USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 24
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"Do you think we will get in, Johnson?" The latter replied, "I don't know, Jim; I doubt it." Campbell said, after a moment's reflection, "I believe I will quit swearing." They were so near home, however, that the thought of home and family seemed to nerve them to the utmost limit. As the evening shades fell upon them, and the night was fast approaching, when the snow might be their only winding sheet, they strained every nerve and urged their horses to their utmost strength to break through the drifts. At last they saw a light glimmer through the darkness, and just as their strength failed them, and horses and men utterly prostrated, were about to fall and perish amidst the terrible drifts, they reached their cabin door. We will drop a veil over the joyful meeting-no pen can describe or artist picture. Suffice to say Mr. Johnson and his family clasped each other in their arms and thanked God for a great deliverance from death.
Mrs. Johnson and her two sons had seen the awful storm was upon them and had resolved to make a heroic struggle for life. Levi, the older, ten years of age, and Joseph, only eight, had cut and packed enough wood on their shoulders, although the snow lay three feet deep in the timber, to keep the fire burning. They would warm themselves and then go out together in the awful storm for more wood, working on amidst snow until they were rescued from their great peril. The snow melted gradually and went off entirely in about three weeks, when Mr. Johnson and his companions re- turned to the White Cloud and brought home their wagons.
Of Mr. Johnson, it was written in 1882 that he was the father of the first child born in Atchison township, named Eli B. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were at that date the progenitors of fifty grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Joseph A. Johnson, who came with his father, Ephriam, to the country in 1841, lived at home until twenty-one years of age, but pre-empted land in 1854 on section 35 and there opened up a farm. In 1844, when he was about twelve years of age. his parents went to Page county, Iowa, on a visit, leaving himself and six other children at home. One day four hundred In- dians came suddenly to the house on ponies. There was only a little clear- ing about the house. just a garden spot. Some Indians hitched their ponies, while others left them unhitched, but all filed through the house as if they had never seen such a building before. They were friendly and did not molest anything. One Indian. however. made as if he would shoot the dog. when Joseph snatched down the gun and was going to shoot the Indian. As the chief patted him on the head, he murmured, "Brave boy, brave boy." and then wanted him to go along with them.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
The next settlers were probably a Mr. Barner, John and William Taner, and their widowed mother. These came in from Virginia in 1842. Then came a widow named Hickman, with her two sons, John and Henry, from Indiana, in 1843.
The Cartwrights, in 1843, and the Walters in 1844, from Indiana, formed the next settlement, where the old town of Clearmont was situated.
In 1845 came John H. Warrens, from Johnson county, Missouri. He was the first justice of peace ever commissioned in Nodaway county. He was well-fitted for frontier life. Later he removed to Gage county, Nebraska. West Farrens took a claim about the same time, six miles northeast of old Clearmont, as did Harvey Dillon, who died in 1850. In 1844 came William Houston from Indiana ; he settled eight miles northeast of Clearmont.
Another pioneer in the township was Alexander Swaney; also J. C. Smith, who came in 1855 and claimed lands in the edge of Clearmont. John Allison also settled and opened up a farm one mile north of Clearmont in 1855-
From the last date given, the influx of settlers was too great to be traced out in detail in this connection. This township had a population of one thousand six hundred and ninety-six, according to the last Federal cen- sus. The school history of the township will appear in the educational chap- ter largely, but it may be stated that at this date the township has good school houses.
CLEARMONT.
The only town within the borders of Atchison township is Clearmont, five miles to the northeast of Burlington Junction, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. At one time the Wabash route had a branch to Clarinda from Clearmont, but about 1889 it was sold to the Burlington system, and its track in Page county was torn up from Clarinda to Bradyville, Iowa.
The original postal name was Clairmont, but it has long since been styled "Clearmont," supposedly from a town of the same name in Indiana, from which Stephen Call emigrated and laid out the place. Marion Conley and Mr. Call owned the land on which the town was platted. The range line 37 passes through it. Call owned the east and Conley on the west side. The town site was platted in 1857 by Alonzo Thompson. One lot was given the surveyor for doing the surveying. Conley erected the first house in the town after it was platted. It was constructed of hewed cottonwood logs. The pioneer blacksmith-"the Village Blacksmith"-was John Griffy. A saloon was thought indispensible and so one was put up by John Markwell.
