USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 3
USA > Missouri > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 3
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The justices having taken the oath of office, they then took their seats, constituting the County Court of Clinton County, and caused procla- mation to be made thereof, accordingly, by Thompson Smith, who had been appointed sheriff. John P. Smith was appointed presiding justice of the court.
The court then made the following orders:
"It is ordered, that Richard R. Rees be, and he is hereby, appointed clerk of this court, who, together with Joel Lamham, Rice B. Davenport, and Elijah Fry, entered into and acknowledged bond to the State of Mis- souri in the penalty of $3,000, lawful money of the United States, condi- tioned as the court directs, which bond is approved of by the court and ordered to be certified to the secretary of state.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
"It is ordered, that Elijah Fry be, and he is hereby, appointed assessor for the County of Clinton, for the year of our Lord 1833, who appeared and entered into bond with Rice B. Davenport, Joel Lamham, and Benja- min F. Wilkinson, his securities, in the penalty of $600, which they ac- knowledged in open court, and the court approved said bond."
This was all the business done by the court at the first meeting, in March, 1833. On the 8th day of April, following, the court again met, special term, at the house of John Biggerstaff, all the justices being pres- ent. The first thing that engaged the attention of the court was the following.
"This day Richard R. Rees presented his account against the county, amounting to $18.50, for books and stationery, purchased for the county, which account is allowed, and ordered paid out of any money in the county treasury."
The court then appointed Washington Huffaker collector of the County ; Levi Shalcher, county surveyor; and John Biggerstaff, county treasurer. Abner Jackson was appointed constable of LaFayette Town- ship, and Ezekial Smith constable of Jackson Township.
John Biggerstaff and Abraham Enyart were recommended to the Governor as suitable persons for justices of the peace.
The court made an order, establishing and defining the boundaries of Jackson and LaFayette Townships.
The court again met, at the house of John Biggerstaff, on Thursday after the second Monday in June, all the justices being present.
At this term of the court, Concord Township was established; James Hull was appointed constable of LaFayette Township, and Henry F. Mitchell, commissioner of the seat of justice.
A sale of lots in the county seat was ordered and lot No. 110 was reserved for the erection of a Court House thereon; the sale date was April 7, 1834.
On the 13th of January, 1834, the County Court changed the name of the county seat from Concord to Springfield.
Benjamin F. Wilkerson was appointed the first assessor of the county. William F. Franklin was recommended as a suitable person for justice of the peace of Jackson Township.
Grand River Township was established at the May term of the court, in 1834, and Hardin Township at the June term following.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
About this period, January 10, 1835, the Legislature changed the name of the county seat to Plattsburg.
Washington Township was established in March, 1835.
In March, 1836, the county court established the different road dis- tricts of the county, to the number of nine, and appointed overseers for the same.
At a special term of the court held June 4, 1838, an order was made dividing the attached portion of Clinton County into additional townships as follows: "First, Nodaway Township, commencing on the old boundary line at David Castile's ; thence north to the northern boundary of the state; thence west with said boundary to the Missouri River; thence down said river to Liberty warehouse; thence east by William Pyburn's, Joseph Gage's, and so on to the place of beginning."
"Second, Jefferson Township, commencing at the southeast corner of Nodaway Township-that is at David Castile's, on the old boundary line ; thence west by Joseph Gage's and William Pyburn's and to strike the Missouri River at Dougherty's Landing; thence down said river to Pal- · mer's; thence east to James Gilmore's, and to the Platte River; thence up said river to the mouth of the Third Fork; thence up said fork to the beginning."
Crawford Township, commencing at Palmer's, on the Missouri River ; thence down said river to the mouth of Sugar Creek; thence up said creek to the dividing ridge between Sugar Creek and Bee Creek; thence east to Nathan Turner's; thence up Bee Creek to a point immediately south of Richard Hill's; thence north to the south boundary of Jefferson Township, and thence to the beginning at Palmer's."
"Noble Township: All that country between the waters of Bee Creek and Platte River, and south of Jefferson Township."
"Linville Township: All that country south of Sugar Creek, and south of the dividing ridge, between Sugar Creek, and Bee Creek, and south of Nathan Turner's."
"Platte Township: All that country between Platte River and the old boundary line, and south of Nodaway Township."
Baldwin Township was organized October, 1839, and named after Isaac D. Baldwin.
These townships, however, have no existence now, excepting Platte,
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
and in fact the townships first established by the court have all undergone changes in their boundaries.
