USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 11
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
county, on the east by Longwood and Hughesville townships, on the south by Hughesville township and on the west by Blackwater township. It has thirty sections, or 19,200 acres of land. It consists mostly of beautiful, rolling prairie, as fertile as any in the county. Its streams of water are Heath's Creek, which rises in the southern central portion of the county and finds its way in a northeasterly direction through the township; Buffalo Creek and another small branch or two rise in the township and flow north into the Blackwater, and a few small branches rise in the western part of the township and flow west into the south fork of Blackwater.
Henry Guier settled here about 1834. He came from North Caro- lina. Bartlett Williams came in 1840. John L. Scott came about 1837, from Tennessee. Daniel A. Gardner and Mrs. Paulina Coats both came at an early date. John Beatty came at an early day. A. N. Redd was another early settler. Cable Edmondson was an early settler. He came to the township from Maryland, and gave his attention to farming and stock-raising. He had one of the first, if not the first, herd of fine blooded stock in the county. A. H. Wilkinson settled at the head-waters of Heath's Creek as early as 1840. He came from the Old Dominion, and lived in the township until his death.
There were three early-day churches in this township, of which the Christian Church of Houstonia was the largest. It was organized in 1870 by Elder Samuel McDaniel. Joseph B. Wright was one of the early- day preachers, as was also Charles Shouse. Among the most able who filled the pulpit of this church was Rev. G. W. Longan, father of our distinguished citizen, Judge George F. Longan, of Sedalia. The writer is pleased to state that the father is now living comfortably in his old age and happy in his views of the future, with Judge Longan, his son, on East Broadway, this city. The first church of this denomination was built in 1871 and dedicated in August of that year by John B. Wright.
The M. E. Church South, of Houstonia, was organized by Rev. W. B. McFarland in February, 1869. Their first house of worship was built in 1870 by Rev. Joseph M. Kelley, a frame building, costing $1,700, and was dedicated by Elder M. M. Pugh, in December of the same year.
The Christian Church at Houstonia is a modern, up-to-date, brick building. Rev. Phillip Stark is the minister in charge. The church has a membership of seventy-five and a Sunday school with an attendance of fifty.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Houstonia Baptist is one of the old churches of the county, having been organized in 1866 under the name of Hickory Grove. Later the organization was called Wake Forest, and in 1887 the organization was moved to Houstonia, where the present church is located. The building is new, modern and up to date. Revs. G. M. Hyde, J. M. Plannett, Dr. H. M. Richardson, I. B. Dodson, W. A. Wilson, O. Jeffries, E. James, Dr. R. K. Maiden, W. J. Lester and G. C. Davis have ministered to this church since 1882. Church membership is about seventy, with Sunday school attendance of fifty.
The Southern Methodist Church, at Houstonia, was organized in 1870 by Rev. W. B. McFarland. Rev. George E. Hargis is the present minister. The following have served the church as ministers: Revs. W. B. McFarland, Jeptah Kelly, A. M. Rader, W. S. Woodward, W. M. Bewley, Warren DeHaven, J. B. Woolridge, J. J. Hill, W. T. Eastwood, J. Y. Busby, A. L. Houston, W. S. Woodward, H. L. Anderson, C. A. Emmons, C. T. Wallace, J. C. Cross, W. J. Snow, J. A. Jared, J. R. Hedgesm, W. J. Patison, J. W. Ezell, W. F. Wagoner, B. A. Powell, B. V. Altom. The present minister, Rev. Hargis appointed in 1915. This church has a mem- bership of 197, with Sunday school attendance of 170.
Houstonia, in this township, was destroyed completely by a storm. It destroyed every store and business house, the depot and about twenty dwelling houses, injuring many of the citizens.
Houstonia township is proud of her schools. They work under the consolidated District Law, and Hazel Hill school is the only school out- side of the consolidated district. It has a fair enrollment. The Consoli- dated District No. 1 is composed of the following old districts: Hous- tonia, Section, Black, Guier, Prigmore and Higgins. Houstonia township has an excellent high school in Houstonia.
M. E. CHURCH SOUTH, LONGWOOD, MO.
LAKE SHAW, LAMONTE, MO.
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CHAPTER XXII.
HUGHESVILLE TOWNSHIP
ORGANIZATION-ACREAGE - BOUNDARIES - DRAINAGE -PHYSICAL FEATURES- FARMING-NAME-TOWN-EARLY SETTLERS-CHURCHES. SCHOOLS.
