The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches, Part 116

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882]
Publisher: [n.p.
Number of Pages: 1154

USA > Missouri > Pettis County > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches > Part 116

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In the following sketch of this township we shall endeavor as best we can to present facts rather than formulated theories. In the physical features of the township we shall endeavor to present a fair synopsis of what nature has here done. In statistics and population we will present such facts of changes as we deem most important and interesting to the community for which this sketch is more specially written. Under the head of "old settlers" we shall give all that is accessible and pertinent, and justly due those who have stood the trials and turmoils of a pioneer home. Those who have made history deserve a name in this volume, that generations hence may know who they were who first tilled the soil and opened up the way for they prosperity they enjoy. Such historical events and dates as are preserved, will be given on roads and post-offices, and an elaborate notice of the churches and schools, from the pioneer days down to the present. Agriculture, stock raising, and the future outlook of the town- ship will be carefully noticed. In giving what we have diligently pro- cured, to the public, we are aware that there are yet historic facts that are not within our reach. Enough, however, is given to preserve in the memory of those yet to live the noble founders of this township.

NAME .- There are but few places that have no historic connection with their names. Through a search of means at our disposal we have been unable to find record of the person who gave the name to this township. It perhaps derives its name from the principal stream flowing on its northern borders and across the northwest corner through two sections. How the creek from which it takes its name came to be called Flat Creek is hard to tell, unless from its flat, gravely smooth bottom. There is nothing more about it that would suggest the name of "flat." Its banks are in many places high and mostly covered with a luxuriant growth of timber and all along with brush.

ORGANIZATION .- Flat Creek was organized into a municipal township, with the rest of Pettis County, when the question of organization was voted on in 1872. It has been increased from the congressional township of thirty-six square miles, to something over forty-four, by the taking off of the southern part of Sedalia Township, and making the creek the dividing line between the two townships. The first township board was: J. C. Hatton, W. M. Devole, and M. Parish. O. P. Hatton was the first township trustee, and Jacob A. Yankee was clerk. The

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HISTORY OF FLAT CREEK TOWNSHIP.

present voting precinct in the township is at Walnut school house, district No. one, section eleven.

CONFIGURATION .- The form of the township is almost a parallelogram. The northern end being bounded by the creek is irregular. The town- ship contains forty-eight full sections, and a number of fractions, bringing the whole up to nearly or quite fifty sections of land. In the west, south and east part of the township the land is high rolling prairie. The north is more broken, being near the creek and is well supplied with timber; still the farming land is as beautiful as can be found anywhere in the county.

The land in the township is as we have said principally high rolling prairie, and nearly every acre is elegant farming land. The streams are all timbered along their banks, thus affording plenty of fuel. There are no coal mines in the township, and but little rock is quarried, and that is of the limestone and cottonwood varieties. The principal streams of water run- ning through the township are the one from which it takes its name, through the northwestern corner, Spring Fork through the center, and Walnut Branch in the east. The last two empty into Flat Creek, the for- mer in the northern part of the township, and the latter in section thirty of Lake Creek Township. These creeks are for the most part fed by springs, and even during the dry seasons afford water sufficient for stock. In their course they are each, as we have said, followed by belts of timber.

EARLY SETTLERS .- The early settlers of the township have mostly passed away. But very few remain to tell the interesting story of their early experiences to interested listeners. They were mostly from Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina, and the blood of some of the best families of those States still courses through the veins of their lineal descendants. They were always modest, pleasant in argument, noble and wise in decision, strong in firmness, valorous in deeds of kindness, affec- tionate to wives and families, and mostly consistent and scrupulous chris- tians.

The early times were famous for their grand hunts and whenever these pioneers wished to lay in a stock of choice meat, all they had to do was to shoulder their trusty rifles and spend half a day in the unbroken wilds and return laden with the choicest of venison. The want of mills and other modern innovations were not felt severely then. When meal was wanted, if it were impossible to get to mill, corn could be beaten in a mortar, or the good old-fashioned lye hominy, made in a short time by the frugal house wife. Some of the pioneers of this township were: George Cathay who settled here in 1827. He came from North Carolina, and for years made his home in this section. Joseph DeFord came from Ken- tucky in 1829. John McFatrick, came in 1830 from Kentucky. All

