USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 30
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 30
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 30
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 30
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 30
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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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
HUMANSVILLE.
Historical .- Humansville, seventeen miles northwest of Boli- var, in Johnson Township, was named in honor of Hon. James Human, who settled at the big spring at that point in the fall of 1834. It is located in a fertile and productive part of the county, on the line of the Gulf road, and draws a large trade from Polk, Hickory, St. Clair and Cedar Counties. The population by the census of 1880 was 372. It is now estimated at 1,000. All ordinary branches of business are represented here, as fol- lows:
Groceries, six; dry goods, three; hardware, two; furniture, two; bakeries and confectioneries, two; drugs, three; books and stationery, one; harness and saddles, two; hotels, two; livery stables, three; boots and shoes, one; jewelry, one; farm imple- ments, two; lumber yard, one; millinery, two; bank, one; print- ing offices, two; produce, three; real estate, two, and a sufficient number of carpenters', blacksmiths' and other mechanics' shops. As regards the volume of business done, Humansville compares favorably with any other town of the same size in Southwest Mis- souri.
Newspapers .- The Star was removed from Wheatland, Hick- ory County, to Humansville, in 1886, by H. A. Moore. In 1887 A. H. Schofield removed the Polk County Leader from Bolivar to Humansville, and, purchasing the Star, consolidated the two papers under the name of the Star-Leader. The Humansville Dawn was first issued in 1888 as a Union Labor advocate, by a company organized to establish it as an organ of that party. It was edited by U. F. Sargent. In 1889 it was purchased by Tingle & Thrall and consolidated, under the name of the Bee, with the Humansville Bee, which was established in 1888. Its politics have since been Democratic. Its present proprietor is E. D. Tingle.
Municipal .- Humansville was incorporated as a town in 1873, and, as a city of the fourth class, in 1886. Mr. J. H. Washburn was elected mayor, and has been re-elected to the present time.
The Farmers' and Merchants' Bank, of Humansville, was organized in 1880, and has a capital of $5,000; its surplus, March
21
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
30, 1889, was $17,000. Its building was erected in 1883. O. W. Fisher is the president, and J. B. Barnett is the cashier. Its cor- respondents are the Chase National Bank, New York; the Con- tinental Bank, St. Louis, and the Bank of Commerce, Kansas City. It does a conservative business, and has come to be regarded as one of the reliable monetary institutions of South- west Missouri.
Fraternities .- Humansville Lodge No. 310, I. O. O. F., was instituted December II, 1874, by authority of a dispensation issued by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the State of Mis- souri, dated May 21, 1874. Its first officers were: J. F. Beaty, N. G .; J. R. Allison, V. G .; P. W. Bufford, secretary; T. S. Durham, treasurer. The present officers are: N. H. Mitchell, N. G .; Willis McCracken, V. G .; Calvin Rains, treasurer: N. H. Hamblen, recording secretary; R. W. Beaty, permanent secre- tary.
Modern Lodge No. 144, A. F. & A. M., was organized before the war. Among its early members were A. F. Rentfrow, Sam. M. Tinker and Francis Yoast. Its chief officers at this time are as follows: D. A. Murphy, W. M .; D. J. Sevingood, S. W .; James Henn, J. W .; J. B. Wann, secretary; J. B. Bar- nett, treasurer; James Rentfrow, tyler. Its membership is large and active.
S. A. M. George Post No. 232, G. A. R., of Humansville, meets on the first Saturday afternoon on or before the full moon in each month. H. N. Hamblen is commander, and Stacy Smith, adjutant.
MORRISVILLE.
Morrisville, in Looney Township, ten miles south of Bolivar, was founded in 1870 by Morris Mitchell, in whose honor it was named. It has a population of about 400, and contains two gen- eral stores, two drug stores, two millinery stores, a hardware store, a flour-mill, and several small mercantile establishments and mechanics' shops. It is distinguished chiefly as being the seat of Morrisville College.
