USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 70
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Weldon, who yet live in Harrison county. She received her education at Grand River College and became a very successful teacher. Their mar- riage has been blest with two children; viz., Clara L., born December 5, 1879, and Carrie, born July 8, 1881. Mr. Hudson is at present acceptably filling the office of elerk and assessor. He is a young man of more than ordinary business ability, and owns a fine farm, well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson are consistent members of the church.
HENRY S. LEWIS
Is a native of Allegany county, New York, born March 10, 1830, and is a son of Charles and Catharine Lewis, nee Knight. His father was born in New Jersey, and his mother in Massachusetts. His grandfather, on his father's side, was one of the Hessians captured at Trenton, New Jersey, and was there paroled and made that his permanent home. His grandfather, on his mother's side, was a well known and valiant soldier in the Revolu- tionary War. At about the age of nine years the subject of our sketch ac- companied his parents from New York to Pennsylvania and remained about two years, and then came to Missouri in 1840. His father was a very fine mechanic and followed that business mostly during his lifetime. In 1850 he went to California, in company with his father, and there, in 1851, his father died; he then returned to Scotland county, Missouri. In 1856 he came to Grundy county and located near where he still lives. On Octo- ber 23d, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane McClure, a na- tive of Logan county, Ohio, and a daughter of Jacob and Martha McClure, nee Williams .. Three children were the issue of their wedded life; namely, Charles B., born July 28, 1854; Jacob W., born October 5, 1856; and Martha C., born May 8, 1858. Mrs. Lewis died February 28, 1865. No- vember 29, 1868, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elvira McClure, the widow of John McClure. She was a native of Virginia, born April 3, 1840. Her parents, William M. and Jane Ford, came to Missouri in 1855. Her father died in 1856, and her mother is still living in Harrison county. When Mr. Lewis first came to Grundy county he, in connection with Mr. McCInre, erected the first steam saw-mill in the western part of the county, and operated it till the beginning of the civil war. He enlisted in com- pany K, First Missouri cavalry, and served about four years. After the close of the war he returned to Taylor township, Grundy county, and en- gaged in farming. Here he owns two hundred acres of choice land, well im- proved and stocked. He has served, for a great many years, as justice of the peace, and almost continuously in some township office. He is a lead- ing spirit in the township, a staunch Republican, and quite a power in a political campaign.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
W. A. M'CLURE,
Son of Jacob and Martha McClure, nee Williams, was born in Logan county, Ohio, January 30, 1834. His parents came to Missouri and located in Scotland county; after living there four years moved to Van Buren county, Iowa, and, when the subject of this sketch was about sixteen years of age, they returned to Scotland county, and there resided till the year 1856, when he settled in Taylor township, Grundy county, where he now lives. The parents still live in Harrison county, at an advanced age. Mr. McClure was united in marriage, December 24, 1856, to Miss Sarah Ramsey, who was born in Ray county, Missouri, May 25, 1833. She was a danghter of Josiah and Mary Ramsey, nee Butcher, both natives of Tennessee. Her father died in 1833 and her mother in 1881. They became the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Josiah, born Novem- ber 18, 1857; Commodore, born November 19, 1859; Dennis, born July 20, 1862; Adella, born Angust 13, 1864; Enoch, born April 17, 1866; Mary, born January 27, 1868; Martha, born January 17, 1870; and Dora, born August 12, 1872; and one died in infancy. Mr. McClure had bnt little opportunity of obtaining an education, but is anxious to educate his children well. He started in life poor, but he and his worthy companion have through many adverse circumstances worked, struggled and saved, and now have a fine home of one hundred and seventy acres, well improved and stocked. Twice in his life he has been burned out, once his house and his barn, leaving them at one time with nothing but their lives and land. . He has been a useful man in his township. One of the foremost in every- thing for the development of his county. Mr. and Mrs. McClure are members of the Methodist Church.