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three have long ago past to their final rest David Holmes came in 1833, from South Carolina, and remained in the township a number of years, but with the breaking out of the California fever he, like many others thought he could better his condition by removing from Missouri to the golden shores of the Pacific, and is now in Oregon. John Brow came in in 1833 from the same State, as did also George Marshall in the same year, and from the same State. They are now dead. Jolly Parish moved to this township in 1833, from Kentucky. Also in the same year came Benjamin Randall, from the same State, and in 1835, Pemberton Casin, and in 1839, Elias Hale. All of these were from Kentucky, and are now dead. In 1835, Jacob Yankee came to this township from the " Blue Grass State," and still resides in this township. Col. John E. Crawford came to this township in 1838, and still resides on section four, township forty-four, range twenty-one. He is eighty years old, and is probably the oldest person living in the township. He came with his family when there were only seven or eight houses in the township, and those were on the south side of the creek, and were all made of logs with sticks and clay chimneys. Mathias Ray came into the county and settled in this township in the year of 1840, from Kentucky. He still resides in this township, a respected citizen. Abram McCormick came in 1833 from Kentucky. James McCormick came from Kentucky in 1833. William R. Anderson came to the township in 1833, from Virginia. Thomas Gibbs came in 1830 from Kentucky. Joseph Deusman came in 1833 from Kentucky. William Mosbey settled in this township in 1833. He came from Kentucky. Michael Goodnight came in 1835, and George May came in 1836, both from Kentucky, and all the last named are now dead.

Flat Creek Township was sectionized in 1832, the Government Sur- veyor being Mr. Shields. The first school was taught by R. A. McFar- land, on his own farm. The first marriage in the township was Henry Small to Nancy Mosby in the year 1836, and the first death was that of Samuel Marshall in the year 1836. The first administrator's sale was in the year 1836. The first minister was Rev. Millice, who held services at Abram McCormick's and W. R. Anderson's houses. The first church was erected at what is called Brown's Springs, and the first Sunday School was held on Col. J. E. Crawford's farm. Judge Yankee was the super- intendent. The first school house erected in the township was on Col. Crawford's farm; this was after school districts were organized. This was a rude structure built of logs, and had the uncovered ground for a floor. After a while another was erected and for years these were the only two school houses in the township and were also used for church worship. The first physician to locate in the township was Dr. Brown. The first post-office was called Spring Fork, and J. E. Crawford was

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HISTORY OF FLAT CREEK TOWNSHIP.

postmaster. In 1847 the township recorded its first suicide. In that year a man named Calvin Hall hung himself, and since that date there has been no other in the township.

ENTERPRISES AND INDUSTRIES .- The leading and most profitable busi- ness of the township is agriculture and stock raising. The deep limestone soils are practicably inexhaustible. Wheat has nearly always done well here; there being but two failures of crop recorded. Even in dry seasons, by stirring the ground, a sufficient amount of moisture is produced to raise crops. Timothy and clover yield well. The average yield of wheat is eighteen to twenty-five bushels per acre, and corn from forty-five to seventy. Hemp, and large fields of flax are raised, and timothy hay averages three tons per acre, in a fair year. There are fine blue grass pastures in the township and many of them are those that have grown up without an effort on the part of owners. On these, horses, cattle and sheep can be pastured at all seasons of the year without injury to the grasses. Vine- yards do well wherever cultivated and proper care is taken of them. There are some fine orchards in the township, but the worst enemy they have to contend with is the insects which, in one or two instances have injured old orchards, but each year a surplus is produced. Some farmers are paying attention to small fruit, with marked success. Water in wells is obtained by going down from twenty to sixty-five feet, and when reached is of the best quality. There are numerous large farms in the township and many fine herds of cattle and sheep are owned by the sub- stantial husbandmen. Among the leading herds of cattle in the township, is that of John E. Ferguson and father. Since the narrow gauge railroad came through it has opened up to the farmers conveniences in shipping by placing them in close connection with Sedalia and other points south and east. In the amount and value of its productions, Flat Creek ranks equal to any in the county, and the area of tillable land is all fenced into farms ranging from $25.00 to $50.00 per acre.

CHURCHES .- There are in the township two churches, the M. E. South, and the Bethlehem Baptist, both good congregations.

