USA > Missouri > Scotland County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 15
USA > Missouri > Lewis County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 15
USA > Missouri > Clark County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 15
USA > Missouri > Knox County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 15
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Section 31-Sarah Davis, 1835; Isaac D. Davis, 1834; Robert Erp, William B. Cooper, Thomas Clark, 1836.
Section 34-Robert Watkinson, Thomas A. Hardin, 1836; Isaac L. Harrel, 1835.
Section 35-William Gibbs, 1836.
Dickerson Township, containing the county seat of Lewis. County, and centrally located, includes a varied topography and considerable diversity of soil and scenery. The North and the Middle Fabius flow through it from northwest to southeast, and along the banks of these streams is much broken land. The scenery along the North Fabius in many places, notably in the vicinity of Monticello, is picturesque and beautiful. The cliffs. of limestone are usually capped with sandstone, and often exposed, and upon them grow a profusion of cedars. In many places the scenery is even romantic.
Except on a portion of the Dickerson prairie, in the southern. part of the township, all or nearly all of the farms here were cleared out of the timber. The soil on these lands was never very strong, but has endured remarkably well. The southern
159
STATE OF MISSOURI.
and western part contains some excellent wheat farms. There is still an abundance of timber in the township, and even at this late day clearings are made.
The township was named for Maj. Obadiah Dickerson, who made a settlement on the prairie bearing his name at a very early date. He was a noted pioneer of Northeast Missouri. He was one of the founders of Palmyra, and the first postmaster, in 1819, and the first bona fide settler of Shelby County, where he died.
Entries of land in this township were made between the years 1830 and 1840 as follows:
IN TOWNSHIP 61, RANGE 7.
Section 1-Augustus J. Miller, Dabney Finley, John Brown.
Section 2-Joseph Trotter.
Section 4-Emilius K. Sayre.
Section 5-Dicey Grigsby, A. P. Williams, Cyrus Nichols,
J. B. Marmaduke.
Section 6-Francis Smith, James H. Wolf, James Jameson, George Staples.
Section 8-Walter H. Overton, William H. Pemberton.
Section 9-Samuel S. Stowers.
Section 10-Eli Finley.
Section 11-John R. Browning.
Section 12-Thomas Threlkeld.
Section 13-George W. Clark, Thomas Francis.
Section 14-Cyrus C. Scott, James M. Lillard.
Section 15-Robert S. Garnett, William Barnett.
Section 18-Joseph H. Blair, Isaac Reese, Albert Johnson, William Johnson.
Section 19-John C. Johnson.
Section 20-W. W. Overton, Benjamin Williams.
Section 21-Ransom Reddish, Daniel Easley.
Section 22-Matthew Givens, William Hazelrigg.
Section 23-Isaac Westerfield, George Vogel.
Section 24 John Hampton, William Hampton, Benjamin Hulett.
Section 25-Samuel Cox, John L. Snapp.
160
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Section 26-Mary Dale, S. H. Maddox, Isaac Coffman. Section 29-Charles H. Lamkin.
TOWNSHIP 61, RANGE 8.
Section 1-William H. Edwards, George Reese.
Section 3-William P. Richardson.
Section 12-Henry Sneed, John Carr, Eleanor Kenton.
Section 13-John Moore, Elijah Moore, Charles Williams.
Section 14-Thomas Lewis, William Smith.
Section 15-Franklin Mallett.
Section 22-Nelson Johnson, John Barrett.
Section 23-John V. Bradley, Benjamin T. Bradley.
Section 24-Philip Haley.
Section 25-A. L. H. Crenshaw, Jonathan Hildreth.
TOWNSHIP 62, RANGE 7.
Section 25-Nathan Brown, J. B. Mitchell, J. M. Sutton, Parker N. Jarvis, E. G. Adkins.
Section 26-Isaac B. Ousley, T. B. Caldwell.
Section 30-Richard Asbury.
Section 31-John N. Hughes, Leonard Fretwell, A. G. Anderson, Daniel Easley, Mildred Graves.
Section 32-A. P. Williams, W. P. Richardson, Richard Blair, James Givens, William Dunbar.
The earliest entries in this Congressional Township were made between 1831 and 1836.
TOWNSHIP 62, RANGE 8.
Section 26-John N. Hamilton, George T. Hamilton, Will- iam Smith.
Section 27-Nathaniel Richardson.
