USA > Missouri > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Missouri : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Clinton County in the late war, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 12
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
The most important features connected with this system of town- ship surveys should be thoroughly understood by every intelligent farmer and business man ; still there are some points connected with the understanding of it, which need close and careful attention. The law which established this system required that the north and south lines should correspond 'exactly with the meridian passing through that point ; also that each township should be six miles square. To do this would be an utter impossibility, since the figure of the earth causes the meridians to converge toward the pole, making the north line of each township shorter than the south line of the same township. To obviate the errors which are, on this account, constantly occurring, correction lines are established. They are parallels bounding a line of townships on the north, when lying north of the principal base ; on the south line of townships when lying south of the principal base, from which the surveys, as they are continued, are laid out anew ; the range lines again starting at correct distances from the principal meridian. In Michigan these correction lines are repeated at the end of every tenth township, but in Oregon they have been repeated with every fifth township. The instructions to the surveyors have been that each range of townships should be made as much over six miles in width on each base and cor- rection line as it will fall short of the same width where it closes on to the next correction line north ; and it is further provided that in all cases, where the exterior lines of the townships shall exceed, or shall not extend six miles, the excess or deficiency shall be specially noted, and added to or deducted from the western or northern sections or half sections in such township, according as the error may be in running the lines from east to west, or from south to north. In order to throw the excess of deficiencies on the north and on the west sides of the town- ship, it is necessary to survey the section lines from south to north, on a true meridian, leaving the result in the north line of the township to be governed by the convexity of the earth, and the convergency of the meridians.
Navigable rivers, lakes and islands are " meandered" or surveyed by the compass and chain along the banks. "The instruments employed on these surveys, besides the solar compass, are a surveying chain thirty- three feet long, of fifty links, and another of smaller wire, as a standard to be used for correcting the former as often at least as every other day, also eleven tally pins, made of steel, telescope, targets, tape measure and tools for marking the lines upon trees or stones. In surveying through woods, trees intercepted by the line are marked with two chips or notches, one on each side ; these are called sight or line trees. Sometimes other , trees in the vicinity are blazed on two sides quartering toward the line ; but if some distance from the line the two blazes should be near together on the side facing the line. These are found to be permanent marks, not
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
only recognizable for many years, but carrying with them their own age by the rings of growth around the blaze, which may at any subsequent time be cut out and counted as years ; and the same are recognized in courts of law as evidence of the date of the survey. They cannot be obliterated by cutting down the trees or otherwise, without leaving evi- dence of the act. Corners are marked upon trees if found at the right spots, or else upon posts set in the ground, and sometimes a monument of stones is used for a township corner, and a single stone for section corner ; mounds of earth are made where there are no stones nor timber. At the corners the four adjacent sections are designated by distinct marks cut into a tree, one in each section. These trees, facing the corner, are plainly marked with the letters B. T. (bearing tree) cut into the wood. Notches eut upon the corner posts or trees indicate the num- ber of miles to the outlines of the township, or if on the boundaries of the township, to the township corners."
TOWNSHIPS NAMED AND DESCRIBED.
On Tuesday the 7th day of December, 1871, the county court made the following order in reference to naming and describing the municipal townships:
"It is ordered by the court that Clinton County be, and the same is hereby subdivided into nine municipal townships, named and described as follows, to wit :
SHOAL TOWNSHIP
begins at the northeast corner of section 24, in township 57, of range 30; thence south to the southeast corner of section 24, in township 56, of range 30; thence west to the southwest corner of section 19, in township 56, of range 30; thence north 286 links, to the southeast corner of section 24, in township 56, of range 31; thence west to the southwest corner of said section 24, in township 56, of range 31 ; thence north to the northwest corner of section I, in township 56, of range 31 ; thence west 21 links to the southwest corner of section 36, in township 57, of range 31 ; thence north to the northwest corner of section 24, in township 57, of range 31 ; thence east to the northeast corner of section 24, in township 57, of range 31 ; thence north 164 links to the northwest corner of section 19, in township 57, of range 30; thence east to the place of beginning.
