USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 24
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The diameter being given, to find the circumference.
RULE .- Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7.
How to find the diameter when the circumference is given.
RULE .- Divide the circumference by 3 1-7.
193
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE.
To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- ness throughout will contain when squared.
RULE .- Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144.
General rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet.
RULE .- Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144.
To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on.
RULE .- Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches by twice the length in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1.10 to 1.15 according to the thickness of the bark.
Howard's new rule for computing interest.
RULE .- The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point one place to the left; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left.
Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given.
NOTE .- The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate; thus 3 per cent. per month, inverted, becomes 18 of a month, or ten days.
When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus: 3-1, three ones.
Rule for converting English into American currency.
Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90.
U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE.
A township-36 sections each a mile square.
A section-640 acres.
A quarter section, half a mile square-160 acres.
An eight section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a mile wide-80 acres.
A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square-40 acres .:
The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east corner.
The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The description of a forty-acre lot would read: The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1, in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be; and sometimes will fall short, and sometimes overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain.
13
194
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE.
SURVEYORS' MEASURE.
7 92-100 inches make 1 link. 25 links 1 rod. 4 rods. 1 chain.
1 mile. 80 chains
NOTE .- A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet.
Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barleycorn; three of which made an inch.
Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of measure is four inches-called a hand.
In biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes used, which is a length of nine inches.
The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length.
The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length.
A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches.
A fathom is equal to 6 feet.
A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking 1 nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 stat-
te miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league.
In cloth measure an aune is equal to 1} yards, or 45 inches.
An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches.
A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches.
A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches.
HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS.
Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic manner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of acquiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a · simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers.
1875. A. H. JACKSON.
DR.
CR.
Jan.
10|To 7 bushels wheat ..
at $1.25|$ 8.75|$ .... .
66
17 By shoeing span of horses
2.50
Feb. 4 To 14 bushels oats. at $ .45
6.30
....
4 To 5 1b. butter.
at .25
1.25
. ...
March S By new harrow ..
. . .
66
8 By sharpening 2 plows
.40
13 By new double-tree
2.25
27 To cow and calf.
48.00
....
April
9 To half ton of hay
6.25
.
25.00
May
6 By repairing corn-planter
.
4.75
24 To one sow with pigs.
17.50
·
35.15
4 By cash, to balance account.
$88.05|$88.05
18.00
.
9 By cash .
...
195
PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE.
1875.
CASSA MASON. DR. CR.
March 21|By 3 day's labor
at $1.25
$ 3.75
March 21 To 2 shoats.
.at
3.00 $
6.00
....
March 23 To 18 bushels corn
at
.45
8.10
. .
May 1|By 1 months labor
25.00
May 1 To cash.
10.00
June
19 By 8 days mowing
at $1.50
12.00
June
26 To 50 lbs. flour
2.75
July
10 To 27 lbs. meat
.at
$ .10
2.70
July
29 By 9 days harvesting
.at 2.00
18.00
Aug.
12|By 6 days labor
.at 1.50
9.00
Aug.
12|To cash.
20.00
.
Sept.
1 To cash to balance account
18.20
.. .
$ 67.75 $67.75
INTEREST TABLE.
A SIMPLE RULE FOR ACCURATELY COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CENT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.
Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 (the number of days in the interest year) by the per cent of interest, and the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest.
ILLUSTRATION. Solution.
Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An interest month is 30 days ; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multiplied by .48 gives $222.0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent of interest) gives 60, and 222.0000 divided by 60 will give the exact interest. which is $3.70. If the rate of interest in the above example were 12 per cent, we would divide the $222 .- 6(360 ) 0000 by 30 (because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per cent, we would divide by 90; if 8 per cent, by 45, and in like manner for any other per cent.
$ 162.50
.48
370000
183000
60)
$222.0000
180
4:20
420
00
MISCELLANEOUS TABLE.
12 units or things, 1 dozen. | 196 pounds, 1 barrel of flour. [ 24 sheets of paper, 1 quire.
12 dozen, 1 gross.
200 pounds, 1 barrel of pork. 20 quires of paper, 1 ream.
20 things, 1 score.
56 pounds, 1 firkin of butter. 4 ft. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8ft. long, 1 cord wood,
...