Section 34-Alexander McClelland.
Section 35-Amzi Babbitt.
Earliest entries in this Congressional Township.
Highland Township, one of the oldest in the county, lies in the south-central portion, lying along the Marion line. The greater portion of the surface was originally covered with timber, and was a favorite hunting ground both for Indians and pioneers.
161
STATE OF MISSOURI.
The Middle Fabius passes through the township from northwest to southeast, the North Fabius cuts the northeast, and Trouble- some Creek the southwest corner. Along these streams is much timber and broken land, and the general surface of the township is rolling. There are a few white oak ridges here, and some thin land. The township is, however, nine by six miles in area, and of course contains within its borders some fine farms and many fertile fields. Stone is abundant and easily accessible along the streams. Timber is very plentiful. The cutting of railroad ties is quite an industry.
Highland was settled very early. The timbered lands were in great favor with the pioneers. Certain tracts near the Fabius were the first occupied. Though the timber here was generally dense and heavy, the soil was rich and loamy, and when cleared and grubbed could sometimes be planted in corn, the principal crop, with a hoe. The township was organized in 1838, and was named for its general situation.
The following entries were made in this township prior, to 1840 by actual residents :
TOWNSHIP 60, RANGE 7.
Section 1-James Vaughn, 1832; David S. Lillard, Michael Smyser.
Section 2-James B. Williams, 1831; John B. Fore, Charles Adams, Dr. A. H. Slaughter.
Section 3-William S. Johnson, Francis Bourn, Ambrose Bourn (went to Texas).
Section 4-George Bailey, Hudson Bourn.
Section 5-Joseph Drake, B. P. Curd, John H. Curd, Thomas G. Mobley.
Section 6-Samuel Ammerman, Josiah West, Thomas L. Magee, Hiram Coffee.
Section 7-John H. Briscoe, Merritt Briscoe, Benjamin C. Lewis.
Section 8-Walter Briscoe, Daniel B. Ellis.
Section 9-Elijah Hayden, William Briscoe, Isaac H. Briscoe (killed on road California ).
Section 10-Thomas Smith, William Rains, Abner Bourn, Dudley Bourn, Abner Williams, Young Birchfield.
162
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Section 11-H. F. Fore.
Section 12-James H. Lay (father of Hon. A. M. Lay, M. C.), Peter A. Hall, Reuben Jeffries.
Section 13-Joseph Lackland, Thomas Foley, James T. Ball, Sylvester McCubbin.
Section 14-James S. McPheeters, George W. Eastman, Jackson Stevens.
Section 15-Joseph Anderson, Elijah Hamilton.
Section 17-Thomas Stevens, Charles Stevens, John B. Shackelford, Stephen Briscoe, Nesbit Nelson.
Section 18-James Shumate, Robert Worrel, Robert Beckett. Section 19-John Wallace.
Section 20-Rev. Presley N. Haycraft, John Anderson, Hiram Nelson.
Section 21-Rufus Henry.
Section 22-Cyprian Ellis.
Section 23-Nimrod D. Towle.
Section 24-Charles W. McPheeters, William S. Johnston, William L. Henderson.
Section 25-Milton S. Mann.
Section 26-James Jones, Calvin G. Jones.
Section 27-Thomas B. Williams, Thomas M. Howard.
Section 28-Hiram Blanchard, Samuel Singleton, Jesse B. Pritchard, Alfred Clow (or Clough).
Section 29-Henry Humphrey, Ebenezer Nelson.
Section 33-James Singleton, M. W. Singleton.
Section 34-E. H. Mallory.
Section 35-John Jones, L. P. Weatherby.
Section 36-Joseph Johnson, Mrs. Frances Jones, Rev. Cur- tis Smulling (Methodist).
TOWNSHIP 60, RANGE 8.
Section 1-John S. Rankin, originator of the Rankin Apple; Hoard Roberts.
Section 3-Abraham Oyster, removed to Union Township.
Section 10-John Helms.
Section 34-William P. Skinner, the La Grange merchant. Section 35-John Fisher, Elijah Fisher.
163
STATE OF MISSOURI.
TOWNSHIP 61, RANGE 7.
Section 31-William H. Edwards, Charles H. Lamkin.
Section 33-William Sublett, George A. Sublett.
Section 34-Thomas Hayden.
