USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 25
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Prior to the platting. Hiram Lee had a log cabin on the land, as did also Wiley Tracy. William Emmerson put in a stock of goods, the first in the place.
Mr. Russell built the first brick building and used it for a store. Isaac T. Jones, Meredith Tanner and Joel Albright were pioneers in Quitman and were variously engaged in the business of the new town.
In 1859 a sawmill was erected by Reese & Sellers and a blacksmith shop was put in operation by C. R. Hardesty. In 1858 a bridge was built over the waters of the Nodaway river at this point.
In 1869 a grist-mill was added to the town's interests.
In 1880. during the month of April. the town was visited by a disas- trous fire which burned all the buildings on Broadway, the main street. except two business houses. All were rebuilt, however, in quick time.
The first postmaster of the town was Mr. Russell, the founder. The Nodaway Valley railroad was built to Quitman in 1880. In the year 1881 there were twenty-one buildings erected in Quitman to be used for dwellings and ten business houses.
Upon the advent of the railroad the citizens set about incorporating the place and the county court granted it. The first board of trustees were John Gray, James W. Wyke. Charles A. Radford, David Kimble and James W. Wedd'e 'r.
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A Masonic lodge was chartered at Quitman May 30, 1860-see Masonic history elsewhere, with other fraternal societies. The Odd Fellows organized a lodge here in June, 1873.
In 1871 the Methodist Episcopal church was organized at Quitman, and the same is treated in the chapter on Churches of the County.
In 1900 the United States census gave the population of Quitman as be- ing four hundred ; at present it is believed that it is not so many by about fifty. The business and social interests are now :
Bank-The Farmers.
General dealer-Fred Wright.
Groceries-William Manorgan.
Meats-James Melton, William Manorgan.
Restaurants-James Melton, R. H. Smith, James Kraft.
Live stock-Quitman Live Stock Company, Nodaway Valley Cattle Com- pany, Samuel Robbins.
Mill-"The Old Brick."
Physician-Dr. F. M. Ryan.
Lodges-Masonic, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America.
Postmaster-A. C. Parshall.
School house-A two-story, four-room, erected about 1885.
Hotel-The Branson House.
Hardware and implements-Fred Wright.
Lumber-C. J. Reece.
Harness-Fred Wright.
Livery-Parker & Browning.
Blacksmith-R. H. Smith.
Cream stations-Fred Wright, and the Omaha Company.
Churches-Methodist Episcopal, Christian, Mennonites.
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CHAPTER XXII.
HOPKINS TOWNSHIP.
Forty sections of Nodaway county land, lying on the north line of the county and state, and the second tier of townships from the east line of this county, constitute what is known as Hopkins civil township. On its west is Atchison township, on the south Union township, and on the east is Inde- pendence township.
The records of the county court for November 7, 1871, has the following petition and order of court organizing and defining the boundaries of Hop- kins township, then and there created by order of court :
"Now comes Samuel McFarland, et al, and files a petition in this court, praying for an order of the court, to divide Union township, commencing at the south corner of section 19, township 66, range 35; thence running due east on the section line to the east boundary of said township, the north part of the organized township to be known and designated as Hopkins township, in said county and that the south part be known as Union township in said county and that the voting precinct in said township be known as Hop- kins, all of which may be maturely considered by the court, and ordered that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, as requested in said petition; and it is further ordered by the court that the voting precinct of Union township be changed from Xenia to Pickering, in Union township."
TOPOGRAPHY.
One Hundred and Two river, with its numerous tributaries, water this township. The river flows through the township a little west of the middle, and in the north portion of the territory divides into three branches known as Eastern, Middle and Western forks. Beard's creek flows into One Hun- dred and Two river from the northeast. Nodaway branch flows through the southeastern corner of the township. Several small lakes lie along the valley close to the river. The general face of this township is rolling in the north-
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western portion, while other sections are quite level. There is an abundance of good limestone for building uses and here and there indications of coal. The soil is exceptionally fertile and produces wonderful crops of grain, grass and vegetables.
THE PIONEER SETTLERS.
In the later years there is always much interest in knowing who settled first in a township or county, also where they came from and at what place they first sought to make for themselves homes. With this in view, the historian will trace the comings and goings of some of the earliest persons to invade and develop this township.
