USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 19
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 19
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 19
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 19
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 19
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Topography .- The face of the county is divided into rough and hilly timber lands and high rolling prairies. The Big Pomme de Terre enters the south line of the county about the center of
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Range 22, and crooks and winds through the central part of the county, and passes into Benton County at nearly the same range point at which it enters on the south. This is the large stream of the county. Along the west banks of this stream is Rocky Ridge, which sheds west and northwest. A curious spectacle is found here in the west watershed leading away from the Pomme de Terre, or running north and parallel with it. East of the river is a divide, and from this, on the west, the streams flow northwest to the river, on the east side rising and flowing to the northeast and passing out of the county. Thus, there are found three distinct watersheds; but the trend of the whole county, as indicated by the waters, is from the south to the north, denoting that all this region of country is but the larger water- shed of the Osage River.
West of the Pomme de Terre River the county is about one- half prairie, consisting of Twenty-five Mile and the Weaubleau Prairies; the former passing from south to the north nearly en- tirely through the county, while the other occupies the southwest corner of the county. East of the river are the Fifteen-Mile and North Prairies.
Along the larger streams are many wide second-bottoms, on which are extensive farms, the land being as rich and productive as any agricultural lands in the world. The rough, broken and rocky ridges and hills run in ranges through nearly the center of the county. There are spots too rocky for vegetation, but the grasses (especially the bluegrass), which come spontaneously when pasturing, prove favorable for the stock-raiser.
The whole face of the county is perfectly drained, and there is no stagnant water. The prairies are high and gently rolling, and from every elevation are presented as lovely landscapes as the eye ever beheld.
Streams .- Pomme de Terre River, as it flows to the north, enters Hickory County near the center of Section 5, Range 22, and passes out at the north line of the county, in the east part of Section 10, Range 22, about two miles east of a direct line through the county. Its windings form nearly a system of horse- shoes through the entire territory, the longest curve, however, from east to west, being about three miles; the many sharp
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curves indicate the difficulties the waters encountered on their way among the rocks and hills. It is a strong and beautiful stream of water, fed by innumerable springs from its source to its mouth.
The Little Niangua River is the main stream on the east side of the county. The six head branches of this stream rise in Sec- tions 20, 30 and 31, in Stark Township. Another branch, flowing north, joins it in Section 26, and passes the east line of the county in Section 24, re-entering in Section 13, where two other tributaries join it as it flows north about one mile from the east county line; passing north, it curves into Cross Timbers Township, and, turning in a southeast direction, leaves the county at Section 25, in the last-named township.
Huffman's Creek rises in Section 16, Stark Township, flowing northeast into Niangua in Section 2, in that township. Stark's Creek rises in Section 36, Range 21, Stark Township; one of its head branches rises in Section 30, and joins the main stream in Section 13; thence it flows northeasterly to Section 16, Range 20, Cross Timbers, and turns southeast and empties into the Niangua in Section 23, Range 20, in Cross Timbers Township.
Turkey Creek heads in Section 35, Township 38, Range 21, and flows northwest toward Pomme de Terre, and leaves the county at the north line in Section 8, Range 21. Branches enter it from the east, rising in Sections 14, 11, 10, and also from Benton County, flowing nearly due west.
Little Mills Creek heads in Section 34, Township 38, Range 21, flows northwest, and empties into Pomme de Terre, in Section 24. One of its branches rises in Section 32, joining the main stream in Section 30; others rise in Sections 17 and 18. Big Mill Creek rises in Section 27, Township 37, Range 21, going north to Section 10; thence west to Pomme de Terre, joining it in Section II. It has several tributaries-one rising in Section 16, and emptying in Section 8; another in Section 27, and joining it in Section 13. Crane Creek, which heads in Dalla's County, enters at Section 1, Range 21, Township 36. It has ten tributaries which join it in Township 36, Range 21, flowing north- west into the Pomme de Terre, just below Hermitage. Two tributaries flow into it at Section 31, coming respectively from
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Sections 27 and 21. Lindsey Creek enters the county at the southeast corner, and passes south into Polk County, and re- . enters in Section 3; running northwest, it empties into Pomme de Terre, in Section 12, Township 36, Range 22. Its principal tributary rises in Sections 27, 26 and 23, and flows west, joining it in Section 21. A spring branch rises in Section 1, Range 22, on the south county line, and flows a little west of north into the Pomme de Terre, in Section 14, Township 36, Range 22.
