USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 25
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CLIMATE.
The climate of Missouri is mild and salubrious. It avoids the piercing blasts of Iowa, and the extreme heat of a more southern clime. Its atmos- phere is clear, free from the miasmatic influences which are so often found in the more eastern States, and is of that bracing and invigorating charac- ter which tends to develop both man and beast. The surface of Linn county is rolling, the drainage is excellent, and with such advantages, the highest type of health exists. Malarial fevers are not prevalent, and her people enjoy life to an advanced age. Therefore, on the score of health, this county will compare favorably with any section of the Union, and, if that is a desideratum, then the immigrant may seek no other clime.
The county occupies a mean altitude of about 900 feet, hence it is not
.
240
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
subjected to the piercing wintry blasts experienced on the more elevated plains farther westward. Pulmonary diseases are never begotten here, and are never seen, except in cases where the seed was sown in other climes. No purer, sweeter, fresher air was ever breathed by human lungs, than that which fans our prairie slopes.
SOIL.
It is the richness and productiveness of soil which makes Linn county stand preeminent among the counties of north Missouri. The alluvial bottom-lands, with the soil reaching in depth from two to six feet, lying along every stream and creek, are easy of tillage and make splendid fields and magnificent farms. This soil is simply inexhaustible, and a corn crop can be raised from year to year for a quarter of a century without exhaust- ing the producing qualities.
The soil is a black loam, of great depth and richness, and is generally underlaid with a rich, calcareous clay, abundant in silicia and the phos- phates and carbonates of lime. Such a subsoil with the black mould above referred to, makes the finest basis for grains, grasses, and fruits in the world, and gives a wide range of production, and when thrown to the surface, soon under the influence of heat and cold, rain and sunshine, slacks like an ash heap, and is unsurpassed in its producing qualities. In the entire county there is little land, indeed, that cannot be utilized as either agricultural or grazing lands. Everything grown in this latitude, from ocean to ocean, is produced. here in high quality and most bountiful growth. Corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, flax, broom-corn, millet, hungarian, sorghum, tobacco, hemp, all the garden and field vegetables and a long list of fruits, with the whole family of grasses, any and all are at home in this soil and reach per- fection in growth and quality. This remarkable versatility of production gives this county prime agricultural advantages over the special farming regions of the continent. Corn is the great staple and gives a yield of forty to one hundred bushels per acre, depending upon cultivation and season.
Winter and spring wheat are bothi successfully grown, the yield per acre ranging from twelve to twenty-five bushels. Rye never fails to give a yield of twenty to forty bushels per acre; oats run from' twenty-five to sixty busliels, and barley from twenty to forty bushels. Flax is a very remuner- ative crop and will become a popular product in the near future. Irisb and sweet potatoes give an unusually large yield, and are particularly adapted to this soil. The garden is bountiful in every variety of vegetable production. But one of the grandest resources in this county is found in her native and domestic grasses. There is no better soil for grasses between the Great Lakes and the mountains. The wild prairie grasses are readily yielding to blue-grass and white clover. Blue-grass is indigenous to the country, and is steadily making the conquest of the wild prairie, forest, and field, until
241
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
blue-grass is king in Linn county, as in the famous grazing regions of Illi- nois and Kentucky. Blue-grass is everywhere, from the water-line to the crown of the hills, sweet, tender, and luxuriant as any herbage that ever bared its bosom to the herds. In this mild climate it makes pasturage well nigh perpetual. The rainy seasons develop a splendid growth of white clover in the old pastures, and the red clover and timothy meadows are as luxuriant in this county as anywhere on the green earth. Timothy meadow gives a yield of two and three tons, and not unfrequently three and a half tons of hay per acre.
A large portion of lands are finely adapted for tobacco-raising, and large quantities, of fine quality, are produced.