It is generally conceded that William Broyles was the first person to effect settlement in what is now known as Hopkins township. He settled in 1843 on the east side of the Mowery branch in White Oak Grove. Two, or possibly three, years later came John Kimball to the junction of One Hundred and Two river and its branch, about one mile north of where the town of Hopkins now stands. The next settler was Washington Downing, two miles southeast of present Hopkins. Next came David J. Weit, settling three miles to the southeast of Hopkins. The next to settle in the township was probably James Hinkle, who opened a claim two miles southeast of Hopkins on land now known as the G. W. Sturgeon farm. Berry Miller and John Dunkin. William Cook. John Elliott and William Tolliver. also David Locke and B. F. Rader, located in the township very soon after the above pioneers came. Charles Carson settled on the Iowa state line in the corner of this township. A little to the west of Carson was Henry Stein. Edward Spencer and Mark Murphy located on the Iowa line west of Stein. Isaiah Wilcox and Edward Spencer were real Nimrods and gained their livelihood by hunting, fishing and trapping.
Jefferson Sturgeon settled about two miles south of where Hopkins stands today. To the west of Hopkins two or more miles was the Cox set- tlement, that began as early as 1850. Judge Morehouse at a very early date settled about five miles southwest of Hopkins and Joseph Hall opened a farm in the same neighborhood. Homer Aldridge and Augustus Aldridge settled in the same locality. These constituted about all of what may properly be termed "early settlers" in Hopkins township.
The schools, churches, lodges, etc., of the township will be treated in the general chapters of this work under their respective headings.
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TOWN OF HOPKINS.
Hopkins, the only trading place within the township bearing the same name, and which was named after A. L. Hopkins, then superintendent of the Kansas City. St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company, is situated a half mile to the east of the East fork of the One Hundred and Two river. It dates its platting from 1870 and its survey was completed in the spring of 1871. William Brady, of Jefferson township, executed the survey of the town plat. The company that platted the place was composed of Roseberry & Morehouse, the railroad company. Colonel Strong, of St. Joseph, and S. Mc- Farland.
EARLY BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The town of Hopkins was incorporated October 21. 1872, and the first board of trustees was composed of W. W. Kennison, chairman. Judge E. Donlin, William H. Cochrane and B. S. Martin. The first building erected was a boarding house built by Thomas Gladman. The pioneer firm was Don- lin Brothers, who began business in 1871. Porter, Girard & Hughes erected a drug store in 1871. The first dry goods were handled by Mr. Robinson. who erected a suitable store building.
The first business houses were all on the west side of the railroad, but it was soon found that for safety the business must soon go a block farther to the east, which it did. Edward Wolfers was first to build a brick building on the east side of the tracks and embarked in the dry goods and grocery trade.
In 1871 William R. Johnston built the Johnston House, on Roseberry street, and commenced keeping a good hotel. About the same date Mr. Crouch built the Hopkins House, but sold out to David Bender. Still later the Central House was opened by a Mr. Kinson. Plants Brothers established the first banking house.
In speaking of "First Events," Rev. Morton used to say: "I preached the first sermon, married the first couple and traded the first horses in Hop- kins." The first school was taught by Miss Emma Rose, from Michigan. The first church erected in the town was the Methodist Episcopal: the second church was the Presbyterian and the third the United Brethren, who later sold their property to the Baptist denomination.
A cornet band was organized in the town during the month of February. 1874, and has ever been an adjunct of the sprightly young city, which now is second in rank in population in Nodaway county, Burlington Junction com- ing third.
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BUSINESS INTERESTS OF 1910.
The business and social interest of Hopkins in 1910 are as follows :
Banking-The Bank of Hopkins and the Farmers Bank.
Hotel-The Linville.
Grocers-A. C. Monroe, O. A. Edmonson, F. A. Chaney.
General dealers-Wolfers Mercantile Company. A. F. Bemert & Com- pany. T. H. Shinnabarger.
Meat markets-A. Kysar & Son. O. Wheeler.
Lumber yards-Jackson & Sherry, H. A. Dalby & Company.
Live stock-Charles Bebout.
Opera Hall.
Grain dealers-J. F. Robb.
Livery barns-M. A. Hamm & Son, Ira Gray.
Hardware-Mutti & Brown, Saylor, Gordon Company.
Real estate and insurance dealers-T. W. Williams. William French,
Frank Melick ; all do more or less insurance business.
Clothing-B. Wooldridge & Son.
Produce-L. M. Hewett.
Millinery-Mrs. F. O. Black, Mrs. M. Caffray.
Milling-Wolfers Mercantile Company.
