USA > Missouri > Howard County > History of Howard and Chariton Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most official authentic and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 45
USA > Missouri > Chariton County > History of Howard and Chariton Counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most official authentic and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 45
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
MENDON.
Mendon was laid out in 1871 by Christopher Shupe on southeast southwest section 14, T. 55, R. 20. It was, however, a business point several years before the plat of the town was filed - as early as 1865, when Bostich and Eastman erected a business house - general merchan- dise. In 1871 Keith Brothers put up the building now occupied by Shupe Brothers. Charles Welling erected the next business house in the spring of 1880. In 1881 Dr. Morgan built a drug store, which was soon after occupied by Anderson & Naatz as a general store. In 1882, J. T. Graves sold drugs in the same building and sold to W. G. Herndon, who now occupies it.
BUSINESS.
E. M. Shupe, merchant and postmaster.
Charles Welling, merchant.
W. G. Herudou, drugs.
Misner, blacksmith.
J. M. Herndon, justice of the peace.
Doctor W. B. Lucas, assessor.
J. N. Hearn, collector and coustable.
Eli Ward, trustee.
LODGES.
Dragon Lodge, No. 394. A. F. and A. M .- Lodge was instituted in 1871, during which year the members built a hall over Shupe's store.
Charter members - William F. Moore, William N. Riddel!, James E.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
Owen, E. J. Rollins, Willis Riddell, Doctor West, James Guthridge, C. M. Woods, A. W. Williamson, J. S. Daniels.
Present officers -A. F. Woods, W. M. ; D. W. Strickler, S. W. ; William Martin, J. W. ; Eli Ward, treasurer ; E. M. Shupe, secretary ; W. N. Williamson, chaplain ; J. F. Osborn, S. D. ; E. L. Ilatfield, J. D. ; E. J. Rollins, tyler ; J. W. Saunders and Sidney Clemens, stewards. Present membership, thirty-five.
Mendon Lodge, No. 243, A. O. U. W., was organized in March 1882, with the following charter members : W. R. MeGreen, G. M. W. ; P. R. Dunham. O. : Adonis Anderson, treasurer ; Moses Mont- gomery, R. ; J. D. Blevens, F. ; J. W. Blakely, -; Finley Green, I. N. Bond, receiver. The lodge is in a good and flourishing condi- tion and numbers 116 members.
MISSOURI TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARY.
This township has a less number of square miles than any other in the county. It is about five miles in width at its widest point, and lit- tle more than a mile wide at its narrowest point. It is bounded on the north by Bowling Greenand Keytesville townships ; on the east by Chariton township ; on the south by Saline county, from which it is separated by the Missouri, and on the west by Saline county.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Most of the cultivated land of this township cannot be surpassed in fertility, but nearly all of it is, at times, overflowed by extreme high water from the Chariton and Missouri rivers. The township was at one time covered with large timber, about half of which has been cleared and put in cultivation. The Missouri river washes the entire southern border of the township, and the grand Chariton river passes through a portion of the eastern part of the same.
OLD SETTLERS.
Judge James Earickson and his brother, Peregrine Eariekson, set- tled in the edge of Bowling Green prairie in Missouri township, in 1815, where they remained till 1824, when they moved to Howard county. Judge Earieksou was State treasurer from 1829 to 1833. Talton Turner settled in the township about the same date. These men were government contractors in beef for the Indians and soldiers
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
on the northern reservations. Judge Earickson died at his home in Howard county, of cancer.
Lewis Price, Daniel Richardson, Christopher Noll, William E. Col- son, James Cuddy and George Chapman were all early settlers.
COCKRELL TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARY.
The township is bounded on the north by Bee Branch township, on the cast by Macon county and Wayland township, on the south by Wayland and Keytesville townships, and on the west by Muscle Fork township.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Cockrell township lies on the north and west side of the Chariton river; its surface is made up of alternate blutl's and lowlands with timber intermixed. The soil is deep only in spots, but with the ex- ception of the overflowed bottoms, is moderately productive. The . cereals, grasses and tobacco are grown in considerable quantities. Stone is found in many parts of the township ; coal is also found, but no mining has been done.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The history of Cockrell township is embraced in that of Bee Branch township, from which it was taken. Some of the settlers who have been classed as the pioneers of Bee Branch township, now legitimately belong to the new township of Cockrell. Some of the more recent immigrants and settlers in this township are Isaae Smith, John Hise. Jesse Montgomery, Richard Weseote, Peter Krager, Eliza Seott, John MeSparren, John McCary and William Nelson.
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MILL.