Hughesville Township .- On petition of citizens to the County Court, that body on August 14, 1878, created Hughesville township as it now stands, out of Longwood and Houstonia townships, taking from Long- wood township sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33, and from Houstonia township sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and from 20 to 36, inclusive, as the sections are now numbered in Hughes- ville township. This township, as it now stands organized, contains forty sections, or 25,600 acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Houstonia and Longwood townships, on the east by Longwood township, on the south by Cedar and Dresden townships and on the west by Houstonia and Blackwater townships. The Lexington Branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad runs northwest, a little west of the center, through the town- ship.
The township is drained by Heath's Creek and branches leading into it in the northern part and by branches leading into Muddy Creek, which runs through Cedar township. The land is high, rolling prairie and is second to none in Pettis County. Price of land in this township range from $100 to $150 per acre, with very little for sale at any price. Any crop that can be raised in Missouri can be raised on these lands. The farmers are thrifty, have beautiful, well-kept homes with lands well fenced. They raise stock of all kinds successfully. There is little broken lands in Hughesville township, except along the banks of Heath's Creek, and there is little timber in the township.
Hughesville township takes its name from the principal town in its
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
borders. The town of Hughesville was named in honor of one of its influential citizens-Reece Hughes-who laid out the town while this township was yet a part of Houstonia township. It is with difficulty that we obtain the names of the early settlers of this township, because of its alliance with Houstonia and Longwood township, prior to August 14, 1878, when it was created a separate township by order of the Pettis County Court, and while the names of many of them might, in a measure, constitute a repetition, we will endeavor to give some of them: George W. Crawford, a native of Pennsylvania, came in 1868 and settled on a farm west of Hughesville. R. P. Crume, of Kentucky, came in 1857. Dr. J. N. Ferguson, a native of Kentucky, came in the spring of 1874 and located on a farm just east of the town of Hughesville. He was one of the useful men of the township and is still living in the city of Sedalia, having retired from the practice of medicine. William Fowler, a native of Scotland, came to Hughesville in 1880 and erected the first blacksmith shop in the town. Later he moved to the farm, just north of the village of Hughesville, where he still resides. Monterville McGruder, a native of Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia, came to Hughesville from Austin, Texas, and located in Hughesville in November, 1878 and built a shoe shop there the next year. Claus Heins, a native of Hanover, Ger- many, came to Hughesville in 1873 and still lives in the village. James B. Mockbee came with his father, Col. Mockbee, from Harrisonville, Mis- souri, in the early days. The father has long since passed to his reward, but James B. Mockbee is living and is the commissary at the Industrial Home for Girls at Chillicothe, Mo. Wallace Harris came from Georgetown in 1874. Another early settler was William Lowry. Another, and one one of the largest land owners in the county, was Major Williamn Gentry. Thomas J. Hughes came in 1876. Mrs. Lottie M. Hutchinson came to this township in an early day. Jonathan Janney came to the township in 1837. Wesley McClure came in 1851 to Georgetown and later moved to Hughesville Township. He was a native of Knox County, Kentucky. John McCurdy, a native of Ireland, was an early arrival, and J. D. Mitchell, a native of Cooper County, Missouri, came in 1865. M. D. Scott, born in Pettis County, June 12, 1843. He settled, early in life, in this township. Harrison Sickler, farmer and coal miner, of Pennsyl- vania, came in 1877. Henry C. Smith, a native of Clark County, Ohio, located just north of Hughesville in 1868. Ray and Will Bealer came from Kentucky in the early days.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
The First Church of Pettis, one of the oldest in the county, if not in fact the oldest, was an old brick church, located east of Hughesville, near the present Hughesville Cemetery. It was called "Old Brick Church" and "First Church of Pettis. High Point, was another of the early-day churches of this same vicinity.
The Hughesville Christian Church is the oldest in the township, hav- ing been built in 1884. For a number of years. this building was used by both the Christian and Presbyterian denominations, who worshipped in harmony for a long time. The "Old Brick Church" (Presbyterian) fall- ing into disuse, the Presbyterians built a building of their own. Rev. Wimberly is the present minister. This church has a large Sunday school.
The Hughesville Presbyterian Church is the second church built in Hughesville. This congregation was unfortunate with their church build- ing. They went out and built one of the most modern buildings to be found anywhere in the country. When the building was to be dedicated on Sunday a cyclone at Hughesville destroyed most of the town, levelled the church building to the ground the Saturday before. A new building was built in a short time afterwards and is still used by this congrega- tion. Rev. J. E. Wiley is the present minister. Church has a well attended Sunday school. In connection with this church it is well to men- tion such men as Gordon, Boude, Bagby and Simrall as ministers.