Newspaper-The Hopkins Journal.
Photographs-Mrs. Byron Griffith.
Lawyers-S. E. Browne. Druggists-Martin & Bowman. E. A. Hedinger, "Owl Pharmacy."
Restaurants-Jacob Haaf. Jacob Louden.
Harness-A. C. McMaster.
Jeweler-R. B. Luce. Shoemaker-Charles Chaney.
Blacksmiths-Charles Tracy, Paul Liapple.
Lodges-Odd Fellows. Masons, Modern Woodmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen. Grand Army of the Republic.
Churches-Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Christian and Baptist. Physicians-D. A. Sargent. C. W. Kirk, S. D. Large. Thomas Lafayette. Justice of the Peace-James Ewing.
Mayor-C. E. Donlin. Dentist-Ed. Miller, D. D. S.
The postmasters who have thus far served at Hopkins' office are Samuel Brown. T. W. Porter. John Nixon, John Donlin, J. H. Sayler. C. K. Allen. S. F. Wible I. N. Strawn. W. L. Moorehead.
CHAPTER XXIII.
HUGHES TOWNSHIP.
Hughes township is situated in the southwestern corner of Nodaway county and comprises about sixty-two sections of most excellent farming lands. It is bounded on the west by the Nodaway river, dividing this county from Holt county, on the north by Monroe and Polk townships, on the east by White Cloud township and on the south by the Andrew county line.
Hughes was one of the original sub-divisions of Nodaway county and covered a much larger scope of country than it does now. At the April term of county court in 1845 the following order of court appears of record :
"All that territory within the following limits shall be called and known as Hughes township, to-wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of Atchison township: thence southward on the line dividing Nodaway county from Atch- ¡son and Holt counties to the southern boundary of Nodaway county. Thence east on the line dividing Nodaway and Andrew counties to the divide between Nodaway river and White Cloud. Thence north on said divide till it intersects Atchison township."
Subsequently (1866) the township was again changed and cut down. Still later. Monroe township was formed out of territory which was originally included in Hughes and Green townships.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The numerous creeks and the Nodaway river afford an excellent drain- age for this territory. Among the creeks may be mentioned the Halifax, Rain. Elkhorn. McDowell branch and Bagley branch. Wolf Hollow empties into the Elkhorn and runs toward the northwest, and the Little Elkhorn empties into the main Elkhorn.
The land of Hughes township is gently rolling for the most part, and the streams are skirted with considerable native timber, though not nearly so much as was found when the county was first settled. The landscape scenery is unsurpassed in this section of Missouri.
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The soil is of the richest character and stands both rain and dryness to a wonderful degree. The township, one of the oldest farming sections in the county, presents unusual attractions for the farmer, the stock raiser and horticulturist. The streams and springs found gushing out here and there over the territory of the township afford abundant water for man and beast. Coal, lime, rock and sand of excellent grades are to be had from but a little distance beneath the surface. As a corn and grass growing belt there is none to surpass it in all Missouri. Farmers away back in 1880, before the science of agriculture had brought to light so many modern ideas connected with tilling, reported and backed by affidavit the fact of producing as high as one hundred bushels of corn per acre. Improved grades of all kinds of stock have been imported and raised with great profit to the husbandmen in the last twenty years and more. The first Shorthorn bull ever exhibited in Nodaway county was shown at the county fair by H. C. Linville, of near Gra- ham. Contentment seems to reign almost supreme among the farmers of this wealthy portion of the county.
A TRADITION.
Tradition says that the Elkhorn creek of this township derived its name from the fact of a very large elk having been killed at an early date near the stream, and his horns were placed by the huntsman in the branches of a tree and remained there several years, giving rise to the name of Elkhorn to that part of the country, and later. when naming streams, this creek took its name from these immense horns. A very plausible theory indeed.
THE EARLY SETTLERS.
The first white man to invade the wilds of Hughes township, as now known, as well as the first in all Nodaway county, was Isaac Hogan, referred to at length in the "Early Settlement" chapter. Before going into the details of settlement in this township. the reader's attention is called to a list of many of the hardy pioneers who located here. with the dates at which they made settlement in what is now Hughes township :
In the year 1839. Isaac and Daniel Hogan. Richard Taylor and Robert M. Stewart. Benj. Owens.
In the year 1840, Lorenzo Dow Vinsonhaler, Wesley Jenkins, James Finch, Thomas Finch, Humphrey Finch. Joel Hedgepath, Lewis Hedgepath.
