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 91
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GEORGE S. PRIEST.
Farmer; post-office, Thornleigh. He is one of the old settlers of Pet- tis County, coming here in 1838, and locating where he now resides. He was born June 25, 1803, in Bourbon County, Ky., and when quite small he moved to Logan County, Ky., where he was educated and grew to manhood. He was married in 1823 to Miss Elizabeth Rush. By this union they have ten children, nine of whom are now living. When Mr. Priest came to Pettis County he was a poor man, but by his industry and good management, he now owns a fine farm of 1,000 acres of as good land as there is in the county.
WILLIAM RICKS.
Farmer and stock raiser; post-office, Thornleigh. He is one of the successful farmers of Pettis County, and a native of Nelson County, Ky. Was born October, 182S. His father's name was William, and his mother's Susan. His father died when he was quite young, and in 1841, the subject of this sketch, in company with his mother, came to Pettis County, Mo. In 1848 Mr. Ricks went to Mexico, returning the same year; then went to California, where he was engaged in mining until 1854, at which time he returned to Pettis County and purchased a piece of land, on which he now resides. His mother has lived with him since his return, until her death. She was a worthy member of the M. E. Church, South. Mr. Ricks was married in 1855, to Miss Mary J. Harvey. By this union they have been blessed with fourteen children. Two are dead: Susan B., aged about sixteen years, and Herbert, aged nine months. The names of the twelve living are as follows: Marion T.,
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HISTORY OF LONGWOOD TOWNSHIP.
Dewitt M., James L. M., Henry M., Lulu, Selinda E., William H., Emmet Lee, John V., Joseph C., May and Clara. Mr. Ricks now owns a fine farm of 250 acres of prairie land, well improved, and he is one of the successful farmers of this township. He is a member of the M. E. Church, South.
REINHART SLÆMER.
Was born in Germany, July 31, 1832. Came to Pettis County, Mo., in the year 1858, and is now residing in the town of Longwood. He is a . thorough mechanic, and a first-class workman in wood, being one of the foremost builders in this region. His jobbing operations cover some of the finest structures in the town and country. He keeps constantly on hand a good stock of undertaker's goods, which are the products of his own skill and manufacture. He also does fine work in the line of furni- ture, and is steadily, but surely, building up a substantial and self-sus- taining trade. He has an extensive supply of tools adapted to all kinds of the finest work of mechanism, and is kept constantly busy by the many calls for work from the people of the community. He was married in Louisville, Ky., and has a family of six children, two sons and four daughters. Mr. S. is a useful man, and highly respected by all who know him.
B. F. THORNTON.
Farmer; post-office, Thornleigh. One of Pettis County's noble sons, and has been from 1868 on the present farm where he now lives. His father was one of the pioneers of this county, and was a much honored and esteemed citizen. The subject of this sketch has seen many changes come and go to this county, but he has always kept pace with its prog- ress, and now as his reward he owns a fine farm of sixty-five acres. He is a much honored and esteemed citizen. He was married Oct. 5, 1870, to Miss N. Talbert; she was the daughter of a pioneer preacher of this county. This union has blessed them with four children, Florence M., James M., Susie F., Hiram M.
CAP. GEORGE LOWER.
Farmer and stock raiser; post-office, Longwood. One of the enter- prising business men of Pettis County, and no one is deserving of more special notice than the subject of this brief and incomplete sketch. He is a native of Germany, and was born April 10, 1810. He was there edu- cated and grew, to manhood. His father was a much honored citizen and very wealthy. Mr. Lower conducted a large manufactory in Ger- many, but when the people rebelled against the Government, he was a rebel and a spy, and for that reason he was compelled to come to America. He was married in 1833, to Miss Mary Augustus, and from this union they
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HISTORY OF LONGWOOD TOWNSHIP.
had two children in Germany, Henry and Charles; he emigrated to America in 1837, landing at New York City; he went from there to Ken- tucky where he lived about seventeen years; Katharine and Nancy were born after he came to Kentucky. His wife died about the year 1840, and he was again married in 1842, to Miss Margaret Host. This union has blessed them with eight children, seven boys and one girl, George, Jacob, Charles, Nathan, Lewis, William, Jesse and Mary. When Mr. Lower landed in Kentucty he did not have a dollar, as he was robbed on the boat, but in all this trouble he rose, step by step, and in 1854 he emigrated to Pettis County, Mo., locating where he now lives; he then purchased 700 acres, and as he got able he bought more · land until he owned a farm of 2,000 acres. Then his children began to do for themselves, and he gave them all a good home. He has given his children on an average about 200 acres each. His second wife was called to her long home in the winter of 1865. He was again married in December, 1866, to Miss Mary Deis, and this union was blessed with one child, Lewis. When our country was involved in war Mr. Lower espoused the cause of the Union and was appointed Captian of militia, but after he did his duty, he resigned his commission and returned to work on the farm. He is a man who always takes pride in doing good for his fellow men.
