History of Johnson County, Missouri, Part 10

Author: Cockrell, Ewing
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Topeka, Kan. : Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1234


USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 10


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 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104


Year, 1881; real estate, $4,876,969.00; personalty, $2,592,498.00; total, $7,469,467.00; per $100 state rate, 40 cents ; per $100 county rate, $1.43.


Year, 1917; real estate, $25,014.690.00; personalty, $8,641.170.00; railway, $1,975.526.00; total, $35,631,386.00; per $100 state rate, approxi- matelv 8 cents ; per $100 county rate, approximately 45 cents.


In 1881 there was also a tax on each $100 of $1 for Warrensburg township railroad bonds and $1.50 for Madison township railroad bonds. The total county rate of $1.43 included county revenue, 40 cents : county interest, 25 cents : school, 38 cents ; state tax, 20 cents, and state interest, 20 cents. Today there are no bonds or other indebtedness owing by the county or any of the townships.


CHAPTER XII .- WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.


LOCATION, ORGANIZATION, NAMING -GEOGRAPHY AND SOILS -THE KNOBS - EARLY SETTLEMENTS-EARLY CHURCHES-EARLY SCHOOLS-JUSTICES- COUNTY OFFICERS-POPULATION-PERSONAL PROPERTY AND PRODUCTS- COUNTY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS-ORGANIZATIONS-KNOB NOSTER.


Washington was one of the first four townships of the county and originally comprised approximately the northeast quarter of the county. It was organized May 4, 1835. It was named for George Washington.


Geography and Soils .- Area, 45 square miles, or 28,800 acres. Geo- graphically and according to the United States Department of Agricul- ture's Soil Survey of 1914. Washington township is composed of a fairly solid area of gray soil (Oswego silt loam) in the southeast half, a mile wide strip of "sandy" soil ( Boone silt loam) along the west side and patches of different soils in the northeast.


These soils in detail are :


Oswego silt loam, upland. about 161/2 square miles or 38 per cent. of the township; a gray, rather compact level-lying soil. It lies in a large body in the southeast.


Boone silt loam, upland, 14 square miles or about 30 per cent. It lies chiefly along Clear Fork creek in the west and in a strip one-quarter to one-half mile wide along Walnut headwaters in the northeast.


Summit silt loam, "black limestone" soil, about 6 square miles or 14 per cent. It composes chiefly the smoother upland on both sides of and one-half to three-quarters mile back from Walnut creek in the north- east, and also in an irregular patch about a half mile wide and two miles long, extending southwesterly from a point about half a mile east of Knob Noster to a point about a half mile south of town.


Bates silt loam, upland, dark gray-brown soil, about 4 square miles or 9 per cent. This lies chiefly in irregular patches of three-quarters square mile in area between the sandy upland next to Walnut bottom and the black limestone soil farther back.


Cherokee silt loam, upland, light-brown soil, resembling the Oswego silt loam, about two and a quarter square miles or 5 per cent. It lies chiefly along Muddy creek in the southeast.


157


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


Osage silt loam, ordinary bottom, about one square mile or 2 per cent .; lies along Walnut and Clear Fork creeks. The smallest propor- tion of bottom land of any township in the county.


Robertsville silt loam, gray second bottom soil, about three-quarters square mile or 11/4 per cent. This lies chiefly in a strip about one-half mile wide immediately north of the Missouri Pacific railroad on the east side of Clear Fork and immediately adjoining the first bottom. It runs north from the railroad about two miles and south about one mile, gradu- ally narrowing in both directions.


Boone gravelly loam, more sand than Boone silt loam; about one- half square mile or three-quarters per cent. It is in a patch one mile west of Knob Noster, close to railroad, on the south.


Of the foregoing, the Summit silt loam is ranked as one of the best three common upland soils in the county, with the Bates silt loam next.


For further soil details, see chapters on Agriculture and Soils.