Historical .- The first building erected to mark the site of this town was a log church, which was also used as a school-
-
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
house. It was built in 1838. The town was originally surveyed in 1867 by Thomas H. Cunnyngham, and, until it was renamed in honor of Mr. Mitchell, was known as Pleasant Prairie. Lang- enburg & Jorden built the first store soon after the survey had been made. Among the first to erect residences were James Grim, Henry and T. S. Fox, and Dr. West. In 1880 a fire destroyed the pioneer store building, the public school-house, and the house of worship of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The Morrisville News was the name of a newspaper, partially local, but devoted principally to the interests of Morrisville College, which was edited by Prof. W. A. Godbey, and pub- lished about two years. Its first issue was in 1877.
The following sketch of Morrisville College will be found to contain much of value concerning the advantages and general interests of the town:
Morrisville College .- This institution was chartered as Mor- risville Institute in 1872, and as Morrisville College in 1876, and during the past seventeen years has had a patronage embra- cing some eight or ten States and Territories, with a large number of counties in Missouri. It had its origin in a need for a better and broader culture among the Methodist people of the South- west. Prominent members of the District Conference of the Springfield District, looking out to the East, North and West upon the broad prairies occupied by an industrious and thrifty people (a large per cent of whom were Methodist), felt impelled to take steps and make provisions for the education and training of the young men and women of the church.
Morrisville, situated' upon an elevation of the Ozarks which projects into the territory of the conference from the south, midway between the eastern and western boundary lines, and rising to an altitude of nearly 2,000 feet, was thought to be a most desirable locality for the erection of an institution of learning. The town overlooks an extensive country to the west and south, where beautiful landscapes meet the eye. The grounds occupied by the town and college form a convex sur- face in the border of a timberland, filling in a niche between Pleasant and Three Mound Prairies, where good water, a whole-
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
some atmosphere and a fertile soil abound. The town has grown to several times its former proportions by the gathering here of a substantial class of citizens seeking more favorable conditions for their children. A depot has been established three miles west on the 'Frisco railroad, giving easy access from every part of the country via Springfield, Ash Grove and other points, but a few miles away, on the Kansas City & Gulf Railroad. Other roads have been surveyed and will be built in the near future. When these roads are completed, the college will be in direct communication with every part of the territory occupied by the Southwest Missouri Conference, by at least eight lines of railroad. The buildings are wooden, large and well arranged, there being five recitation-rooms, two music- rooms, a laboratory and chemical-room, two society-rooms, a large library-room, a chapel 40x60, with halls and other conven- iences. The chemical department is supplied with all necessary apparatus. A good telescope, microscopes, a spectroscope, and a variety of less costly apparatus, etc., are also provided.
The course includes three departments, preparatory, high school and collegiate. The collegiate course is about the same as that usually adopted, embracing the sciences, higher mathe- matics, Latin, Greek, and the modern languages.
There is connected with the college a Minister's Aid Society, the purpose of which is to aid worthy young men preparing for the active ministry. The society has assisted quite a number of young preachers who are now filling important positions in several different conferences. A class in commercial arithmetic and bookkeeping is formed at the beginning of each term. B. W. Appleby has served as president; Dr. W. W. Ellis, treasurer; and B. W. Mitchell, secretary, the past year.
Secret Societies .- Pleasant Lodge No. 160, A. F. & A. M., was organized October 19, 1867, at West Bend, and was subse- quently removed to Morrisville. The charter members are here named: G. M. Winton, W. M .; B. H. Bond, S. W .; W. B. Mitchell, J. W .; John B. Appleby, treasurer; T. W. Cunnyng- ham, secretary ; Seth Walker, Thomas W. Mitchell, A. W. Mitchell, J. F. Ball, S. N. Jones, C. L. Lane, A. C. Mitchell, Dr. J. W. Miller. The successive worshipful masters have been:
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
G. M. Winton, John D. Winton, G. L. Tuck, B. H. Bond, Arthur Looney, B. W. Mitchell, John L. Mitchell, Arthur E. Mitchell. Prior to 1870 the lodge met at the houses of members. In that year it occupied a hall built for it over the public school rooms. This building was burned in 1880, and the present hall of the lodge was completed in 1882. The present membership is seventy.