The first mill built in the township, was erected by a man named Hamlin, on the Chariton river in 1845, in the southwest part of the township. This was a water mill.
SCHOOL HOUSE AND CHURCH EDIFICE.
The pioneer church building of the township was erected by the united Baptists and Methodists in the year 1852, and was used as a
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
church and school house. James Fitzgerald built a saw mill on Bee Branch in 1868.
LEVEES.
Owing to the crookedness and shallowness of the Chariton rivers in Chariton county, the low lands bordering upon those streams have been, during certain seasons of the year, subject to overflow. The high waters cover not only a large area of land, but remain upon the bottoms, oftentimes for days in succession, in some instances to the detriment, and at all times, to the inconvenience of those farmers who are compelled to eross them.
Much of these overflowed lands might be reelaimed by straighten- ing these streams and deepening their channels. Judge Lucien Salis- bury and Lewis Bartholomew, who own about 2,000 acres of land on the Chariton river which is subject to overflow ( sections 6 and 7, township 55 and range 16, in Cockrell township), have successfully ยท tested the experiment of throwing up a levec or embankment, which they commenced in the month of July, 1883. The work is done by machinery and is thrown up rapidly by horse power. The embank- ment, when completed, will be two and a half miles in length, fourteen feet wide at the base, eight feet wide on top, and from four and a half to five and a half feet in height, and will cost about $1.50 per rod. It will be finished in September, 1883, and will protect 1,500 aeres of land from the overflows. Of course, it is needless to say, that the lands which are covered in the spring or fall with high water include some of the richest soil in Chariton county, and every effort should be made to reclaim thein and prepare them for the use of the husbandman.
CHAPTER XI.
MUSCLE FORK, WAYLAND, YELLOW CREEK, CLARK AND SALT CREEK TOWNSHIPS.
Muscle Fork Township - Boundary -- Physical Features -- Old Settlers - Killing of Goodman Oldham - Izora City -- Pedee - Chariton Lodge No. 513 - Wayland Town- ship -- Boundary - Physical Features - Early Settlers - Schools - Mills-To- bacco Barnes - Prairie Hill - Yellow Creek Township-Boundary - Physical Features- Early Settlers -- Rothville - Secret Orders -- Clark Township - Boun- dary - Physical Features - Old Settlers -- Westville - Secret Order - Business Houses and Professional Men - Salt Creek Township - Early Settlers.
MUSCLE FORK TOWNSHIP --- BOUNDARY.
This township is bounded on the north by Clark township, on the east by Bee Branch township, on the south by Keytesville township, and on the west by Salt Creek township.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
No township in the county has a greater supply of water than Mus- cle Fork. The surface of the same is veined with Long branch, Mus- ele fork, Cottonwood creek and their tributaries, which flow south entirely through the township. The land is thin and broken in some places, and gently rolling and fertile in others. About one-third of the township is timber. A large vein of coal was discovered in the northeast part of the township, but has never been worked ; a thinner vein has been worked in the southwest part. Plenty of lime and sand stone is found. :
OLD SETTLERS.
Among the old settlers of Muscle Fork township was Goodman Old- ham, who was a native of Madison county, Kentucky. In 1832 he moved to Howard county, Missouri, and in 1833 to Chariton county, where he lived until his death, which occurred April 5th, 1825. He was killed in the town of Keytesville by Mordecai Lane. Oldham was
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
quietly sitting by the fire at the hotel where he was stopping, when Lane opened the door and shot bim in the back, killing him instantly. Oldham had purchased some land from Lane and was to receive a war- rantee deed. The payments on the land had all been made except the last. When Oldham demanded his deed, Lane could give him only a tax-deed, as that was all the title he had. Oldham brought suit against Lane for the recovery of his money, and because of the litiga- tion instituted by Oldham. Lane, it was thought, killed him. He was suspected of having committed the deed, was arrested and confined in jail to await his trial in the circuit court. Two or three years passed before he had his trial, and when it occurred he was acquitted. Upon his death bed, however. Lane confessed that he was the man who killed Oklham, thus verifying the old saying, " murder will out." Oldham left ten children, six boys and four girls, all of whom lived to be grown. His widow lived till March 8, 1883, her husband having been dead forty-eight years. John G. Oldham, who is another early settler of the township, is the son of Goodman Oldham above named, and Catherine Jackson, and was born in Laurel county, Kentucky, October 9th, 1822. Came with his father to Howard county, Mis- souri. in 1632, and from there to Chariton county in 1833. He married Mrs. Nancy L. Lucas in Brunswick, Missouri, in 1848, and to them have been born ten children. He entered the Confederate army during General Priec's raid, and was taken pris- oner on the Kansas State line. Was imprisoned at Fort Scott, Fort Leavenworth and at Camp Morton, but was released in February, 1865, when he returned home, and has since been engaged in farming.