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James Linville, James Waumick, Nathaniel Finch, Joseph Hough, Elijah Bunten, Huntsucker, Henshaw, Cornelius Brackney, Henry C. Linville, Marion Linville.
In the year 1841, Dr. J. W. Morgan, Jacob Vinsonhaler, George Vin- sonhaler. D. M. Vinsonhaler, Mr. Pickerells, Daniel Martin.
In the year 1842, Andrew Brown, John Brown. Jacob Brown, Josiah Brown, Wilson Brown.
In the year 1843. Barlett Curl, James Curl. Peter. James, William, Peter, Jr., and Martin Noffsinger, John Isom, John Clarke, William Glaze. John Wright.
In the year 1844. Mr. Cox, Thomas Cox. Joel Stowe. William Stowe, William Broyles, and Jefferson Ragsdell in 1845.
From an able. interesting, public address given at Graham, July 4, 1879, by Dr. J. W. Morgan, the following extracts are taken, as they contain valu- able early settlement facts concerning Hughes township and as such should be preserved in book form :
During the fall of 1841 Lorenzo Dow Vinsonhaler left Ross county, Ohio, for the purpose of finding a home in the West. Sometime during the fall following, he, in company with Harvey Dillon, found the Nodaway river and took claims on the east side of that stream. Dillon remained a number of years, built a log house and broke and fenced some prairie land. Having brought some apple seeds with him. he started a seedling nursery and put out an orchard numbering two hundred trees, which was at last accounts bearing delicious fruit. Vinsonhaler laid claim to the tract later owned by Judge William Seeper. He broke land and the following year planted corn. After two years he sold out and accompanied John C. Fremont's ex- plorers to California : was lost in the mountains for a great while, where many of the party perished from cold and hunger. After their supplies were ex- hausted, they lived on the flesh of mules that had frozen to death or died from starvation. He accompanied Fremont to Washington City and was a witness in his behalf in an investigation ordered by the authorities at Washington during President Polk's administration. His testimony relieved General Fre- mont from censure. He afterward returned to California, where his eyes were closed in death many years ago.
Sometime during the fall of 1840 Elijah Bunton. James Bryant and Harvey White explored the White Cloud country and took claims. In those days all that was necessary to be owner of a tract of land as large as one de- sired was to lay claim to it. The manner of procuring a title in fee simple
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was to cut down four trees and chop them off and lay the foundation for a house. Whether the cabin was ever completed or not, it constituted a claim that all honorable men respected. In the mind of the pioneer, any man who would attempt to intrude, or, as they termed it, "jump a claim, was looked upon as a thief.
Elijah Bunten was a professional claim taker. The first claim he se- lected was on the west side of White Cloud : his claim included all the timber land on that side of the creek. He built a log cabin near where the residence of Marion Woodard now stands, cleared off a few acres of timber and raised a crop or two of corn. Meantime. he took additional claims, some on the Nodaway river and one on the headwaters of the Florida. In the fall of 1840 he sold his claim on the White Cloud to Mijamin Byers, and then built a cabin on Florida creek.
Bunten was an energetic fellow, and when he had disposed of his interests in one part of the county, he made it his business to attract attention any way he could from it and center it on his present claim. Soon after leav- ing White Cloud. Burt Whitten passed by his cabin and enquired the way to White Cloud country. Bunten knew all about it. but advised him to stop there and buy his claim. Whitten asked him what kind of a country it was over on the White Cloud. He was answered. "It's a d-d. broken, barren. fertile country." When asked what he meant by "fertile." he said: "Fertile- that means a d-d long ways from market." Whitten changed his pro- gramme and bought a claim on the headwaters of the Florida-all the timber land there-which was for many years known at Whittens Grove. Bunten moved to Oregon soon after, where he engaged in the claim business again. He died there in 1869.
Harvey White pitched his tent on land later owned by Richard Boat- wright. White was a son-in-law of Bunten. After a few years he sold to Mr. Guy and went to Oregon.
Jim Bryant was one-fourth Indian and, therefore, would do but little work, but traded and drank and hunted some. He laid claim to all the timber on the east side of White Cloud, south of the Saunders school house
These three families on White Cloud and Dave Vinsonhaler and Harvey Dillon were the only white people in Nodaway county during the winter of 1839-40. Sometime early in the spring of 1840 Isaac Hogan ( the first white settler) moved his family from Platte county. Missouri, and occupied the log house he had built the year before.