Morrisville Lodge No. 261, A. O. U. W., was instituted December 15, 1886, by P. P. Ellis, state deputy. Its charter members and officers were: B. H. Bond, P. M. W .; J. M. Worden, M. W .; George A. Hamilton, F .; Dr. J. F. Lemmon, O .; James C. Shelton, R .; B. W. Mitchell, Fin .; Dr. J. W. Miller, receiver; G. A. Palsten, G .; H. R. Conethard, I. W .; W. S. Woodward, O. W. The past-master workmen are B. H. Bond, J. M. Worden and Dr. J. Lemmon.
FAIR PLAY.
Fair Play is a thriving town of 400 population, in the northern part of Madison Township, and on the line of the Gulf road. Its distance from Bolivar is about ten miles. It contains three general stores, a drug store, and several small mercantile houses and manufacturing and repair shops.
The Ewart & Train Charcoal Company .- This company owns one of the most important business plants in the country, and employs about 200 men the year round in the manufacture of charcoal, which is shipped to the Kansas City Smelting Works, at Argentine, Kan. A capital of $50,000 is invested in the business, which was established in 1885, by Mr. H. E. Ewart. In the fall of 1887, Mr. H. D. Train removed to Fair Play from Kansas City and bought a half-interest. Later he bought Mr. Ewart's interest, and incorporated the concern under its present name.
The Fair Play Flag (formerly the Walnut Grove Bulletin), was removed to Fair Play in the spring of 1889. It is a newsy paper, published by Edward M. Lappin.
Fire .- In the fall of 1887, Fair Play was nearly destroyed by an extensive fire which is thought to have been of incendiary origin. The promptness with which its business men rebuilt
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
and otherwise recovered from their, in some cases, heavy losses, goes far to show the vitality of the town.
Lodges .- Hines Lodge No. 114, K. P., was organized in 1887. The present membership is sixty, and principal officers are: J. P. Wakefield, C. C .; Eli Barker, V. C .; William Potts, P. C .; P. B. Wannacott, Prel .; M. O'Neill, M. A.
Fair Play Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., was organized in July, 1887, with the following first officers and charter members: J. A. McCarty, N. G .; W. A. Roberts, V. G .; L. N. Hoage, secretary; S. G. McAchran, treasurer; S. J. Blair, T. B. Gordon, Dr. W. S. Hopkins, R. F. Edge, Dr. G. W. Griffin, C. B. Wingfield, and R. Woods. The present officers are: S. J. Blair, N. G .; R. Woods, V. G .; G. W. Griffin, secretary; J. A. McCarty, treas- urer.
Old Town and New Town .- The beginning of settlement at this point was on the high ground about a quarter of a mile from the railroad, and the remainder of what was once a desirable group of buildings there is popularly referred to as " Old Town," in contradistinction from "New Town," or the portion of Fair Play which came into existence with the building of the railroad.
The principal merchants of Fair Play are H. D. Train, else- where referred to, Miller & Mitchell, and the Fair Play Mercantile Company, a stock concern, in which Messrs. Potts, Thompson and others are prominent.
PLEASANT HOPE.
This is a thriving village in Mooney Township, in the south- eastern corner of the county, fourteen miles from Bolivar. Its boundaries are somewhat uncertain, and it is estimated to have a population of about 300.