James Guthridge, a native of Fanquier county, Virginia, where he was born March 1, 1813, came to Chariton county in April, 1831. He was employed by James Keyte soon after his arrival, and was mail carrier for some little time between old Chariton and Keytesville. At the time of his coming to Keytesville there were but a few settlers ; north and west there were no settlers, and from Keytesville to Ross- ville there was but one house. Mr. Guthridge is a large landed pro- prietor. Hle' erected a saw and grist mill in 1851, at the town site of Izora City, which is still in operation. It is six miles from Keytes- ville. This was the first mill in the township.
Peter Smith may be classed among the early settlers. Ile was born in Germany, April 8, 1835 ; eame to the United States States in 1839, and after remaining at Glasgow three years came to Chariton county, where he has since resided and followed the occupation of a farmer.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
His farm is large, well improved, and well adapted to the raising of stock, of which he has a large number, including cattle, hogs and sheep.
John Welch eame among the pioneers to Chariton county. He was a native of Kentucky, where he married Matilda M. Cockerel. They emigrated first to Howard and then to Chariton county. They lived to a ripe old age, having had fourteen children, eleven boys and three girls.
Mr. Welch was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans, where he served as a faithful and gallant soldier. He suffered many privations and fatigues during that memorable cani- paign under General Jackson. He often peeled bark from elm trees, as high as he could reach with his bayonet to eat, this at times consti- tuting his ouly food. He drew a pension until the date of his death, which took place in September, 1872.
Stokely Mott emigrated to Missouri at an early day from Kentucky. He is the father of Mrs. Edward B. Welch and still lives in Chariton county. He came to Missouri in 1822. Edward B. Welch, who was the thirteenth child of John and Matilda Welch above named, is a native of Chariton county, where he was born in April, 1838. He en- listed in the Confederate army in Jane, 1861, and was in General Clark's division of Price's army. He was with General Price during his last raid into Missouri, and participated in all the battles and skir- mishes engaged in by the army at that time. He was also in the en- gagement at Lexington, Missouri. Was captured while with General Price and confined in prison fifteen days. when he was released and returned to his farm. He is an extensive stock raiser, making a specialty of that business, and has also dealt largely in tobacco.
IZORA CITY.
This town is located in Muscle Fork township, the town site occu- pying about ninety-five acres of land. It was founded in 1858, but no plat of the town has ever been filed. The first store was opened in the town by Charles Turner. In 1879 Doctor Hicks opened a drug store. At this time ( 1883) there are seventeen buildings in the town including the mill, two general stores, one drug store, and two black_ smith shops. There are two halls - one erected by the Free Masons and the other by Mr. E. Irvine over his store. Mr. Irvine is owner of much of the town site. The town was originally called Guthridge Mills. The post-office is still called Guthridge Mills post-office.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
LODGES.
Chariton Lodge, No. 513, A. F. & A. M., organized June 17, 1882, with the following officers : O. B. Anderson, W. M. ; E. D. Hershey, S. W .; J. L. Eidsou, Jr., W. ; James Guthridge, treasurer ; J. F. Vadgett, secretary ; Willian: Price, S. D. ; James Rodgers, J. D. : Jacob Myers, tyler, and was set to work by Ledon Silvey, D. D. G. M., Salisbury, Mo., on the date above mentioned. Received its charter at the last session of the Grand Lodge, in October, 1882.
The following officers were elected and hold office now : O. B. An- derson, W. M .; E. D. Hershey, S. W. ; J. L. Eidson, J. W. ; James Guthridge, treasurer ; G. C. Crouch, secretary ; William Price, S. .D. ; A. J. Darrah. J. D. : F. M. Bash. tyler. Names of charter members : O. B. Anderson, E. D. Hershey, J. L. Eidson, William Price, James Gnthridge, J. F. Padgett, Jacob Myers, A. J. Darrah, Abner Musgroves. Royal Chadwick, W. G. Woolsey, and James Rod- ger. Present membership, twenty-seven.
PEDEE.
This place was commenced in 1877, the first building being erected by the Grangers, the upper story being used as a hall by that order, and the lower story occupied by Pound & Welch as a store-room.
A number of good buildings have been erected, and the town is im- proving, with a prospect of becoming a fair business point. There are at present three stores, general merchandise, a drug store and a gro- cery.