. .
196
NAMES OF THE STATES AND THEIR SIGNIFICATION.
NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS.
Virginia .- The oldest of the states, was so called in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region.
Florida .- Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoraticn of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or "Feast of Flowers."
Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time owned that section of the country.
Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest."
Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning "Long River."
Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for "smoky water." Its pre- fix was really arc, the French word for "bow."
The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called " Carolana," after Charles the Ninth of France.
"Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first established a colony there in 1732.
Tennessee is the Indian name for the "River of the Bend," i. e., the Mississippi which forms its western boundary.
Kentucky is the Indian name for "at the head of the river."
Ohio means "beautiful;" Iowa, "drowsy ones;" Minnesota, "cloudy water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel."
Illinois is derived from the Indian word Illini, men, and the French suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men."
'Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap.
Missouri is from the Indian word "muddy," which more properly applies to the river that flows through it.
Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river.
Cortez named California.
Massachusetts is the Indian for " the country around the great hills."
Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long River."
Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of Eng- land.
New York was named by the Duke of York.
Pennsylvania means "Penn's woods," and was so called after William Penn, its original owner.
Delaware after Lord De la Ware.
Nety Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was gov- ernor of the island of Jersey, in the British channel.
Maine was called after the province of Maine, in France, in compliment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province.
197
SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION.
Vermont, from the French words vert mont, signifying green mountain. New Hampshire, from Hampshire county, in England. It was formerly called Laconia.
The little state of Rhode Island owes its name to the island of Rhodes, in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble.
Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States.
SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUB- SCRIPTION.
The business of publishing books by subscription, having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possi- ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- lowing statement is made:
A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described; the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described by the pros- pectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before sub- scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional, or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the pros- pectus and sample, in order to bind the principle, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same.
· All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can not be altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contemplating sub- scribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the sub- scription is made is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract.
Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as can- vassers They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a pre- scribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They cannot collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They cannot extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their business.
It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- ment, would examine carefully what it is; if they cannot read themselves, call on some one disinterested who can.
1
PRESIDENT'S DWELLING.
UNIVERSITY HIALL.
OBSERVATORY. SCIENCE HALL. STATE UNIVERSITY, AT COLUMBIA, BOONE COUNTY, MISSOURI.
History of Ray County, Missouri.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Boundary, Geographical Position, and Physical Features .- Ray county, Missouri, is situated in the northwestern part of the state, and is bounded as follows:
North by Caldwell county; east by Carroll county; south by the Mis- souri river, separating it from Lafayette and Jackson counties, and west by Clay and Clinton counties.
Richmond, the county seat of Ray county, is in longitude seventeen degrees west from Washington, ninety-four degrees west from Greenwich, and the northern part of the county is crossed by parallel thirty-nine degrees, thirty minutes of north latitude. It embraces all that portion of Missouri lying between the range line separating ranges twenty-five and twenty-six, and the range line separating ranges twenty-nine and thirty, west of the fifth principal meridian, and extending from the township line between townships fifty-four and fifty-five, north, southward to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river.
The townships bordering on the Missouri river are numbered fifty and fifty-one, and are fractional.
The above limits, greatly less than the original, are the result of repeated formations of new counties from the territory allotted to Ray by the act establishing it as a county, and include a superficial area of 561.64 square miles, or 359,449.6 acres.
The twelve congressional townships north of the line between town- ships fifty-one and fifty-two are integral, and therefore, aggregate four hundred and thirty-two square miles; those south of that line extending to the Missouri river, are fractional, as above stated, and contain, in all, 129.64 square miles.
Ray county is twenty-four miles in width. The issouri river, as it passes the southern border of the county, is quite sinuous, thereby mak- ing the distance from its northern to its southern line irregular. The greatest length of the county, north and south, is twenty-six and one-half miles from the point where the section line between sections seventeen and eighteen, township fifty, of range twenty-eight, touches the issouri river-due northward.
The longest straight line that may be drawn within the limits of Ray county, would extend from the northwest corner of section six, township
200
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
fifty-four, range twenty-nine, to the southeast corner of fractional section twenty-four, township fifty-one, range twenty-six.
