USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 6
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115
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Township No. 2, (Longwood) .- To include all that portion of town- ship 48, range 21, that belongs to Pettis County, and all of township 47, range 21, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of section 24, township 48, range 21, running thence west on county line to the northwest corner of section 19, township 48, range 21; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of section 31, township 47, range 21; running thence east on township line to the southeast corner of section 36, township 47, range 21; running thence north on range line to place of beginning.
"Township No. 3, (Houstonia) .- To include all that portion of town- ship 48, range 22, that belongs to Pettis County, and all of township 47, range 22, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of section 24, township 48, range 22, running thence west on county line to the northwest corner of section 19, township 48, range 22; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of section 31, township 47, range 22; running thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of section 36, township 47, range 22; running thence north on range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 4, (Blackwater) .- To include all that portion of town- ship 48, range 23, that belongs to Pettis County, and all of township 47, range 23, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of sec- tion 24, township 48, range 23; running thence west on the county line to the northwest corner of Pettis County, running thence south on the county line to the southwest corner of section 31, township 47, range 23; running thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of sec- tion 36, township 47, range 23; running thence north on range line to place of beginning.
"Township No. 5, (LaMonte) .- To include all of township 46, range 23, bound as follows: Commencing at northeast corner of said township 46, range 23; running thence west on township line to the northwest corner of same township and range, running thence south on county line to the southwest corner of same township, running thence east on the township line, to the southeast corner of same township; thence north on range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 6, (Dresden) .- To include all of township 46, range 22, running thence west on township line to the northwest corner of same township; thence running south on range line to the southwest corner of same township; running thence east on the township; run-
116
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
ning thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of same township; running thence north on range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 7, (Cedar) .- To include all of township 46, range 21, except the six sections on the south side of said township, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of said township 46, range 21; running thence west on township line to the northwest corner of said township; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of section 30, same township; running thence east on the section line to the southeast corner of section 25, same township; running thence north on the range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 8, (Bowling Green) .- To include all of the congres- sional township 46, range 20, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of said township 46, range 20; running thence west on the township line to the northwest corner of same township; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of same town- ship; running thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of same township; running thence north on the range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 9, (Smithton) .- To include all of congressional town- ship 45, range 20, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of said township 45, range 20; running thence west on the township line to the southwest corner of same township; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of same township; running thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of same township; running thence north on the range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 10, (Sedalia) .- To include congressional township 45, range 21, except that portion lying south of Flat Creek; also, to include six sections off of the south side of township 46, range 21, bound as fol- lows: Commencing at the northeast corner of section 36, township 46, range 21; running thence west on the section line to the northwest corner of section 31, same township; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of section 19, township 45, range 21; running thence east on section line to the southeast corner of section 19, town- ship 45, range 21, Flat Creek then being the south line of said town- ship; from said southeast corner of section 19, township 45, range 21, running east to the range line, near the southeast corner of section 13, township 45, range 21, thence north on range line to the place of begin- ning.
117
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
"Township No. 11, (Prairie) .- To include all of congressional town- ship 45, range 22, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of said township 45, range 22; running thence west on the town- ship line to the northwest corner of same township and range, running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of same town- ship; running thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of same township; running thence north on the range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 12, (Elk Fork) .- To include all of congressional town- ship 45, range 23, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast cor- ner of said township 45, range 23; running thence west on the town- ship line to the northwest corner of same township; thence south on the county line to the southwest corner of same township; running thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of same township; run- ning thence north on the range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 13, (Green Ridge) .- To include all of congressional township 44, range 23, and all of that portion of township 43, range 23, that belongs to Pettis county, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of township 44, range 23, running thence west on the township line to the northwest corner of same township; running thence south on the county line to the southwest corner of Pettis County ; thence running east on the county line to the southeast corner of section 12, township 43, range 23; thence north on the range line to the place of beginning.
"Township No. 14, (Washington) .- To include all of congressional township 44, range 22, and all of that portion of township 43, range 22, that belongs to Pettis County, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of township 44, range 22, running thence west on the township line to the northwest corner of same township; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of section 7, township 43, range 22; running thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of section 2, same township and range; thence north on the range line to place of beginning.
"Township No. 15, (Flat Creek) .- To include all of congressional township 44, range 21, and all that portion of township 45, range 21, lying south of Flat Creek, bound as follows: Commencing at the range line near the southeast corner of section 13, township 45, range 21, run- ning thence west with Flat Creek to the southeast corner of section 19,
118
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
township 45, range 21; thence west on the section line to the southwest corner of same section (19) ; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of section 31, township 44, range 21; running thence east on county line to the southeast corner of section 36, township 44, range 21; running thence north on the range line to the place of be- ginning.