Knob Noster .- One of the unusual physical features of the township is what is known as the Knobs, two prominent knolls located just north of the town of Knob Noster, from which the town derived its name. They both rise a considerable height above the surrounding country. Much conjecture and a great deal of unreliable tradition envelop the history of these mounds. The early settlers for many years regarded these knobs as prominent land marks. An Indian tradition is that a great battle was fought here at one time. Human bones have been exhumed from these mounds but the mystery of how they came there is still unsolved. There is also an Indian tradition that these mounds are the hiding place of valuable treasure which was buried here some time in the past. Con- cerning the curiosity with which these mounds were viewed as late as 1879, the following article appeared in the "Knob Noster Gem," under date of November 28, 1879: "Just north of Knob Noster are two hills known as the Knobs. For some time there has been talk of the possible contents of these Knobs but almost everybody laughed at the idea of them containing anything more than the surrounding land. However, there were a few who still thought there was a bonanza in the hill if it could only be gotten out. Last Saturday, W. L. Shockley and R. H. Carr shouldered a pick and struck out for the Knobs. After a few hours' digging they found the skeletons of several human beings, together with other curiosities, which were buried with the Indians, Mound Build- ers or whoever they were."


158


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


Early Settlements .- The first settler of the original Washington township of whom we have any record is said to have been John Leeper, who settled in what is now Grover township. Col. John Robinson states in the Johnson County History of 1881: "In about 1828. John Leeper, son-in-law of Peter Fisher, of Pettis county, settled in the woods in section 22, township 47 and range 25, and improved five or six acres. Just northeast of him in section 16 William Cheek settled about the same time and in 1831 built the old Gallaher mill in section 6, on Clear Fork." The first land entry by Cheek was November 30, 1832, in Mont- serrat township.


Joseph Lapsley came from Russell county, Kentucky, in 1837 and died in 1854. John Coy settled here in 1833 and died in 1850. He was also a Kentuckian. Spencer Adams, a native of North Carolina, is said to have settled in this township in 1835. ( He made land entry in 1832.) He died in 1867. Ambrose Brockman, from Russell county, Kentucky, settled here in 1837 and died in 1848. James A. Gallaher was also a very early settler. Vally Hall, a Kentuckian, came here in 1835 and died in 1868. John Stewart, also a Kentuckian, came in 1834 and died in 1843. Samuel Graham from Kentucky, made his home here in 1834 and died six years later. Thomas M. Ramsey settled on section 14, in 1859. Jonathan Butler, Alexander and William Gregg. James Ray. and George Gallaher were also pioneers who settled here in the thirties. A German named Strickland settled on section 12 in 1836 but a few years later, when the settlers began to locate within two or three miles of each other, he began to feel crowded and went farther south. Among others who settled here prior to 1840, were W. A. Williams, Jacob Knaus, Samuel Workman, W. H. DeArman, James Brown, Richard McCombs, Henry Hayes, Fred Houck, John Reed, Andrew Thompson, George Thornton, Samuel McCormack, Benjamin Howard, William Box. W. R. McCart.


At a general election held in Knob Noster on the first Monday in August, 1858, appear the names of .\. Hargraves, Samuel McKeen and Jacob Knaus as judges, and J. C. Corum as clerk. All were sworn in August 2, 1858. by J. B. Mayes, justice of the peace. (At this election two hundred and fifty votes were cast.)


Among the first to enter government land in this township were Richard Marshall, October 4. 1833; James Ray, March 1, 1834, and Henry Edwards, June 13, 1834.


159


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


Early Churches .- The earliest church in what is now Washington township was Pleasant Grove church, a union building owned by the Cumberland Presbyterians and Southern Methodists in the south part of the township.


It was organized in 1853-54 by Rev. John B. Morrow. The build- ing was erected since the Civil War and dedicated by Revs. J. H. Hint and Mr. Young.


Early pastors of this church were W. Gilliam, W. Compton, B. W. Pierce, E. Morgan, J. B. Morrow, J. Whitsett. B. F. Thomas, J. T. A. Henderson and L. H. Davis. Old members were William Geery and wife, Daniel Adams, Susan Adams, Isaiah Kimzey and wife and C. P. Phillips.


The next churches organized were in Knob Noster town, and are included in the history of that town.


