USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
Another movement was started about this time, which was more import- · ant for its possibilities than for what it accomplished. This was a movement toward something like co-operation among the farmers. Three organizations made attempts to establish themselves here, the Farmers Alliance, the Grange and the Wheel. None of these was successful, and only one of these, the Grange, is now of any importance anyivhere. This organization is said to be in successful operation in many parts of the state, and it is to be regretted that it did not receive a better reception here. A movement along this same which has been eminently successful, however, is the comparative recent organization, the People's Telephone Union. This organization was started less than ten years ago. At that time scarcely a farmer was to be found who
240
PAST AND PRESENT
had a telephone : today the wires of the Union reach practically every farm house in the county. What this means to the farmers, and to the farmers' wives, can not be overestimated. The telephone itself is a matter of tremen- dous importance in adding to the prosperity and the happiness of the farmers' lot.
About a quarter of a century ago, a new organization was started which was destined to reach proportions undreamed of by the founders. This was the Standard Poland-China Record Association. This was really an out- growth of another organization, the Northwest Missouri Poland-China Breed- ers Association, which was started February 23, 1884. The first officers were: W. P. Hayzlett, of Bolchow, president ; D. D. Bolinger, of Hopkins, vice-president ; George L. Drennan, of Maryville, secretary and treasurer. Many breeders. especially in the middle West, were dissatisfied with the cum- bersome methods then necessary in tracing the pedigrees of their stocks; so this association voted, in June, 1886, to start a new record association, to be known as the Standard Poland-China Record Association. The capital stock was to be three thousand dollars. and divided into three hundred shares. This capital was later increased to five thousand dollars. On August 8, 1887. the association was legally incorporated, and then it began its long and honorable career. The territory of this association may be said to comprise the world : the pages of its records contain the pedigrees of almost two hundred thousand animals, and in the twenty-four years of its existence. twenty-seven volumes have become necessary to contain its record. One animal in this record, "Look Me Over." was sold for five thousand one hundred dollars: the great majority are sold at prices ranging from one hundred to five hundred. At the present time. G. F. Woodworth, of Maryville. is secretary. and W. T. Garrett, also of Maryville, is president of the board of directors.
Perhaps no product of the state has become more famous in song and story than the Missouri hen ; and Nodaway county has done her part in con- tributing thereto. According to the statistics given later, it will be seen that this county exports annually something like two and one-half million pounds of poultry, and over two million dozen eggs, which, with other poultry prod- ucts, reaches a cash value of over one-half million dollars. It would seem natural then that this industry, along with the other meat-producing interests, should undergo a tremendous development. The former all-purpose hen which produced eggs more or less abundantly for a short time, then persist- ently "went to setting" the rest of the summer, has been supplanted by the special-purpose fowls, which under proper care have attained almost incred-
241
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
ible efficiency. A large part of the increasing returns lately obtained in this county ought to be credited by all means to the local poultry association. For several years past this organization has held an annual poultry show which contained entries from some of the best poultry fanciers of this and surrounding states. At the last exhibit, held in December, 1909, nearly four hundred exhibits were entered. Birds known by fanciers all over the country, and in some instances valued at hundreds of dollars, were shown here. Hundreds of people visit these shows, poultry problems are discussed. and the way is being paved for an industry which will inevitably assume huge proportions. The people who are most interested in the county organization state with some pride that the interest here has been such as to make a formal organization unnecessary. The policies of the society are directed, however, by a board of managers, of which F. P. Robinson is president, L. M. Strader, vice-president, and Judge J. H. Saylor, secretary. all of Maryville. The other members of the board are: Robert Lamar and James D. Gates, of Raven- wood, also Melvin Gregg and George B. Temple, of Stansberry.