Section 35-Elijah Hubbard, Dr. A. H. Slaughter.
The bonded indebtedness of Highland Township is at present a serious consideration with the people, and a great injury to their prosperity and future prospects. It was incurred in aid of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad, which passes through the township from the southeast corner to the northwest. In June, 1870, thirty-six citizen voters to the township-twenty-three Republicans and ten Democrats-petitioned the county court to order an election in the township, to determine whether or not a. majority of the voters were in favor of granting the subsidy asked for in aid of the proposed enterprise. At that date much interest was felt in the location of the line. Two routes had been surveyed, and as one of them left the township almost entirely, while the other passed fairly through it, there was great. anxiety that the latter should be adopted.
The county court made the order June 28, 1870, and the election was held July 28, following. The proposition was whether or not the township should issue in aid of the proposed road, contingent upon its location on the present line, $25,000 in bonds running twenty years, and bearing interest at the rate- of 10 per cent. One-half of the bonds were to be issued and delivered when half of the line through the township should be graded, and the other half when the grading was completed, and the ties delivered ready for laying track. The vote resulted: For the issue of the bonds, 112; against, 53; majority, 59, more than two-thirds. J. M. Nunn, J. B. Shackelford and. Ozias Goodson were appointed commissioners to represent the people, and the bonds were issued, the road built, three stations in the township established, and all within the time and accord- ing to the contract.
But the payment of the bonds has been steadily resisted, and offers of the holders to compromise have been refused, until the debt is now about $30,000. In May, 1887, the last proposition to refund the debt was rejected by a vote of 132 to 93. The
164
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
people opposing refunding avow their intention of paying off the entire amount within a few years.
The southwestern corner township of Lewis County is Salem, which is nine miles by six in area, and though not conspicuous in its situation is one of the most important municipal divisions. The soil, mingled prairie and timber, is generally good, and there are some very fine farms here. There are no towns or villages worthy of the name. The little hamlet of Steffenville is the near- est approach to a town, but there are numerous schools and a supply of churches, and the people are generally intelligent and enterprising.
Troublesome Creek, which passes through the northeastern part of the township, and the South Fabius, which cuts the south- west corner, are the leading streams. Troublesome Creek was named by the early settlers because it was so troublesome to cross. It drains a considerable extent of country, and a little shower in early times before it was bridged was sufficient to fill it and render it impassable.
Samuel Allen was the first settler in this township, and the first township created out of this territory was named for him. The original territory embraced, however, in its entirety the greater portion of Knox County, and the voting place was at Newark. Upon the organization of the township it was named Salem for a prominent church then in existence.
Following are the names of the first actual citizens of this county or Knox that entered land in what is now Salem Town- ship prior to 1840:
The earliest entries in this township were made from 1833 to 1840.
TOWNSHIP 61, RANGE 8.
Section 31-Daniel McClintic.
TOWNSHIP 60, RANGE 8.
Section 6-William McClintic, James Ellison.
Section 9-Samuel Bryan.
Section 17-Abraham Martin.
Section 18-Henry T. Bowles.
Section 19-Jacob Jackson, Susan Sizer, James D. Allen, George J. Glasscock.
1
165
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Section 20-John Johnston.
Section 28-John Hutcherson.
Section 29-William A. Pepper.
Section 30-Peter S. Kizer, John Howe, Richard Allen, Solomon Carter.
Section 32-Maria M. Anderson, James Clark, Robert
Ferrill.
Section 32-Joseph Ferrill, D. C. Skinner, John Martin, John Kelly, S. Ballard.
TOWNSHIP 60, RANGE 9.
Section 1-Joseph McClintic.
Section 5-George Seeber, Joseph Wilson, Osburn Mc- Cracken.
Section 6-Wash Kelly, John Glover.
Section 7-S. C. Sloan, Merritt Shipp, David Castleman, E ..
R. Downing.
Section 8 .- Harvey T. McCune, Susannah Downing. Section 13-Arthur Thorn.
Section 18-James Fresh, Samuel Manning.
Section 19-Robert G. Fresh, William Fresh.
Section 30-Jeremiah Moore, William Dines.
Section 33-Harvey Hayes, John Malone, Josiah Elliott.
Section 34-Elizabeth Anderson.
Section 35-Samuel Allen, John Smith.
TOWNSHIP 61, RANGE 9.
Section 35-Thomas Kendrick.