"Township No. 16, (Lake Creek) .- To include all of congressional township 44, range 20, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of said township 44, range 20, running thence west on the town- ship line to the northwest corner of same township; running thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of same township; run- ning thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of Pettis county ; running thence north on the county line to the place of begin- ning."
Township organization was of short duration in Pettis County.
The following order of the County Court is found in Record 8, at page 52, in the office of County Clerk, dated August 14, 1878:
"That the prayer of petitioners be granted to establish a new Town- ship to be known as Hughesville Township and to comprise the follow- ing territory and be within the following boundaries, viz .: "To com- mence at the Northwest corner Section 2, in Township 47, Range 22, and run thence South, two miles to the North West corner Section 14, in said township and range; thence West 2 Miles to the North West corner Section 16, in said township and range; thence South 1 mile to North West corner Section 21, in said township and range; thence West 1 mile to the North West corner Section 20, in said township and range; thence South 1 mile to the North West corner Section 29, in said township and range; thence West 1 mile to the North West corner Section 30, in said township and range; thence South 2 miles to the South West corner Section 31, in said township and range; thence East along the township line between townships 46 and 47, 9 miles to the South East corner Sec- tion 33, in Township 37, Range 21; thence North 4 miles to the North East corner Section 16, in said township and range; thence West 1 mile to the North East corner Section 17, in said township and range; thence North 2 miles to the North East corner Section 5 in said township and range; thence West along the township line between townships 47 and 48, Four miles to the place of beginning.
"Signed. W. C. Gibson, Prest."
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
This order created Hughesville township, carving it from Hous- tonia and Longwood townships. The first voting place was fixed at Hughesville.
On April 9, 1873, the County Court made an order providing for the division of the county into four judicial districts. Each district elected one judge and one judge was elected at large, or from the whole county :
"Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of Missouri did pass an act (which act was approved March 24, 1873), entitled an act "To more fully provide for the organization of counties into municipal town- ships, and to further provide for the local government thereof, and repealing all former acts relating thereto.' And, whereas, article 17 of said act provides that the county court of each county having adopted the township organization law of this State, at their first meeting after the passage of this act, shall proceed to district their respective counties into four compact districts for judicial purposes. It is, therefore, ordered by the court, that Pettis County be divided into four (4) districts, as follows: Township Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall constitute district No. 1, or Heath's Creek district; townships Nos. 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 and 14 shall con- stitute District No. 2, or Washington District; townships Nos, 8, 9, 15 and 16 shall constitute District No. 3, or Bowling Green District; town- ships Nos. 7 and 10 shall constitute District No. 4, or Mt. Sterling Dis- trict."
The district organization was short lived.
Under date of July 17, 1877, after the township system was repealed, the County Court made the following order:
"Ordered by the court, that the municipal townships in Pettis County, remain as they now exist, also that the road districts that have been established by the township boards, remain as so established, and that, "Township No. 1, be named and known as Heath's Creek township; that township No. 2, be named and known as Longwood township; that township No. 3, be named and known as Houstonia township; that town- ship No. 4, be named and known as Blackwater township; that township No. 5, be named and known as LaMont township; that township No. 6, be named and known as Dresden township; that township No. 7, be named and known as Cedar township; that township No. 8, be named and known
120
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
as Bowling Green township; that township No. 9, be named and known as Smithton township; that township No. 10 be named and known as Sedalia township; that township No. 11, be named and known as Prai- rie township; that township No. 12, be named and known as Elk Fork township; that township No. 13, be named and known as Green Ridge township; that township No. 14, be named and known as Washington township; that township No. 15, be named and known as Flat Creek township; that township No. 16, be known as Lake Creek township."
CHAPTER X.
CLIMATE
TYPE-SEASONABLE VARIATIONS-TABLE SHOWING TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITA- TION-AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL.
The climate of Pettis County is about the average for Missouri and is highly favorable to the production of a wide variety of crops. Climate is continental in type with a wide range of seasonable variations. The table following, giving the normal monthly, seasonal and annual tempera- ture and precipitation, is compiled from the Weather Bureau station at Marshall, Saline County, Missouri, and is representative of the climatic conditions of this county.
Normal Monthly, Seasonal, and Annual Temperature and Precipitation at Marshall, Saline County.
-- Temperature-
-Precipitation-
Month.
Mean. F.
Abs. max. ºF.
Abs. min. ·F.
Mean. Inches.
Total driest year. Inches.
Total wettest year. Inches.
December
31.5
69
-22
1.70
2.58
2.17
January
28.4
72
--- 16
1.85
1.94
4.02
February
28.0
71
-26
1.96
1.19
1.85
Winter
29.3
5.51
5.71
8.04
March
41.9
90
2
2.74
4.35
6.45
April
54.1
97
17
3.42
3.43
3.10
May
64.3
102
25
5.01
1.11
9.17
Spring
53.4
11.17
8.89
18.72
June
72.7
101
41
4.67
2.52
5.34
1
1 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
İ
1
1
1
!