Early Schools .- The first log school house erected in the township was a crude structure, 10 by 16 feet, located in the northeastern quarter of section 10. One log was cut out to admit light. The clapboard roof was held on by weight poles, the door swung on wooden hinges and was fastened by a latch made of wood. In 1837, another log school house was built along the same general line of architecture on the south- east quarter of section 11. Here Jesse Trapp and James Ford taught school for a time. In 1838, a log school house was built on section 23. This building was along the same general lines as the others with one log left out for a window. The seats were made of puncheons and the heating system consisted of a fire-place. James Cochran was the first teacher here. The next school house was erected in the old town of Knob Noster. This was built in 1856 and was of the frame type of building. In 1866, it was moved two miles northeast of the old town on the south half of section 12 in Oak Grove District No. 10.


Among the early teachers at Oak Grove school were D. D. Duncan, Miss Sophia Welsh, J. R. Rainwater, J. M. Bigley, Mrs. Anna Dunn. Reuben Reaves, W. R. DeLaney, Reuben Wade, Thomas Prather, William O'Bannon, W. H. Hatton, H. C. Sparrowhawk, J. P. Walker, H. T. Williams, J. E. Gatewood, J. H. Allen, and Everett Miller. Prairie Home school, in District No. 8, succeeded an old school called Quail Trapp, built in 1866. The following were early teachers in this district : Miss M. Brown, B. C. Stephens, Thomas H. Jones, Miss Nellie Zim- merman, Charles B. Littlefield, Miss Laura Lutz, Miss Alice Wharton,


160


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


Frank P. Langston, Davidson Grover, Peter Lynch, Miss Sallie Zoll, Miss Bettie Duffield, Miss Myra Houts and Miss Mollie Guihen, John McKeehan, Mrs. D. A. McCormick, J. P. Wallace, A. J. Sparks and John Byrne.


Justices .- The following are the justices of the peace of the town- ship as far back as the county court records show, with dates of their election : 1842, Richard C. Wariner, Samuel Workman, William H. Collins: 1844, Jacob Knaus, Jacob Raper, Henry S. Pease; 1846, Will- iam Kirkpatrick; 1850, Hiram C. Key, Robert M. Maxwell, Squire Williams; 1852, Zachariah Clark, John Bobbitt; 1856, William P. Mayes, John Bobbitt; 1860, N. Fisher, John Bobbitt ; 1862, Samuel Workman; 1870, A. E. Weidman, William Fisher; 1878, W. H. Anderson, B. R. Tompkins ; 1882, J. W. Denison, H. J. Adams; 1886, P. D. Fitch, John S. Mayes; 1888, W. H. Anderson; 1890. L. B. Thomas, J. W. Mitchell, Taylor Kirkpatrick; 1896, John M. Kelly; 1898, A. M. Craig, A. W. Wheatley; 1900, J. M. Mitchell: 1902, A. M. Craig. B. F. Summers ; 1906, George L. Taylor, B. F. Summers; 1908, S. P. Caldwell, F. S. Denton : 1910, J. C. Metts, John T. Lay; 1914, Jacob H. Knaus, J. C. Metz.


County Officers .- The following are the county officers who have been elected from the township since 1882, with the dates of their elec- tion :


1892-George N. Hocker (Democrat), representative.


1894-96-George T. Gallaher ( Democrat), surveyor.


1894-96-L. B. Thomas (Democrat ), assessor.


1900-1904-T. J. Summers (Democrat ), assessor.


1902-C. D. Thompson (Democrat), superintendent of schools.


1904-08-12-A. M. Craig (Democrat), public administrator.


1908-B. F. Summers ( Democrat ), county judge.


1912-14-Ed. S. Harte (Democrat), county judge.


Population .- The population of Washington township by United States Census was :


-1850-


-1860-


-1870-


White. Col. Total. White. Col. Total.


White. Col. Total.


890 112 1,002 1,996 243 2.239


2,828


164 2,992


1880


1890


1900


1910


3,166


3,294


1,762 1,612


Personal Property and Products .- Agriculture and personal prop-


16I


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


erty statistics for Washington township. as given by Missouri State Report for 1877, and Johnson county assessors' lists for 1896 and 1916 are :


1877


1877


1896


1916


Wheat, bushels


13,058


Horses


1,073


711


772


Corn, bushels


341,000


Mules


431


297


236


Oats, bushels


17,500


Cattle


2,179


1,606


1,511


Rye, bushels


510


Sheep


1,803


273


597


Tobacco, pounds


47,525


Hogs


3,962


1,890


938


Wool, pounds


3,209


Asses


none


9


ยท 23


Hay, tons


624


Molasses, gallons


1,215


Wine, gallons


1,000


1896


1916


Notes and money


$ 39,560


$ 81,095


Bank stock


22,850


45,646


Other personalty


40,169


31,680


All personalty


157,715


232,291


County Road Improvements .- County road improvements made by Washington township since this system was established in 1911, were up to January 1, 1918, nineteen in number, and aggregated $1,224 fur- nished by the citizens of the township, and $1,025 by the county. In this particular Washington township ranks seventh among the townships of the county.