On December 7, 1871, the County Court made the following order in reference to naming and describing the municipal townships, as they now exist:
"It is ordered by the court that Clinton County be, and the same is hereby, subdivided into nine municipal townships, named and described as follows:
"Shoal Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 24, in Township 57, of Range 30; thence south to the southeast corner of Sec- tion 24, in Township 56, of Range 30; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 19, in Township 56, of Range 30; thence north 286 links, to the southeast corner of Section 24, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence west to the southwest corner of said Section 24, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 1, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence west 21 links to the southwest corner of Section 36, in Township 57, of Range 31; thence north to the northwest corner of Sec- tion 24, in Township 57, of Range 31; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 24, in Township 57, of Range 31; thence north 164 links to the northwest corner of Section 19; in Township 57, of Range 30; thence east to the place of beginning.
"Platte Township begins at the southeast corner of Section 23, in Township 57, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 35, in said township and range; thence east 21 links to the northeast corner of Section 2, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 23, in said Township 56, of Range 31; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 19, in said Township 56, of Range 31; thence north 29 links to the southeast corner of Section 24, in Town- ship 56, of Range 32; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 23, in said Township 56, of Range 32; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 2, in said Township 56, of Range 32; thence east 198 links to the southwest corner of Section 35, in Township 57, of Range 32; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 23, in said Township 57, of Range 32; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 24, in said Township 57, of Range 32; thence south 50 links, to the northwest corner of Section 19, in Township 57, of Range 31; thence east to the place of beginning.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
"LaFayette Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 22, in Township 57, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 34, in said township and range; thence west 198 links, to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 56, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 22, in said Township 56, of Range 32; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 19, in said Township 56, of Range 32; thence north 61 links to the southeast corner of Section 24, in Town- ship 56, of Range 33; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 22, in said Township 56, of Range 33; thence west 600 links to the former west boundary of the State of Missouri; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 21, in Township 57, of Range 33; thence north 23 links; thence east 567 links to the northwest corner of Section 22, in said Town- ship 57, of Range 33; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 24, of said Township 57, of Range 33; thence north 162 links to the northwest corner of Section 19, in Township 57, of Range 32; thence east to the place of beginning.
"Lathrop Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 25, in Township 56, of Range 30; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 36, in Township 55, of Range 30; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 35, in Township 55, of Range 31; thence north to the northwest corner of said Section 35; thence east to the northeast corner of said Sec- tion 35; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 1, in Township 55, of Range 31; thence west 14 links; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 25, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence east to the northeast corner of said Section 25; thence south 286 links to the north- west corner of Section 30, in Township 56, of Range 30; thence east to the place of beginning.
"Concord Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 26, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 35, in said Township 56, of Range 31; thence east 14 links to the north- east corner of Section 2, in Township 55, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 26, in said Township 55, of Range 31; thence west to the west corner of Section 30, in said Township 55, of Range 31; thence north 16 links to the southeast corner of Section 25, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 26, in said Township 55, of Range 32; thence north to the northwest cor- ner of Section 2, in said Township 55, of Range 32; thence east 163 links ;
CLINTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE, PLATTSBURG
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CHAUTAUQUA GROUNDS, PLATTSBURG
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
thence north to the northwest corner of Section 26, in Township 56, of Range 32; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 25, of said Town- ship 56, of Range 32; thence south 29 links, to the northwest corner of Section 30, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence east to the place of be- ginning.
"Atchison Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 27, in Township 56, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 34, in said township and range; thence west 163 links to the northeast corner of Section 9, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 27, in said Township 55, of Range 32; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 30, in said Township 55, of Range 32; thence south 83 links, to the southeast corner of Section 25, in Town- ship 55, of Range 33; thence west to the former state boundary of the State of Missouri; thence north to a point 13 links south of the southeast corner of Section 21, in Township 56, of Range 33; thence east 600 links to the southwest corner of Section 22, in said Township 56, of Range 33; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 25, in said Township 56, of Range 33; thence south 61 links to the northwest corner of Section 30, in Township 56, of Range 32; thence east to the place of beginning.
"Jackson Township begins at the southeast corner of Section 1, Town- ship 54, of Range 30; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 25, in said township and range; thence west to the southwest corner of Sec- tion 30, in said township and range; thence north 20 links to the south- east corner of Section 25, in Township 54, of Range 31; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 26, in said Township 54, of Range 31; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 3, in said Township 54, of Range 31; thence east to the place of beginning.
"Clinton Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 34, in Township 55, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of said section; thence east 34 links to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 54, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of Sec- tion 27, of said Township 54, of Range 31; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 30, of said Township 54, of Range 31; thence south 58 links to the southeast corner of Section 25, of Township 54, of Range 32; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 26, of said Township 54, of Range 32; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 21, in said Township 54, of Range 32; thence east 100 links; thence north to the (6)
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
northwest corner of Section 35, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 25, in said Township 55, of Range 32; thence south 16 links to the northwest corner of Section 31, in Township 55, of Range 31; thence east to the place of beginning.