Section 36-William Schrader.
La Belle Township is situated in the western part of the county, midway between the northern and southern boundary lines. It is chiefly prairie, and is the latest settled township of the county. Some of the best lands and finest farms were not opened until after the war. The beautiful expanse of prairie comprising this township is now fairly well occupied by an intel- ligent, thrifty people.
Land entries were first made in this township as early as in 1835, and the first actual settlers came at that date. Entries
166
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
were made on various sections in the township between 1835 and 1840 as follows:
TOWNSHIP 61, RANGE 9.
Earliest entries from 1835 to 1840:
Section 1-Silas Reddish, John B. Perkins, James L. Fisher.
Section 2-John Wright.
Section 5-Hudson Bourn.
Section 6-William Young, Francis Bourn, Catherine Hayden. Section 13-Stephen Perkins.
Section 17-Philip C. Sublett, Henry T. Howerton.
Section 20-Clinton F. Northcraft, Smith Bradshaw.
Section 22-Edward Bradshaw.
Section 24-William Thompson.
Section 25-Charles W. Kendrick.
Section 26-James W. West.
Section 27-William Kendrick, Sr.
Section 28-William W. Kendrick.
TOWNSHIP 61, RANGE 8.
Earliest entries from 1835 to 1840:
Section 4-Presley Blair, Alexander Harper, Thomas Stowers, Samuel Stowers.
Section 5-Thomas Phillips, Richard Blair, William F. As- bury.
Section 6-Thomas A. Gassaway.
Section 8-B. F. Fugate.
Section 19 -- William Thompson, A. N. Robinson.
Section 28-Charles Dance.
Section 29-George W. Perkins.
TOWNSHIP 62, RANGE 8.
Earliest entries from 1832 to 1836:
Section 28-George J. Tate.
Section 29-Sarah Hawkins.
Section 31-Joseph Dodge.
Section 33-Elijah Harper.
TOWNSHIP 62, RANGE 9.
Earliest entries from 1835 to 1840:
167
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Section 25-Lewis Tracy, Charles T. Love, Samuel Love, Asa Davidson.
Section 26-James H. Hilbert.
Section 28-George Hinson, Eleanor Kenton.
Section 29-Humphrey Hinkson, John McDaniel.
Section 31 -- Elijah Hayden, Isaac Coffman.
Section 33-William S. Hinson.
Section 34-Joseph Bowles, Jacob Zimmerman.
Section 35-David Zimmerman, William Zimmerman.
Section 36-Joel Reddish, Allen Poague, Tilman Judy.
Reddish Township comprises the northwestern part of the county. There is considerable broken territory within its limits, and much wooded ridge land. The North and Middle Fabius flow through it from northwest to southeast, and along these streams, from source to mouth, the country is uniformly broken. The long and elevated ridge in the township, called Deer Ridge, was so named by the pioneers from the number of deer found by them. In 1846, or perhaps a year earlier, a postoffice was estab- lished in this township, and called Deer Ridge. A store was established here about the same time by Arnold & Smith. This was the origin of the present hamlet of Deer Ridge.
The township was first called Deer Ridge, but the name was afterward changed to Reddish, in honor of Silas Reddish, the first actual settler within its borders. The first settlers came in 1835, although entries of land were made as early as in 1832. The entries here by actual residents prior to 1840 were as fol- lows:
TOWNSHIP 62, RANGE 9.
Earliest entries from 1835 to 1840:
Section 1-Jacob Senseney. .
Section 2-Thomas P. House.
Section 3-Jacob Weidner.
Section 5-Joseph Ringo, Alex Hunsicker.
Section 6-Robert McReynolds, William McReynolds, Thomas Lillard.
Section 7-Adam Emory.
Section 8-Major Kinney, Walter Emory, Ezekiel Lennon. Section 9-John Kinney, John O. Henton, George Thompson,
168
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Jackson Thompson, Dr. Polonzo Conduitt, Thomas J. Conduitt.
Section 10-James Fugate.
Section 11-Preston Richardson.
Section 13-William Merrill.
Section 14-Abner Merrill.
Section 15-Samuel Borland, Frederic Agee.
Section 18-Samuel Moore, Charles Turpin.
Section 21-John Ball, Alonzo Adams.
Section 23-James H. Hilbert.
Section 24-Jonathan Snyder, John Gregory.