The M. E. Church, South, is situated seven miles south of Sedalia, and was organized in 1840, the class leaders being George Marshall and wife, Mrs. D. Anderson and others. They now occupy a commodious frame building erected at a cost of $1,000, in.1878, by James C. Hatton, W. P. Anderson, I. Elliott and W. H. Anderson, and it was dedicated in 1878 by Rev. C. C. Woods. The building is a frame, thirty-six feet long and twenty-four feet wide. The original members of the class were Geo. Marshall and wife, W. R. Anderson and wife, Jacob Yankee, W. H. and W. P. Anderson and families, and Absalom Elliott and family. The pres- ent membership of the church is sixty. The pastors who have occupied

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the pulpit up to the present time are Revs. Josiah Godby, Robert A. Allen, A. C. Briggs, John N. Anthony, Preston Philips, presiding elder. The church has connected with it a flourishing Sunday School, with an average attendance of thirty, of which W. H. Anderson is Superintendent, and James C. Hatton is Secretary. The church owns two acres of land on which it stands, and part of this land is used for cemetery purposes.

Bethlehem Baptist Church is situated on section four, township forty- four, range twenty-one, or in the northern part of the township. It was organized June 7, 1851, by Elder G. W. Sands and Deacon J. E. Craw- ford. The first house of worship was erected in 1860, at a cost of $1,000, by Henry Ebiling, and was dedicated on the 27th of May, the same year, by Elder C. J. Teas, who preached from the second chapter of Ephesians 21st and 22d verses. The second house was erected in 1870 by Mr. Smith, and cost when completed $1,800. It was dedicated the fourth Sunday in November, 1870, by Elder R. H. Harris, whose dedicatory sermon was from the text: "In the name of God we set up our banner." Both were frame buildings and both comfortably furnished. The size is 30x4S feet, and 14 foot ceiling. The original congregation consisted of Thomas Richardson, Rhoda Richardson, M. Chaney, Margaret J. Chaney, Lucy Johnson, Jno. E. Crawford, Sarilda J. Crawford, Chris. C. Crawford, Nancy Harvey, Elizabeth Warren, Lydia Warren, Mary Warren, and Aunty Molly, a sister of color. The pastors who have filled the pulpits are Revs. G. W. Sands, B. F. Goodwin, W. P. C. Caldwell, B. F. Thomas, E. H. Burchfield, J. Gott, R. H. Harris, Jno. Letts, Wm. H. Rodgers, William V. Parsons, J. K. Godby. There are at present about 100 con- nected with the church, but in all about 300 names appear on the church books. Of these, many have been removed by death, and sleep the last quiet sleep in the church yard of their loved worshiping place. Many more have gone to other parts of the country, scattering the seeds of kind- ness that were here first implanted in their souls, while yet a few others have listened to the voice of the tempter and glided back into the rough and tempestuous sea of life, and away from those who had been to them like the good shepherd, watching and tending with care lest their feet should strike the stones and rough places, and they should be turned away from the way that leads to life eternal. At present there is no Sunday School connected with the church, though during the summer and fall months there is generally a good one. There have been some good revi- vals of the work of religion since the church was organized. One closed on the Sth of November, 1874, conducted by Revs. B. T. Thomas, Bap- tist, and Joseph Godby, Methodist. After continuing seventeen days, it resulted in the conversion of over sixty persons. Another in 1879 was conducted by Rev. Wm. V. Parsons, and lasted sixteen days, and resulted in forty-six conversions and thirty-five additions to the church.

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The house erected in 1860 was destroyed by fire on Aug. 1, 1870. The fire was incendiary in its origin. The second now stands in good repair on the same spot occupied by the first one.

SCHOOLS .- There are at present five schools in the township. There is, however, talk of establishing another private school at the little station of Gailey, on the narrow gauge road. At this writing only two of the schools are in session. The school houses are mostly substantial frame buildings, surrounded with shade and ornamental trees. But two of them have summer terms. Wages range from $30 to $35.

INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES .- The most severe wind storm that has passed over this section was in the summer of 1880, and came from the west. It leveled all fences running north and south, and many trees were blown down and some few houses destroyed. Prairie fires were common in early days, and every fall they would not only destroy the rank vegetation of the prairie, but frequently the meager products of the farms. Many times lightning has struck in the neighborhoods of the township, once setting a school house on fire, and again striking Bethlehem Church and knocking a hole through the roof, but not otherwise materially injur- ing it. Shortly after the war Aikins Mackey was murdered by parties unknown. This was in the times when excitement ran very high.