"Hardin Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 34, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of said Section 34; thence west 100 links to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 54, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 27, in said Township 54, of Range 32; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 30, in said Township 54, and Range 32; thence north 160 links to the southeast corner of Section 25, of Township 54, of Range 33; thence west to the former west boundary of the State of Missouri; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 34, in Township 55, of Range 33; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 25, in said Township 55, of Range 33; thence north 83 links to the northwest corner of Section 31, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence east to the place of beginning."
At the November term of the County Court, in 1873, the lines of Con- cord Township were changed, the change affecting, also, Clinton, Lathrop and Atchison Townships. The order of the court is as follows :
"It is ordered by the court that the lines of Concord Township shall be changed: to begin at the northeast corner of Section 27, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 34, in said township and range; thence east 14 links to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 55, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of Section 34, in Township 55, of Range 31; thence west to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of Section 34, Township 55, of Range 32; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 3, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence east 163 links; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 27, in Township 56, of Range 32; thence east to the place of beginning. And it is further ordered, that the west line of Lathrop Township, the north line of Clinton Town- ship, and the east line of Atchison Township, be, and they are so changed, as to correspond with the above change and lines of Concord Township."
CHAPTER V.
Early Settlers.
JOHN LIVINGSTON-POLE CABIN-HUNTING-GEORGE SMITH-DESCENDANTS OF PIONEERS-OLD LOG CHURCH.
John Livingston and wife came from Tennessee to Clay County, lived there but a short time, then moved on to Clinton County in 1830, and made a settlement one mile northeast of Plattsburg's present location, known later as Mat Young's place. The succeeding year he built a pole cabin on the present site of Plattsburg, and southeast of the present Court House. The place was then called Concord.
This pole cabin was the first building in what is now Plattsburg, and was used for the first Court House.
Mr. Livingston was fond of hunting, and during his first winter here, now ninety-two years ago, he killed 48 black bear; 22 of these were killed on a large elm tree which stood upon the present site of the Court House. His · wife was Susan Collins, of Madison County, Kentucky, born July, 1800, and her children describe her as being refined in her manner, as her husband was rustic and unpolished, but nevertheless generous, full of love for his family and neighbors. They had nine children, and only one, Mrs. Mary Ann Jackson, ever left Missouri to live. She and her husband, Oliver Jackson, moved to Texas years ago. All are dead but one, Mrs. Rosanna Hill, of St. Joseph, living at this writing, May 9, 1922, and at the age of nearly 94 in full possession of her faculties and in good health.
John Livingston and wife lie buried in the old Plattsburg cemetery. He died in 1867, born in Everton County, Tennessee, April, 1800. He had two sisters who came here very early; the best known was "Aunt Peggy" McCowan, the other was Mrs. Nancy Buckridge. There were several brothers here, too.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
John Livingston's earliest ancestors in America were George Schmidt and wife, or Smith, as called later. George was the only son of German parents who came to Virginia in 1735 and settled near the head waters of the James River. George married an Irish girl, Rebecca Bowen. George Smith was a Revolutionary soldier. These facts are from "Life of Elder (Racoon) John Smith," written by Charles E. Williams, M. D., of Ken- tucky.
George Smith was the father of thirteen children, one of them was Racoon John Smith, another was Mary Smith. Mary Smith in time be- came Mrs. Livingston, the mother of John of this sketch, was left a widow and emigrated to Clinton County with this hardy pioneer, was blind many years, but lived into her ninth decade, died and is buried in the northwest corner of the old cemetery at Plattsburgh, daughter, wife, mother and sis- ter of pioneers, and representing the first of six generations to live in this county to date.
Remote descendants of John Livingston are Helen Louise Ditmars, born Oct. 14, 1911, and Marion Frances Cook, born Feb. 27, 1915, near Plattsburg, and Miriam Merle Johnston, born Nov. 12, 1917, and Ellis T. Johnston, Jr., born Dec. 4, 1918, living near Osborn.
John Livingston expressed his religious faith with the Christian Church, helped to build Old Log Church, the first place of worship in the county, and his distinguished uncle, John Smith, visited him and his family and preached to large congregations.
When a commission was appointed to lay off the square for the seat of justice for the county, John Livingston was one of the chain bearers and received $4.50 for his work with the surveyors. He was a jovial, simple-hearted, honest woodsman and farmer. He endured hardship as a part of life as he met it every day, and is only heralded as one who had courage to blaze the way for civilization with only faith in God, hardy willing hands and such simple implements as those days could furnish, and such accomplishments as could be acquired by the strain of pioneers from Germany to Virginia, around through Carolina, Tennessee, to Mis- souri.
CHAPTER VI.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
CAMERON - PLATTSBURG - LATHROP - GOWER - OSBORN - TURNEY - PERRIN -GRAYSON- CONVERSE-HEMPLE-OTHER TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
Cameron .- In 1867 the town of Cameron was incorporated. Maj. A. T. Baubie was chosen mayor. It is the largest town in Clinton County and has a population of 3,248, census of 1920. Its location is the north- east corner of the county.