Organizations .- The following is a complete list of all organizations of every kind in Washington township. Full details of each organiza- tion are in separate chapters on the different organizations.


Churches-Baptist, Knob Noster : Catholic, Knob Noster; Christian, Knob Noster; Cumberland Presbyterian, Pleasant Grove; Cumberland Presbyterian, New Church : Latter Day Saints, Knob Noster ; Methodist, Knob Noster; Methodist, South, Knob Noster ; Presbyterian, Knob Nos- ter.


1917 War Organizations-Red Cross, Knob Noster Branch.


Fraternal Organizations-Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen, Mystic Workers, Royal Neighbors.


Miscellaneous Organiations-Swastikas.


Business Organiations-Bank of Knob Noster, Peoples State Bank, Total number of organizations in township is nineteen.


(6)


162


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


KNOB NOSTER.


Knob Noster, one of the progressive towns of the county, is on the main line of the Missouri Pacific railroad about three miles from the Pettis county line. The town is situated in sections 15. 16, 21 and 22. The old town of Knob Noster was located about a mile north of where the depot now stands and still contains a number of houses on its one broad street.


The present town came into existence when the Pacific railroad was built. William Wortham was perhaps the pioneer merchant in the old town of Knob Noster.


The first post office was established here in 1850 before any town or village was laid out. It was located at the residence of Andrew Thompson, who became the first postmaster. Other early postmasters here were James Morrow, John Satoris, Charles Vantillman, Robert Dawson, William Mayes, John A. Pigg, William Chester. Miss Jennie Chester and C. Cobb.


The "Knob Noster Gem" is one of the old newspapers in the county. Its first issue was printed May 31. 1878, with Harris & McFarland as editors and proprietors. It is now unusually well edited by E. T. Hodges.


Other newspapers published at Knob Noster from time to time were the "Farmer," 1872, the "Register." "Local," "Herald" and "Review."


The following are the churches of the town with dates of organiza- tion : Cumberland Presbyterian: Baptist, 1856: Catholic, soon after Civil War; Latter Day Saints, 1889; Methodist. 1865: Christian, 1866; Presbyterian, 1867; Baptist Negro; Methodist Negro.


The town has electric light service, two banks, high school, good oiled streets, a large well established brick plant and all lines of ordinary business.


The population, 1910, was 670.


The following is a list of city officers :


Chairmen .- 1877, H. C. Coffman: 1878, P. O. Sullivan: 1879-80. B. R. Tompkins: 1881, J. H. Knaus.


Mayors .- 1901-04. B. F. Summers: 1905-06, C. V. Huff, Jr .: 1907- 12. A. M. Craig: 1913-14, J. 11. Rothwell: 1915-18. A. M. Craig.


Aldermen .- 1877, V. Hughes, C. Cobb. P. O. Sullivan, G. Hardey ;


163


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


1878. V. Hughes, C. Cobb, H. C. Coffman, G. Hardey : 1879, V. Hughes, C. Cobb, P. O. Sullivan, G. Hardey ; 1880, J. C. Winkler, J. Carr, G. O. Talpey. W. J. Workman; 1881. J. L. Winkler, C. B. Littlefield, A. D. Wilson, J. C. Miller : 1901. J. V. Campbell, L. P. Shafer, E. A. Shep- herd, A. G. Hunter; 1902, J. M. Kendrick, J. C. Foster: 1903, C. B. Littlefield. G. C. Miller; 1904, J. N. Kendrick, G. N. Hocker: 1905, E. E. Thompson, W. W. Spiess; 1906, J. M. Kendrick, W. B. Daw, D. N. Saults; 1907, J. C. Metts, W. B. Daw: 1908, Wm. Shoemaker, D. N. Saults: 1909, J. T. Lay. J. C. Metts, J. C. Foster ; 1910, J. T. Lay. J. W. McIntosh : 1911, S. A. Spiess, Hill Hunter : 1912, S. J. Dudley, Jehu Hull; 1913, S. A. Spiess, Frank Jenks: 1914, C. W. Weidman, C. L. Saults; 1915, S. A. Spiess. Frank Jenks: 1916, C. W. Wiedman, C. L. Saults: 1917, J. M. Kendrick, Wm. Ragner: 1918, C. W. Weidman, C. L. Saults.