TOWNSHIP 62, RANGE 8.
Earliest entries from 1832 to 1836:
Section 4-Henry C. Asbury, M. W. Plant.
Section 5-James P. Charton, Charlton T. Messick.
Section 6-James L. Clayton.
Section 8-Jacob Senseney.
Section 9-Daniel Morris, Clifton H. Rucker, Massey
Thomas.
Section 19-David Turpin, Nancy Thrasher.
Section 20-James E. Bouldin.
TOWNSHIP 63, RANGE 8.
Earliest entries from 1834 to 1840:
Section 30-Simpson Mays.
Section 31-J. B. Thompson.
Section 32-Samuel Cecil.
Section 33-Paschal Buford ..
TOWNSHIP 63, RANGE 9.
Earliest entries from 1835 to 1840:
Section 23-William G. Kerfoot. .
Section 25-Ralph Smith.
Section 27-Thomas Davis.
Section 30-Isaac Stafford and A. Stafford.
Section 31-Jefferson M. Board and Daniel Turpin.
Lyon is the last municipal township created in the county. It comprises a variety of soil. Originally the timber and prairie
169
STATE OF MISSOURI.
were in about equal proportions. It is well watered by Sugar Creek, the Wyaconda and their tributaries, and the North Fabius cuts the southwest corner of the township. The country is generally well improved, with many fine farms, commodious barns and comfortable residences. The township was organized after the civil war, and named for Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, of the Union Army, who fell at the battle of Wilson's Creek.
The list of original land entries, shows that the following locations were made in this township prior to 1840:
TOWNSHIP 62, RANGE 8.
The earliest entries from 1832 to 1836:
Section 1-A. J. Henderson.
Section 13-John Marsh.
TOWNSHIP 62, RANGE 7.
The earliest entries from 1831 to 1836:
Section 1-Mary A. Davis, Thomas Clark, Thomas Poulton,
J. B. Beck, John Flynn.
Section 2-T. D. Shaw.
Section 3-John Lisle.
Section 4-A. W. Travis, William A. Allen, Levi Poage.
Section 5-Willis J. Baker, Henry M. Ferguson, H. W. Barstow, Joseph S. Lillard.
Section 6-John McCutchen.
Section 7-P. G. Womack.
Section 8-William H. Lillard.
Section 9-William G. Ford.
Section 10-James Emerson.
Section 13-W. R. Campbell, James Ellison, W. H. Rodman, William C. Glover.
Section 14-A. K. Henton, Dennis O'Connor, Rowland Chambers, Felix G. Williams, Jonathan Stoddard.
Section 15-John H. Agnew, Thomas A. Moffett, Jesse Ellis. Section 17-James H. Whittington, O. T. Barbee, William E. Hurlbut, Samuel G. Hurlbut.
Section 18-Silas Ramsey.
Section 19-Joseph Pollock, Henry F. Baker, Leonard Coit, R. S. Tucker. 11
170
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Section 21-Clement Lillard, B. P. Major.
Section 22-John Shanks.
Section 23-Thomas B. Caldwell.
Section 24-Mitchell Russell, B. Bland.
TOWNSHIP 63, RANGE 7.
Earliest entries from 1833 to 1839:
Section 19-Thomas G. Baker.
Section 23-David Long, Mays Johnston.
Section 24-John Galbraith, G. Hahn, Joseph Burtle.
Section 26-Peter Murray, Charles T. Thornton.
Section 27-William Derrough, Robert King, John Sherrin. Section 28-James McDermott.
Section 29-A. G. McLanahan, James W. Baker.
Section 30-Thomas Adams, Joseph Steele, John Baker.
Section 31-Burnett Griffith, William Zimmerman, Hedge- man Wyne.
Section 32-Samuel H. McKim, James Ferguson, William Agee.
Section 33-William A. Allen, Thomas T. Arnold, Dennis Brady.
Section 35-Elisha Logston, Benjamin G. House, Edward Hill, Andrew Johnston.
Section 36-Samuel G. Cornell.
RAILROADS.