JAMES II. MEEK
Was born in Boone county, Missouri, in the fall of 1829. He is a son of John B. and Jane Meek, nee Flemming, both natives of Washington county, Virginia. They came to Missouri in 1825; first stopped in Boone county, but soon afterwards located in Ray county. His father died when the subject of this sketch was an infant, and his mother died in 1838. At the age of nine years, after his mother's death, he was obliged to look for a home for himself. He first went to live with a stranger to learn the tailor's trade, but his employer ran away, leaving him again homeless and penniless. He then went to live with his uncle, James H. Meek, one of the first settlers in Grundy county, and continued to live with him till twenty- one years of age. In 1850 he went across the plains to California and re- mained there two and one-half years, then returned to Grundy county and took charge of his uncle's estate for three years. September 4, 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth McGowan, a native of Wayne county, Kentucky, born October 3, 1830, daughter of David and Mary McGowan, nee
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Gibbs. They came to Missouri in 1834. Her mother died August 16, 1837, and her father Angust 12, 1865. They became the parents of six children, all still living: William David, born June 22, 1857; Luther E., born February 11, 1859; John B., born August 7, 1861; Sarah F., born January 10, 1864; Harvey E., born August 30, 1866; and Horace V., born November 3, 1870. Mr. M. has served as trustee of the school in his dis- trict and takes a lively interest in good schools. He served as a member of the militia during the war. He owns one hundred and eighty-four acres of good land well improved and stocked.
MRS. ELIZA J. NICHOLS,
Widow of Joseph Nichols, was born in La Fayette county, Missouri, May 31, 1844, the daughter of Isham and Athaliah Manion, nee Finch. Her father was born in Kentucky, and her mother in Virginia. They came to Mis- souri in 1817, and settled in La Fayette county. Her mother died in 1840, and her father in 1852. She was married October 20, 1853, to James L. Painter, a native of La Fayette county, born in January, 1831; his parents were from Kentucky, but settled in Jackson county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Painter had four children; viz., John R., born November 13, 1856; Milton Y., born November 7, 1858; Lewis R., born September 18, 1861; and William Henry, born August 20, 1854, died January 6, 1860. At the beginning of the war Mr. Painter enlisted as a member of the Seventy-first Missouri State militia, and was shortly afterward killed by bushwhackers at Wellington, September 19, 1862. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a kind husband and father, and left a wife and three helpless chil- dren to mourn his loss, and with but little to support them during those trying times. April 20, 1864, she married Joseph Nichols, a native of Ohio. They first lived in Daviess county, but in 1865 located in Taylor township, Grundy county. Mr. Nichols was also a Union soldier, being a member of the First Missonri cavalry, and during his term of service con- tracted a disease that finally ended in his death, which occurred February 8, 1879. He was an active member of the United Brethren Church, and died a man respected by all.
There were seven children born of this second marriage; viz., Athaliah, born Jannary 30, 1865; Leetha E., born May 13, 1868; Isham E., born April 15, 1870; Minnie and Millettei, twins, born March 13, 1872; Lillie M., born March 15, 1874; and Stella J., born August 26, 1877.
Mrs. Nichols carries on her farm of one hundred acres with the aid of her children. She is a member of the United Brethren Church, and a lady of energy and will, and although she has seen much trouble, is still in the enjoyment of much physical and mental power.
41
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
ISAAC SPLAWN
Was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, March 7, 1812; a son of John and Eleanor Splawn, nee Leighton, both natives of South Carolina, but who came to Missouri in 1816, and became the first settlers in Carroll county, their nearest neighbor, except a brother, being forty miles distant. Here onr subject was reared from the time he was four years of age till he was eighteen, then, in 1830, his parents came to Daviess county, and died there, his father March 1, 1837, and his mother September 4, 1843. He was mar- ried, August 31, 1835, to Miss Isabel Atkinson, who was born July 18, 1812, in Ray county, Missouri, and was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Atkinson, nee McCarroll. They were natives of Tennessee, but came to Missouri at a very early day. Her father died January 24, 1837, and her mother March 21, 1843. Five children have been the issue of Mr. and Mrs. Splawn's mar- riage, all living; viz., John W., born September 6, 1836, now living in Har- rison county ; Joseph Watson, born March 10, 1839, now at home; Beth- thena A., born November 15, 1840, wife of Lewis F. Shores; Mary E., born January 17, 1843; and Martha W., born April 12, 1845. Mrs. Splawn died August 28, 1850, after a protracted illness of five years. She was a consist- ent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and passed to her reward mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives. Mr. Splawn continued to live in Daviess county till the year 1855, then moved to Grundy county and located near where he now lives. This was then a sparsely settled neigh- borhood, and here he brought his family of small children and Beththena, the eldest daughter, took charge of the family till she was married, October 20, 1872. Mr. Splawn owns two hundred and eighty acres of land, well im- proved and stocked. During his younger days he was known as the best marksman, with his flint-lock rifle, in Grundy county, and to-day owns the old gun with which he helped drive out the Mormons; few with our more improved guns can compete with him at target practice. He is well and favorably known by a large circle of friends in Grundy and adjoining coun- ties and everyone has a kind word to say of " Uncle Isaac" and his pleasant family. There is, also, in the family a young man, Monroe Riggs by name, a nephew, whom he has reared since he was two years of age and who is now in his twenty-seventh year; also John M. White, whom he has reared since four years of age. Mr. Splawn is a staunch Republican and glories in the name. Mr. Shores, his son-in-law, served for three years as a member of company K, Third Missouri cavalry.