The Baptist Church at Hughesville was the next church built in the year 1898. This church building was built by Rev. Ford, who was a carpenter and who actually constructed the building with the help of a neighbor boy, Carl Miller, then just learning the carpenter's trade. The writer remembers having often passed this building in course of its construction in the long, hot summer days, long ago, and seen Rev. Ford and his assistant laboring incessantly in the summer sun, that the Baptists in this locality might have a house of worship. After comple- tion of this church, Rev. Ford ministered to it for some time and then moved to Oklahoma. Rev. Dinwiddie is the present minister.
The Methodist Church, South, organized in 1907, was the last church building erected in Hughesville. It is a beautiful building and possibly the best and most up to date in Hughesville. This congregation has a large membership and a well-kept church. Their building is located in the northern part of the town.
The Hughesville Cemetery is on about the site of the "Old Brick Church," once called the First Church of Pettis, a mile North and three
ยท
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
miles east of Hughesville. This cemetery is not denominational, being used by all sects living in Hughesville and township surrounding.
The schools in this township are as good as any others in Pettis County. The township works under the State statute authorizing con- solidated districts. This district is Consolidated District No. 2, composed of the following old districts: High Point, Hughesville, Prairie Valley and McCubbin. This district has an excellent high school and an impos- ing building located just north of Hughesville and just west of the William Fowler farm. It has a good enrollment this year, and Prof. C. F. Schor- man is teaching. High Point has an enrollment this year of twelve, and Iva Swope is teaching the school. Hughesville has an enrollment of twenty- nine, and Josephine May is the teacher. Prairie Valley enrolled eighteen this year, and Lillian Palmer is teaching. McCubbin has fifteen pupils, and Blanche Lowrey is teaching. Oak Point enrolled thirty-one, and Lena B. Taylor is the teacher. Mitchell school is the only one in the township outside of the consolidated district. This school is in the south- western part of the district, but not a part of it.
CHAPTER XXIII.
LAKE CREEK TOWNSHIP
NAME-PHYSICAL FEATURES-DRAINAGE-EARLY SETTLERS-EARLY AND PRES- ENT DAY CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
Lake Creek Township .- This township derived its name from the creek which flows in a northeasterly direction through the southeastern portion of the township. It is supposed that the creek was named Lake Creek, for the reason that it winds a sluggish course through the heavy soil, and forms numerous bayous or small lakes. The organization of the township into a civil division of the county was effected under the township organi- zation by order of the Pettis County Court, November 5, 1872. It occu- pies the southeastern corner of Pettis County, and it is bounded on the north by Smithton township, on the east by Morgan County, on the south by Benton County and on the west by Flat Creek township. It contains thirty-six square miles or 23,040 acres, just a congressional township.
In the northeast a high rolling prairie divide begins, and extends through the township to the southwest corner, in width averaging about four miles. This is the best agricultural portion of the township.
The principal stream of water is Lake Creek, from which the town- ship derives its name. Its sources are in Benton County, and it enters this county and township in section 33, flowing in a northeasterly direc- tion; it leaves the township and county from section 1 emptying into Flat Creek. A branch of Lake Creek unites with the main stream from the south in section 14. Mosby's Branch rises near the center of the township and flows north and west into Flat Creek.
The prevailing physical feature is prairie, though somewhat broken along the creeks.
The first settlers: George Goetze, who formerly lived in this town-
1
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
ship, died in Kansas in 1881, at the age of 103 years. A few of the pioneers of the township are, Jacob Seagraves, who came in 1819 from Tennessee. Scott Gilmore came in 1832 from Virginia. Thomas Jack settled in this township in 1827, coming from South Carolina. William A. Miller came from Germany in 1819, and now rests in one of the burial grounds of the county. Judge William Boeker also from Germany, came to the township in 1845. Herman Kahrs came from Germany in 1840. John Kahrs also came in the same year from the same place. John G. Bruhl was one of the early settlers. John A. Clausan came in 1843 from Germany. Henry Brauer came the same year and from the same place. Marshall Seagraves was born in the township in 1820, and was perhaps the first white child born in the township. Henry Weymerth came in 1840, from Germany. John Hook came here in 1825, from Virginia. Her- man Mahnken was married to Margaret Ficken, on July. 16, 1846, in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Sebastian Bard was the first minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Doctor Bradford was the first physician in the township. In 1832, John Hubbard taught the first school on John Kahr's land. The first church erected was the German Methodist Episcopal, on land bought from Cord Miller.
The farms are of medium size, capable of producing all kinds of crops usually grown in this latitude. They are well fenced.