Residents of this county are somewhat prone to boast of its achieve- ments, but they feel that their pride is justified. For all of its achievements are not of the past : it is still adding to its list of glories. Among the things for which Nodaway county is justly famed, is the number of cattle exported. This fame is not due to numbers alone, however, for some of the finest cattle in the world are grown right here. Numerous examples of this might be given, but among those most familiar to people living in the county is the herd belonging to the Bellows Brothers. It may be said that this herd was really started in 1870; for. as said before. it was then that Frank Bellows first began breeding pure-bred Shorthorns. After his dispersion sale in 1894. his sons. Charles and George, took up the business and ever since have carried it on with signal success. They now have about one hundred and fifty animals in their herd, and dispose of about fifty each year at their annual sale in June. At the World's Fair held in St. Louis in 1904. a two-year-old bull from this herd. "Hampton's Model." took first place in his class, and was afterwards sold to South America for three thousand nine hundred and ten dollars. The highest priced female from this herd. "Hampton's Queen Beauty," was sold in 1905 for one thousand five hundred dollars. This herd is known all over the United States, and men come here from all over the country to secure animals to head their herds. This firm employs no boosting methods, yet at their annual sale. June 15. 1909, they received the third highest average in the Union. Another breeder who has also reached the highest ranks in his pro-
(16)
242
PAST AND PRESENT
fession is Omer Catterson. He has been breeding Angus cattle for twenty years, and in that time he has sold animals which have gone to head herds all over the land. He also has a herd of about one hundred and fifty, and sells enough annually to keep the numbers down to about that figure. He has been exhibiting for the last five years, and in that time has taken seven grand championships, besides other premiums too numerous to mention. His boxes of bright colored ribbons now serve to amuse his grandchildren.
If the skeptic should demand figures, however, it would be just as easy to show him that Nodaway county leads in quantity as it does in quality. Even thirty years ago, in 1880, this county produced almost seven million bushels of corn. In that same year, more oats were produced here than in any county in the state. As ought to be the case, however, in a good grain and hay district, this county has long been known for its remarkable production of stock. That year, Nodaway was fifth of all the counties of the state in the production of sheep. but first in horses, cattle and hogs. The number of hogs produced that year reached 86,000, and of cattle, 55,000. Coming down to more recent times, the crop report for the year 1902 gave these figures for the county : Wheat grown, 6,634 acres: corn, 247.000 acres; oats, 25.980 acres ; hay, 49,000 acres. The total value amounted to $4,132.000. The figures for livestock that year were as follows: Cattle, 90,000 head ; horses, 24,000 ; swine. 175,000; sheep, 5.000: mules, 2.900. In addition. 256,000 pounds of poultry were produced. 1.629,000 dozen eggs, 175.000 pounds of honey, 5,000,000 gallons of milk, and 1,000,000 pounds of butter. During that same year there were 4,490 farm homes, of which only 1,488 were rented. The average size of these farms was 123 acres, and their value ranged from $40 to $125 per acre. These figures would be much higher now, ranging from $75 to $200 per acre. The average farm house cost $1.000, while many cost as much as $10,000. The last official figures obtainable are for 1908. which was an exceedingly unfavorable year from the farmer's standpoint, but even then Nodaway's supremacy was undisturbed. This county led in corn that year with a yield of 4.634.838 bushels. It was also first in hogs, meat cattle and horses. The number of hogs in the county according to the live stock census, was 54,938; of meat cattle, 56,831 ; of horses, 17.219.
Perhaps one of the most significant movements in the changing conditions of agriculture is that toward the dairy system. Only a few years ago a dairy herd would have been a curiosity, and even the few specimens of dairy cows kept for family use were regarded with suspicion. Higher priced land and higher priced food products, however, have wrought a great change: for it
243
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
is asserted on apparently indisputable authority, that the dairy herd is a much cheaper agent than the beef herd for the purpose of changing farm crops into foodstuffs. Numerous dairy herds are already scattered over the county, and dairy plants equal to any in the country are established here. Most farmers prefer the dual-purpose cow, and so the butter and milk output is lower than that of a strictly dairying community. However. the aggregate is already enormous, and is rapidly increasing. The local creamery at Maryville and the different agencies furnish keen competition, and dairying is now, as it must continue, a very thriving industry.