!
1
1
I
122
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
July
76.4
108
50
4.28
1.54
2.63
August
75.9
102
40
3.97
1.13
1.49
Summer
75.0
12.92
5.79
9.46
September
68.5
102
28
3.95
1.59
6.36
October
56.8
95
20
2.39
1.16
5.43
November
42.4
79
4
2.11
0.71
2.18
Fall
55.9
8.45
3.46
13.97
Year
53.4
108
-26
38.05
23.85
50.19
1
The mean annual temperature is reported at 53.4°, which is a few degrees above the mean for the northern part of the State. By compar- ing the absolute maximum and the absolute minimum a wide range in temperature is indicated, but these extremes are seldom reached and periods of extremely high or low temperature usually are of short dura- tion. The falls are characterized by long periods of pleasant weather, and pastures can be used until December. Cold weather is rare before January and zero weather is unusual.
The average date of the last killing frost in the spring is April 19 and of the earliest in the fall, October 11. This gives an average growing season of 175 days. The latest date of killing frost in the spring recorded is May 9 and the earliest in the fall, September 13.
From the table it is seen that the annual rainfall averages 38.05 inches and that 23.85 inches is reported for the driest year, which is considerably more than half of the normal precipitation. Of equal im- portance in agriculture to the total rainfall is its seasonal distribution, and in this respect Pettis County is favored, since about one-half of the total rainfall occurs in May, June, July, and August and nearly sixty-six per cent. from April to September, inclusive. May is the month with the heaviest rainfall, averaging about 5.01 inches. The months of June and July average 4.5 inches. The average monthly rainfall during the winter is less than 2 inches, most of the rain occuring just prior to and during the period of maximum, plant growth. Occasionally periods of drought occur in late summer and early fall. (The years 1901 and 1918 were genuine drought years in Pettis County.) Taking climatic condi- tions as a whole, they are as favorable to agriculture as they are in most humid regions.
CHAPTER XI.
AGRICULTURE
FORM OF-CROPS GROWN-ROTATION-AVERAGE YIELD-SMALL GRAIN-PAS- TURE-MEADOWS-GRASSES-TRUCKING-FRUIT-LIVE STOCK - DAIRYING NOT EXTENSIVE-FERTILIZER NOT GENERALLY USED-DRAINAGE-ACRE- AGE CULTIVATED-1963 FARMS-PER CENT OPERATED BY OWNERS-TOTAL VALUE FARM PROPERTY-LAND VALUES-CHARACTER OF IMPROVEMENTS. -STOCK RAISING-FEEDING-DAIRYING-FARM BUREAU-ESTABLISHMENT- ITS WORK.
Owing to its favorable soil, climate, and topography, the interests of Pettis County are predominantly agricultural. General farming, con- sisting of combined grain and stock farming, is the prevailing type of agriculture.
This form of agriculture has been practiced since the original settle- ment of the county. The prairie lands furnished abundant pasture, and stock raising soon became an important industry. Corn and wheat were the principal cultivated crops, and were grown in sufficient quantity to supply the home demand. From the time of the construction of the Mis- souri Pacific railway in 1861 and of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas rail- way in 1866 agricultural development made rapid progress. Owing to the absence of large forested or rocky areas, the land was completely and quickly occupied. At present practically all the tillable land is under culti- vation. A few small areas of rough and stony land in the northeastern and southwestern parts of the county remain forested. The cultivation of these areas is impracticable, and their best use is to supply timber for wood and fuel. There are several thousand acres of virgin prairie in the southern part of the county. This land is used for the production of prairie hay.
124
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Of the cultivated crops, corn is by far the most important, both in acreage and in value. About 120,000 acres, or over one-fourth of the total area of the county, is devoted to this crop, with an annual produc- tion of more than 4,000,000 bushels. The corn is grown mainly on the Summit and Oswego soils, which are recognized as the corn lands of the county. The red limestone soils, where well supplied with organic matter, are equal to the best Summit soil for the production of corn. Practically all the bottom lands are devoted to this crop and large yields are obtained. Practically all the corn crop is used locally for the feeding of cattle, much of it in the form of ensilage.
In the rotation most commonly practiced corn follows clover or some other hay or pasture crop. On bottom soils and on the better upland soils the crop is grown in succession for two or three years. In growing corn usually a check-row planter is used, and the first and second culti- vations generally consist of harrowing the ground. Commercial ferti- lizers are rarely used, but all the manure available generally is applied to the corn land. Most of the corn crop is either husked or snapped in the field and the stalks used for early winter grazing. In seasons in which hay is scarce a large acreage is cut and shocked. The practice of planting cowpeas or soy beans in the corn is becoming popular. The legumes are sometimes used as a green manure, but more frequently they are pastured or put into the silo with the corn.