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In the spring of 1859 a wool-carding factory was put in operation. This business was in operation for more than two years, but on account of a financial panic its proprietor was compelled to give up the enterprise. The machinery was sold and in the place of it was constructed a shingle machine. which made a good grade of cottonwood shingles, which found a ready sale at from two dollars and a half to four dollars per thousand.
A saw mill was owned on the west side of the town by John and Lewis Caughman, but operated by Mr. Spurlock. The pioneer store was built in 1865 ; it was a general merchandise stock owned by Cross & Groves.
The next store was that of James & Wilkin. Others who were connected with merchandising at Clearmont were William M. Gray. Scott & Smith. Isaac Wallace. Cooper Moreland. John G. Combs and Stephen Curren. Later dealers were Cissna & McKittrick.
In the fall of 1879 both the Burlington and the Wabash railroads reached Clearmont. Jerry Smith gave the Wabash road a half interest in thirty acres of land northwest of the old town. on which the new and present Clear- mont stands today. He also gave ten acres to the Burlington road for depot grounds. In the new place, A. M. Scott put up the first building intended for a store. The date was December. 1879. A hotel was erected by F. D. Sturte- vant. J. M. Evans put up a store building about the same time.
Craig & Smith established a lumber yard during the first year's history of the place. Samuel Sinebaugh and W. F. Smith built their dwellings next and at about the same date. In the summer of 1880 the Baptist and Metho- dist churches were built. A history of those will appear under the heading of "Churches of the County."
The first death in Clearmont was the child of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Evans. which occurred July 5. 1880.
In the old town of Clearmont. in 1856, a school building was erected. It also served for a meeting house for religious services.
About three years before the platting of the new town, Jerry Smith har- vested a crop of corn on land thus platted, that averaged sixty-five bushels to the acre. One hundred thousand bushels of corn were shipped from Clear- mont in the autumn of 1881.
As to the church and lodge history of Clearmont the reader is referred to general chapters in this work on the subjects which they represent.
The present population of Clearmont is about three hundred and fifty. The business and social interests are represented by the following factors : Banking-The Jackson Bank.
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Lodges-Masonic, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen, with the Royal Neighbors.
Churches-Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Christian.
Schools-The schools are treated elsewhere ; the building is a four-room frame structure and good schools are here maintained.
Physicians-Dr. H. S. Dowell.
General Dealers, Etc .- Lawrence & Grider. D. S. Clayton.
Hardware-Carpenter & Reynolds, who also handle implements.
Furniture-D. W. Snoderly.
Grain-Henry Webber. Lumber-A. H. Garrett.
Live Stock-M. C. Gray.
Creamery Products-Clarinda Cream Company. J. C. Moore.
Drugs-Drs. H. S. Dowell.
Millineries-Mrs. F. C. Newlon.
Meat Market-Mattock & Davison.
Gentlemen's Furnishing Goods-F. C. Newlon.
Livery-WV. L. Bush.
Blacksmiths-J. W. Smith, J. G. Baker.
Hotels-"The Brick," by Mrs. Walters.
Newspaper-Clearmont News, by A. P. Skeed. Established 1888.
Postoffice-The following have served as postmasters since the town was established : Kittie Wallace, WV. B. Price, W. G. Carpenter, F. C. Newlon. There are now two rural routes going out from Clearmont.
CHAPTER XX.
GRANT TOWNSHIP.
Grant township, created from parts of White Cloud and Washington townships, is bounded on the north by Polk and Jefferson townships. on the east by Jefferson and Washington townships, on the south by the Andrew county line and on its west by White Cloud township. This was one of the later civil townships formed in the county. It contains about forty-seven sections of land.
Of its physical features let it be stated that it is a well-watered district- one of the best in the county. The Platte river courses along its eastern borders for some distance. Long creek flows through the whole township from north to south and forms confluence with the Platte near the southern boundary. One Hundred and Two river touches the northeastern corner. but deflects slightly towards the west, but returns and then flows the entire extent. The land is rolling. Belts of natural timber are found along the streams. About one-eighth of the township as late as 1880 was timber land. Limestone and freestone are found in great abundance along the streams. The soil is rich and produces bountiful crops each year.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The following were among the first settlers who invaded this town- ship with a view of making homes for themselves: Jack Brown, 1841 ; Gil- lam Bailey, 1841: Judge Charles Myers, 1842: Absolom Rhoades, 1842: Dyer Cash, 1842: Henderson Glenn. 1842: James Pennington, 1843: Jude Thomas Brown. 1844: Byrd Billings, 1850: William Goferth. 1841 ; William Campbell. 1842: Wright Bailey, 1842: Barnabus Myers, 1842: David Rhoades. 1842: William Smith, 1842: Phillip Boler. 1843: Joseph Blakely. 1844: Preston Curnett. 1844: Valentine Korell. 1851.