During the winter of 1839-40 the country around Graham was visited by many who were wanting homes : although the winter was cold and stormy.
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these energetic spirits braved the difficulties, though they met with fewer obstacles in winter than in summer. During the winter the streams were bridged with ice, which enabled them to effect a crossing at many points which could not be crossed during the warmer season. Among the number who explored during the winter were James Finch, Nathaniel Finch. Thomas Finch, James Huff and Wesley Jenkins, the last being foreman of the com- pany.
Jenkins purchased the claim of "Old Bunten." consisting of all the timber that afterward belonged to Martin Palmer. Orville Graves. William Looker and James Kyle, and all the prairie land on the north side of Rain creek. He had a large family at one time, but many are dead and the re- mainder moved beyond the Rock mountains.
Thomas Finch settled on the land formerly owned by E. M. Gardner, built a small cabin, fenced and broke a few acres. In the winter of 1841-42 he imagined that it would be nice to own slaves, and accordingly entered into negotiations with Col. I. N. Prather. father of James Prather. of Maryville. trading his fine land for a couple of Africans. The Colonel was shrewd enough in the trade, giving him some half-witted darkies for valuable land. Finch was elated-felt wealthy. As he expressed himself. "I have had my trap set for a couple of negroes, and now I have got them." He knew noth- ing about negroes and was unable to dispose of them on any terms. This is the first instance of a pioneer being "scooped" in Nodaway county. In the spring of 1842 he moved to Platte county, where he laid his body down in that sleep that knows no waking.
Nathaniel Finch. Joseph Huff, Thomas Cox, William Stevens, a Mr. Henshaw, William Thomas. James Waumic and Ben Owens composed the families of this entire neighborhood, and they were sixty miles distant from any other white persons, with the single exception of a few settlers on the White Cloud. How isolated and lonely was their situation, without roads. mills, workshops, mechanics, or mail facilities-deprived of almost every- thing that we deem essential to our happiness, comfort and well being. Not a foot of land had been dedicated for a last resting place for the body when the toils of life were ended : without shroud or coffin, the idols of the house- holds had to be committed to the cold earth. no stone or monument to mark the spot where earthly flowers had faded and were mouldering to dust. Yet. they carried with them the Bible promises treasured up in honest hearts, and when the shadow fell upon them, and the rumbling clods were hiding for- ever from their view earth's treasures, its words whispered of "love in
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heaven, the home of angels, and joys too pure to die." and in faith they braved all trials and struggled on, until many have been called to rest from their labors on earth, and we trust have ascended the mountain where eternal sunshine settles on the head.
EARLY MILLS.
The nearest saw or grist-mill was on Blacksnake creek where the thriv- ing city of St. Joseph now stands. It was only a small one-horse affair. There was also a mill on the Platte river. near " Old Agency Ford." known as Kibby's mill. For several years these mills furnished the pioneers with bread stuffs. As was the usual custom, some two or three neighbors would join and take thirty or forty bushels of corn (wheat was not thought of) and on their return the entire neighborhood was supplied. Then it came the turn of another to go, and their borrowings had to be paid. In this man- ner all kept fresh bread stuffs. It usually consumed a week's time to go to mill and return, and it was through such difficulties as these that this fair county was developed.
In 1843-4 Andrew Brown bought the Hogan land and built a small mill on the Elkhorn, just east of Brown's spring. This was a great relief, as it was nearby, though even then men and boys rode twelve to fifteen miles on a sack of corn laid across the horse, and returned home the same day, feeling that it was a small job going to mill. Andrew Brown afterward laid out the town of Graham, calling it Jacksonville. In 1858 or 1859 the Missouri Legislature changed the name to Graham, so that the town and postoffice would be the same. In 1845 the Bridgewater mills were built by Moore & Cock, which was indeed a valuable acquisition.
For many years there were no doctors north of Savannah, the people having to do the best they could in case of sickness.
What kind of people were these early settlers? Well. they were moral people, who reverenced the laws of God and this country. They did not desecrate the Sabbath day. The rivers and creeks were not lined with fish- erman on Sundays, as they are now. And although game was plentiful, the quietude of the Sabbath was not rendered hideous by the crack of the rifle or shot gun. Some went to church or Sunday school, while others visited their neighbors. There were no church buildings, so they worshipped at private houses in winter and under the shade of lofty trees, "God's first temples." in the summer time.
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