Mercantile and Industrial History .- Messrs. Smith & Hedden opened the first general store in 1851. In 1853, Smith & Kerr built the first business house in the place. Neil Mckenzie, who began in 1854, kept a store here a short time. J. A. Cowden & Brother were merchandizing 1855-61. From a date soon after the close of the war, McClure & Co. had a store here for some years. Beginning after the war, Massey & Patter- son traded until 1867, when Mr. Patterson died, and was suc-
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
ceeded by his father, and the firm continued, unchanged in name, for some years. C. B. Holland was a merchant 1870-71; Emery Spencer, 1871-77; W. A. Wilcox, 1877-82; Kirby & Colwell, 1885, until succeeded by Harvey G. Colwell, who, in 1877, sold out to Wilcox, Wilson & Co., whose store was burned in January, 1888. Firth & Wilkinson established a store in 1884, which has since been under the management of R. G. Wilkinson. The village now contains one general store, an implement and grocery store, a drug store, a blacksmith and wagon-maker's shop, and a flouring-mill, built in 1872, and now owned by Sallee & Cowden, with carding-mill attached. This latter estab- lishment was enlarged in 1882, and is one of the best roller-process mills in Southwest Missouri.
Fraternities .- Pleasant Hope Lodge No. 8, I. O. O. F., was organized in July, 1886, with the following named charter mem- bers: L. D. Burdett, L. C. Adams, J. M. Hearalson, Levi Bos- well, J. J. F. Caldwell, Jesse Eagan, R. G. Wilkinson. L. C. Adams was the first N. G .; L. D. Burdett the first V. G. The officers for 1889 are: O. S. Cavin, N. G .; M. F. Cowden, V. G .; Levi Boswell, secretary; C. C. Cavin, treasurer. The member- ship is thirty-five. The past noble grands are L. C. Adams, . J. M. Hearalson and L. D. Burdett.
Pleasant Hope Lodge No. 467, A. F. & A. M., was organ- ized June 14, 1873. The charter members and first officers were: E. S. Mason, W. M .; E. W. Spence, S. W .; Henry Gardner, J .. W .; J. H. Walker, T .; I. O. Parrish, S .; W.B. Cavin, S. D .; Z. T. L. Buns, J. D .; W. B. Patterson, T .; J. W. Barr, J. A. Cowden, William Patterson, G. T. Patterson. The lodge was instituted by B. S. Brush, D. D. G. M .; S. R. Little, of Cement Lodge; H. Armstrong, of Ozark Lodge; and James Oglesby, of Rising Star Lodge. Past masters: E. S. Mason, John C. Coch- ran, W. B. Patterson, W. McVansandt, W. B. Patterson, W. Mc Vansandt, W. B. Cavin, W. B. Patterson, W. McVansandt, L. M. Tiller, E. E. Emerson, W. B. Patterson, in the order named. Present officers: W. B. Patterson, W. M .; W. B. Cavin, S. W .; M. F. Cowden, J. W .; J. H. Walker, T .; J. C. Cochran, S .; T. D. Burdett, S. D .; A. A. Goodnight, J. D .; Eli Thorpe, T .; W. H. Albright, chaplain.
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STATE OF MISSOURI. 1
High Schools .- In 1849 there was built at Pleasant Hope the building of the Pleasant Hope Academy. The work was super- intended by Rev. R. D. Smith. The first school was taught by Miss A. E. Sawyer, from Vermont. Rev. Mr. Smith was man- ager. Miss Sawyer remained two years, and was succeeded by Miss F. M. Waite, and she by Miss Nelson, both from the East. The school ceased to exist about 1855.
In 1869 Rev. Aaron Grisley (or Grisby) taught a high school here four months, and was succeeded by A. C. Lemmon, who was the last high school teacher under that revival.
Pleasant Hope Normal Academy .- In the spring of 1883, Prof. W. I. Davis, of Illinois, opened a high school here, in the public school building, the old academy being no longer fit for occupancy. In this year a company was organized to establish a permanent school. The members were E. M. Cowan, J. P. Fullerton, W. P. Patterson, Z. T. L. Buns, R. W. Fullerton, J. P. Cowan, W. M. Fullerton, J. S. Cowan, R. F. Fullerton, N. A. Cowan, D. Salee, S. H. Fullerton, S. H. Cowan and A. Armstrong. Land was bought and a two-story brick school- house, size 20x40, containing three rooms, was erected. The school was transferred to this building in 1885, and taught by Prof. A. F. Shriner, and the name of the institution was changed from Pleasant Hope Institute to Pleasant Hope Normal Academy. Prof. Shriner was succeeded by Prof. A. O. Taylor, he by Rev. J. A. McCrasky, and he by Prof. J. C. Ryan, who has made a success of the school. About 500 students have been enrolled since the opening.
