USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 28
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
The first marriage at Dawson was August 10, 1880, when Mitchell H. Bailey and Louisa A. Messengale were united. The first birth was March 3. 1881. a son to Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Daugherty. The first to die in the new town was Andrew J. Maines. September 26, 1881. The pioneer physician was Dr. J. H. Woodward.
The reader will learn of the schools of the township and Dawson by reference to the Educational chapter, as also of church activities under the proper heading.
VILLAGE OF ELMO.
Elmo (first called Ebbony, next St. Elmo and finally Elmo), situated on the line of the Wabash railroad, almost twenty miles northwest from Mary- ville, stands on land originally owned by Isaac Hesser and the State Bank of Missouri. The land was purchased by the railroad and the Western Improve- ment Company, who laid out the town in December. 1879. The first building was the depot. W. C. Ecker built a hotel at once and conducted it two years. J. R. Nelson then added a stock of general merchandise and James Brown started the first blacksmith shop. The Masonic hall building was removed from Lamar to Elmo in the early history of the place.
Of the early events, it may be recorded that the first marriage took place here September 17. 1880, when J. A. Maloney married Miss R. A. Manley.
The first birth was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Livengood. The first death was that of Morris Kane, who was thrown from a handcar by a passing engine backing against it in the darkness of the night.
Scott's addition to Elmo was platted in September. 1881. The town has always been a good shipping and trading point. Dr. . T. L. Martin was a pioneer physician, as was also Dr. S. Collins.
The present population of Elmo is placed at four hundred. The business and social interests are fully represented by a good class of men, as follows :
Bank-Farmers' and Mechanics.
Lodges-Odd Fellows. Masons. Modern Woodmen of the World, Re- bekah and Eastern Star.
General Dealers-"Pioneer Store," by E. E. Joy. A. A. Reece, F. E. James.
Hardware and Implements-E. Coulter, William Bucker.
Furniture-C. T. Wiley.
Lumber-WV. C. Aldrich.
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Grain and Coal-Gates & Elrod.
Stock Dealer-George T. Clardy. Livery-C. E. Beaver. Hotel-"Signal." by M. F. Beaver.
Drugs-S. J. Alden. Millinery-Graves & Scott.
Meat Market-W. E. Scott.
Harness-H. W. Meek.
Blacksmith-J. F. Weddle.
Flour and Feed-J. A. Bush. Newspaper-Register, J. S. Wood.
Mutual Phone-A home company.
Justice of Peace-J. S. Wood. J. C. Piper.
Physicians-Drs. I. G. Bushey, Dr. R. G. Ferguson.
At one time there was a Grand Army of the Republic post here, but so few and aged are the members now that they only meet on the birthday an- niversary of the few survivors of the post, who served in the great Civil war. This post is known as Marshall No. 162.
The town was incorporated in April, 1904, and the following have served as its mayors : T. M. Tudder, A. A. Reece, T. M. Tudder, J. S. Severs. Among the postmasters serving at Elmo are these: S. R. Johnston, R. E. Davis, W. E. Scott, F. D. Hurst, S. P. Lamar, L. P. Colvin. The present postmaster is S. R. Johnston. The town is now supplied with a good four-room brick school house, two stories high, built about 1900.
The following are the churches : Methodist Episcopal (South), Method- ist Episcopal and Christian. At one time the Church of God had a church organization at this point.
LAMAR STATION.
This place was platted in January, 1871, by John Lamar, on section 27. township 66, range 37. but with the change of route and the building of Burlington Junction and Elmo it lapsed into decay, some of the buildings being moved to other towns near by.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
Monroe township is in the extreme southwestern corner of the county, and comprises forty-four square miles, being bounded on the north by Green township, on the east by Polk and Hughes townships, on the south by Holt county, Missouri, and Hughes township, Nodaway county, and on the west by Atchison county.