EMERSON WARD
Was born in Yorkshire, England, February 16, 1817, a son of Davison and Elizabeth Ward, both natives of Yorkshire. In April, 1837, he was united in marriage to Hannah Willis, a native of Yorkshire, born June 13, 1811.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Her parents, John and Alice Willis, were both born in Yorkshire and are both deceased. This young couple immediately after marriage started for America to find for themselves a home, and first settled in Morgan county, Illinois, and farmed for eight years. They had but little means when they landed in America, were soon prostrated with sickness, suffered much and had to pay out the last penny for medicines and doctors. They remained in Illinois till 1846, then having raised a little money and a team, they came to Lee county, Iowa, and there engaged in farming for ten years. In 1856 they came to Grundy county, Mo., and settled in Taylor township, where he now lives and has a fine farm of three hundred acres finely improved and well stocked. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have had seven children, six of whom are living; viz., Alice E., born September 6, 1838, now the wife of Charles Knight; Margaret Ann, born August 23, 1840, died August 8, 1877; John, born September 20, 1842, now druggist in Edinburg, this county; Mary Jane, born June 2, 1845, wife of A. McCune; Hannah R., born Jan- uary 13, 1848; Sarah C., born April 14, 1850; and Henrietta, born April 12, 1853, now the wife of Mr. Shepherd. Mrs. Ward died October 11, 1875, since which time he has lived a widower. He cleared the greater part of his farm out of woods and brush by his own labor, and has succeeded be- yond his own expectations since he came to America. He is well and favor- ably known as a public spirited man, a kind neighbor and good citizen. His son, John, enlisted in company H, Twenty-third Missouri volunteer in- fantry, and served for over three years; was captured at Shiloh and kept a prisoner for some time. Mr. Ward lost several valuable horses during the war, they having been taken by the bushwhackers.
CHAPTER XXV.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
An Original Township-Organized by Livingston County Court in 1839-Its Present Boun- dary-First Settlement-The Old Pioneers-Prairies and Timber -- Its Living Waters- Its First Church and Minister-The Old Log School-house-Its Present Officers-An Accident-Noble Effort-A Member of the Legislature-Biographies.
ALWAYS ONE.
Washington was one of the original townships constituting Grundy county, and was a township under the jurisdiction of Livingston before Grundy became a separate county. It reached from the forks of Grand River to the Iowa State line, taking the greater part of what is now Mercer county. At the February term of the Livingston County Court, 1839, the following
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
appears of record, giving the metes and bounds of a new township to bear the name of the first president of the United States:
"It is ordered by the court that a township be made in the territory of Livingston, called Washington township, to commence at the north of the Weldon River, running with the same to the State line; thence west with the stated boundary line to where the same crosses Grand River; thence down said river to the beginning."