German Lutheran, German Catholic and German Methodists are the religious organizations of this township. The adherents of the Catholic faith are most numerous. The cemetery owned and used by the Catholics and Lutherans was located near the two churches.
St. Paul Church, Evangelical Lutheran, of Lake Creek township, was organized by Otto Kluechner, in 1869. The early pastors were Revs. Otto Kluschner and Oscar Lumpe. The building is a frame structure and cost $1,200. The congregation was originally organized in Benton County, but in 1879 they moved to Pettis.
Schools were taught here in an early day; the first was taught by John Hubbard on John Kahr's land. This, the first school of which any facts can be obtained, was begun in 1832. The German Catholic school was taught in a house adjoining the church, and furnished accommoda- tions for twenty-five or thirty pupils. The German Lutheran school was taught by Oscar Lumpe, and had an attendance of about twelve. The school was situated about three hundred yards east of the Lutheran
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Church. The school in district No. 1 was taught by Miss Walkup. The school was called Lone Star. The school buildings were frame.
The township has good roads but no railroad.
St. John Evangelist Catholic Church is said to be the oldest church in Pettis County, its records dating back to 1846. It is located ten miles south and six miles east of Sedalia. Rev. Father F. J. Knoebbler is in charge at this time. Early priests in charge of this church were Revs. Father Geith, Schmidt, Haeckler and Koaemer. The church building is a frame structure thirty-four by seventy-five feet, Gothic. School in connection with the church has been abandoned. Church has membership of forty families. Bahner Cemetery adjoins the church.
The Lake Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, six miles south of Smithton, was established in 1843. The present church and parsonage are substantial frame buildings. They are the third set of buildings and occupy the third site since the class was organized. One of the dis- tinguishing features of this church is its historic camp grounds where they hold a spirited annual camp meeting. Membership of church is 140, with Sunday school attendance of ninety. Following is a complete list of ministers since foundation: Revs. Sebastian Barth, H. Neulsen, Conrath Eisenmeyer, William Schreck, H. Dryer, Jacob Fiesel, W. Niede- meyer, Dr. John Hausam, Peter Hellwig, H. Lahmann, Jacob Maeyly, P. H. Henker, H. Holzbierlein, C. Stueckmann, George Schatz, H. Hanken- meyer, John P. Miller, L. H. Milmer, William Fotsch, John Mayer, John Hausman, Daniel Walter, J. H. Dryer, H. Koepsel, H. H. Hackmann, F. H. Wippermann, H. E. Rompel, Ernest Crepin, G. Jaiser, G. F. Meyer, W. C. Wagner, and Oscar F. Kettlekamp. Lake Creek Cemetery is located about a mile from the church.
The township has four public schools. They are well kept and well tutored. Ringen school enrolled eighteen pupils this year, and Mary Griffin is teaching. Pacific school enrolled twenty-two, and Regina Stadther is the teacher. Bunker Hill School has an enrollment of thirty- two this winter and Cecelia Harrison is the teacher. Lone Star school has an enrollment of twenty-one, and Bessie Perkins is teaching the school.
CHAPTER XXIV.
LAMONTE TOWNSHIP
LOCATION-DRAINAGE-INDUSTRIES-IMPERFECT SURVEYS-EARLY SETTLERS- EDUCATIONAL-EARLY AND PRESENT DAY CHURCHES-CEMETERY.
LaMonte Township .- LaMonte township is on the western border, a few miles north of the west center of the county. It is bounded on the west by Johnson County, on the east by Dresden township, on the north by Blackwater township and on the south by Elk Fork township. It contains thirty-six sections, or 23,040 acres of land. It is drained by Muddy, Walnut Branch, South Fork and Brushy. The land is gently un- dulating and from a standpoint of productiveness, no better land lays out of doors. Farming and stock raising are the principal industries. Any crop that can be produced in Missouri can be grown on the lands of this township. The farmers are all prosperous and keep their farms up to date. The main line of the Missouri Pacific railway runs west through sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, a little north of the center of the township.
In the early days, the imperfect surveys caused much annoyance and quite a few law suits. It was not an uncommon thing for a resident of the township to build his cabin, only a few months later, to find that he had built it on his neighbor's lands. The first justice of the peace in the township was Jesse Pemberton.