Ray county is most happily situated in the heart of the most beautiful and productive agricultural and mineral region of northwest Missouri. Kansas City is distant but forty-four miles from its county seat; St. Joseph sixty-seven miles, and St. Louis, the metropolis of the Mississippi valley, is only two hundred and thirty-seven miles to the southeastward.
Natural and artificial lines of transportation are ample and convenient, and the great western and southern markets are easily and cheaply accessible at all seasons of the year. The citizens of Ray have reason, therefore, to rejoice at the fortunate position of their county; and her inexhaustible natural resources, coupled with the thrift, industry and enterprise of her people, justify the hope that she will ever retain the rank she now deservedly holds, as one of the very first counties of Missouri.
The southern border of the county is laved by the waters of the great Missouri-reckoning from its source to the gulf, as is proper, the longest river in the world-and while one might reasonably suppose that the low lands bordering on so turbid and sluggish a stream are marshy, sub- ject to frequent inundation, and therefore well-nigh valueless, such is-in Ray county at least-far from the case. These bottoms are highly cul- tivable, and the soil is deep, fertile and enduring.
Stretching across the southern part of the county-save at one or two places where bluffs intervene-at ar average width of about five miles, and at from fifteen to thirty feet above the average water mark, they have good, natural drainage, and are, at almost all times, most admirably adapted to the purposes of husbandry.
These low lands were overflowed in June, 1827; again in June, 1844, and again in April, of the present year, 1881; but they are now-May- being prepared for the ensuing crop. It will be observed that the inter- vals between overflows are so· exceedingly long as to scarcely interfere with the cultivation of the bottoms; and their generous soil seldom fails to yield the industrious husbandman a bountiful harvest.
In the rear, and on the east and west sides of Camden, an old riparian hamlet, in sections twenty-six and twenty-seven, township fifty-one, range twenty-eight, the " bluffs" rise to a considerable hight, and present a scene picturesque and beautiful-especially in the spring-time, when the trees that crown their summits, are freighted with exuberant foliage.
The face of the county is beautifully, as well as conveniently diversified with prairie land, woodland, groves, valleys and arable hills or knolls. The last mentioned, however, in many places are covered with timber. The irregular surface configuration is an advantage to husbandry, making
201
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
the land self-draining, while, from its peculiar nature, it is capable of re- aining moisture-during a protracted drought.
Looking from the summit of a towering hill in the suburbs of Richmond, the extensive and variegated landscape, stretching away to the north and northeastward, dotted here and there with attractive farm-houses, is an exceedingly agreeable sight. Far in the distance, "timber ridge " appears looming above the intervening hills, and presenting an even, unbroken range that charms the beholder.
In many localities, more particularly on the water courses, the forests are dense, and the timber, in abundant variety, is very fine. Oak, elm, ash, hickory, pecan, blackwalnut, sugar maple, white maple, linden, cot- tonwood and other kinds are found.
Abundant and excellent building material occurs throughout the county, though, as yet, it has not been extensively utilized. In various parts of the county there are beds of limestone from which rock of almost any de- sired size, both durable and agreeable in appearance, might be obtained.
Ash-blue hydraulic limestone is found two miles northeast of Richmond, and similar rock exists at most of the coal banks near Richmond and Camden. A strip of limestone country some five miles in width, and about eight miles in length, extends through Grape Grove township, in the vicinity of Tinney's Grove. On David Teagarden's land in the north- west part of township fifty-three, range twenty-eight, is a limestone quarry. The rock is excellent for building purposes, and when first taken from the quarry is easily worked, but becomes hard on exposure to the air. *
Free-stone is also found in the bluffs along the streams.
The coal mines of the county are extensive, and worked with great profit; but we dismiss them here, with cursory notice, for a fuller descrip- tion further on.
On section nine, township fifty-four, range twenty-six, there is every in- dication of lead; indeed a considerable quantity of very rich ore has been taken out. The hill in which the ore is found is about three hundred feet high. There have also been found in this section, some fair specimens of silver and copper ore; likewise in section twenty-seven, township fifty- three, range twenty-eight.