An amusing incident is related of an Indian scare in the early days, through not only this particular township but also clear down to Boonville. It is this: Three men were out hunting in what is now Bates County, while yet the Indians were pretty thick through these parts. One in the party pretended to be very brave, and the other two made up their minds to give him a scare and a lesson at the same time. They started out in the morning ostensibly for a hunt, but going only a short distance, turned round and dashed into camp with a war whoop that frightened their com- panion so badly that he started on a bee line for the thickly settled por- tions, raising the alarm of Indians, wherever he passed. It is said he did not stop running until he reached Boonville. They of course followed after and quieted the alarm, but never after that was he heard to brag of his great courage.

THE BRITISH OFFICER .- An interesting bit of history may be found in the following: "In the year 1818, Joseph Stephens, who died in 1836, Major Stephen Cole and William Ross, started west on a hunting and exploring tour, and traveled as far as the psesent site of Knobnoster Johnson County. At that time all the country west of the present bout- dary line of Cooper County was a wilderness, but few persons living in it. About six miles southeast of the present site of Sedalia, in Pettis County, on the farm then owned by a man named Warner, near Flat Creek, they discovered what appeared to be a large, high and peculiarly

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shaped Indian Mound. They examined it closely and found on one side that the wolves had scratched an opening into it. After enlarging it so as to admit them, they beheld a remarkable sight. They found themselves in a room about eight feet square, with a ceiling of logs, just high enough to permit a tall man to stand erect. On the side opposite where they had entered, sat an officer, dressed in full military uniform, with gold epaulettes upon his shoulders, gold lace fringing every seam of his coat, cocked mili- tary hat, knee breeches, lace stockings, and morocco slippers. As he sat erect, upon a seat hewn out of a log, nothing but the ghastly hue and leathery appearance of his skin would have suggested that he was not alive By his side stood a heavy gold-headed cane. His features were complete, and his flesh free from decay, though dried to the consistency of leather. The place in which the body was found was very peculiar. A place about eight feet square and two feet deep had been dug in the earth. The sides had been walled up with sod until it was high enough for the purpose, reaching several feet above the surface of the ground. The top was then covered with poles, which ran up to a point in the center, like the roof of a house. Then the poles and surrounding walls were covered with sod two or three feet deep, cut from the prairie near by, thus excluding entirely the rain and air. When they left the place William Ross, being the old- est man of the party, took the cane as a memento, but nothing else was touched.

"Who this officer was, from whence he came, what he was doing in this part of the country, what was the cause of his death and by whom he was thus singularly entombed, has not, and perhaps never will be known. But he was supposed by many to be a British officer, who, during the war of 1812 passed round by the way of Canada, into the Indian country, to incite the Indians against the whites. Yet this is only conjecture, though those who discovered his body account for it in that way.

"Soon after this, Joseph Stephens, Sr., now living near Petersburg, on the O. V. & S. K. Railroad, in company with James D. Campbell, went into that part of the country bee-hunting, and visited the burial place of this officer. They found that part of the roof had fallen in, and that the wolves had eaten all the flesh off the body, so that nothing but the skele- ton and clothes remained. Joseph Stephens took the epaulettes, as a memento, but nothing else was disturbed. As his mother objected to his keeping the epaulettes, he melted them into a large ball, which was worth fifteen or twenty dollars, as it was solid gold. This description of the burial place was obtained from the last mentioned, Joseph Stephens, and is cor- rect, although several different accounts have been published."

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HISTORY OF FLAT CREEK TOWNSHIP.