Wheat is an important crop in every part of the county, although the black prairie and red limestone soils are recognized as the best wheat land. Approximately 27,000 acres were grown in 1914, with an average yield of about twenty bushels per acre. In general, yields range from twelve to twenty-two bushels, although yields of thirty-five bushels per acre are common. The crop occasionally is injured by the Hessian fly and . the chinch bug.
Where wheat follows corn the seed bed is prepared by disking and harrowing. The crop usually is seeded between the middle of Septem- ber and the middle of October. Clover is often sowed on wheat land in the spring and is sometimes plowed under with the stubble the following fall. It is more commonly allowed to stand a year or two for hay, in such cases timothy usually being seeded with it. The use of commercial ferti- lizers with wheat is growing in favor, especially in the southern part of the county. Bone meal and a complete fertilizer containing two to four per cent. nitrogen, eight to twelve per cent available phosphoric acid, and
125
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
two to four per cent potash, applied at the rate of 100 to 150 pounds per acre, give good results. The effect of fertilizers is seen also on the clover or grass following the wheat.
The oat crop is relatively unimportant, although many farmers grow a few acres of oats to supply feed for the work horses. In 1914 a total of 10,282 acres was devoted to oats. The 1910 census reports a pro- duction of 507,427 bushels from a total of 19,165 acres. In favorable seasons yields of thirty-five to fifty bushels per acre are obtained, but occasionally the crop is a total failure. The rust-resistant varieties give best results.
The acreage in rye has gradually increased during the last few years. The crop is used primarily for green manuring and winter pas- turage. In the spring it is plowed under and the land used for corn.
Kafir, milo, and millet are grown, although not extensively. Their acreage is largest in dry years. On account of their drought-resisting properties, these crops can be sowed late in the summer, and generally produce large quantities of coarse forage. Sorghum is grown and used for making sirup to supply the local demand. A few of the farmers have small fields of rape for hog pasture. On account of the good pastures and the large acreage of corn, there is little need of growing forage crops extensively, but it is considered profitable to have a few acres of some green crop on each farm to supplement the pasture during late summer and in seasons of drought.
A large part of the agricultural land of Pettis County is in sod, and in general the soils, on account of the clay subsoils, are well suited to grass. All the common tame grasses are grown successfully. Approxi- mately 18,000 acres are devoted to timothy. The yield averages one and a half tons per acre. The larger yields are obtained on the Summit soils, where the crop is most extensively grown. Timothy is sown on the wheat land in the late fall. Some difficulty in securing a stand is had owing to late summer droughts. A very small part of the crop is cut with a binder and thrashed for seed. Timothy and clover mixed are grown extensively.
The pastures consist of bluegrass almost exclusively, and the luxu- riance and permanence of this valuable grass on the soils of the county is the main factor in the important live-stock industry found here. In general, the soils of the northern part of the county are better suited to bluegrass than those of the southern part. Little difficulty is had
126
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
in getting a stand and when once the grass is started it is practically permanent. On the prairie soils, however, there are few permanent pas- tures. Land that is run down is usually seeded with grass and clover, used for pasture for a few years, and then cultivated again to corn and wheat.
Orchard grass does well on the gravelly and open subsoil lands of the Eldon and Baxter soils. It is hardy and withstands the summer heat better than bluegrass. In the southeastern part of the county there remain about 4,000 acres in wild prairie grass. The yield of hay ranges from one ton to two tons per acre.
In the aggregate about 3,000 acres are devoted to clover in Pettis County. This legume will grow on most of the types, but does best on the black prairie and limestone soils. The latter are natural clover soils, and little difficulty is had in obtaining a stand. The level prairies are not so well suited to the crop. In general, clover is sown in the spring on the wheat. Sweet clover grows along roadsides and in unoccupied fields in most parts of the county. It makes a vigorous growth on soils rich in lime. No effort is made to utilize this plant.
Alfalfa is not an important crop in Pettis County. However, ex- periments during the last two years in various parts of the county have given promising results, particularly on the better soils. The Summit, Crawford, and Pettis silt loams seem best suited to the crop. The well- drained bottom land, especially of the Huntington type, makes good alfalfa land. On account of the heavy clay subsoil and the low lime con- tent, the Oswego and Eldon silt loams are less desirable for this crop. In order to get a stand on average or thin lands, much care is necessary.
The best results with alfalfa are usually obtained by sowing the seed about the first of September at the rate of about twenty pounds per acre. The crop is usually cut just as the new shoots are making their appearance at the crown of the plant. Three or four cuttings of about one ton each per acre are made each year. Like clover, alfalfa is a nitrogen gatherer, and its growth is highly beneficial to the soil.
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