Clerks .- 1901-06, George J. Taylor: 1907-09, Charles Y. Taylor ; 1910-13. C. L. Saults: 1914-18. W. J. Carr.


Police Judges .- 1901-04, J. C. Winkler; 1905-06, W. C. Knaus: 1907-08, J. M. Kinman : 1908-10, Mark Kidney; 1910-14, W. C. Knaus; 1915-18. J. C. Foster.


Marshals .- 1881, T. E. Rigg: 1901-03. J. H. Brendel: 1904-06, J. W. Bailey; 1907-08, William Covey: 1909-10, George Kinman: 1910. W. C. Knaus; 1911-14, W. B. Arbogast; 1915-16, R. F. Clark: 1916, George Kinman: 1917. H. T. Hite, Hill Hunter: 1918, Hill Hunter, L. W. Scott.


Collectors .- 1901-02. A. M. Craig: 1903, C. C. Hayes; 1904-06. J. W. Bailey : 1907-14, William Covey : 1915-16. R. F. Clark : 1916. George Kinman: 1917. H. T. Hite; 1917-18. Hill Hunter.


Street Commissioners .- 1901. A. M. Craig; 1903-06, B. P. Michael; 1907-15, R. F. Clark; 1916-18, George Kinman.


Treasurers .- 1901-04, Ed S. Harte; 1905-08. W. T. Zuber: 1909-12, S. L. Doggett; 1913-18, A. S. Adcock.


Attorneys .- 1901-08, S. G. Kelly: 1909-12, E. C. Littlefield: 1913- 16. J. H. Knaus: 1917-18. E. C. Littlefield.


CHAPTER XIII .- JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


DESCRIPTION, ORGANIZATION, NAMING-GEOGRAPHY -SOILS - EARLY SETTLE- MENTS-EARLY CHURCHES-EARLY CEMETERIES-EARLY SCHOOLS-EARLY TEACHERS-EARLY STORES AND POSTOFFICES-JUSTICES-COUNTY OFF]- CERS - POPULATION, PERSONAL PROPERTY AND PRODUCTS -ORGANIZA- TIONS


Jefferson township is one of the four original townships of which Johnson county was composed. It occupied approximately the south- eastern quarter of the county. It was organized May 4, 1835. It was named for Thomas Jefferson.


The organization of other townships from time to time, parts of which were taken from Jefferson township, has reduced it to little more than one-fourth its original size. Its relative geographical position is the same, still occupying the southeast corner of the county.


Geography .- Area, 60 square miles, or 38,400 acres. Geographically. Jefferson township is a smooth body of land, with rolling country formed by the headwaters of Clear Fork on the west, Muddy creek on the east and Tebo creek on the south.


Soils .- According to the Department of Agriculture's Soil Survey of 1914, the township is composed for the most part of Oswego silt loam (gray soil). This is split by Muddy creek from the southwest to the northeast corner, with miscellaneous bottom soils adjoining it. On the west side of the township is a very irregular strip of about two miles wide of Boone silt loam ("sandy" soil) in the northwest and Bates silt loam (dark gray-brown soil) in the southwest in an irregular strip of the same width.


The details of these soils are:


Oswego silt loam, upland, gray, compact soil: forms about 40 per cent. of the township. It lies all over the township, except that in the northwest eight square miles of the township are only two small patches.


Boone silt loam, upland, of sandstone origin : 25 per cent. This occu- pies chiefly the eight square miles in the northwest just mentioned, and also irregular strips of about one-fourth mile in width, adjoining the bot- tom land along Muddy creek.


165


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


Bates silt loam, upland, dark gray-brown soil; 25 per cent. This lies chiefly along the small branches of Muddy creek, Clear Fork and other creeks, all just above the Boone silt loam.