PLATTE TOWNSHIP
begins at the southeast corner of section 23, in township 57, of range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of section 35, in said township and range ; thence east 21 links to the northeast corner of section 2, in
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
township 56, of range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of sec- tion 23, in said township 56, of range 31 ; thence west to the southwest corner of section 19, in said township 56, of range 31 ; thence north 29 links to the southeast corner of section 24, in township 56, of range 32 ; thence west to the southwest corner of section 23, in said township 56, of range 32 ; thence north to the northwest corner of section 2, in said township 56, of range 32 ; thence east 198 links to the southwest corner of section 35, in township 57, of range 32 ; thence north to the north- west corner of section 23, in said township 57, of range 32; thence east to the northeast corner of section 24, in said township 57, of range 32 ; thence south 50 links, to the northwest corner of section 19, in town- ship 57, of range 31 ; thence east to the place of beginning.
LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP
begins at the northeast corner of section 22, in township 57, of range 32 ; thence south to the southeast corner of section 34, in said township and range; thence west 198 links, to the northest corner of section 3, in township 56, of range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of section 22, in said township 56, of range 32; thence west to the southwest corner of section 19, in said township 56, of range 32; thence north 61 links to the southeast corner of section 24, in township 56, of range 33 ; thence west, to the southwest corner of section 22, in said township 56, of range 33 ; thence west 600 links to the former west boundary of the State of Missouri ; thence north to the northeast corner of section 21, in township 57, of range 33 ; thence north 23 links ; thence east, 567 links, to the northwest corner of section 22, in said township 57, of range 33 ; thence east to the northeast corner of section 24, of said, township 57, of range 33 ; thence north 162 links to the northwest corner of section 19. in township 57, of range 32 ; thence east to the place of beginning.
LATHROP TOWNSHIP
begins at the northeast corner of section 25, in township 56, of range 30; thence south to the southeast corner of section 36, in township 55, of range 30 ; thence west to the southwest corner of section 35, in township 55, of range 31 ; thence north to the northwest corner of said section 35 ; thence east to the northeast corner of said section 35 ; thence north to the northwest corner of section 1, in township 55, of range 31 ; thence west 14 links ; thence north to the northwest corner of section 25, in township 56, of range 31 ; thence east to the northeast corner of said section 25 ; thence south, 286 links, to the northwest corner of section 30, in township 56, of range 30; thence east to the place of beginning.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
CONCORD TOWNSHIP
begins at the northeast corner of section 26, in township 56, of range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of section 35, in said township 56, of range 31 ; thence east 14 links to the northeast corner of section 2, in township 55, of range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of section 26, in said township 55, of range 31 ; thence west to the west corner of section 30, in said township 55, of range 31 ; thence north 16 links to the southeast corner of section 25, in township 55, of range 32 ; thence west to the southwest corner of section 26, in said township 55, of range 32 ; thence north to the northwest corner of section 2, in said township 55, of range 32 ; thence east 163 links ; thence north to the northwest corner of section 26, in township 56, of range 32 ; thence east to the northeast corner of section 25, of said township 56, of range 32 ; thence south 29 links, to the northwest corner of section 30, in township 56, of range 31 ; thence east to the place of beginning.