The chief reason assigned in the petition asking for the organization of this township, which was effected in 1881, was that inhabitants had so far to go to cast their vote on election days. February 12, 1881, the county court ordered :
"That a municipal township be established out of parts of Green and Hughes townships, to be known and designated as Monroe township, in said county, to be composed of the following territory, to-wit: Commencing at the southwest corner of section 15, township 63. range 38. thence east with section line eleven miles to the southeast corner of section 17. in township 63. range 36, thence north with section line four miles, to the northeast corner of section 32. township 64, range 36, thence west eleven miles, to the south- west corner of section 34. township 64, range 38, thence south four miles south of line dividing Atchison and Nodaway counties, to place of beginning. It is further ordered by the court, that Skidmore be designated as the voting place for said township."
Thus it will be seen that the township is in the form of a parallelogram. The general features are similar to those of Green township. The eastern part of this township rises gradually from the river, while the western part rises gently toward the west. Nodaway river courses through this township from north to south, dividing it nearly in the middle. Florida creek empties into the river from the northeast, and Hickory creek and Hutchinson's branch from the west. There has been one mill site improved within the township. that near Skidmore.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Among the first settlers to invade this part of the county was William Bunton, who came in 1840 and opened up a farm one and a fourth mile north- east of where Skidmore was later platted. Two miles to the northwest of
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Skidmore settled William Dotson. James Curl. Richard Miller and James Fulkerson next made settlements. In 1847 William V. Smith bought Fulker- son's claim. Monroe Cotrel settled on his claini, two miles southeast of pres- ent Skidmore, but later sold to William Broyles, and he sold to Robert Bagley.
In 1845 Joseph Huntsucker claimed land three miles northeast of present Skidmore, but subsequently sold to Thomas Davis, now long deceased. About 1850 Hugh D. McDonald entered forty acres of what was known as a part of Burr Oak Grove. He sold to Thomas Hayes in 1853, whose two sons and two sons-in-law settled in and near the grove.
The settlers with dates of their coming to this township are as follows : William Bunten, 1840: William Dotson, 1840: James Curl, 1844: Richard Miller, 1844: James Fulkerson. 1844: Monroe Cotrel, 1844: Peter Noffsinger, 1845: Joseph Huntsucker. 1845: William V. Smith, 1847: William Broyles, 1847; Thomas Davis, 1847: Irving Hall, 1850: John Owens. 1850; Adam Turhune, 1850: Hugh D. McDonald, 1850: James T. Haynes, John S. Grigs- by. John G. Hayes, Alonzo Coston, Noah Mast. Wesley Clark, 1850; Thomas Hayes. 1853: I. D. Wheeler. 1856: Robert Bagby. 1857 : Patterson Hughes, 1857; Thomas Mayhew, 1858: Martin Skidmore, 1861.
SKIDMORE.
The village of Skidmore. in this township, is situated eleven miles south of Burlington Junction, at the exact center of its territory and a half mile east of the Nodaway river. The land on which the place is situated was origi- nally the property of M. Skidmore, who gave the Nodaway Valley Railroad Company twenty acres to locate a station near the same. The railroad was built in 1880. completed August 15th of that year. No townsite company was formed, but Mr. Skidmore laid off a townsite early in June or July, 1880.
The first building was a grocery store erected by H. H. Joy, who moved a stock of goods from Union Valley, commencing business at Skidmore Sep- tember 1, 1880. Other business interests were at once added to the new ham- let and a Methodist Episcopal church edifice was completed in July. 1881. The Methodist church South completed one in October of the same year. The schools and churches are mentioned in the Educational and Church chap- ters of this volume.
The earliest birth in Skidmore was a son to Mr. and Mrs. George Man- chester, born November II, 1880. The first death was that of a son of H. H. Joy, November 11, 1880. The earliest marriage was that uniting Hamil- ton Diffinbaugh and Ary Bell Parrish, by Squire Thomas L. Howden.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
As a trading point, Skidmore has always been excellent. As early as 1881 the firm of Markland. Earls & Company sold twenty-seven thousand dollars worth of merchandise, while others did as well in proportion.