In 1841, when Grundy became a county, Washington constituted a large part of the territory, then comprising the whole of Mercer county. Grun- dy's territory remained the same until 1845, when Mercer was cut off, thus taking a large slice from the northern side of Washington township, leaving its boundary lines with Mercer county on the north, Weldon River on the east, the forks of the Grand River on the south, and the Thompson River on the west. The territory occupied by Washington still remained the same until 1872, when the whole county was reorganized under the new township organization law, when Washington was curtailed to its present dimensions by taking Harrison and part of Lincoln township from its southern border, and a portion of Franklin from its eastern side, leaving a territory of twenty-one square miles, covering an area four miles north and south by six miles east and west, lacking some two miles on the southwest corner. The present township of Washington is bounded on the north by Mercer county, on the east by Franklin township, on the south by Harrison,. and on the west by the Thompson River and a portion of Harrison county.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
In the fall of 1838, the families of Abraham and Larkin Field, Andrew Weldon and Elijah Burgess, moved into what is now known as Washington township. The Fields settled on section thirty-five, and came from Ken- tucky. Weldon was from the same State, and staked his claim on section thirteen. Burgess hailed from Virginia, and located on section twenty-one. These families were the only settlers of the township until the spring of 1839, when the families of David Hayes and John and Jethro Sires, having bid farewell to their homes in the faraway blue grass region of Kentucky, also located in Washington township, Mr. Hayes building his cabin on sec- tion twenty-one, northwest corner, and the Sires cleared a spot in section twenty-four. Among other early settlers were J. R. Robbins, Preston Gobin, R. Magruder, Dr. Henry Hampton, Robert Bennett, Robert Hobbs and A. H. C. McFarland. They had many hardships and trials, 'tis true, but on the whole, their lives were happy and contented, and during the early days the angel of death paid them no visits. The country was rich and partly rolling, about three-fourths timber, the varieties being black walnut, hickory, oak, elm and others, the remaining one-fourth was beautiful prairie. The township was well watered, with Lost Creek flowing through the center,
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Wood Creek on the east, and Peteet Creek on the west, thus giving. an abundance. Even at that early day the township gave proof of its fertility and richness, and the promise has developed into reality, until to-day, with only one-fourth of the township in timber and the remainder under cultiva- tion, it shows some of the finest farming and grazing lands to be found in Grundy county. Rich and fertile, well watered, Washington township cannot be surpassed for the excellent quality of its soil.
The manufacture of clothing depended upon the good housewife, and she wove and spun untiringly until all were supplied. The first work of this kind was performed by Mrs. Abraham Field in 1838, and soon the other families in the neighborhood also went into the manufacturing business. Wool and flax furnished the material for garments, while coon-skin and deer- skin served for caps and moccasins. The luxuries in the way of edibles, were brought from Brunswick, in Chariton county. Ox teams were the only means of transportation and when a settler "went to town" to purchase his salt, sugar, etc., he calculated to be gone from ten days to two weeks, travel- ing the ninety-five miles and return, if he was in luck. If a wagon broke down or other matters interfered they were considerably longer on the way.
Washington township was a long time without a church, but religious services were held as early as 1839, at the homes of the settlers; the Rev. Thomas Thompson, then a resident of Franklin township, conducted religious worship. The services were of the Christian denomination, and were the first held in the township. Later, other denominations held services in like manner, but no churches were erected until 1870, when the Union Baptists built a church edifice .. The organization took place on the 4th of July, 1869, and the following were the first members: Z. W. Shackleford, Anna Shackle- ford, Jane Chestnut, Hiram Gay, Rodena Gay, Margaret Chestnut and Joseph Hartshorn. The following summer the church was built by subscription and donation by members and neighbors. It was a frame structure, cost $1,500 and was dedicated in the fall of the same year, as the " Friendship Church," Elder James Hammer, assisted by Elders C. S. Williamson and Samuel Pruitt, officiating in the dedicatory exercises. Rev. C. S. Williamson became the first pastor, and was followed by Rev. William Leek. The member- ship increased until the number reached forty-seven, when the organization was broken up. The church building is now used by the Missionary Bap- tists. At present there are several other religious organizations, but they have no church buildings.
THIE OLD LOG SCHOOL HOUSE.
The first school-house was ereeted in Washington township in 1839, and was the joint work of the neighbors. It was situated in the eastern part of sec- tion 26, now district number five, and was constructed of round poles. It was a one-roomed cabin with a door and holes left in the sides for windows.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
This was used only at odd times when a teacher could be secured, and was known as a subscription school. The old structure stood until 1844, when the neighbors again volunteered their services and by their united efforts and con- tributions erected what is remembered as the "hewn log school-house." Mr. J. R. Robins was the first teacher, and he instructed the rising genera- tion at the rate of $15 per month for his services, and there were about twenty pupils. Mr. Robins began his work in 1845 and continued until the school- house of hewn logs gave way to the present frame building 28x32 feet, which was erected in 1870 at a cost of $650, and also officiated as the first teacher in the new building, when he retired on account of his age, and was followed by William Houseman. The old hewn log school-house still remains a landmark of the pioneer days and is used on the farm of Mr. Robins as a corn-crib, thus serving its purpose as a storehouse, first of knowledge then of corn, both of inestimable value in all ages. The township is now divided into five school districts, each having neat frame school buildings, where in- struction is given at least six months in the year.