SAMUEL STIRLEN.
Farmer and stock-raiser. Post-office, Hughesville. One of the enter- prising, moving men of Longwood township, and who is a son of W. C. Stirlen, and was a native of Westmoreland County, Penn., and was born in 1824, and died at his home in Pettis County, Mo., January 14, 1882. When he was about six years of age he moved with his parents to Ohio, where he was educated and grew to manhood. He was a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and a worthy member. He was mar- ried in 1845 to Miss Martha Sparman. She is a lady of fine taste and a kind mother and devoted wife. This union was made happy by twelve children, and all are a credit to their parents. He moved to Allen County, Ind., in 1851; there he remained until 1872, then he moved to Pettis County, Missouri, where he bought a fine farm of 400 acres, on which he lived until his death. The subject of this sketch is now the one who takes care of the old home, with the assistance of three brothers.
HIRAM SWOPE.
Post-office, Thornleigh. Born Aug. 14, 1819, in Kentucky. His father, Jesse Swope, came to Missouri in 1819, when Hiram was quite small, and settled in Howard County, subsequently moving to present neighborhood, in Pettis County, in 1822, when the section was called Saline County, dying at his home at a good old age, in 1874. Hiram was brought up
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HISTORY OF LONGWOOD TOWNSHIP.
when schools were poor and very few; however, he learned some, and writes a fair hand. He married Miss Elizabeth Greer, daughter of Ben- jamin Greer, a farmer. The fruits of this union were seven children, two of whom are dead. Three are married. During the rebellion Mr. Swope served in the State Militia. In his time he was a great hunter, and killed on an average two deer a day. His father usually put up 500 pounds of bear bacon each year. His father, Jesse, killed eleven panthers the first year he settled in Pettis County. In those days the people went to Boonville to mill. At that time there were but five families between Mr. Swope's residence and Boonville. Marlins, Jenkins, Bowles and N. A. Newbill were early settlers. The last named taught school in 1829, in a log hut. Elections were held at the residence of Jesse Swope for several years. Hiram had five boys, Jesse, James, John W., Hiram, M. K. The subject of this sketch was one of eleven children, viz: Sarah, Orpha, Christina, Polly, Rebecca, Meridith, Hiram, Joseph, Milton and Mal. K. Five are living. Milton resides on Blackwater, Grover township, Johnson County, Mo. The subject of this sketch is a farmer who has long been identified with Pettis County.
PHILIP H. WHEELER.
" Cedar Avenue," is a superb and magnificent estate of 242 acres owned by Philip H. Wheeler, who was born April 29, 1829, in the State of North Carolina, whose parents were also natives of that State. His father died in the year 1875, aged sixty-nine years, and his mother in 1877, aged seventy-one years. Mr. W. was married in the State of Illinois in the year 1853, to Frances Johnson, whose parents were natives of Ohio. They have five sons and one daughter, all grown and living in Pettis County. Mr. W. came to Pettis County in the year 1855, and settled in Black water township, and remained there until a few years since, when he sold out and removed to the above named farm. This fine farm is situ- ated about ten miles north of the city of Sedalia, in the midst of a beau- tiful rolling prairie district, admirably improved, with wells, ponds, hedge and rail fences, good orchards of apple, peach and pear trees, with quite a quantity of small fruits, and grows 100 acres of corn, 110 acres of wheat and thirty acres of oats; has a good line of horses, mules, cattle, and hogs. This farm, with its forty-acre timber lot is one of the most fertile and productive in this region, and one of the most attractive and valuable estates in this township. Mr. Wheeler is gradually improving and beau- tifying his farm, and is one of the most popular and influential men in his community; is a thriving, earnest, successful farmer, of liberal culture, sound sense, genial temperament, and is a strong, clear-sighted, influential man, highly esteemed by all.