As to early milling interests, it should be stated that in 1851 Messrs. Downing & Terhune erected a grist mill on the waters of the Nodaway river, near the present site of Skidmore. It was styled the Downing Mills. Mr. Skidmore purchased the same in 1864, and sold in a short time to G. M. Nash and Hulett Burnett, who continued to operate the mill until 1872, when Nash Brothers built a more modern flouring mill. This at once be- came of great value to the farmers of the southwestern portion of Nodaway county.
According to the census returns in 1880, Skidmore had a population of about four hundred people. Its population in 1900 was reported as five hundred and sixty, which has materially increased since that date.
Among the early business and professional factors of Skidmore may be remembered the names of : The depot agent. John Cox, Julia Drumm, mil- linery : Squire Finney, hotel and livery ; T. L. Howden, justice of the peace ; H. M. Hutt, physician and druggist ; Charles Impey, physician and druggist ; T. L. Marlin, hardware dealer : Charles Spear, grain dealer and James Wood. blacksmith.
The following is the standing of Skidmore in the spring of 1910:
Banks-Bank of Skidmore and Farmers' Bank of Skidmore.
Lodges-Masonic, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (and the Rebekah degree). Modern Woodmen, (Neighbors and Hustlers' Auxiliaries), the so- cial orders of Neighbors Club. Commercial Club and the Northwestern Farm- ers' Corn Growers Association.
Schools-A two-story six-room building. a fine brick, built about 1898. Churches-Methodist Episcopal, Methodist (South), and Christian.
Musical Instruments-Neal Hoblitzell.
Newspaper-New Era.
Creameries-(Depots) Skidmore Cream Company. Clarinda Cream and Poultry Company, and the Maryville Cream Company.
Feed Mill-Barrett & Otis.
Opera House-Cook's Opera Hall.
Stock Dealers-Ed Dawson. Linville Sons.
Dentist-R. L. Bantz.
Physicians-Drs. J. E. Pierpoint and F. A. Lee.
Justice of the Peace-George D. Fullerton.
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PAST AND PRESENT
Meat Market-William Linville.
Harness Shop-C. C. Hendrix.
Blacksmith and Wagonmakers-J. W. Weddle, Jr., and James Parrish.
Architect-J. W. Rodman, also contractor and builder.
Photographs-G. C. Ashbrook.
Hotel-Commercial Hotel, Mrs. Nora Sewell, proprietor.
Drugs-Model Drug Company, J. E. Pierpoint ; Skidmore Drug Com- pany, R. A. Walker.
Millinery-Mrs. Emma Hutt. Shell & Jones.
Grain, Coal and Feed-I. S. Dawson and Barrett & Otis.
Livery-J. H. Lindell. Lumber-J. O. Miller.
Cement Blocks, Etc .- J. C. Spahr.
Hardware and Furniture-Manchester & Dodds, Jordan & Thomas Company.
Implement Dealers-J. W. Holt.
General Dealers-Ernest Prang, Barnett, Stoolfer and Owens, R. B. Foster, E. T. Duval.
The mayors who have served in the incorporate town are G. D. Fuller- ton. J. D. Montgomery, W. R. Lindelle. G. D. Fullerton.
The postoffice was established about 1879-80 and the postmasters have been in the following order: Harvey Joy, Benjamin Campbell, James Roach, Carrie Roach, H. A. C. Hasty, T. L. Howden. George Stoolfer. Under Mr. Howden's administration the office advanced from a cost to the government of about four hundred dollars in eleven years, to a cost of six thousand one hundred and fifty dollars. During that period five rural routes were estab- lished, three of twenty-four miles run, one of twenty-seven miles and one of twenty-six miles.
CHAPTER XXIX.
