of the county, thence south along the east line of Platte county to the middle of the main channel of Smith's fork, thence down and following the course of said channel in the middle thereof to the point of beginning.
Carroll- Beginning in the middle of the main channel of Platte river opposite the mouth of Smith's fork, thence down along the mid- dle of said channel to a point opposite the mouth of Prairie creek, thence up said creek to a point where the same is crossed by the me- ridian which passes through the middle of John M. Bryant's black- smith shop, thence due east to the Garrison road, thence along and following the course of said road to the line separating Clay and Platte counties, thence north along said line to the middle of the main chan- nel of Smith's fork, thence down said channel to the point of be- ginning.
Pettis. - Beginning in the middle of the main channel of Platte river opposite Prairie creek, thence down the same to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river, thence down and following the course of said channel last aforesaid to the southeast corner of Platte county, thence north along the line of said county to the Garrison road, thence along said road to the place where the same is inter- sected by a line running east from a point in Prairie creek, crossed by the meridian which passes through the middle of John M. Byrant's blacksmith's shop, thence east along said line to said point in Prairie creek, thence down the corner to the point of beginning.
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