Sometime prior to 1850, Frank Conlin settled in the Narrows, a mile and a half east of where Barnard now stands. Another early settler was Isaac Broderick, of Tennessee, who located three and a half miles west of
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Barnard. Four miles to the west of Barnard settled Judge Elijah Shelton, who emigrated from Indiana. Joseph Blagg located four miles west of Bar- nard. In 1848 A. J. Dearing came from Virginia, stopped in Cooper and Andrew counties for a while, but then moved to the divide, two and a half miles west from Barnard, but a year later removed to section 16, where he improved a claim. In 1851. James F. Hainey emigrated from Kentucky to Washington township, where he died in May, 1862. P. J. Hainey, his son. lived on the old homestead until 1874, then moved to Guilford, Grant town- ship, and still later to Barnard. Valentine Korell came from Prussia in June. 1850, arrived in New York August 4th, and went to St. Louis ; March I. 1852, he settled on the present site of Barnard. He was the first blacksmith in Barnard and in 1881 was mayor of the town.
A NOVEL MARRIAGE FEE.
At a very early day, when money was scarce and wild honey plentiful. a worthy couple presented themselves before Squire Korell for marriage. They had no money and wanted to trade the good Squire bees-wax for the marriage fees, to which the justice agreed, if taken at the market price. Upon weighing the beeswax it was only found to be worth sixty cents, and the legal fee was one dollar, so the justice said he could not marry "on time." as it would not be legal ( ?) The wouldbe bride then in a pleading manner asked him, "Squire, will you not marry us as far as the beeswax goes?" The Squire gave a broad smile and said he thought there was enough beeswax to stick them together, and the ceremony proceeded. and the happy couple were soon on their way as man and wife with light hearts.
. Aside from the history of Barnard, found herein, there are paragraphs concerning schools and churches and lodges of this township, found under their proper headings in the general chapters of this work. It may be said. in passing, that much interest is taken in educational affairs in Grant township.
The population of Grant township in 1900, according to the United States census, was one thousand six hundred and seventy-seven. The chief occupation of the inhabitants is agriculture.
TOWN OF BARNARD.
Barnard. the only town or village in Grant township, is located on sec- tions 14 and 15. township 62, range 35. and was platted April 10, 1870. by the Barnard City Improvement Company. It received its name in honor
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of J. F. Barnard, the superintendent of the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company. The land was originally owned by J. C. Mc- Candliss, A. J. Dearing, Samuel Stonehocker and John McFarland. A town company was formed by A. P. Morehouse, John Strong, John McFarland, Samuel Stonehocker and J. F. Barnard. The railroad depot was built in April, 1870. The platting was executed by Mr. Brady in May, 1870. The first lot was sold at private sale to James U. Mckenzie, in the early part of May. Mr. Mckenzie put up the first store in the place and sold the first merchandise.
The first public sale of lots occurred May 14. 1870. Soon after, Amos Baker and brother put up a store building and opened up with a general mer- chandise stock. The next to embark in trade were Forrest & Shuff and about the same time a hotel was erected and opened by Samuel Stonehocker. In 1873 a blacksmith shop was added to the town by John T. Gamble. The first to engage in the livery business were Davis & Stonehocker in 1873. The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1874 and the Presbyterian church was built in 1878. The school house was erected in 1873, in which year the first school was taught. In 1869 the grist mill was built by James C. McCandliss. An excellent dam was thrown across the waters of the One Hundred and Two river, at this point, its cost being twelve thousand dollars.
The first death in Barnard was Oliver Britton, in July, 1871.
The first birth in the town was a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Eaton. in the summer of 1871.
Barnard is situated in the rich valley of the One Hundred and Two river and is the center of an extremely wealthy farming section. It is also the center of a large retail trade and an excellent shipping point. As far back as 1882 there were twenty thousand bushels of grain shipped from Barnard. The town was incorporated August 25, 1881, when it had a population of five hundred. The first trustees of the town were V. Korell, H. C. Annan, J. A. Forrest, Sr., J. W. Heath and Amos Baker. V. Korell was the first mayor.
Of the present interests of Barnard it should be added that it has a population of four hundred ; has four lodges, four churches and a four- room brick school house. erected about 1900. The other general interests of Barnard at this date (spring of 1910) are :
Banking-The Barnard State Bank.