Crawford silt loam, upland, "red limestone" soil; 3 per cent. This is chiefly in an irregular body of about one square mile, lying about one-half mile southeast of Sutherland.


Osage silt loam, the ordinary bottom soil; 5 per cent. This lies chiefly along Muddy creek and Clear Fork tributaries.


Miscellaneous : 2 per cent. ; small patches, chiefly of black limestone soils, Summit silt loam, and second bottom soils, Robertsville silt loam.


Of the foregoing, the Crawford silt loam and Summit silt loam are ranked as two of the best three common upland soils in the county, with the Bates silt loam next.


For further soil details, see chapters on Agriculture and Soils.


Early Settlements .- The earliest permanent settlements in Jeffer- son township were made in the early thirties. Among the first settlers, John Draper, William Davenport and Benjamin Snelling came here from Kentucky in 1832. Benjamin Kimzey also settled here about that time.


Henry Divers entered government land in 1833, which is the first record of the kind which appears in Jefferson township, although a few farms, no doubt, were opened and settled a year or so prior to this date.


Among other early settlers in this township were David Cooper and Feldin Wolf, who came here in 1833, and Anthony Owsley, Thomas Smith, Early Tucker, Isaac McDonald and William Reynolds, who came in the same year. Owen Cooper settled here in 1836, coming from Kentucky, and Robert Craig, of Tennessee, came here the same year. James Patrick, a Kentuckian, settled in this township in 1834 and later went to Henry county. In 1837 Thomas J. Davis, a native of Virginia, settled in this township. but later went to Oregon. Harvey Dyer came about the same time and spent the remainder of his life here.


The settlement of Jefferson township, like other sections of the county and state, was not rapid prior to the middle of the last century. It was gradual and a majority of the early settlers made their permanent homes here. S. C. Gray settled here in 1848, coming from Boone county, Missouri. He spent the remainder of his life here and was prominent in local affairs and served as justice of the peace of the township for a num- ber of years. Some of the other pioneers who made their homes here


166


HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY


and settled prior to 1850 were Kit Wingfield, Elbert, Henry and Frank Cooper, John Owsley, John Draper and his sons, William, Addison and Mosely; Robert Douglas and his sons, Willis, Alfred, John, and Allen ; Benjamin Wall, Benjamin Farwell. Richard B. Fewel. Washington Gar- ret, B. A. Holmes and his sons, Robert H., John W .. James R., and Benjamin F .; David White, John, Elisha, William and Addison Grison; Larkin Pettis, William Birch and Dr. Owsley.


Early Churches .- Church services were held early in various pri- vate residences in the early days.


Feldin Wolf is said to have preached the first sermon in the town- ship in his own residence in 1833.


The oldest church organization in the township is Old High Point Baptist church, located twelve miles south of Knob Noster. It was organized in 1833 by Elders Simpson and Ricketts and preaching was held in school houses until 1855, when a building was erected by R. B. Craig and John Epperson at a cost of eight hundred dollars and the first sermon was preached here by Rev. B. F. Goodwin. Other early- day pastors of this church were Elders Simpson, Ricketts, W. P. C. Cald- well, A. Horn, A. M. Cockrell and T. J. Nevelle. The charter members of this congregation were Benjamin Snelling and wife, Vincent Snelling and wife, John Draper and wife, Anthony Owsley and wife, Ann White and John T. Ricketts and wife. The church building was destroyed by fire in 1863, at which time the early records were destroyed.


New High Point Baptist church was erected in the fall of 1881. For further details of this old church, see chapter on Baptist church.


Many of the residents of Jefferson township worship in a union church just across the line in Pettis county, especially the Methodists and Christians.


Early Cemeteries .- There were no regularly established cemeteries in this township prior to 1840. Up to that time interment was made on the home place of the deceased. Cooper cemetery, Goodwin cemetery and Combs cemetery were all private burial places. There was also a private cemetery in section 32 and one in section 35. A. P. Blewitt was the first to be buried in New High Point cemetery. His burial took place August 24, 1881. There are a number of graves in various parts of the township, which at this time can not be definitely located.


Early Schools .- Soon after the first permanent settlements came the local schools, established and maintained by private subscription.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.