A somewhat similar change has taken place in fruit production. Until after the war it was thought that apples and fruit in general could not be successfully grown here: later years have shown, however, that this county is well adapted to such fruits, and it is now recognized everywhere as an ex- cellent apple and small-fruit district. Twenty years ago between three and five thousand acres had been set out in orchards, and thousands of bushels of fruit were taken from these trees each year. 1908 was an unfavorable year : but even then almost eight thousand barrels of apples were shipped out. 1909 was a favorable year, and although the official figures are not obtainable. the surplus is estimated at from twenty-five thousand to fifty thousand bar- rels. Apples are by far the leading fruit crop. but cherries, pears, plums. peaches and similar fruits do well. Grapes bear in profusion, and the grow- ing of berries and small fruits is becoming an important industry. During the World's Fair in 1904. many specimens of fruit, besides clover. grasses and grains were placed on exhibition. George Null, assisted by Milton Gar- rett. had this in charge, and from June on. many specimens of Nodaway county husbandry were constantly sent to the fair. The county received a silver medal, and nine individual medals were awarded.
Farm practices have changed in many respects also. Twenty years ago. rotation of crops was seldom even mentioned, and practiced even less. Soil fertility was an unused term. Fields were put in exhausting crops year after year. and the diminishing returns were regarded as a dispensation of Provi- dence. rather than as a result of bad management. Today this is entirely changed. While a few are satisfied with the decreased returns which may be expected from a less earnest effort. the great majority practice a fairly well-defined system of crop rotation. Also methods are being adopted to pre- vent an unnecessary loss of soil fertility, and efforts are made to restore as much as possible. Also, waste land is being reclaimed. A few years ago. Messrs. L. T. Lee, Anderson Craig. James C. Pistole. H. H. McClurg and W.
1
PAST AND PRESENT
B. McComas started a project to straighten the One Hundred and Two river. This work is now practically completed, and it is estimated that nearly ten thousand acres will be reclaimed from overflow land. A similar project has been started on the Nodaway river by Messrs. William Blackford, Charles E. Walker, James W. Smith, William Carter and James Corken. It is thought that seven thousand acres will be benefited in this case.
Other improvements are seen in the introduction of new crops. Cowpeas and soybeans have already proven their worth : alfalfa has been tried by many farmers and pronounced a success ; alsike clover has recently been introduced, and proven far superior to red clover on wet land: Canadian field peas and rape have been tried and proven uniformly successful. In a few years these valuable crops will be as well established here as in any part of the state, and will add immensely to the possibilities of successful agriculture. It is possibly in the improvement of the old methods after all, though, that the greatest advances will be made. One way in which this is strikingly shown, is in the increased attention paid to seed corn growing and selection. The time will soon come when every farmer will pay as much attention to plant breeding as to animal breeding, and the beginning is already in sight. Already some men are doing some important work along that line, and among these ought to be mentioned H. C. Crane, of Elmo. He came here in 1895, and has been in the seed corn business ever since. When Maryville held the corn show in the winter of 1903 to collect corn for the St. Louis Exposition, Mr. Crane entered, took first, and so his entry was sent to the fair, where it took the gold medal. In 1905 he took first on yellow corn at the state show, and in 1906 repeated this success with the additional honor of winning sweep- stakes this time. At the first national corn show, held in 1907 at Chicago. he won second on thirty ears of yellow dent, and three other premiums which in all amounted to two hundred and twenty dollars. He has taken many other premiums, but it will be sufficient for our purposes to close the list with mention of the state show in 1909. when Mr. Crane took first for the best single ear in the state.