Physicians-Dr. M. M. Pollard and Dr. J. A. Larrabee.
Dentist-Otis McMillen, D. D. S.
General Dealers-Barnard Mercantile Company, Stolling & Cook Mer- cantile Company.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Hardware and Implements-Campbell & Pollard.
Implements and Coal-Samuel Phillips.
Hotel-WV. A. Gardner, proprietor.
Livery-Kellogg & Goforth, O. O. Silvers.
Lumber-Farmers' Lumber Company.
Grain-Charles Moore.
Stock Dealer-Rasco, Eaton & Campbell.
Harness-Mr. Butman.
Jeweler-James Stewart.
Blacksmiths-Mr. Mendenhall. Milton Powell, William Snyder.
Millinery-Grace Ellis.
Drugs-G. H. Hargrave, A. W. Bear.
Meat Markets-Rasco, Eaton & Campbell.
Veterinary-J. L. Gillett.
Newspaper-Barnard Bulletin.
Restaurants-O. O. Silvers, C. C. Allumbaugh.
Barbers-Tulloch Brothers.
City Scales and Coal-Charles Badger.
Draying and Ice Dealer-Hager & Sells.
Lodges-Odd Fellows. Masons, Knights of Phythias and Modern Woodmen.
Churches-Christian, Church of Christ, Methodist Episcopal and Metho- dist Episcopal South.
The postmasters who have served at this point since the establishment of the Barnard office, include these in their order, as near as can now be deter- mined: Capt. James A\. Forest, Jonas Thompson, M. W. Gavin. J. C. Mc- Candliss, C. H. Sidle. A. W. Bear. H. C. Bond, James McKnight. Miss Fannie Merrell. It is a fourth-class office and has four rural routes running out from it to the surrounding country.
The present mayor of the incorporation is William Woodhead.
PRAIRIE PARK.
Before the platting of Barnard there was a small hamlet-a store and postoffice-known as Prairie Park, situated one mile south of Barnard. The business went elsewhere and the postoffice was removed to the new town of Barnard.
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CHAPTER XXI.
GREEN TOWNSHIP.
Green township is on the west side of the county, bordering on Atchi- son county and is bounded on the north by Lincoln and Nodaway townships. on the east by Polk and Nodaway townships and on the south by Monroe. The county court defined its bounds at their June 14. 1866, term as follows, in substance: Commencing at the northeast corner of section 20, township 65. range 36, thence west to the county line and south to the southwest corner of the county, thence eleven miles east and north to place of beginning. In 1881 Monroe township was made from parts of Green and Hughes town- ships, leaving Green less territory. Nodaway township having been taken off from Green and Atchison in 1871. At this date Green township em- braces about sixty-seven sections of land.
The Nodaway river courses through the center from north to south, which furnishes plenty of water and drainage for farmers. The land on the east side of the Nodaway ascends gently from the valley toward the east. with a slight elevation to the north. The same is true on the west side of the river. The Nodaway has numerous branches or creeks, including Bow- man's branch. Sand creek. Florida creek and their tributaries. These are to the east side of Nodaway valley, but on the west are found those beautiful streams, the Waterloo, Jones. Huff. Wilson's, Mineral Spring and Burr Oak branches. A few lakes are found along the valley of the Nodaway in close proximity to the stream. The whole township is made up of fine valley lands, rolling in character, but not subject to "wash." The portion on the east of the river. as well as places on the east side of that stream, are of rich vegetable mold or alluvial soil. It is the best soil for crops in Missouri. In 1880 it was carefully estimated that about one-tenth of the territory in this township was covered with native timber. Along Nodaway river and Sand creek there is an abundance of building stone. Just below Quitman coal is found in paying stratas. The veins run for twenty to thirty inches in thick- ness. The only one of the numerous mill sites in the township that has ever been improved is the one at Quitman, where a mill was erected.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
PIONEER SETTLERS.
It seems well established that the first settlement in Green township was effected in 1841 by William Bowman, who located three miles south of where Dawson's mill was later erected and on the west side of the Nodaway river. He took a claim and opened a farm there, hiring Joseph Hutson to break ten acres of prairie land for him. The price paid was but a nominal one. for those early settlers desired near neighbors and frequently exchanged work and assisted one another. Bowman only remained two seasons, how- ever, and sold to James Roberts and joined the emigrant train bound for faraway Oregon.