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XV .- HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Introduction-Name-John and Robert Heath-Salt Works-Indian Raid-Missing Negro-The First Constitutional Convention in the State-John Heath a Delegate From Franklin County-Organization-Pin Hook-St. Helena-Physical Features- Early Settlers-Churches-Schools-Data-Biographical
Here first those brave and sturdy men,
Found nature's welcome awaiting their acceptance.
Situated, where by its geographical position, it received the first influx of civilization within the borders of Pettis county on its ample stretches of prairie and within its welcoming arms of timber belts, is Heath's Creek Town- ship. Here first the foot of the present race of settlers pressed the virgin soil, and the gates of the county were opened to the adventerous settlers, and the foundation laid for the present great and prosperous county. Here, sixty-five years ago, the brave and hardy pioneer found a resting place after his weary journey from the prosperous settlements further east, where he had known comfort and plenty. They came here to brave the wilds of unsubdued nature, and they opened to those that followed the doors of one of the now most prosperous and populous counties in the great State of Missouri. Did they in their wildest flights of imagina- tion ever dream that the country then surrounding them on every side, a wilderness, should in half a century be subdued by the advance of civiliza- tion, and made to pay its tribute to the wants of man? Did they conceive in their highest hopes for their adopted home, that one day it should stand in the front rank of the great commonwealth then only in its infancy, and now but little out of the first bright halcyon of youth ?
Only a few of those that were here when the foundation stone of the county was laid, are left to tell the story. There were no imposing cere- monies, there were no processions, bands of music, or grand orations delivered, but simple in the extreme were the rites then enacted, and the result is a building as lasting as time, one which no storms can overthrow and no shock of war demolish; one which will stand a lasting monument to the architects who drew the rough plan, but did not survive to see the fulfillment of their toils.
In giving a sketch of this township we shall aim to touch upon the most interesting facts accessible. All but one of the oldest settlers have passed away, and he alone remains to tell the story of the early hardships, trials and sacrifices of the winters and summers following the settlement of 1817. There may be some events which have not come into the writer's possession, hence will be left for the historian of another generation.
When St. Louis was yet the only city of any importance west of the Mississippi, and almost four years before Missouri had been admitted as a State, in Heaths' Creek township the first families that ever made their
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
home in Pettis County settled. Could they have seen the results of this opening wedge, as the only remaining one of those pioneers now sees it, or could they be permitted to return and view the scenes of their former years, would they recognize the places where they were wont to chase the wild game which then abounded, in the now well tilled and well fenced farms, with their beautiful residences, well furnished with the luxuries of life? Would they recognize in the 1,273 inhabitants of the township at pres- ent, many of the faces that they knew in the days when this was a wilderness? A change has come over the scene and the work which they conceived, that of building up a great and populous county, has had a glorious conception.
The growth of our western country has been so rapid and so marvel- ous in many respects that little in the histories of other countries has been found to surpass it. What it has taken other nations a thousand years to accomplish, ours has accomplished here in a hundred. Where other nations' cities have been centuries in building, ours has cities that surpass them in wealth and population, that have had their growth in two or three generations; and to-day we behold the grandest nation on earth, the work of a little more than one century. Wild, uncultivated prairies have been converted into beautiful cities within the space of a single decade, and in the growth of this grand State that rears her head aloft with pride and bids fair in a few years to be the rival of any State in the Union. The people of the county of Pettis need never be ashamed of the part they have taken to make this State what it is destined to become, but on the other hand they must always be aminated with personal pride, and be ever ready to recount to their children and their children's children, the arduous toils and the severe trials which they underwent when building up and developing the resources of this favored spot. All who enjoy the civil and social advantages, and the many blessings of an enlightened and refined community should ever cherish the most profound and sincere gratitude toward those noble pioneers who bore all the toil and braved all the danger that others might reap the fruits. While the early settlers of this township have never been wanting in their efforts to build up the township, so that it might be an ornament to the county, it is compli- mentary to their judgment that they made themselves homes which are : an ornament to any section.
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NAME .- The township of Heath's Creek derives its name from the principal stream of water flowing through its bounds, that of Heath's Creek. This creek derives its name from the brothers, Robert and John Heath, who in 1809 erected rude salt works at the mouth of the creek, where it empties into the Lamine River in Cooper County. John Heath was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Missouri. He was a delegate from Franklin County to the Convention which met in St.