A more determined attack on the problem of successful farming is seen in other ways. Among the efforts most to be commended. is that of interest- ing the boys and girls in this problem. In December. 1909, a corn show was held for the school children, which evoked an astonishing amount of interest. not only among the children, but among their elders as well. The keenness of the competition was itself sufficient evidence of its value. In March, 1910. the county superintendent of schools. Mr. Oakerson. put in motion a new
245
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
organization along this line. which will include a contest in corn growing for the boys, and a contest in domestic science for the girls. Mr. Oakerson is president of this movement, and its friends feel assured of its success. Moreover, it is becoming common to have agriculture taught in the rural and graded schools. Candidates for county certificates are examined in this subject. and the Northwest Missouri Normal, located at Maryville, expects every candidate for a degree to complete a year's work in agriculture.
It has been said that a history should be not only a chronicle, but also a prophecy. Perhaps it would be as well to say that a history is a prophecy. for surely the events of the future are determined by those of the past. If that is true, surely the future of Nodaway county has already been read. In the lifetime of one man. it has changed from a wilderness to a garden. Seventy years ago wild beasts and savage men roamed over these prairies un- disturbed. Today these same prairies are fruitful farms and dotted with peaceful homes. schools and churches. These changes. however, have all been witnessed by men who are still living. If this much can happen in the lifetime of one man. is it necessary to ask what the future will be? Surely the history of Nodaway county is its own prophecy.
· CHAPTER XVIII.
THE SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Before. entering into the detailed history connected with each township within Nodaway county, the attention of the reader is called to the "County and Township System." a subject that may not be fully understood or appre- ciated, especially by persons who have not resided where the same system ob- tains as in Missouri. Its origin and workings will be briefly referred to be- fore going into the various local township histories.
The "township system" had its origin away back in New England-in Massachusetts-in 1635. nearly three centuries ago.
The "county system" of government had its origin in Virginia, but was originally handed down from the shires of Old England. In Virginia the early settlers soon became wealthy landlords, aristocratic in feeling, living for the most part on vast estates, and owning the laboring part of the com- munity-the slaves imported from Africa, at first, and which by natural laws soon greatly multiplied. Thus the materials for a town were not at hand. the voters being thinly distributed over a large domain Hence the county organ- izations there were where a few influential men managed the whole business of the community, retaining their places, almost at will. as long as they saw fit to hold them. They very naturally imitated the landlords of England, where social dignity and aristocracy prevailed before the planting of the Jamestown and New England colonies in this country. In 1834 eight coun- ties were in existence in Virginia and the system was extended throughout the Southern states, except in South Carolina, where it was known as "dis- trict," and in Louisiana, where, through the French ownership, it had come at an early date to be known as "parish."
Hence, with the settlement of the vast domain west of the Mississippi river, which had for its pioneers many men from Virginia and other Southern states, which had tested the "county" government plan, and found it truly practical and based on democratic notions, for the most part, the new Western territories and states, in their constitutions. provided for the erection or organization of counties similar to those in the localities named.
247
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
As to "township" government, as already indicated, the system had its real origin in New England, nearly three hundred years ago-1635-hence, is one of the oldest forms of American government for local affairs. The first legal enactments concerning this great system under a democratic form of government, provided that, "Whereas, particular townships have many things which concern themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own town, therefore, the freemen of every township, or a majority part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appurtenances of said town, to grant lots, and to make such orders as may concern the well-ordering of their own towns, not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the general court."
They were empowered to. impose fines not exceeding twenty shillings, and choose their own particular officers, such as constables, surveyors for the highways and the like. This relieved the general court of much routine business, which they did not care to handle and suited the settlers in the New England colonies much better than to be dictated by a one-man power. The real true idea of liberty was already beginning to crop out in the New World. This sentiment went West with the emigrant who crossed the Alleghany mountains and became the pioneers in all the Western states.
Thus it was but natural that when Missouri was settled by so many of these same people, that the county and township form of government ob- tained quickly. In the first territorial government of Missouri, it provided for the organization of counties along the western bank of the Mississippi, where it was first settled. At first, the counties thus formed to the west of the Mississippi river were given jurisdiction, for a short time, over the lands and settlements adjoining each on the west, until these localities became suf- ficiently settled to support organizations of their own.