NODAWAY TOWNSHIP.
Nodaway is one of the most irregular shaped sub-divisions in Nodaway county, both having received their name from the river Nodaway. It is bounded on the north by Atchison and Union townships, on the east by Union and Polk townships. on the south by Polk and Green townships and on its west by Green and Lincoln townships, all of Nodaway county. It contains about forty-six square miles and the Nodaway river flows as its western boundary line.
This township was formed by order of the county court. dated March 29. 1871, which reads as follows :
"That a new municipal township be established and located out of Green and Atchison townships, commencing at the Nodaway river, at a point where the township line dividing townships 66 and 65 crosses the said Nodaway river, thence east on said line to the northeast corner of township 65, range 36, thence running south three miles to the township line between townships 64 and 65, thence west on said line to the Nodaway river, thence north with the meanderings of said river to the place of beginning: and it is further ordered by the court that the voting precinct be designated at the C. W. Hardesty residence. in said township."
Later a strip two by three miles on the east end of Nodaway was taken off and added to Union township.
NATURAL FEATURES.
This township lies in the eastern part of Nodaway valley. rising gently toward the east. The southern portion slopes to the south. Among the streams of the township are the Muddy creek. Kilhoga creek, Carken branch, Sand creek and Florida creek, while Clear creek finds its source in the north- eastern portion of the township. Along the Nodaway river in this township are found many lakes, some of which were old beds of rivers, and others arising from depressions in the land. In the east portion of the township
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there is a watershed dividing the waters of Clear creek from those of Sand creek. The sources of these two streams approach within forty rods of each other.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Among the first to make settlement in Nodaway township was Levi Martin, who came in 1842 and entered the claim on which Burlington Junc- tion is now situated. The same season came John Shepherd. settling on an adjoining tract of land just south of him. Jesse Roberts, Mr. Thomas and his son. John Thomas. took claims about one mile to the west and a little ways . to the south of Martin's. Joseph Hough came very early to the township and entered the claim at Corkin's Spring. and John Clark, father of W. Clark, bought out his interest in March. 1849.
What was styled the "Ohio Settlement" was effected in 1856 when J. H. Ware, Sr., came from Chillicothe, Ohio, and took a claim near Burlington Junction. Mr. Ware was a former prosecuting attorney in Ross county, Ohio. Soon thereafter came Col. John Davis and he bought the claim origi- nally entered by Levi Martin. He later sold and removed to Kansas. In 1862 Thomas Corkin took a claim about two miles north of present Burling- ton Junction. Shadrick Cole and his son-in-law. William H. Franklin, took claims south of Burlington Junction. Austin Jones and William B. Sunder- land settled northwest from present Burlington site. William Jones, father of Austin Jones, spent his time in Nodaway county and Atchison county most- ly. Others of the Ohio emigrants were Doctor Myers. George Wilson, Jesse Walker and others. About forty Ohio families made up this Buckeye settle- ment. all possessed of intelligence and energy. They set about farming on an up-to-date scale for those early times, and succeeded in making some of the finest farms in the county, and that within a few short years.
SETTLERS LIST.
Levi Martin. 1842: Mr. Thomas. 1842: James Roberts. 1842; Joseph Hough. 1842: Hendricks Lee. 1842: James Pickerel. 1842: Samuel Bowman, 1842: Jonathan Shepherd. 1842: Jesse Roberts, 1842: John Johnson, 1842 : Hiram Lee. 1842; Elijah Bunton. 1842; Shadrick Cole, 1843: Austin Jones. 1843 : William Smith, 1844: Thomas Fields. Dr. Myers. Jesse Walker, George Wilson, William Jones, William B. Sunderland. William H. Franklin. John Clark. 1849: Thomas Corkin. 1862: J. H. Ware. Sr .. 1856.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
The schools, churches and lodges will be treated under their respective headings in the general chapters of this work. The population of Nodaway county in 1900 was one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine. It is within one of the most thoroughly enterprising and prosperous sections of all this fair county.