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Louis on June 12, 1820, and continued in session until July 19, when their labors were concluded and the Constitution signed and adopted.
The creeks and their branches were all named by the earliest settlers. Some were named from the settlers themselves, others again were named from some incident that occurred at that time. Cedar Creek was thus named from the large cedar tree which grew at its mouth, near Muddy Creek. Panther Creek was thus named because the first panther killed in this region was taken on that branch. Cold Neck derived its name from the fact that one William Bryant, an early settler of this country, while hunting a bear at this place became very cold and remarked to a companion that it was a "cold neck." Muddy Creek is said to have received its name from the following incident: Hiram Jenkins and John Heath, while on a hunting expedition, camped near what is now known as Farmer's City Ford, on a little island. During the night there came up a heavy rain, and in the morning they found that their horses were gone. They hung up their blankets and went in search of their horses, when they returned they found the island submerged in water. The remark was made that "this is muddy", and the creek has since and from that incident retained the name Muddy.
ORGANIZATION .- Heath's Creek Township is one of the oldest organi- zations of townships in Pettis County. It originally embraced its own present limits and also that of Longwood and part of Bowling Green, and continued by this name until 1844, when the townships were re-aranged, and Bowling Green was cut down and Heath's Creek given the northeastern part of the county, which contained the northern part of Longwood and its own township. In this shape it continued until 1873. (See page 244 in county organization). In that year the county adopted the township organization, and Heath's Creek still retained the northeast- ern portion, but was separated from Longwood, and as it is now organized, it is nine miles north and south by six east and west, and contains there- fore fifty-four sections of land or 34,560 acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Saline County, on the east by Cooper County, on the south by Bowling Green township, and on the west by Longwood township. It is one of the four largest townships in Pettis County, and a large part of its surface is tillable, while large tracts of timber follow the water courses.
CONFIGURATION .- The township surface is diversified with rolling prairie and heavy timber. The township is more abundantly supplied with water courses than any other in the county. Its largest stream is the Muddy Creek, flowing through the southern portion; the Lamine River touches its eastern border, and makes a detour into the township in section one; Heath's Creek flows across the northern part of the town-
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
ship, and each of these have their smaller creeks and branches flowing into them from almost all directions. Still, with all of these creeks and streams flowing through it, it has large tracts of as fine farming lands as there is in the State. Nearly all of the branches are fed by springs, and many afford enongh water to supply mills along their banks. There are two salt springs in the township, one in the northeastern section, and the other in the northern part of the township near the Saline County line, on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section twenty-one.
The township has no railroad. The wagon roads, except in the hills, are good, and the streams are crossed by substantial iron bridges for the larger ones, and good wooden bridges for the smaller ones. The physical condition of the land makes it quite easy to keep good roads, and these conditions are used to the best advantage. The fences of the town- ship are all good. Rail and substantial board fences predominate. The osage orange hedge plant does well, making a fence that will turn stock in about three years, and this is being cultivated to a considerable extent. Many of the farmers who are cultivating hedge, take great pride in keep- ing it nicely trimmed, and when such is the case, it presents a beautiful appearance. But timber being so plentiful, it is hardly probable that for a number of years yet, the favorite old rail fence will be discarded. The ring of the axe, with its accompanying "thud of the maul and wedge," are sounds too pleasant to the ear of the thrifty farmer who has made his home here for years, to be easily superseded.
The township has abundant quarries of excellent rock, but these are worked only so far as is needed for the foundations of buildings. Coal, of an excellent quality, has been found in pockets scattered over the township, and at the present time prospecting is being carried on by some of the enterprising citizens, with a view of ascertaining the proba- ble amounts of deposits, the depth, and the probable cost of opening up and working the underlying vein.
In the early days, the prairies of the township were annually swept over with the fires. The luxuriant vegetation of the township furnished abundant feed for the yearly fires that swept over its surface for centur- ies before white men kindled their camp fires. Now, wherever the prairie grass is' killed out the blue grass at once springs into existence and pro- duces a beautiful velvety green sward most of the year.