Of course Linn county is a splendid stock country. Where corn and blue-grass flourish, and timothy and clover are at home, there is no ques- . tion about the future of the county. Wealth and independence follow as naturally as water runs down hill. The stock-raising and stock-feeding dis- tricts beat the exclusively grain-growing districts in net revenue and ulti- mate wealth two to one. Cattle and swine-raising and feeding are carried on to a large extent in this county, and bring a heavy revenue to the farm- ers. Very little coarse grain is exported, the farmers finding it more prof- itable to feed prime steers, Poland-China and Berkshire swine.
Horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and swine all do admirably, and are being raised in large numbers, from the finest bloods, down through the various grades to common stock, and very large shipments are constantly being made of horses, mules, cattle, and swine to supply the demands elsewhere.
With such facilities for grazing and feeding cattle, the dairy is taking an important place in this county, and is rapidly becoming a source of profit; it is yet in its infancy, but will soon become an important factor in the business of the country.
In speaking of Linn county as a fine field for the breeders of fine stock it is with the certain knowledge that this belt of country of which this county is a part, has no superior for developing the best and highest grades of all farm animals in their best and most perfect form. It is not too cold, and when an exceeding cold blast sweeps over the country it is of but short duration, and a little covering from exposure saves any ill effects of such changes. But for eight months of the year no covering is necessary for the · flocks, and the other four months will be found half the time pleasant and enjoyable weather for both man and beast. This, therefore, is a climate peculiarly adapted, from its dry and invigorating atmosphere, to develop in their best form all kinds and classes of animals which go to make up the stock of the domestic breeder. These facts are beginning to tell, and the farmer is turning his attention to stock-raising and the food necessary to their support. It is as easy to raise blooded stock as it is scrubs, and this important fact is also gaining a strong foothold in the mind of the farmer.
242
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
The Short-Horn and Herefords among cattle are assuming a prominence worthy of the intelligence of the people. The blooded horse and the heavy Percheron and Norman horses are taking the place of the scrub. Cots- wold, Leicester, and South-Down are weeding out the common sheep, while the gaunt "rail-splitter " hog of olden times, long-legged and slab- sided, has given way to the Poland-China and Berkshire. There is room for a thousand stock-breeders here who could make fortunes at this busi- ness as a specialty. Cattle, sheep, and hogs are rapidly increasing in number.
COAL MINING.
As has been mentioned there are now four coal mines being worked in this county, but this industry is yet in its infancy, and until wood becomes scarce, or the demand for coal exceeds its supply, little will be done in Linn county to develop the immense wealth which is hidden below the surface of her soil. It is there, however, and it is a guarantee that so long as the world stands, or at least for scores of generations to come, the fuel supply of Linn county will never be a source of fear because of its scarcity or high prices.
FRUIT GROWING.
Apples of the finest quality are becoming more abundant every year, so that now the local demand is fully supplied, and shipments are being made to supply the demands of less favored localities both north and south. It is a natural grape country, and many varieties are produced so that pure wines of the best quality are vinted here, and grapes are sold every year in our markets at from two to four cents per pound.
GRAPES.
In reality the fruit interest is everywhere prominent. Every farm has its apple orchard and the peach, plum, cherry, pear, and grape, with the entire list of berries, are cultivated with gratifying results. For standard apples, the staple varieties of the grape, the Early Richmond cherry and small fruits of the garden, it is doubtful if there is a more favored region anywhere in the West. Wine-making might be pursued with as much profit here as on the banks of the Ohio or the islands of Lake Erie.
Quite a number of our farmers have planted vineyards. As yet the Con- cord grape leads. It makes a fine, light wine, and is especially liked for its hardihood and prolific yield. The Elvira is called by some the best grape, being hardy, yields abundantly and makes a finely flavored wine, smooth to the taste and of rich quality. It is as prolific as the Concord, while the market value of its vintage is double. This climate seems to be especially suited to it. Up to this time grape culture has not become epi-
243
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
demic, but quite a number of small vineyards are, nevertheless, to be found in the county. The principal grape, as has been said, that is grown in this county is the Concord. Up to this time no wine has been made in this county to speak of, but it is likely yet to become a crop of considerable im- portance in the county. There could not be found a better paying busi- ness in Linn county than grape culture and the making of wine, and while it has been a business so far, of very slow growth, there are a few farmers who realize its advantages, and will gradually enlarge their vineyards, and give more time and attention to this lucrative crop.