On the west, there is but one stream flowing east into the Pomme de Terre River; this rises in Sections 19 and 17, and, going northeast, strikes the river at Section 14, Township 37, Range 22. In the southwest corner of the county is a small stream rising in Section I, running west and out of the county in Section 34. Three miles above this another passes out in Section 15. It rises in Sections 25 and 12, running west. The main stream in the southwest portion of the county is Weaubleau Creek. It enters from Polk County, in Section 3, Range 23, running northwesterly through Sections 3, 34, 27, 28, 21, 20, 17, 18, 13, 12, 6, and passes into St. Clair County in Section 31, Township 37, Range 22. It has six north side tributaries and one from the south. Above this, a little over two miles and running nearly parallel, is the North Branch Weaubleau, which heads in Sections 7 and 12, Township 36, Range 23, and has tributaries rising in Sections 14 and 9 on the south, and in Section 36, Township 37, Range 23, and in Sections 34, 33 and 29; a small spring stream, its two branches heading in Section 20, Township 37, Range 23, joins it in Section 30, flowing thence into St. Clair County.
Passing to the north, the next important watercourse is Hogle's Creek, which heads in Sections 34 and 15, Township 37, Range 23, and runs north and passes into Benton County in Section 7, in the northwest corner of the county. Toward the east is Little Pomme de Terre, running nearly parallel with Hogle's Creek, and about three miles distant. It rises in Section 25, Township 37, Range 23, and leaves the county on the line between Sections 10 and 11. Montgomery Branch empties into Little Pomme de Terre in Section 15. It heads in Section 4, Township 39, Range 22. Trinity Branch rises in Section 29, flows northwest, and leaves the county in Section II.
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This is nature's arrangement both for the supply of living streams of water, and for the drainage of the country. Along all these streams are springs bubbling up their clear and cold waters; indeed, the heading of all streams, and their small branches, have their rise in springs.
Soils .-- A deep, black alluvial soil overspreads the prairies of the county; in many places is distributed through this soil float rock, called cotton rock, from its soft character. This soil is full of plant food, and its yields of corn, oats, wheat, sorghum, rye, potatoes, and the vegetables of this latitude, are in great abun- dance. The nature of the soil enables it to withstand the greatest degree of wet or dry weather, the sand and gravel substratum absorbing the excess of water rapidly, and again giving it up by capillary attraction when the drouth prevails.
The timber land has generally reddish clay soil, but often the dark loam is found in broad belts. Both these soils are good, and it is only the rough and broken hills that are frequently too rocky for cultivation or the better kinds of pastures.
Every variety of soil in the county turns, under cultivation; to the production of bluegrass, and, therefore, there is but little of the surface that is not either the best of agricultural land or pasturage. There are plateaus in the timber lands where are already some excellent farms, but the farms that cannot be excelled in the world are in the second-bottoms along the streams. These valleys are wide, and now some of the finest farms in this portion of the State are being cultivated.
The rocky hills will remain of little value, except for the min- erals they may contain. On the west of them are only a stinted growth of oaks, and a few cedars; but where they are nearly free of rocks; there is a deep, rich soil, and here are great forest trees; when the underbrush shall have been removed a rich growth of bluegrass will give the finest stock pasture. The predominat- ing soil is the dark limestone, with portions of the dark freestone and reddish clay.