In 1842 came Elijah Dodson, who settled north of present Quitman. He pioneered here ten years and then moved on to the Pacific coast. He had sons-in-law named John Dawson, Dennis Dawson ( brothers) and John Har- ris. They all came in 1842.
In 1843 the settlement was augmented by the arrival of John Porter, who settled a mile and a half from Dodson, on the west side of the Nodaway ; he remained a short time and went on to Oregon.
The oldest pioneer in western Nodaway county (in 1888) said he had seen as many as sixty wagons a day going by to the Pacific coast. They went in companies of about thirty wagons, for protection against the Indians. who were very troublesome west of the Missouri at that time.
In those days game was abundant. including elk, deer, wolves, turkeys and bears. The rifle of the sure-shot pioneer brought fresh game to his door almost daily.
Other early settlers who should not be forgotten on the pages of local history include Hiram Lee. of this township, who opened a claim and built the first gristmill near where Quitman now stands. He sold to Rankin Russell, and moved four miles south and there took up a second claim. Mr. Russell tore down the old mill and in its stead built a frame grist and saw- mill.
John D. Holt laid a Mexican war land warrant, in 1849. on a timbered quarter section of land about five miles southeast of where present Quitman stands. He sold it in 1853 to Joel Albright.
In 1849 William R. Holt settled three miles southwest from Quitman. purchasing land of Richard Miller.
Other early comers to Green township were: Joel Albright, 1839 ( ?) : William Bowman. 1841: Jesse Dodson. 1842: Jesse Roberts, 1842: James Roberts. 1842: John Thomas. 1842: William Harris, 1842: John Porter. 1843: John Grooms. 1845 : Solomon Shell. 1851 : Richard Miller.
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HARD WINTER OF 1849.
All of the early accounts seem to agree that the winter of 1849-50 was the most severe and fraught with the most snow of any since the settlement of Missouri. It was once related by William V. Skidmore, of the village of Skidmore, that he used to take three yoke of big oxen to draw a load of corn through the deep snow drifts. It was impossible to tell how cold it was as there were but few. if indeed any, thermometers in the county, and no weather records kept in northwestern Missouri, but the settlers suffered much in their huts and cabins, many of which had been hastily erected the autumn before this memorable winter. As they looked out upon the drifting snows and felt the pinching cold they must have been reminded of the more comfortable homes they had left before they came to this wild frontier.
Still they decided to remain and here build homes for themselves and oncoming families, and when the spring sun had melted away the fetters of snow and ice and the early flowers put forth their shining faces, they went forth to sow. almost forgetting the terrible season they had just passed through.
HAMLET OF FAIRVIEW.
About 1875 this hamlet was established by the coming of John Bilby. of Illinois, and he bought several thousand acres of land which he later enclosed as a great pasture. The hamlet was four miles to the southwest of the Quit- man of today. Bilby & Bird put up the first building for a dwelling. John Bilby then built a store building and placed in it a good stock of general coun- try merchandise. A blacksmith shop was added to the village and three or four dwellings were built west of the store. A postoffice was established called "Fairview" and John Bilby was appointed postmaster. The site of this place was in what is, or used to be, known as the Whig Valley district. embracing the valley on the west side of the Nodaway river. The name or- iginated from the settlement of old-line Whigs three miles and a half west of Graham. This hamlet has long since been defunct.
TOWN OF QUITMAN.
The only town within the borders of Green township, at present, is the sprightly and up-to-date incorporation of Quitman, which dates its corporate history from February 8. 1881. It is situated on section 9. township 26.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI
range 37, and was platted by R. Russell. It is eleven miles west of Mary- ville and two miles north. It is a station point on the old Nodaway Valley. railroad and is finely situated on the east bank of the Nodaway river. Its location is sightly and picturesque. high and overlooking the beautiful and fertile valley of the Nodaway. The rolling lands of Green township present a charming rural landscape-a feast to the eye in midsummer when the 'crops are rolling in the splendor of their luxuriance. In autumn time, the scene is none the less attractive, for then the leaves of the forest trees, turning to amber and gold, are indeed a sight worth an artist to behold.
But to speak further of the section where Quitman stands today, it may be said that originally the land there was the property of Hiram Lee, who entered the same, but subsequently sold to R. R. Russell, the founder of the town, who platted it in 1856. At first it was called Russellville, but later was changed to Quitman, in honor of Gen. John A. Quitman, once governor of Mississippi. Judge Neal was surveyor when this place was platted. Lot! No. 8, in block 12, was the first town lot sold and the purchaser was William Emmerson.
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