The first railroad in the county was the Canton & Bloomfield Railroad, chartered to run from Canton to Bloomfield, Iowa. The building of this road was begun in 1860. Ground was broken at Canton in April by H. P. Adams, of New York, the general con- tractor. The enterprise received most liberal and substantial aid and encouragement. The people along the proposed line donated the right of way. Canton gave it $30,000 in 10 per cent bonds; of this sum it is a matter of record that $19,700 were surrendered by Henderson Davis, who was one of the most prominent promot- ers of the undertaking; perhaps the entire amount was issued and delivered. The citizens made subscriptions to the amount of $25,000. Maj. George W. Cordell gave $1,000 in cash, and paid down the money in advance.
171
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Before the close of the year 1860 the grading and bridging was done, the iron was laid, a locomotive and cars were brought in by steamboats, and a construction train actually made several trips from the eastern terminus, in the northern part of Canton, to Bunker Hill. The civil war came on, and the further exten- sion or improvement of the road was stopped. The engine stood upon the track near Tully, in full view from the boats on the river, for a year or two. But in the fall of 1864 the owners of the road sold the iron to the United States Government, and a force under a military officer was sent up to remove it. The Government wanted the iron to use on a railroad down in Tennessee, and bought it because it could be bought much cheaper than new iron.
Realizing that the dismantling of their railroad would proba- bly result in its complete destruction, and mindful of the fact that their city had granted to it $30,000 in bonds, which consid- erable sum would be thrown away if the road were destroyed, the people of Canton were greatly disturbed when the military man appeared and began operations. A delegation waited on him and remonstrated with him. The members excitedly nar- rated the circumstances, detailed the incidents of the issue of bonds and of private subscriptions, and showed very clearly that if the iron should be carried off, the city would absolutely lose $30,000 with interest, and there would be no redress nor recourse. The officer said he couldn't help it; he had orders to strip that road of its iron and he meant to do it; he said perhaps $30,000 was a big sum for the town of Canton to pay, but it cut a very small figure in the decision of an important military question in Tennessee. Threatened with an injunction, and that the sheriff and his posse would soon be upon him and make him stop work, he said he would like to see them try that! He would obey an order from Gen. Rosecrans,* he said, but until one was produced he must follow his previous instructions. So he proceeded with his stripping, and the delegation retired.
A committee was now sent to St. Louis to see Gen. Rose- crans. That officer refused to interfere with the removal of the iron, alleging that it was a military necessity, and besides the
*Gen. Rosecrans was now in command of the Department of Missouri.
172
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Government had bought it and could do as it pleased with it He took action, however, in regard to the bonds. If the road were destroyed, he said, the town ought not to be compelled to pay them. He therefore, made an order that before the parties who had sold the iron should receive pay for it, they should sur- render the bonds to the agents of the town. The bonds were surrendered, thanks to Gen. Rosecrans, and the city was never compelled to pay them.
After the war in 1866, the road was rechartered, to run from Canton to Bloomfield, but to deviate from the former route a little. In 1868 there was another chartering, and the terminus and the name changed. The eastern terminus was fixed at West Quincy, and the western at Brownsville, Neb. The new line was called the Mississippi & Missouri River Air Line Rail- road. The project of building and completing the road was now agitated, and for a time promised to be a success.
On the 25th of May, 1868, the county court ordered an elec- tion to be held on the 30th of June following, to take the sense of a majority of the qualified voters of the county as to the pro- priety of an issue by the county court of $100,000 in bonds in aid of the enterprise. The bonds were to run twenty years, to bear interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, and were to be issued and delivered, one-half of the amount when the road should be graded from West Quincy via La Grange and Canton to the north line of the county, northwest of Williamstown; the other half when the road for that distance should be " tied, bridged, and the iron laid on the road and [the road] in run- ning order."
There was quite a spirited canvass. The southern town- ships, away from the proposed line, strenuously opposed the subsidy. Those on the route favored it. Locality and self- interest controlled the action of the voters; party politics had nothing to do with it, as the vote by townships shows:
-
173
STATE OF MISSOURI.
For Sub-
Against Sub
TOWNSHIPS.
scription.
scription.
Canton.
274
3
Union
212
33
Lyon
34
13
Reddish.
64
27
La Belle.
3
55
Highland
2
103
Salem.
1
61
Dickerson
20
40
Totals
610
335
In October, 1869, work on the road was completed sufficiently to warrant the issue and delivery of the bonds to the amount of $25,000; in September, 1870, the grading was completed through the county and the remaining half of the $50,000 in bonds was delivered. Work now ceased. The road was never "tied, bridged, and the iron laid," and the remaining $50,000 was never issued.
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