* The following is MAHON's definition of limes: "Common or air-lime will air-slake, or slake by having water poured over it, and will only harden in the air. Hydraulic lime slakes thoroughly like common lime, when deprived of its carbonic acid, and does not harden promptly under water. Hydraulic cement does not slake, and usually quickly hardens under water. Fat limes give a paste which is unctuous to the sight and touch ; meagre limes yield a thin paste. Common limes are fat ; hydraulic limes are meagre ; but all meagre limes are not hydraulic.
"The limestones which yield hydraulic limes and cements, are either argillaceous or mag- nesian, or argillo-magnesian. The hydraulic energy differs according to the proportion of lime and clay in their composition. It is necessary that a certain proportion of clay should enter into the composition of the limestone. These rocks are generally some shade of drab, or gray, or of dark grayish-blue; compact-texture, fracture, even or conchoidal, with a clayey or earthy smell and taste. "
13
202
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
In township fifty-two, range twenty-nine, are indications of oil; the first, second and third sand formations existing the same as in the famous oil regions of Pennsylvania. This locality has been prospected, and the indi- cations examined by experts, who are confident that, at a depth of from seven hundred and forty to eight hundred feet oil will be found. About fifteen years ago, a Mrs. Overman, residing on section thirty-four, town- ship fifty-two, range twenty-nine, sunk a shaft to the depth of eight hun- dred feet; but owing to some defect in the boring, water could not be kept out, and the undertaking was not rewarded with success. Samples of the drillings, however, were examined by experts' and declared to be the same as found in all the oil districts of the country.
Near the mouth of Rocky fork of Crooked river, there are similar gen- uine indications of oil. A petroleum company was organized some years ago for prospecting in that locality, and made several borings, but for want of sufficient capital the enterprise proved a failure. At different places, where the stream flows over the land of White, Long and Adkins, oil is actually seen on the surface of the water.
Ray county is well watered, being traversed by numerous small streams, affording sufficient perennial supply of good fresh water for stock and other purposes agriculture and industry.
The following are the principal streams: Crooked river and its tribu- taries, East, Middle and West Fork, flowing across the county from north- west to southeast, drain the entire central portion; Wakanda, South Wakanda and Cottonwood creek,the northeastern portion; Fishing river, Keeny and Rollins creeks, the southwestern, and Willow creek the south- central portion. The course of all these streams, except Cottonwood creek, is southeasterly.
The Mirsouri bottoms and prairies constitute probably one half of the county. The rest consists of small, fertile valleys, low hills, woodland and bluffs-the last named being confined to the Missouri river, except at a few points along the banks of streams in the interior of the county.
We have thus given a brief topographical outline of the county whose history these pages are intended to recite.
No effort will be made at rhetorical adornment, but we shall endeavor to write plainly, and correctly and truthfully, in language to be appre- ciated by the people.
THE PIONEER.
When the first settlements within what are now the limits of Ray county were made, the country was almost wild. Nature was unsubdued. The prairies were covered with rank grass. The Indian's bark canoe floated on the streams, and the jackal's wail on the midnight air. Wild
203
HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
honey was in the hollows of trees, and a man's life in the hollow of his hand. In spring-time, when nature donned her emerald robe, the air was freighted with the breath of flowers; feathered warblers thronged the wildwood, and the shadowy dale was resonant with the voice of song. Birds of plumage were there, but so were birds and beasts of prey -- the latter sleeping in the day, but prowling in the night. It is ever thus: the enemies of innocence and beauty lurk secluded till opportunity offers to steal a blow. The primeval forests, as yet scarcely scathed by the hand of husbandry, were inhabited by ferocious, as well as by a great variety of harmless wild animals, including almost every species of American game. The panther, bear, jackal, lynx, wildcat, catamount, wolf and fox were among the destructive denizens of the tangled wild- wood. Myriads of wild turkeys flocked in the groves and ravaged the little corn-fields. The streams were full of fishes. Bison browsed on the prairie, and elk and deer were abroad in the forest. Hunting, trapping, and the gathering of wild honey were the most profitable employments. The skins of wild animals afforded raiment for the body-their flesh, food. Indeed, the pioneer lived largely on the fruits of the chase. Hunting was at once a pleasant and profitable pastime. People living from fifteen to forty miles apart were considered near neighbors, and numbers of them would often assemble, especially in the autumn, to
"Drive the fleet deer the forest through, And homeward wend with evening dew."
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