SUNDRY VILLAGES.
Half Way is a small village in Benton Township, twelve miles east of Bolivar. It contains a general store, a drug store, a broom factory, and several smiths, wheelwrights and other shops. Its name was suggested by its location about equi-dis- tant from Bolivar and Buffalo (Dallas County). The population is about 100.
Aldrich, located in Madison Township, is a small station on the Gulf road, which contains a store and a convenient number of small mechanics' shops, and has a population of about 100.
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Sharon, is a station on the Gulf road in Jackson Township, near the southern county line. The postoffice here is known as Gulf. The village has a store, some small shops and less than 100 inhabitants.
Polktown (Polk postoffice) is in Greene Township, in the northeastern corner of the county, twelve miles from Bolivar. Its population is about 75, and it contains a general store, a drug store and a shoe-shop and a wheelwright and blacksmith's shop. The first store, that of J. M. Zumwalt, was established in 1879.
Rondo is a village of about 100 population, in Jefferson Town- ship, twelve miles northwest of Bolivar. It was first settled in 1864, and now contains a general store, a drug store, some saw- mills, a grist-mill, a tobacco factory, and two establishments devoted to the evaporation of fruit.
Dunnegan Springs is a small village in Campbell Township, on the site of the old Dunnegan homestead, where the mother of Hon. T. H. B. Dunnegan, of Bolivar, still lives at an advanced age, and received its name in honor of the Dunnegan family, and because of the proximity of springs of some magnitude. It is a station on the Gulf road, containing a store, some small shops and a few dwellings.
Graydon is a station on the railroad from Springfield to Bol- ivar, in Jackson Township. It has no pretensions as a business resort, but is known to fame by the proximity of Graydon Springs, a health resort mentioned elsewhere in these pages.
Wishart (Frisco postoffice) is a station on the 'Frisco branch from Springfield to Bolivar, and is named in honor of Dr. Wishart, general passenger agent of the 'Frisco system.
Brighton is located in Looney Township, twelve miles south- east of Bolivar, and has a population of about 200. It contains two dry goods and general stores, a saw-mill and flour-mill, and the usual variety of small mechanics' shops.
Goodnight is a village of about 100 population in Mooney Township, sixteen miles from Bolivar, and the same distance from Springfield. It is situated on the Pomme de Terre River, which furnishes power utilized by a flouring-mill. It was named in honor of J. H. Goodnight, long postmaster and leading merchant.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
Slagle is a small post-village in the north part of Looney Township, about five and one- half miles southeast from Bolivar, which received its name from the family of Slagles, long prom- . inent and quite numerous in that part of the county. It contains a store and some shops. The population is about fifty.
Sentinel Prairie is a post-village in Greene Township, thir- teen miles northeast of Bolivar, having a population of about fifty. The first store here was opened by Jeremiah Vaughan in 1863, and he continued in business until 1871, being succeeded by Brookshire & Burns, and they in 1875 by W. H. Owens, who was succeeded the same year by T. B. Evans. In 1877 the latter was followed by Latham & Jeter, and they in 1880 by Thurman & Co. C. W. Wheelock began trading here in 1886, and gave place to R. A. Smelzor in 1888. The village also con- tains a blacksmith shop, the property of W. J. Blanton.