EARLY SETTLERS .- In the very early days this country was hunted over by the lovers of the chase, and they were always amply rewarded for their time and exertion. These men first called attention to the fine soil, climate and advantages, and following in their footsteps, in 1817, came the first permanent settlers of Heath's Creek Township and Pettis County. To Hiram Jenkins, John Bowles and Thomas Marlin belongs
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
the honor of being the first permanent settlers of this township and county.
The adventurer came west "to grow up with the country," trust- ing only to his strong arm and willing heart to work his way on in the wilderness, and secure for himself and loving wife a home. Here, fifty years ago, the pioneer hunter chased the deer, elk, and other game, where now the broad and cultivated fields are tilled by their descendants. Here, we may see the path worn by the Missourian, in his varied experience in a land, which to him was a land of promise, far in advance of that southern and eastern soil, upon which he had his tempo- rary home ere his effort to adapt himself to new conditions. We may see here the growth which came with knowledge, and the progress which grew upon him with the advancement around him, and how his better side developed. Some have been animated with the impulse to move on, after making themselves a part of the community, and have sought the extreme west, where the subduing hand of civilization had not pene- trated.
Those who have noted the career of the descendants of those brave, strong men in subduing the wilds, overcoming the obstacles and with- standing the hardships of this county, in early times, can but admit that they are worthy sons of illustrious sires.
All the experience of the early pioneers of this township and county go to show that after all happiness is about evenly balanced in this world. They had their privations and hardships, but they had also their own particular joys. If they were poor, they were free from the burden of pride and vanity, unless inherent in their nature; and exempt, also, from the anxiety and care that always attend the possessions of wealth.
The earliest settlers, as we have said, of this township and Pettis County were the three gentlemen previously named and their families. They crossed the Missouri River in February, 1817, and located near the mouth of Heath's Creek, March 1st, the same year. Their place of stop- ping was about three miles from the present Saline County line, and about the same distance from the Cooper County line. Hiram Jenkins had charge of the boat that brought up the metal fixtures belonging to John and Robert Heath for their salt works, located near the mouth of 'Heath's Creek. They continued to manufacture salt in Cooper County until the the war of 1812, when the Indians made a raid on their works and one of the two negro men there employed escaped to St. Louis and the other was never heard from. The war of 1812 deterred Hiram Jenkins from coming to this section. He had been over the ground two or three times on hunting expeditions, and in that way had become familiar with the beauties and advantages of this country. Hiram Jenkins started from Murfreesborough, Tenn., in October, 1816, and came overland, crossing the
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Mississippi River a few miles above the mouth of the Missouri. He being somewhat familiar with the country was the leader of the party. The three families mentioned above all came from Tennessee, and Thomas Marlin's family consisted of eleven persons, Mr. Jenkins' seven, and Bowles' eight. Hiram Jenkins lived here for years and then went back to Tennessee, where he died. Marlin and Bowles both died and are buried in the township. Wm. Anderson came in 1829 from Louisiana. His son Geo. Anderson, recently deceased, owned one of the largest and finest farms in the township. Aaron Jenkins came in 1817 with his father from Tennessee, and is now the oldest living person of the first settlers of Pettis County. He was quite young when he came to Missouri, and a . residence of sixty-five years in the genial climate of Missouri has left the old gentlemen at the age of seventy-four years, still hale and hearty, and he is able to oversee his large farm in this township, giving it the benefit of his long experience with the ever changing seasons. He knows per- haps more of Pettis County's history than will ever be produced from the pen of the ablest writer, as he has seen her in her infancy, in her youth, and now, in his declining days, beholds her in the full glory of strong development. Baldwin Jenkins, a brother of the former, came at the same time as the family from Tennessee, but is now dead and buried in the township. James Smily came in 1827 from Kentucky, but has been dead many years. C. H. Hieronymus came to the county from Howard County, in 1826. He is a native of Clark County, Ky., but came to Missouri with his father's family in 1822. Mr. Hieronymus still resides in the township a respected and honored citizen. Sylvester Hall came to the township in 1828 from Kentucky, and has since died and is buried in this township. Henry Raines came in 1828 from North Carolina and resided in the township a number of years, and then removed to Iowa, where he died several years ago. Jesse Swope came to the township in 1826 from Kentucky, lived here a number of years and now lies buried in the township. From this date on the settlers began reaching further west and south, and those who came the next few succeeding years settled in what is now Longwood township, or Bowling Green, and of those but comparatively few remain to tell the story of their struggles and triumphs.
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