THE APPLE
is decidedly the most abundant crop, and it especially thrives in North Missouri. The finest apples are raised in this central belt, between the south line of Iowa and the Missouri River. "There is no better country for the apple," says an eminent horticulturalist, "than north Missouri, and I go still further, and say that no finer fruit has been raised than that which I have gathered in that section of the State." An orchard of grafted fruit, properly attended to, is as great a medium of wealth to the farmer as any one department of agricultural labor. There is not generally enough care given to the orchard, first in planting, and second in giving the growing tree care afterwards. With the exception of pruning now and then, they are generally left to grow as best they may. .
PEACHES AND PEARS.
The orchard product is not confined, by any means, to the apple. Peaches, pears, plums, apricots, quinces, nectarines, etc., all grow well, and are equally at home with the apple in this soil and climate. Both peaches and pears have their seasons of failure, but there are always enough for home consumption, except in unprecedentedly bad years. A very fine peach is grown, and there are several kinds which are very palatable, being of a most delicious flavor. The pear grows to a large size, is very rich and lus- cious, and resembles the California pear in size and appearance. Neither the peach nor pear crop is as certain as the apple, still the peach is largely grown throughout the county.
Peaches and pears yield abundantly in good seasons, but are not a certain crop. A late frost generally destroys the yield. They generally make an average crop two out of every five years, and there are not many years but what some are raised. They are a paying fruit when the season is favora- ble, but they are not generally raised except for home use or a local market.
There is nothing so beneficial to health during the summer season as good ripe fruit, and the less meat the farmer eats in the hot weather, and the more fruit, the better for his general welfare, and for a long life. Thus the raising of fruit should be a universal one, for it is a paying crop and one conducive to health.
244
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
CHERRIES
are perhaps grown more than any other fruit in this section of the country excepting the apple. It is prolific in yield, and every farm in the country, and generally door-yard in town, can boast of having somewhere about it a cherry tree. Of course it is a healthy fruit; you can eat them from the tree, preserve them, make cherry brandy, and even the root of the tree, like the brandy from the fruit, has good medicinal properties. So that a cherry, it might be said, is one of the necessaries of life.
PLUMS.
This fruit, like the quince and apricot, is but little grown. There is prob- ably no better climate for the plum than that of north Missouri, and it is a fruit that is really healthful. The Blue plum, the Green-gages, and one or two other varieties are well worth cultivating, but at present are little cared for.
BERRIES.
About all the berries that grow are indigenous to the soil of Linn and surrounding counties. They grow spontaneously and are very fruitful. There are none but what can be cultivated with profits, but with the excep- tion of strawberries very few are raised beyond the home demand, and in fact, the strawberry can join the rest. Berries are not shipped in any large quantities. There is no doubt that if more attention were given to fruit and berries the farmer would find himself better off at the end of the year. Many a berry bush or a fruit tree will thrive and pay well for its care where nothing else can be planted. The corners of the fences or the. side-hills could be made to pay, and would be far from being the least valuable part of the farm.
When the climate is taken into consideration, being much like that of southern Ohio and the blue-grass region of Kentucky, between the extremes of temperature, and in a latitude where fruits and berries attain their great- est perfection, where is found the greatest stock and dairy producing region of the continent, why should not the people prosper ?
It is a field that offers splendid opportunities to men to cultivate the orchard, the vineyard, grain, and herds, and it is as healthy as it is great in all its productive resources. No fogs or stagnant waters, the winds which sweep the prairies of the West give only an invigorating feeling here, and in fact, the climate is all that man need wish for whose habits are temper- ate and whose life is given to the cheerful pursuits of peace.