. ATCHISON TOWNSHIP
begins at the northeast corner of section 27, in township 56, of range 32 ; thence south to the southeast corner of section 34, in said township and range : thence west 163 links to the northeast corner of section 3, in township 55, of range 32 ; thence south to the southeast corner of section 27, in said township 55, of range 32 ; thence west to the southwest corner of section 30, in said township 55, of range 32; thence south 83 links, to the southeast corner of section 25, in township 55, of range 33 ; thence west to the former state boundary of the State of Missouri; thence north to a point 13 links south of the southeast corner of section 21, in town- ship 56, of range 33 ; thence east 600 links to the southwest corner of section 22, in said township 56, of range 33 ; thence east to the northeast corner of section twenty-five, in said township 56, of range 33 ; thence south 61 links to the northwest corner of section 30, in township 56, of range 32 ; thence east to the place of beginning.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
begins at the southeast corner of section I, township 54, of range 30; thence south to the southeast corner of section 25, in said township and range ; thence west to the southwest corner of section 30, in said town- ship and range ; thence north 20 links, to the southeast corner of section 25, in township 54, of range 31 ; thence west to the southwest corner of section 26, in said township 54, of range 31 ; thence north to the north- east corner of section 3, in said township 54, of range 31; thence east, to the place of begining.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP
begins at the northeast corner of section 34, in township 55, of range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of said section ; thence east 34 links, to the northeast corner of section 3, in township 54, of range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of section 27, of said township 54, of range 31 ; thence west to the southwest corner of section 30, of said township 54, of range 31 ; thence south 58 links, to the southeast corner of section 25, of township 54, of range 32; thence west to the south- west corner of section 26, of said township 54, of range 32; thence north to the northwest corner of section 21, in said township 54, of range 32 ; thence east 100 links ; thence north to the northwest corner of sec- tion 35, in township 55, of range 32; thence east to the southeast corner of section 25, in said township 55, of range 32; thence south 16 links to the northwest corner of section 31, in township 55, of range 31 ; thence east to the place of beginning.
HARDIN TOWNSHIP
begins at the northeast corner of section 34, in township 55, of range 32 ; thence south to the southeast corner of said section 34; thence west 100 links, to the northeast corner of section 3, in township 54, of range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of section 27, in said township 54, of range 32 ; thence west to the southwest corner of sec- tion 30, in said township 54, and range 32; thence north 160 links, to the southeast corner of section 25, of township 54, of range 33 ; thence west to the former west boundary of the State of Missouri ; thence north to the northwest corner of section 34, in township 55, of range 33 ; thence east to the southeast corner of section 25, in said township 55, of range 33; thence north 83 links, to the northwest corner of section 31, in township 55, of range 32 ; thence east to the place of beginning."
At the November term of the county court, in 1873, the lines of Concord Township were changed, the change effecting, also, Clinton, Lathrop and Atchison Townships. The order of the court is as follows : "It is ordered by the court that the lines of Concord Township, shall be changed : to begin at the northeast corner of section 27, in township 56, of range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of section 34, in said township and range ; thence east, 14 links, to the northeast corner of section 3, in township 55, of range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 34, in township 55, of range 31 ; thence west to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 34, township 55, of range 32; thence north to the northwest corner of section 3, in township 55, of range 32 ; thence east 163 links ; thence north to the northwest corner of section 27, in township 56, of
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
range 32; thence east to the place of beginning. And it is further ordered, that the west line of Lathrop Township, the north line of Clin- ton Township, and the east line of Atchison Township be, and they are so changed, as to correspond with the above change and lines of Con- cord Township."
CHAPTER V. EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
IMPORTANCE OF FIRST BEGINNINGS-WHEN AND WHERE COMMENCED.
Every nation does not possess an authentic account of its origin, neither do all communities have the correct data whereby it is possible to accurately predicate the condition of their first beginnings. Never- theless, to be intensely interested in such things is characteristic of the race, and it is particularly the province of the historian to deal with first causes. Should these facts, as is often the case, be lost in the myth- ical tradition of the past, the chronicler invades the realm of the ideal and compels his imagination to paint the missing picture. The patriotic Roman was not content till he had found the "First Settlers," and then he was satisfied, although they were found in the very undesirable com- pany of a wolf, and located on a drift, which the receding waters of the Tiber had permitted them to pre-empt.