WAYLAND TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARY.
Wayland township is bounded on the north by Bee branch, on the east by Macon and Randolph counties, on the south by Salisbury township, and on the west by Keytesville and Bee Branch townships.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
About all the water supply afforded the township, is obtained from the Chariton river and one small tributary. Its surface consists mainly of a rich, gently .rolling prairie, admirably adapted to all the cereals, especially wheat, of which a vast amount is produced. The
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
soil is deep and rich. About one-fourth of the township is subject to overflow ; about three-fourths of the same is prairie. No eoal has as yet been developed and no stone of any importance.
It has an area of about thirty-nine square miles.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The original settlers of Wayland township, were generally from Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.
Among the early pioneers was Levi Fawks, Sr., a native of Georgia. He married a Miss White, of North Carolina, in Wilson county, Tennessee, in 1806. They came to St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1817. They moved thence to Callaway county, in 1823, and finally settled in Chariton county, in April, 1825. Mr. Fawks settled what is known as the G. G. Dameron place, where he lived for several years, There was no white man living north of him at that time. While Mr. Dameron was residing at the place, and while he was absent from his home, on an expedition against the Indians, Mrs. Dameron placed two of her oldlest children on the house-top to look out for the Indians. At another time she carried the children into a corn-field and spent the night, being afraid to remain in the cabin, where she would be exposed to the tomahawk and sealping-knife of the red man. The family subsequently crossed the Middle Fork of the Chariton river, and lived for ten years af Fawks' Mill. Mr. Fawks and his wife have been dead many years. They had eleven children, whose names were as follows. in the order of their ages : Malissa, William, Mary, Sabrina, Alfred. Edward, Levi, Naney, Littleburg, Josephine and George : some of them were born in Ten- nessee, others in Missouri. Four of these are now living, Alfred, Edward. Naney and George ; all in Chariton county and near each other. The last to die of this family of brothers and sisters was Levi Fawks, Jr., whose death occurred in March, 1883. Levi and his brother Alfred lived on a farm near Prairie Hill, which they settled about forty years ago. The family is a numerous one, the children and grandchildren numbering more than one hundred per- sons now living.
Thomas Hart was also an early settler.
Robert Dunn, came early.
Benjamin Coleman, was a pioneer and built the second house in the township.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
Talton Barnes, Elias Barnes and Abraham Barnes were among the first emigrants, and located on Barnes' branch.
P. M. Sears and J. C. Sears settled on the prairie. . John Dameron was among the old settlers. Eli Wayland came from Virginia and settled in the east part of the township.
Probably the first school-house erected in the township, was the . Wayland school-house. The Prairie Ilill church was the first house of worship built in the township, and was put up about the year 1859. The pioneer mill was of a more recent date, and was built in 1873, on the Grand Chariton river, by Joseph Sims. After running this mill a few years, as a saw-mill, Mr. Sims added buhrs.
About three-quarters of a mile cast of the present town of Prairie Hill, L. T. Fawks built a large tobacco barn, in 1875. He had, how- ever, been dealing in tobacco at this place ever since the close of the war of 1861. He operated also a general store at this point until the town of Prairie Ilill was started ; this is the name of a post-office, the only one in the township, and was established about the year 1878. Since that time, three or four business houses have been built. The land upon which the first store was erected was owned by E. H. Fawks, who sold to James Foster, who began merchandising in 1878. James Farris, built the next business and dwelling house. There are now three general stores, one drug store, and a blacksmith shop, at Prairie Hill.
YELLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARY.
This one of the northern tiers of townships and is bounded on the north by Linn county, on the east by Clark township, on the south by Salt Creek township, and on the west by Cunningham township.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The area of the township is thirty-six square miles, and consists of prairie of considerable extent and large groves interspersed. Most of the land is of fine medimn quality. Some of it is the best of land. Some coal is mined ; there is much stone but little use is made of it. About one-third of the township is timbered. The east and west forks of Yellow creek, with other tributaries of the same stream, are found in this township. Three branches of this stream ( Yellow creek ) unite at the town of Rothville and form the main branch.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
ROTINVILLE.
This town was laid out by John Roth, on west half, section 20, township 56, range 19, and the plat was filed in 1883. The first business house was built in the place in 1868, by Mr. - Bristol. Mr. Roth commenced business in one end of his dwelling house the same year. Bristol was the first postmaster, receiving his appoint- ment in 1868. H. K. Custer erected a business house in the spring of 1870. The business of the town is done at this time by Riddle & Johnson, drugs, etc. ; Ingram & Holloway, general merchants ; L. M. Angert, harness shop ; Riddell & Allen, flouring mills. There is also a blacksmith and a wagon maker in the town.