Orleans, in Jackson Township, on the Little Sac River, twelve miles southwest of Bolivar, and four miles from Wishart, was founded early in the history of this section, and once gave prom- ise, which never reached fruition, of becoming one of the leading towns of Southwest Missouri. The causes which led to the cessa- tion of its progress are elsewhere stated. It was one of the earliest postoffices in Polk County. Here is located one of the oldest grist-mills in this part of the State, which was bought by Samuel D. Strain and B. B. Rice in 1869, and later came into the ownership of S. D. Strain & Brother. Mr. Strain had learned the miller's trade with his father, John A. Strain, in boy- hood, in the old Davis mill, which the latter bought and rebuilt about 1845. A store was opened at Orleans by Mr. Strain in 1880. He sold out in 1882, but re-entered trade at this point in 1885, and continued until in 1887, when he removed his business to Sharon.
Shady Grove is a village west of the line of the Gulf road, in Madison Township, twelve miles southwest from Bolivar. It contains a general store and a grist, saw and carding-mill, and has about a hundred inhabitants. Thomas B. Slagle here built a saw and shingle-mill, in 1872, and two years later he added a grist-mill to the same plant. For a time J. M. Jones was his partner, but he bought Jones' interest about eight years ago,
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
and, in 1883, added a carding-mill to the establishment. In 1885, in partnership with H. Morgan, he engaged in trade, open- ing a general store. In 1887 he succeeded to the sole ownership of the business.
Sharon is a station on the Gulf road, in Jackson Township.
SCHOOLS.
The Earliest Schools .- The earliest schools in Polk County were organized by public subscription, each head of family paying according to the number of pupils sent. They were taught in rude log buildings erected for that purpose by " bees," at which all the " men folks " in the neighborhood took part. Such build- ings had puncheon floors, open fire-places, with " stick and mud " or stone chimneys, furnished with hewed-plank benches for seats, and rough boards, resting on pins driven into the side logs, for writing desks. The first schools in Polk were established in Looney Township in 1835, one taught by a man named Wilson, and another, near the south end of Three Mound Prairie, by B. U. Goodrich. Some time after this Ezra Hamer opened a school at New Market.
Public School System .- Missouri's public school system, which was co-existent with the State organization, was for many years regarded as a charitable institution, designed especially for the very poor, and received little encouragement from men of means. The original incentive to its creation was the donation by the General Government to the State of the sixteenth section of land in every congressional township, to be utilized or dis- posed of to raise a fund for the establishment and maintenance of public schools. The first step preparatory to the establishment of such schools in Polk County was taken November 13, 1836, when the county court made the following order:
It is ordered by the county court, on motion of Robert Acock, William Slagle and others, and a petition presented by them, being a majority of the free leaseholders who reside in Range 22, and Township 32, in the county of Polk, praying this court to order the sixteenth or school section in said range and township to be sold as the law requires, and, it appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that a majority of the free householders in said township have signed said petition, which is herewith filed, it is there- fore ordered that the sheriff of this county forthwith proceed to advertise and sell, accord-
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
ing to law, the sixteenth section, in Township 32, and Range 22 west, agreeably to the prayer of said petition, and report to the court, etc .; and it is further ordered that the sheriff of this county be furnished with a copy of this report.
On the same day a similar order was made relative to the sixteenth section in Township 33, Range 23, upon the petition of Ephraim Jamieson, William Henry and others. At the May term, 1837, on motion of William Henry, who filed a petition of sundry citizens of Polk County, who constituted a majority of the citizens of Township 35, Range 24, praying the court to order the sale of the sixteenth section in said township, the court ordered that said land be sold in lots of forty acres at the next term of the Polk Circuit Court. At the December adjourned term, 1837, it was ordered that the sheriff sell, before the court house door, in Bolivar, on the first day of the next August term of the Polk County Circuit Court, Section 16, Township 36, Range 26. In 1839, Section 16, Township 33, Range 23, was ordered to be sold; in 1840, Section 16, Township 34, Range 21, and Section 16, Township 35, Range 26, were ordered sold; in 1841, Section 16, Township 33, Range 21, and Section 16, Township 34, Range 21. Other school lands were sold in like manner, but the records have been kept in such a way that it is. not possible to give the aggregate proceeds from such sales. The orders above given sufficiently indicate the growth and advancement of a sentiment in favor of public education.
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