One of the advantages pertaining to a residence in a new country and one seldom appreciated, is the fact that we can go back to the first beginnings. We are thus enabled, not only to trace results to their causes, but also to grasp the facts which have contributed to form and mold these causes. We observe that a state or county has attained a certain position, and we at once try to trace out the reasons for this position in its early settlement and surroundings, in the class of men by whom it was peopled, and in the many chances and changes which have wrought out results in all the recorded deeds of mankind. In the history of Clinton County we may trace its early settlers to their homes in the Eastern States and in the countries of the Old World. We may follow the course of the hardy woodman of the "Buckeye" or the "Hoosier" state, or from Kentucky and Virginia on his way west " to grow up with the country," trusting only to his strong arm and his willing heart to work out his ambition of a home for himself and wife and a competence for his children. Again, we will see that others have been animated with the impulse to " move on," after making themselves a part of the community, and have sought the newer parts of the extreme west, where civilization had not penetrated, or returned to their native soil. We shall find much of that distinctive New England character which has contributed so many men and women to other portions of our state, and the west ; also, we shall find many an industrious native of
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Germany or the British Isles, and a few of the industrious and econom- ical French-all of whom have contributed to modify types of men already existing here.
Those who have noted the career of the descendants of these brave, strong men, in subduing the wilds and overcoming the obstacles and withstanding the hardships of this country in early times, can but admit they are worthy sons of illustrious sires.
In order to fully understand the settlement of Clinton County, we shall begin with the organization of Howard County, as far back as 1816. We do this, to show the origin of the county, and the extent of the ter- ritory from which it was first taken, and the subsequent divisions of that territory, as they were erected into new counties.
In 1816, Howard County was established out of a part of St. Louis and St. Charles Counties, and the boundary lines marked out as follows : Beginning at the mouth of the Great Osage River, to the Osage boundary line ; thence north with said boundary line, to the river Missouri ; thence up the Missouri River to a point opposite the Kansas River; thence with the Indian boundary line, in a northwardly direction, one hundred and forty miles ; thence eastward to the main dividing ridge of high ground to the main fork of the river Cedar; thence down said river to the Mis- souri ; thence down the Missouri to the mouth of the Great Osage, the place of beginning.
Howard County was first settled by Daniel Boone, Colonel Benja- min Cooper, and others, in 1807, and was named in honor of General Benjamin Howard, then Governor of Missouri. Some of the oldest citi- zens of Clinton Couuty, are natives of Howard, and emigrated from thence at an early day.
From Howard County, the counties of Cooper, Chariton, Boone, Ray and other counties were organized. In 1822, it was enacted by the legislature of Missouri that all that section of country beginning in the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River, south of the range line, between twenty-nine and thirty, west of the fifth principal meridian; thence north with said range line, to the northern boundary of the state; thence west, to the northwest corner of the state ; thence south with the west line of the state to the main channel of the Missouri River ; thence down said main channel to the beginning, be established and organized as the county of Clay.
With the history, then, of Clay County, begins the history of Clin- ton, which lies immediately adjoining its northern boundary.
In speaking of the early settlements of the county, it will not be our purpose here to enter into details, or mention the names of each individual making these settlements; this will be done in the follow- ing chapter, which will treat fully and more definitely of the settle- ments and settlers of the different townships.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
We propose to now give only a brief history, or outline, of a few of the early settlements, their location, and the names of the pioneers who first pitched their tents in the territory now known as Clinton County.
Land was entered here as early as 1825, but no permanent settler came until the year following. The first actual settlement, it appears, was made in 1826, in the southwestern part of the county, now known as Hardin Township, by parties from Clay County. Shortly afterward, William Castile located on Castile Creek, from whom the stream took its name, in what is now known as Atchison Township. Here he opened the first farm in that section of country, and, in 1828, sold it to Moses McMahan, from Clay County. Mr. Castile, at the time of selling his claim, had cleared only about a half acre of ground, on which he had raised a garden. A few years after, Caleb McGill put up on Castile Creek, two miles south of the present town of Gower, the first saw mill in the township. The original settlers scattered along the edge of the timber, which, in that day, fringed Castile Creek, so as to be convenient to wood and water, the two great indispensable requisites of the early pioneer.