The present officers of the township are Thomas J. Taylor and William Hartshorn, justices of the peace; Paschal W. Thompson, trustee; Myron Fox, collector; Granville Brown, clerk and assessor; and John I. Craig, cou- stable. Washington township also has the honor of furnishing the mem- ber of the lower house of the General Assembly from Grundy county, in the person of Hon. Thomas J. Taylor, who has served as an efficient men- ber.
Buttsville, the post-office, is located in the northeast corner of section thirty-five, and the office is the home of Mr. A. Wright, who serves as post- master. Buttsville proper is located in the central portion of the township, but the post-office was removed from there to its present location some time since.
An accident occurred in this township in the year 1858, the sad features of which cast a deep gloom over the community for several months after- ward. A young man by the name of McFarland, about twenty-four years of age, in the very buoyancy of young manhood, well liked and highly re- spected by all who knew him, lost his life in a kindly act in behalf of a neighbor. The young man was employed on a farm, and was burning stub- ble from the field, when the flames spread too rapidly, and a neighbor's un- cut field was likely to furnish food to the fiery destroyer, when, without as- sistance, young McFarland, by strenuous exertions succeeded in arresting the progress of the flames, and saving the field. The effort cost him his life. A neighbor noticing the situation hurried to help him, but arrived only after the work had been accomplished, and McFarland stood panting from his exertions. He spoke only a few words and then dropped dead. The funeral was largely attended by mourning friends, bespeaking the great es- teem in which he was held by those who knew him.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN I. CRAIG,
Son of Franklin and Melinda Craig, nee Booran, was born in West Vir- ginia, December 22, 1838. His parents migrated to Missouri in 1844, and settled in Grundy county. On August 23d, 1861, he enlisted in company H, Twenty-third Missouri volunteer infantry, served for three years, was in many hard-fought battles, and was always ready and willing for duty. He was married, November 8, 1864, to Miss Amanda Wild, who was born in Grundy county, November 28, 1845; her parents Philip and Sallie Wild were among the earliest settlers in Grundy county. They have had eight children, seven of whom are still living; namely, Philip, born September 12, 1865; Franklin, born June 15, 1868; Sallie M., born January 27, 1872; Sylvester, born March 17, 1874; Martha A., born March 24, 1876; John I., born August 25, 1878; Marshall, born April 20, 1880; and Herbert E., born May 24, 1870, died August 27, 1871.
Mr. Craig is now serving his township as constable; and has been an active member of the school board. He has had bad luck by having to pay security debts, yet has struggled manfully on, and now has a nice home of seventy-eight acres of good land. He had no opportunity of attending school, but by home application has become a well informed man and en- joys the esteem of all his neighbors.
R. V. B. KENNEDY,
Son of John and Elizabeth Kennedy, both natives of the State of New York, was born in Hancock county, Illinois, August 7, 1838. His father was of Irish descent and his mother's ancestry were from Holland, her maiden name being Van Brunt, and her grandmother a niece of the king of Holland. Large estates in the city of New York are now in litigation in which the mother of the subject of this sketch is quite an interested party, being a claimant under the king of Holland. His father died in 1862, but his mother is still living, a resident of Illinois. He lived mostly in Hancock county, that State, till 1866, and then located in Grundy county, Missouri. He went to the mountains in 1859 and remained four years, then returned to Illinois, and on October 27th, 1874, was united in marriage to Miss Melinda Booker, a native of Kentucky, born February 20, 1847, daughter of Henry and Rachel Booker. They moved to Grundy county, where her father died September 9, 1879, but her mother is still a resident of the county. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy; named, respectively, John H., September 18, 1865; Lenora, November 9, 1867; Artensa, December 30, 1869; Charles Van Brunt, February 27,
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