BURLINGTON JUNCTION.
It was no more than a natural thing with the construction of the railroads crossing in this township that the people looked for a good station point and lively marketing place. This proved to be the founding of what is now known as Burlington Junction, the history of which runs back to 1879. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy line had made a survey a half mile to the east of the Nodaway river at the crossing of the Wabash railroad and the Burlington. This town was first called Lewiston, for President Lewis of the Wabash system. Later it was called Cleveland by the people of the Ohio colony, because it was found that another Cleveland already had an existence in Missouri. Cleveland grew until it had about forty buildings. But when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Company made their final survey, they crossed the Wabash a half mile to the east of this point, on the farm of Colonel Davis, and here grew up the present town of Burlington Junction.
Levi. Martin, one of the first. if not. indeed, the first man to locate in Nodaway township, entered and settled on the land on which the town now stands. There he farmed for about eighteen years, then sold to Colonel Davis. When he sold and went to Kansas, his son, William H. Davis, and the son-in-law. Edwin Caldwell. purchased it. October 20, 1879, they sold to the Burlington Railroad Company, reserving certain interests in the same. The place was platted July 1, 1879.
The first firm to embark in business at this point was George H. Hotail- ing & Company, lumber dealers. Clarence Andrews, son of James Andrews. hauled the first load of lumber from Maryville to Burlington Junction. Wheeler Brothers built the first store building and sold the first goods in the town, commencing July 5. 1879, and on the 24th of the month sold their first goods. Two drug stores were built about the same date by S. J. Butcher & Company, and J. N. Penn & Company. January 1, 1880, there were over one hundred buildings in the embryo town of Burlington Junction. The first train of cars on the Burlington road arrived there October 20. 1879, and a car- load of grain was sent out two days later.
(20)
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PAST AND PRESENT
December 16, 1879, the town was incorporated and its first officers were as follows: Trustees-1879-80, G. H. Logan, chairman ; Thomas Neighbors, secretary ; James F. Anderson, treasurer: G. Hubbel, Gibson; A. B. Mont- gomery, marshal.
The churches, lodges and schools will appear under their respective chap- ter headings in this volume. In 1900 the Federal census gave Burlington Junction a population of about eight hundred, but today it is considerably in excess of this.
The banking interests of this town are second to only one place in the county, Maryville. This subject is fully mentioned under the general chapter on Banks and Banking.
The city directory of Burlington Junction as far back as 1882. gave the following totals in business factors: Three livery barns : hotels, five ; hard- wares. two; groceries, three: drug stores, three : general stores, four; grain dealers, two: meat markets. two: lumber dealers, two; newspapers, one: at- torneys, two; painters, plasterers. carpenters, shoe shops, blacksmiths and wagonmakers in great numbers, and still the town was less than three years old.
The business of today includes the following, together with the social and religious affairs :
Banks-Northwestern Bank of Missouri, First National Bank.
General Stores-C. B. Zarn (Inc.) and Aesdale Brothers.
Drug Stores-Dr. Carter, Dr. W. E. Wallace.
Furniture-T. E. Fordyce.
Hardwares-Sewell & Carter, C. J. Reece.
Clothing-J. H. Gebbecken.
Harness-E. C. Johnson.
Newspaper-The Post, J. H. Bryant.
Lodges-Odd Fellows, Masons, Woodmen of the World.
Hotels-The Wabash (at the depot). the Cottage Hotel, the Nodaway Hotel.
Physicians-Dr. Dean, Dr. Carter. Dr. Gaugh. Dr. Wallace.
Dentist-G. C. Trusty. D. D. S.
Attorney-J. S. Robinson.
Mills-Nicholas & Harvey, feed.
Cream Stations-The Clarinda and others.
Lumber-J. W. Praiswater.