But little time elasped from the date of the first settlement made by William Castile, until James McKowan, from Clay County, and Arm- strong McClintock and Samuel M. Biggerstaff, from Kentucky, came and also located on Castile Creek.
As early as 1826, or the spring of 1827, Hiram.Smith built a log cabin about the center of what is now known as Jackson Township, being the first house erected in the township. Mr. Smith, like Nimrod of old, was a great hunter, and lived exclusively upon the game of the wood and prairie.
In 1828, Mrs. Nellie Coffman, from Kentucky, settled near the Cross Roads, or what is now known as Hainesville, on Fishing River.
In that neighborhood, Drew and Josiah Cogdell, George Denny and Collet Haynes made early settlements, one or two of these coming from North Carolina.
About the same time, John Stone commenced a settlement in what is now known as Shoal Township, near the present town site of Cam- eron, and in the vicinity of McCartney's nursery.
During the same year, Isaac D. Baldwin moved to that section of country, from Clay, followed by James Shaw, John Ritchie, Samuel McKorkle, Edward Smith and others, all entering land near Shoal Creek.
In 1830, there were probably but six permanent settlers in the north part of the county, the majority of the emigrants locating on the Cas- tile, Smith's Fork of Platte, and Fishing River, in the south and western portions of the county.
It was quite natural, that these two sections, should be first settled, because they were nearer Clay County, which then contained a popula-
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
tion of several thousand souls, than any other portions of the attached territory. Beside, at that period, there were, in the northern part of the county, a few, lingering, small bands of Indians, who, although friendly, were not just such persons as the pioneer liked for neighbors or associates.
John Livingston made a settlement about one mile northeast of where Plattsburg is now located. This was in 1832. The cabin which he erected is still standing. The succeeding year Mr. Livingston erected a pole cabin, on the site of Plattsburg, used for the court house, and during the same year, Richard R. Rees built a similar cabin near the point where the railroad crosses Main Street.
At this date, there were no trading posts, stores, mills or blacksmith shops, and the settler was compelled to get his supplies from Liberty, Clay County. The nearest mill was Smith's, at Smithsville, Clay County, and quite often the settler would be gone a week from home with his grist, awaiting his "turn," because of the slow and imperfect facilities. which were afforded in those days for grinding.
CHAPTER VI.
PIONEER LIFE.
THE PIONEERS' PECULIARITIES - CONVENIENCES AND INCONVENIENCES-THE HIS- TORICAL LOG CABIN-AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS-HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE- PIONEER CORN-DREAD-HAND MILLS AND HOMINY BLOCKS-GOING TO MILL- TRADING POINTS-BEE-TREES-SHOOTING MATCHES AND QUILTINGS.
In the heart of the grand old forest, A thousand miles to the West, Where a stream gushed out from the hillside, They halted at last for rest. And the silence of ages listened To the ax-stroke loud and clear,
Divining a kingly presence In the tread of the pioneer.
He formed of the prostrate branches, A home that was strong and good ; The roof was of reeds from the streamlet, The chimney he built of wood, And there hy the winter fireside, While the flame up the chimney roared,
He spoke of the good time coming, When plenty should crown his board-
When the forest should fade like a vision, And over the hill-ide and plain The orchard would spring in its beauty, And the fields of golden grain And to-night he sits by the fireside In a mansion quaint and old, With his children's children round him, Having reaped a thousand fold.
During the decade which comprehends the first ten years of its his- tory, the settlement of Clinton County was in its earliest stage of pioneer life. All that can be known of this period must be drawn, chiefly, from tradition.
In those days the people took no care to preserve history-they were too busily engaged in making it. Historically speaking, those were the most important years of the county, for it was then the founda- tion and concr stones of all the county's history and prosperity were laid. Yet, this history was not remarkable for stirring events. It was, however, a time of self reliance and brave persevering toil ; of priva-
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