Caves .- There are no well-known caves, simply because they have not been fully investigated. A short distance north of Hermitage is an opening in the side of the bluff, with every appearance of a wide-mouthed cave. Parties have gone over
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300 feet into this, and report a well-defined roof and nearly level rock floor. The full extent of the opening has never been fol- lowed out, as the roof descends and becomes low at that distance. South of Hermitage is the Wild Cat Cave, which, after following about 100 yards, one finds to branch both to the right and left. No serious effort to follow this up has ever been made. In the soft cotton rock, worn by the waters into fantastic jutting bluffs, may be seen great holes and lateral openings leading back into the rocks, bearing strong indications that the wild animals once made homes here from the inclement weather, or for breeding places. In riding over the rocky ridge road along the Pomme de Terre, a strong impression is made that beneath is an unexplored world that is full of curious and fantastic regions and apartments, the knowledge of which has passed away with the native wild animals. It can readily be seen that the mouths of the caves have been closed by the debris which has gathered from the wash and the surrounding vegetable growths. The uplifts that have brought these ragged hills from the sea-bottom have been com- paratively swift in their movement, and the arched and bent rocky layers indicate natural roofs and floors for great labyrinth- ian caves.
Minerals .- Lead, zinc, iron, and the noted Missouri potter's clay, together with baryta and tripoli, are found in portions of the county. The principal yield so far has been in zinc and lead. " Jack " is found in surface outcrops, and has been obtained in vast quantities and in numerous places. No machinery for min- ing this has yet been introduced, nor has there been any pros- pecting or attempt to follow the ore more than a few feet beneath the surface. The magnesian lime series is found nearly all over the county, and the lead and zinc ores are found inhabiting the cavities and fissures of this rock. These offer unsurpassed advan- tages to the miner. Heretofore no other better mining machinery than the shovel and pick has been attempted to be used, and within a few feet of the surface the waters would drive the prospectors out, when it would be necessary to select some other spot to scratch over the surface and pick up the float minerals that came to hand. Fifteen or sixteen years ago, just at the time that there came the depression in the market values of lead and zinc, the prospectors
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were coming in force to the county, and, except for this depres- sion, the mining interests would have become of immense value. A company sunk a shaft three miles south of Hermitage 115 feet deep, following a strong vein of lead, which improved at increased depth. Near that town a vein was followed forty feet, and near J. H. Jones', over a mile west, parties sunk a shaft fourteen feet deep. One peculiar feature of the country that, without im- proved machinery, will make prospecting for minerals difficult, if not impossible, is the fact that nearly every shaft so far that has been sunk to much depth, becomes a flowing well, the water com- ing with such volume that it would require a strong pump to keep it in workable order. Scientific and practical men, with modern appliances for mining, will find in Hickory County rich and bountiful harvests.
A well defined vein of Cannel coal is found on Robert Brownlee's farm, four miles southeast of Quincy. In this part of the country coal is mined from outcroppings in several localities. The vein is two and a half to three feet thick. Again, it is found outcropping in Cross Timbers Township, and at several places is mined and supplies the local trade. There has been no attempt, it seems, to learn the full extent of the coal measures in the county; but the indications are that it may, in time, be developed into a great industry.
Iron is here in inexhaustible quantities and of excellent quality and easily mined. So far this has received no attention, on account of distance of 'markets and the absence of trans- portation.
Resources .- Hickory County occupies the center of the undeveloped but naturally richest district in the world -rich in everything which contributes to the glory and splendor of modern civilization. All her resources, developed to their full extent, would support an empire in nearly all those staple products that contribute chiefly to man's necessities. Water, climate, soil, minerals and hard timbers, building rock of the finest quality, and clays yielding to the deft touch of the potter, iron in great hills and never to be exhausted, are some of the many natural resources of the county. These sources of wealth are supple- mented with agricultural advantages that cannot be surpassed
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anywhere. The enormous crops of grain of all kinds, but more especially corn, oats and wheat; the certainty of the annual yield, are the palpable evidences that, in this respect, Hickory County has but few peers in the rich garden of the great North- west. Here can be raised cotton and tobacco, and side by side king corn and the staple of life for man, wheat. Apples, peaches, grapes and all varieties of small berries grow here in great perfection. These rugged hills, now considered nearly valueless, except for meager pasturage, will some day be crowned with rich vineyards. The soil being underlaid with limestone is well adapted to produce bluegrass, timothy, clover and all tame grasses.