The original owners of the land included in the site of the town, when first laid out, in the fall of 1855, were Edward M. Samuels, of Clay County, and Samuel McCorkle, of DeKalb County. This land, which they had entered in an early day, included the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 23, Township 57, Range 30. These gentlemen, with Blair H. Matthews, George M. Smith and Col. F. M. Tiernan, constituted the town company.
The land included in the town site was deeded May 28, 1855, to Wil- liam G. McDaniel and his successors, in trust for said company.
The town was forthwith surveyed by Blair and Matthews, assisted by Col. M. F. Tiernan. It was then platted and the lots offered for sale.
Immediately after the first sale of lots, in the spring of 1856, McDaniel resigned his trust. Judge A. T. Baubie was appointed his successor, and remained such till the controlling interest of the town was sold to Joshua Gentry, president of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, who conveyed the same to Forbes, Duff & Brooks, of Boston, Mass., they com- prising the Missouri Land Association. This corporation controlled all lands immediately along the line of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad owned by that company between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. They, obtaining this controlling interest, deeded the town site to John Lathrop, then president of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, in trust.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
Cameron was laid out in view of the expected completion of the rail- road to its limits, a result which its founders lived to se consummated in the fall of 1856. The town was named in honor of Colonel Cameron, of Clay County, the father of Mrs. McCorkle, whose husband, with E. Sam- uels, laid out the town. The first building erected in the town of Cameron was put up by A. T. Baubie. This was a frame store house, which he moved from a point a mile east, called Somerville, at the old Mormon cross roads from Far West to Council Bluffs, where an attempt to start a town, as above stated, had been made about 1855. He located this build- ing on Lot 1, in Block 44, on the corner of Walnut and Third streets. It was afterwards destroyed by fire.
The first building constructed in the town, a frame dwelling, was in the spring of 1856, also erected by A. T. Baubie. This was on the corner of Main and Third streets. It was a one-story house of four rooms, with 12-foot ceilings. It was subsequently moved several blocks west. William G. Elliott, of St. Joseph, and his partner, Taylor, did the work, and thus achieved the distinction of being the first carpenters to pursue their calling in the town of Cameron.
The first house of public entertainment in the town was a boarding house, kept in 1856, by Mrs. Catharine Adams.
The first store opened in Cameron was by A. T. Baubie, in the building above referred to as moved by him to the town site. He continued to sell goods here till the breaking out of the war.
One of the earliest settlers of the town was Col. F. M. Tiernan, de- ceased. He took a lively interest and active part in the building of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, being one of the party who made the survey with R. M. Stewart, afterwards Governor of the state: M. Jeff Thompson, and others who subsequently developed celebrity.
The first child born within the limits of Cameron was Mike Adams, in 1851, a son of Mrs. Catherine Adams, above referred to. His father joined the army at the breaking out of the war, and, as he never more returned, is supposed to have been killed.
The first physician to settle in Cameron was Dr. John F. King, a native of Tennessee. Dr. King built the second dwelling erected in Cam- eron in the fall of 1856.
In the spring of 1857, Obadiah Smith, of Weston, Platte County, opened in Cameron the first blacksmith and wagon shop. This was located
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
on Walnut street, between Third and Fourth. The first to open a saddle and harness shop in the place was C. A. Finley.
The first boot and shoemaker to settle in Cameron was Lewis Gunther, who arrived in 1857.
The first tailor to settle in the place was Samuel Barker, who came in 1867. He afterwards moved away.
In 1858 D. W. Matthis started the first livery stable in the town. It was located on Main street, between Second and Third streets. The first to work at the carpenter business there were Taylor & Elliott, of St. Joseph, who built Major Baubie's first residence in the town of Cameron, as above stated. They afterwards built several other houses in the place. A man by the name of Neff started, in 1867, the first bakery in the town. He afterwards moved away. The first druggists established in Cameron were H. F. and J. A. Conway. Their store, on Walnut street, north of Third, was destroyed in the great fire of 1871. It was a frame building. They subsequently erected, on the site of this structure, a brick building.
The first attorney at law to locate in Cameron was Col. F. M. Tiernan, one of the first settlers of the town. The first law office built in the town was put up by Capt. C. C. Bassett, in 1859. It was a frame building, on Walnut street.
In 1857 there was a postoffice three miles north of the site of the present town of Cameron, and another three miles south. In view of the prospective importance of the new town, these were abolished, and Cam- eron postoffice was established in their stead, with A. T. Baubie as first postmaster. Major Baubie served till 1867, when he resigned in favor of Thomas Hambaugh. During the period of his absence with his command during the Civil War the duties of the office were discharged by his deputy.
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