The term "township" should not be confounded, for bear in mind that in the regular United States government survey the congressional township is supposed to be exactly six miles square, while what is known as a sub- division of any given county may contain one or any number of these con- gressional townships, and are termed "civil townships," which farther east in this country are frequently styled "towns," but seldom so called west of the Mississippi river.
CHAPTER XIX.
ATCHISON TOWNSHIP.
Atchison township, which is the second civil sub-division of Nodaway county from the western line, is joined on the north by the state of Iowa. on the east by Hopkins and Union townships, and on the south by Union and Nodaway townships. It contains about fifty-five sections of most excellent farming land. Its western borders are washed by the waters of the Nodaway river. thus forming several fractional sections, the township on its west being Lincoln.
Atchison was the first township defined and laid off by the county court at its first day's session at the first term, at which time Lebbins Manley was appointed constable. The date of this action was April, 1845, and this was the first of the original four township formed in Nodaway county. As first bounded, Atchison township embraced the entire northwest portion of the county, but at the May. 1845. term of county court, its boundary was changed "so as to include the road on the main divide between the Nodaway and One Hundred and Two rivers, so far as said township is bounded on said road."
In June. 1866, the township met with another change of boundary, when its territory was confined to the lands bounded practically as follows: Be- ginning at a point on the state line, above present Hopkins and running west on Iowa state line to the Nodaway river : south to a point just west of Burling- ton Junction : east to Maryville and north to place of beginning.
Subsequently. Nodaway township was formed out of territory originally belonging to Atchison and Green townships.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Atchison is mainly a prairie township; however, there are skirtings of native timber along the Nodaway river and its tributaries. Along Clear creek the land is broken and quite rough : numerous springs were found by the settlers. gushing out from the hill sides. Sinking creek (a singular nat-
249
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
ural feature) rises in the western part, flows on a mile or more southwest. when it disappears beneath the surface of the ground for about one mile. then comes to the surface and flows into a shallow lake a mile or more long. which finally finds its way to the Nodaway river.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first man to become a permanent settler within Atchison township. as now described, was Ephriam W. Johnson, who came from Lawrence county, Indiana, arriving November 6, 1841, at a point three miles north of where he finally permanently settled, about eight miles north of Clearmont. on section 35 township 66, range 36. That was before the land survey had been made as to sections, and he, like all early pioneers, took a claim. At that date this territory was annexed to Andrew county, which extended north into what is now Page county, Iowa, to a point about two miles south of Clarinda. After a great dispute. the calling out of militia on the part of both states, and finally getting a court decision, in 1849 the present state line was fixed.
When pioneer Johnson arrived here, he had seven children. but only fifty cents in silver-all the wealth he possessed. He had no supplies for the winter, and what he might get had to be brought from Buchanan county. He went to work making rails for a Mr. Martin and finally got together a load of provisions and started for home. He was accompanied by two brothers, Thomas and Eli B. Johnson, who in 1861 emigrated to California. There was also with the party a man named Campbell. On November 26. 1841, they camped, at night, on the White Cloud, near the place later called the Prather farm. That evening it began snowing from the north. The next morning they thought they would try and reach home, fearing they might perish in the great storm. The snow had ceased falling and it was calm. but the snow was so deep they could not take their wagons with them; so each man got on his horse, taking about a bushel of meal and a little piece of meat, starting at daylight for a thirty-mile ride, with the harness on the horses. The snow was drifted from hill to hill. As soon as the horses got saddle-skirt deep. they would lie down; so the men took their turn about to throw out a road through the deep drifts with their hands. About the middle of the afternoon Tom Johnson and Campbell gave out, and then Ephriam and his brother Eli had all the work to do. They worked on for dear life until nearly sundown, when they were about three miles from home. Campbell, who was a very profane man, then said to Ephriam Johnson :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.