Grain-Nicholas & Harvey, C. J. Reece.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI
Stock Shippers-George McKnight, Guyatt & Plummer. R. R. Staples, E. Boyer.
Livery-J. D. Young. Burt Henley.
The following have served as postmasters since the establishing of Bur- lington Junction office in 1879: I. B. Chisinger, Samuel J. Butcher, Capt. J. M. White, Marian Huff, Frank McMacken, J. H. Bryant. There are now five rural free deliveries running out from this point ; their average run is about twenty-four miles. The first was established in 1903. The present population of Burlington Junction is not far from nine hundred and twenty-five.
The Mineral Springs Sanitarium of this place, mentioned at length else- where, is of great value to the public and will soon be greatly improved, hav- ing changed hands recently. This water has rare curative properties.
ROSEBERRY.
This was a hamlet situated one mile to the east of Burlington Junction, at the junction of the Wabash railroad with the old Clarinda branch of the same road, which is not now in existence. This place was platted October 27, 1879, by the Western Improvement Company, on section 14, township 65. range 37. When the junction of the Burlington and Wabash lines was ef- fected at Burlington Junction and the Clarinda branch done away with, Rose- berry naturally became defunct.
WILCOX.
This is a mere hamlet on the Wabash railroad between Maryville and Burlington Junction. It has a depot, shipping facilities, a few business houses and postoffice.
About one-half of the little hamlet is situated in Nodaway township on section 32, while the eastern portion of the same is in Polk township.
CHAPTER XXX.
POLK TOWNSHIP.
The most extensive township in Nodaway county is Polk, which con- tains one hundred and twenty-one square miles of territory. It is an even eleven miles square. Its boundaries have been subject to numerous changes with the passing of years and the formation of other sub-divisions of the county. At the May term of county court in 1845. Polk was defined as follows :
"Beginning at the northwest corner of Washington township, thence west with said township line till it intersects White Cloud township line. thence westwardly with said line until it intersects the line of Atchison town- ship, thence north with the east line of the aforesaid township to the south- east corner of Buchanan township, thence eastwardly so as to include the Gray settlement and the Mowery houses between One hundred and Two river and Platte river, thence east to the eastern boundary of Nodaway coun- ty, thence south to the place of beginning."
On March 19, 1861, another order of the county court made a change in the western part of the territory of this township, and again on June 14, 1866, other radical and far-reaching changes were effected, thus defining the present Polk township, which, without going into dry detail, may be defined briefly in this manner: All the territory between the northeast corner of section 19. township 65. range 34: section 21, township 65, range 36; section 9. township 64, range 34; to the corner of section 7. township 64, range 35. these several numbers of sections indicating the corners of the township. commencing at the northeast corner of the same.
This township includes the seat of justice. Maryville, in the center of the territory, and. with Maryville, in 1900 had a population of seven thousand seven hundred and forty. Outside of Maryville it had an enumeration of three thousand one hundred and sixty-three.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The topography of Polk township is somewhat diversified in its appear- ance. The land lies gently sloping toward the south, so that the water courses flow in that direction. One-third the distance from the east line flows One
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Hundred and Two river, from north to south, its chief tributaries being the Mowry, Mozingo and White Cloud creeks. The valley of the One Hundred and Two river is from a half to one mile wide and along it are found natural groves with all the timber common to this part of Missouri. A water shed is found crossing the northwestern portion of this township and passes partly down the western side. dividing the headwaters of the White Cloud from the sources of the south branch of Clear creek and Florida creek, which streams flow into the Nodaway river.
The alluvial soil is from three to ten feet deep in the valleys, while the rich, productive vegetable mould on the uplands ranges from one to three feet in thickness. While corn is king, all other grains and grasses find in this soil a congenial home for their roots. Years ago this township was largely devoted to stock raising and as a consequence the husbandmen have grown prosperous and wealthy. High grades of cattle and horses make their an- nual exhibits and carry with them first premiums.
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