J. P. CARLIN.

Was born in Washington County, Ohio, in the year 1844. His parents were natives of Westmoreland County, Penn. When the civil war broke out he offered himself as a soldier and was accepted and mustered into the 78th Ohio Vol. Infantry, which regiment was consolidated with the 125th Regiment of Ohio Vol. Infantry, Col. Updyke commanding. He was engaged in active service during his soldier life, going first to Louisville, thence to Ft. Donelson, Nashville, Franklin, (at which place they had three or four very hard battles) Spring Hill, Pelham, Hillsboro, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, (from which battles he carried several holes in his clothing, as well as having his knapsack shot off his back) and at Mission Ridge, where he received a severe gun-shot wound in the thigh joint, completely disabling him, so that, after his recovering sufficiently, he was mustered out and allowed to go home on the account of his disability. He was an exemplary soldier and a brave man, commanding the highest respect and esteem of all his superior officers. He was married Oct. 7, 1866, to Elizabeth Pumphrey of Licking County, Ohio, and emigrated to the State of Missouri, in the year of 1868, and located twelve miles south- west of Sedalia, in Flat Creek Township, on a beautiful rolling prairie farm of 150 acres, all of which is under fence. He has a beautiful meadow and pasture, consisting of forty acres. He cultivates about 100 acres every year. He has a fine herd of forty cattle, led by ten or twelve Short Horns of superior breeding. He breeds pure Berkshires, has a good line of horses, led by a superb Norman stallion, seventeen hands high, a dapple gray, and weighs 1,700 pounds. Many of his colts have taken the first premium at our county fairs. Also has a fine " Maltese Jack," four years old. He is a lover of fine stock, and one of the best far- mers in the county. Mr. C. has four children living, and one dead: A. W., born Aug. 19, 1867; Leora M., October, 1869; Della Pearl, April 18, 1873, and Cherry Sherman Elsworth, born Dec. 4, 1878. He lost his wife June 3, 1879. She died of consumption. He married Feb. 15, 1881, Ella C. Ham, daughter of Judge H. H. Ham, Sr., of Benton County, Mo., born April 15, 1860, she having five brothers and three sisters living. Mr. and Mrs. Carlin are known far and wide for their generosity and hospi- tality, ever extending acts of kindness to those standing most in need.

WILLIAM O. CRAWFORD.

Born in Cooper County in the year 1832. Removed to Pettis County about the year 1840. Is a son of Col. J. E. Crawford. Was married in the year 1855 to Miss E. J. Harvey, whose father was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and was educated in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father married in 1835, Nancy Allison, of Cooper County, Mo. There are three brothers and

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three sisters of her father's family living. Mr. Crawford has five chil- dren-two sons and three daughters: Nannie J., born April S, 1858; Rosa A., Dec. 11, 1862; James E., Jan. 23, 1866; Judge C., Sept. 27, 1868, and William J., Dec. 1, 1873. He grows thirty-five bushels of corn, twelve bushels of wheat and forty bushels of oats to the acre, and is a man of irrepressible public spirit and unimpeachable honor, and for generosity and hospitality has no superior in the county.

COL. JOHN E. CRAWFORD.

Was born Sept. 24, 1802, in Cumberland County, Ky. His parents, John Crawford and Martha Crawford, formerly Martha Robinson, emi- grated from Cumberland County, Penn., to Kentucky in 1790. Mr. Crawford's father died when he was eleven years of age. He had two brothers and seven sisters. In March, 1827, he rode on horseback to Missouri, and in 182S went to the lead mines at Galena and in Wisconsin, returning to St. Louis in the summer of 1829 in a flat-boat. He has been twice married, first to Miss Elvira McFarland, of 'Cooper County, Mo., by whom he has two children: Christopher C. and William O. His wife died in Henry County, Mo., Sept. 8, 1834. His second marriage was to Miss Darilda J. Donnohue, belonging to a family of the first settlers in St.

Genevieve County, Mo. By this union they have six children living. Mr. Crawford settled within three miles of Georgetown when Pin Hook was the county seat, before Georgetown was made the county seat. On March 15, 1840, he removed to Spring Fork, six miles south of Sedalia. Politically, he was a Whig till 1861, then a Republican. He served in the Missouri State Legislature of 1842-3, when Sterling Price was speaker and Claiborne F. Jackson was also a member. He voted for Thomas H. Benton for United States Senator, and took a lively interest in many of the exciting campaigns of those days. In 1830 he was Adjutant of a reg- iment and commissioned Colonel of the Forty-fourth Regiment, Fifth Division Missouri Militia, May 28, 1839. He served as Captain of a vol- unteer company in an expedition against the Mormons at Far West. Of this company Jeremiah Odell was First Lieutenant, Geo. Douglass, Sec- ond Lieutenant, and Wm. Gentry, Orderly Sergeant. George R. Smith, Wm. K. Ramey, Samuel A. Powell and Chas. Cravens were among the members of the company. They were held as minute men until the sur- render of Joe Smith, the Mormon leader. He was raised by Scotch Pres- byserian parents, but became a member of the Missionary Baptist Church subsequent to 1840, and since then has been instrumental in building sev -. eral churches. For many years he has been Deacon of the Bethlehem Church, which is near his residence in Flat Creek Township. This worthy pioneer, exemplary Christian and faithful citizen still lives to enjoy

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The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches, Part 116

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald Publication date: 1882] Publisher: [n.p. Number of Pages: 1154

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882]
Publisher: [n.p.
Number of Pages: 1154