SECRET ORDERS.
Lodge A. O. U. W., organized at Rothville in May, 1880, with the following charter members: Doctor Ingram, James Riddell, C. E. Allen, K. G. Allen, O. H. Woods, D. B. Allen, T. J. L. Hutchison, W. S. Lock, E. C. Lock, W. R. Million, William Campbell. The lodge has a membership of thirty-five.
CHURCHES.
Rothville Christian Church. - Organized about the year 1871, by Elder Sandy E. Jones. The original members were William Henderson and wife, A. Johnson and wife and M. M. Johnson and wife. Present membership, seventy .. J. M. Wright, of Macon City, was the preacher of this church for about nine years. Elder J. P. Furnish is the present pastor. Services are held by this church at the Baptist church editice.
Yellow Creeks Baptist Church .- Located at Rothville, organized in 1853, by Rev. Thomas Allen. Original members : Mrs. Sophia E. Jones and two danghters, Mrs. Martha H. Turman, Charles E. Allen and wife, Thomas E. Waugh and wife. The church disbanded in 1862 and reorganized in 1865. The church edifice was erected in 1871-72, and cost about $2,000. Present membership, 125. Rev. S. H. Morgan is the pastor in charge.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
CLARK TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARY.
Clark township is bounded on the north by Linn county, on the east by Bee Branch and Wayland townships, on the south by Muscle Fork township, and on the west by Yellow Creek township.
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PHYSICAL FEATURES.
This township is permeated by a number of streams, among which are Locust and Clark branches and Muscle fork. The soil is partly good and partly indifferent : the township however, has a careful and thrifty population who are putting their lands in a good state of cul- tivation. About one-third of the land is timber. A deep vein of coal is know to exist in the southeast corner. Both lime and sand- stone are found, but none as yet have been quarried. The township contains thirty-six square miles.
OLD SETTLERS.
Henry Clark, who came from Kentucky at a very early day, about 1820, and settled on Clark's branch, was one of the first settlers in the township. He was revered for his piety and strict integrity. The branch upon which he located, and the township were named after him. Wm. W. Vincent, Mitchel Maupin, Wm. Maupin, I. K. Ste- phenson, Arthur Withers, Richard Grubbs, George Adams, Henry Hainds, Harrison Lock, S. P. Akers, David and Beverly Long, Doctor Wm. S. West, Stephenson Hederick, Thomas Bell, Samuel Young, Wm. Beardon, Pink Riley, James Patton, Joel Slewson, Howell Pippen and Win. C. Holly ( the latter was captain of the company of men who enlisted in the Mexican war from Chariton county ). all of whom were among the early emigrants to the township.
WESTVILLE
was laid out in August, 1857, by Doctor Wm. S. West, on the south- east southwest of Sec. 22, T. 56, R. 18. The first business house was erected by Smith and Hagler. Parson Savage and Charles Rigg were also among the pioneer business men. The first physician and postinaster was Doctor Wm. S. West.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND CHARITON COUNTIES.
LODGE.
Westville Lodge, No. 202, A. F. & A. M. Chartered in 1858, with the following members : J. E. Disard, W. H. Callison, N. A. Langston, Wm. Vinson, Doctor W. S. West, William Smith, De Witt Hainds, I K. Stephenson. Lodge was discontinued in 1863 ; new charter granted in 1866, with A. N. Langston, W. M .: W. S. West, Jr. W. ; J. F. Smith, Sr. W. : A. G. Brooks, Sr. D. ; Berry Owens, Jr. D. ; R. H. Grubbs, tyler; W. H. Callison, secretary.
Present membership 49. The lodge is out of debt, has $300 in the treasury, and owns the building where its meetings are held.
BUSINESS HOUSES AND PROFESSIONAL MEN.
3 general stores, two of which sell 1 blacksmith shop, drugs, 1 hotel,
1 furniture store, 3 physicians.
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARY.
Salt Creek township takes its name from a stream bearing that name, and is bounded on the north by Yellow Creek township, on the east by Muscle Fork township, on the south by Keytesville and Bruns- wick townships and on the west by Mendon township.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The township is thirty-six miles square, and contains, perhaps, less water than any other township in the county. Hickory branch and Salt creek have their sources in the township. The township is mostly prairie, the groves of timber comprising only about one-sixth of its entire area. The east half of the township is broken and rocky ; the west half is one of the finest prairie portions of the county. Coal is mined to some extent. Lime and sandstone are found.
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