SOME STATISTICS.
There has not been a full record kept of the productions of Linn county, either in cereals, fruits, or stock, and comparison can only be made of the
245
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
growth and prosperity of the county a few years back. Of course, if the county has increased in population the last decade twenty-six per cent, it is more than likely that production has more than kept pace. New machinery that does the work of a dozen men of ten years ago must add much more and greater per cent to the producing interests of the county. The improve- ment in labor-saving farm implements has given wonderful encouragement and progress to agricultural work, and there is nothing higher or nobler in the catalogue of pursuits for man than that of the agriculturist.
The mechanical genius of the country is now bending all its energies to still further improve the implements of farm use and manufacture, still others that will add to the wealth and general prosperity of the farmer. The pioneer of old and the farmer of to-day are as wide apart in their modes of farming and the tools used, as time is distant between then and now. A few years hence and even much of this may be changed, and the men of to-day as far behind the agriculturist of the future. What man's inventive genius may yet produce for the cultivation of the soil and in the saving of labor, is hard to tell, and where it will end no man knows.
The first record of stock and crops of Linn county is for the year 1868. This record is far from complete, yet it will answer in a measure for the starting point in the material advance of the county. Comparing this re- port with that of 1880 and 1881, will give some idea of the advance the farmers have made the past decade and a decade hence will prove, no doubt, a comparison that the county may be proud of. The list is as follows:
Number of horses 4,968
Number of hogs 20,274
Number of mules 861
Number of jacks. 9
Number of jennets 6
Number of cattle. 11,796
Tons of hay 3,953
Number of sheep. . 16,006
Gallons of molasses. . 36,139
Almost in all instances these figures are doubled for 1880. There has not been since the year 1870, until 1876, a full report of the_ stock and grain raising productions of Linn county. At the taking of the census of the above named year, a full return was made of the agricultural products of the county. stock, etc. This report was also taken and compiled by mu- nicipal townships which shows the aggregate wealth of the personal property of each township. It was not, however, complete, the real estate of each township not being given, but the full number of acres of land in the county was given as a whole. The statements we have been able to gather of 1879 1880, and 1881, are also incomplete in some particulars, still enough has been gathered to show something of the advancement made by Linn county the past six years. It would seem that now the township law is in force that the assessors or collectors should have a full set of blanks so as to have
Bushels of wheat 74,634
Bushels of corn. 181,700
Pounds of wool. 152,389
246
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
this desired information collected yearly. It should be a part of their duty and the county clerk's office should place it upon record. There is neither full statistics of the agricultural resources, nor is there any record book of elections. Election rolls from townships can be found, partially obliterated but the vote of each township and the names of those elected or their major- ities, after being ascertained seem to have been thrown aside. This will make as difficult work for future historians as for the present, for the writer has spent days and even weeks seeking information that should be found upon the records. This has undoubtedly been an oversight, but it is a bad one and should be corrected. The records of the county should show its progress from year to year. History is made up of such records and of pass- ing events. Following is given the report of the agricultural and stock products of the county for 1876.
STATISTICS FOR 1876.
TOWNSHIPS.
Horses.
Mules.
Jacks, jennets.
Cattle.
Sheep.
Hogs.
Bus. wheat.
Bushels corn.
Bushels oats.
Baker
546
112|
3
1,862|
1,549
2,487
1,005|101,434|
11,214
Benton . .