So far, but little else than the old-time native cattle and horses have been bred in the county. In the line of improved domestic animals, there is a great future for the county - especially in cattle and horses. In the bottonis are grasses, on which, in winters of light snow, cattle will feed abundantly. Every one of the innumerable springs is an inviting spot for a creamery, and here, again, are vast stores of wealth to be devel- oped for the thrifty husbandman. The Pomme de Terre River is to Hickory County much as is Fox River to Kane County, Illi- nois. Here is motive power for a vast system of machinery, the products of which may well be sent throughout the civilized world. The county has attracted but little attention, has been but little known to outsiders, because (1) it does not lie in the great highway of the westward march of empire, and (2) it has been to no pains to advertise itself. It has been settled by people representing nearly every State in the Union, and by sparse accretions from the nations of the Old World. A number of Swedes are in the east part of the county - perhaps 500 alto- gether - and elsewhere are a number of Germans and other nationalities. They form a cosmopolitan community, bright and active, and have been compelled to adapt themselves to their surroundings, influenced, of course, greatly by the absence of quick and cheap transportation to the world's markets. But, with the certain change, will come these necessities; and, when the density of the population per square mile taxes to the full the resources of the county, then will this region be pointed to as
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one of the earth's remarkable granaries and manufactories, wherein will be a noted and wealthy population. The climate is not excelled in the great Northwest. Malaria is an unknown quan- tity, and the region is noted for the health of its people. On account of the elevation (about 900 feet), the purity of the air and the excellence of the water, the county will one day be one of the great health resorts. To promote these vast and inex- haustible resources, lavished so profusely on the land by nature, is the work at hand that will occupy the present generation, and so richly repay them. One of the readiest means to do this is to no longer " hide your light under a bushel." 'Tis the duty of Hickory County to tell the innumerable seekers in the old com- munities that here is the haven and the rest for the poor man - cheap homes, where all industry meets with quick response; and, while this marvelous statement may not be believed at first, time will justify its truth. All around, even in adjoining States, are multitudes suffering under loads of oppressive taxes that are yearly growing more grievous, or, from the killing blizzards of the North, are freezing or starving to death, or others appealing to the world's charity for sustenance. These would soon come to Hickory County, and be cured of their afflictions, did they but know what awaits them here.
The composite population mentioned above works at all times to the enlightened and liberalizing tendencies that add frank- ness, a cheerful hospitality and a generous breadth of view to a community. Here is found a locality free from all forms of meaningless constraint, and in the very air is a spirit of manly independence and honor that is most to be welcomed by those seeking new homes. Here the honest and industrious are helped and encouraged with generous accord, while the idle and vicious are frowned upon. Hence a warm and hearty welcome, so characteristic of the open-hearted Westerner, is extended to all worthy newcomers. It is no small matter to the home-seeker to know that he will be welcomed by all and antagonized by none. The people are ready to aid and encourage every new enterprise that may wish to enter.
In riding through the county, one is often struck with the magnificent dressed rock chimneys often running up the outside
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of even log houses. Some of these huge structures would be valued ornaments to the modern seaside cottages, similar in arch- itectural design. These are made of what is commonly called cotton rock, quite soft when first quarried, and as easily worked as soft wood; it is of a light color, and on exposure to air and light becomes very hard and firm. It always looks bright, clean and fresh. Thus the county has an incalculable supply of the fairest, cheapest and best building material to be found in the country. The jail at Hermitage has stood for over twenty years, and, to look at it, one would suppose it had just been hewn out of the solid rocks.
The timber on the uplands is, as a rule, young and thrifty oak, hickory, walnut; and everywhere is sassafras, sumac, hack- berry, hard and soft maple, mulberry, dogwood, locust, and often a dense undergrowth of hazel and blackberry - all indicating the strong soil on which these varieties usually grow. The heavy timber is in the bottoms.
Corn, oats, hay, cattle, hogs and mules are the chief prod- ucts for exportation. The quantity of wheat raised is modified by the recent continued low prices and the distance to haul to find transportation. One of the chief sources of sure and paying profits to the farmer is in raising mules. In this respect, the county has all the indications of successfully rivaling the famed bluegrass region of Kentucky.