The first settlement of the township was made in 1832, or about one year before the organization of the county, by Mr. and Mrs. R. Craighead. Mr. Craighead was from Bedford county, Kentucky, and Mrs. Craighead from Franklin County, the same State. Mr. Craighead came to Callaway County, Missouri, in 1819 or 1820 and remained in that county until he was married in 1831, when he emigrated to Pettis County and settled in
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
the southeast corner of LaMonte township, and erected the first house built in the township. Judge Jesse Pemberton came to the township a few years later, from Kentucky ; Mason Pemberton, also from Kentucky, James Kemp, Jefferson Moore, Dr. Thomas Pemberton, George Pemberton, Harrison James, Mr. Hughes (his wife, Mrs. Jane Hughes, was probably the oldest person living in LaMonte township, being ninety-six years of age), Squire Sharpe, Dr. J. W. Snoddy, J. S. Fleming, from Virginia ; Reu- ben DeHaven, from Virginia; Solomon Sandridge, Wm. Moore, Andrew Carroll, John H. Divers, Wm. Brown, Thomas McKeean, John F. Yankee and John W. Allen.
The educational interests of the township were looked after at an early date; when neighbors became near enough a suitable person was employed, and schools were held at private houses. The first district school house in the township was erected about two miles southeast of the present town of LaMonte. The first teacher who occupied this pio- neer structure, which was erected in 1842, was Thomas Hill, After teach- ing in this house sometime, he married one of his pupils, Miss Catherine J. Craighead.
The first church erected in the township was built about 1837. Prior to this meetings had been held in the private houses. This first chapel was built about four miles south of the present town of LaMonte, on Walnut Branch, by the Baptist denomination. The first minister was the Rev. Martenis Embry. The next church building in the township was erected in the present town of LaMonte. The other churches of the township were situated in LaMonte. They were the Methodist Episco- pal South, Baptist and Christian.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was located in LaMonte, but the class was organized in August, 1866, by L. P. Siceloff, the first year of his ministry, at Craighead school house. The original members were, Robt. and Nancy H. Craighead, John S. and E. I. Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. Hig- ginbothan, Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, Mrs. Monroe Garton. The church build- ing was erected by Joseph Bradfield and Robert and R. Brown, carpenters. It was completed in 1871, and was dedicated by Rev. Wm. M. Prottsman, presiding elder of this district. The early pastors were: N. Talbot, J. R. Bennett, presiding elder; J. M. Kelley, A. M. Rader, W. S. Woodars, M. Adkinson, presiding elder; W. M. Bewley, M. M. Pugh, presiding elder ; M. Dusun, J. B. H. Wooldridge, who being afflicted, resigned the charge,
The Christian Church of LaMonte was organized December 7, 1869,
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
by James Randall, with nineteen members. W. D. Snoddy and B. R. Taylor were elected elders of the congregation. The latter resigned the position in 1874, and William Duke was elected to fill his place. The church met regularly every Lord's day since its organization to worship. It had a Sunday school connected, with an average attendance of seventy- five pupils. J. W. Snoddy, superintendent. The following were the early pastors of the church: James Randall, O. Spencer, C. A. Hedrick, James Morgan, J. C. Crippin, William Dorsey, G. Phillips, S. K. Hallam, E. M. Berry. The church building was frame and was built in 1870. Original membership includes the names of W. D. Snoddy, E. A. Snoddy, Vincent Terry, Sallie A. Terry, W. B. Shaw, Susan Shaw, John Schutt, Utica Schutt, John Bard, Mary A. Bard, B. R. Taylor, Polly A. Taylor, Thomas Terry, N. Terry, George Duncan, Bettie Duncan, Lanora Hardy, Olive Shaw and Fannie Bard.
The Baptist Church of LaMonte township was organized in 1837, and is one of the oldest churches in the county. The house of worship in the town of LaMonte was built by the Presbyterians, and the congre- gation of the town consisted of twenty members, as follows: Rev. W. S. Webb, W. B. Webb, A. J. Hall, Sarah H. Hall, Kittie Fleming, Mrs. Frier, Maud Fleming, H. A. Webb, Priscilla Brown, Margaret Watson, Zoda Webb, Sallie Fleming, E. J. Webb, Jennie Craighead, Mrs. Oberby, Cardy Oberby, Susan Strickle, E. S. Webb, G. F. Bailey and M. L. Bailey.
On August 29, 1874, Bethel Church, with a membership of thirty, united with the congregation above mentioned. For three years the congregation worshiped in the Presbyterian Church building, and for three more years their services were held in the building belonging to the Methodists. The former building was purchased in 1880, from the Presbyterian congregation. It was erected in 1871, and cost about $1,500. Rev. W. S. Webb was pastor for four years, and Rev. J. K. Godby pastor for three years. The building was dedicated by Revs. W. S. Webb and Godby in December, 1880.
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