Wells are easily made by digging but a few feet, and in many cases turn into flowing wells of pure and exhaustless streams of water. In the mutations of the seasons, if the time should ever come when such would be a necessity, every farmer can erect a wind-power pump and irrigate the entire farm.
This latitude is nearly the same as the extreme southern or fruit-growing portion of Illinois - so noted especially for its small berries and peaches. The soil and topography of the country renders it far superior to that section, in that there are no extremes of heat and cold known, nor are there the long drouths to destroy vegetation. Apples and peaches can be produced in variety and quality, in boundless quantities. Some large orchards have been grown, and, when it was found that the fruit would be left, on account of no markets, to rot under the trees,
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the farmers curtailed this industry, and the small fruits are found growing wild in ample abundance for the home supply.
There have been no proper tests of the uplands in the timber as to their power of producing as fine tobacco as can be raised in the United States. There is but little doubt on this point, as will be some day demonstrated.
The cultivation of the yam would yield immense profits if there was only easy access to markets.
Statistics .- The population of Hickory County is 10,125, as estimated from the last school census. From the authentic records it is seen that in 1880 the county had 1, 160 farms, or 142,666 improved acres. The value of improvements on the farms was $135,314; value of farms, $2,211,002; number of live stock, 831,876; estimated value of farm products for the year, $497,089. The county produced, of corn, 594,278 bushels; oats, 52,193; wheat, 68,944; hay, 2,051 tons; potatoes, 11,219 bushels; tobacco, 4,562 pounds; wool, 64,227 pounds; butter, 480,416 pounds. The number of horses was 3,837, and of mules, 623; milch cows, 3,631; other cattle, 11,202; sheep, 14,149; swine, 67,986.
This showing indicates what a superior county Hickory is for raising domestic animals. The mast in the forests helps to cheapen greatly the expense of keeping stock hogs.
The assessors' books show the following: Number of horses raised in 1882, 1,690; mules, 330; neat cattle, 4,001; sheep, 77; hogs, 177; increase in other personal property, $1, 145; total valua- tion of personal property, $641,375, an increase over the previ- ous year of about $10,000. In 1884 the total number of acres was 208,338, valued at $816,916; number of horses, 4,577, value $196,543; mules, 1, 169, value $38,271; asses and jennets, 35, value $1,884; neat cattle, 17,977, value $223,589; sheep, 11,623, value $11,623; hogs, 20,451, value $39,397; other live stock, 33, value $270; moneys, notes, bonds, etc., $182,467; all other per- sonal property, $151,541; town lots, 520, value $38,241. In 1889: Number of acres, 218,561, value $893,923; value of total town lots, $58,171; number of horses, 5,085, value $180,885; mules, 1,088, value $40,393; asses and jennets, 33, value $2,670; neat cattle, 18,363, value $144,342; sheep, 5,681, value $5,735;
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hogs, 15,334, value $22,646; moneys, notes, bonds and mort- gages, $149,381; all other personal property, $114,295; total real estate, $952,094; total personal property, $660,191; total taxable wealth in county, $1,612,285.
PIONEER HISTORY.
Indian Occupancy .- The first settlers in Hickory County were, it is safe to presume, different tribes of Indians, but only the very first white pioneers pressed upon the heels of the aborigines in this particular territory. The " last ditch " divid- ing the whites and Indians was the Pomme de Terre; when, in 1835, the dusky hunters and maidens, with their little keen black-eyed papooses, struck their tepees, and turned their faces westward. The little dwelling together of the two races was marked only by peace and friendship - the Indians wanting beads, whisky and salt, and the whites desiring furs and precious metals, with all the time a furtive eye on the rich lands which were unrolled before their vision. The Indians, by their treaty giving up these lands, retained the privilege to return for a stated number of years, in hunting expeditions. They did not exact all their legal rights under this treaty, only coming two or three times; but it was soon discovered that the whites would be exceedingly nervous about their presence in the country, the women and children especially manifesting alarm, and would trump up charges against them about killing hogs, etc. It is the born instinct of an Indian to beg and steal, and, as he had no vote, even the politicians had no hesitancy in telling the truth about him.
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