382
58|
4
1,094
1,218
981
1,577
8,570
5,980
Brookfield
532
101
1
1,655
848
1,236
1,008 112,940
9,440
Bucklin
610
183 11
1,677
3,158
2,432
992 135,726
18,718
Clay
718
86
1,572
1,539
2,793
2,264 203,815
22,608
Enterprise
374
75
1,489
778
1,941
408|110,850
17,961
Grantsville
716
102
1
2,570
1,806
2,884
264
40,030
8,300
North Salem
337
53
1,231
782
1,240
288
39,350
4,593
Jackson
936
18
5
1,221
1,132
2,593
893 226,960
18.415
Jefferson
737
S9
2
1,949
3,397
2,893
868 213,110
17,692
Locust Creek
562
95
2
1,578
1,268
2,362
1,005
74,125
4,784
Parson Creek
599
101
7
1,836
1,237
2,728
6,898 225,970
34,490
Yellow Creek
536
147
9
2,722
1,544
2,323
185 146,082
22,539
Total
7,485 1,385 45 22,456 19,856 28,893
17,651 638,962 196,734
. .
·
247
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
STATISTICS FOR 1876.
TOWNSHIPS.
Bus. barley.
Bushels rye.
Pounds of
wool.
Pounds of
tobacco.
Tons of hay.
Tons of hemp.
Gallons of
Gallons of
molasses.
Baker
476|
3,134
15,453|
1,825|
42
733
Benton
332
67
1,200
1,019
Brookfield
110
230
5,750
21,700
4,210
3,500
983
Bucklin
5,179|13,075}
409,939
3,128
6,547
Clay
2,668|
4,329
164,665
1,668
1,738
Enterprise
206
2,368
2,864
2,779
3
2,610
Grantsville
109
5,125
3,027
668
North Salem
60
2,268
6,130
1,735
25
2,644
Jackson
1,223
3,789
412,300
2,366
23
4,515
Jefferson
110
837
8,665
47,190
2,943
1,148
Locust Creek
40
128
3,637
54,000
1,350
541
Parson Creek.
2,140
· 4,372
40,400
1,815|15
3,948
Yellow Creek.
104
4,504
194,188
3,866
150
4,799
Total
260 13,742 61,183 1,270,029 31,758 15|3,743 30,874
This shows the leading crops to have been corn, tobacco, and oats. There are no values in this table of stock, only the number is given, and the real estate, including farms and town lots, is left out altogether. This makes it rather imperfect. Still, what is given is by municipal townships, and will be a valuable table to compare with later years. If a full report had been given it would have been invaluable, and a starting point to show the growth and prosperity of the county for future years. The next table is for the year 1879, and it is, perhaps, more full and complete, for it is on that year that the census of 1880 is based. That is, the population is taken to June 1, 1880, but the statistics of the crops, stock, and business of the country is of the year 1879.
CEREALS OF 1879.
The crop was the largest grown up to that date, and has not been exceeded since.
The corn crop.
Acres. 72,900
3,006,850
The oat crop,
13,747
340,206
The wheat crop
6,650
96,776
The rye crop ...
1,023
11,809
The buckwheat crop.
181
2,048
The tobacco crop (in pounds)
429
382,133
wine.
..
Bushels.
16
248
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
The following table gives the assessed valuation of the county. If "all other personal property" included grain, it would have met the valuation of the corn crop alone.
ASSESSMENT, 1879.
Real estate
Acres. . 385,240
Valuation. $1,874,726
Real estate, town lots
3,137
419,716
Total
$2,294,442
PERSONAL PROPERTY.
Number.
Horses
8,042
$
Valuation. 234,255
Mules
1,277
43,530
Asses and jennets
33
950
Cattle
26,704
342,822
Sheep
32,443
32,444
Hogs
31,630
53,080
All other live stock.
10
Money, notes, bonds, etc.
276,985
All personal property included in classes 3, 4, and 10 of assessment lists.
309,340
1,293,366
Total .
1,293,366
$3,587,808
ASSESSMENT OF 1880.
HORSES.
MULES.
CATTLE.
SHEEP.
TOWNSHIPS.
No.
Value.
No.
Value.
No.
Value.
No.
Value.
Benton
494|$ 14,790|
70|$ 1,985
1,533 $ 19,695
1,675 $ 1,675
Locust Creek ..
781
23,180
86
2,875
2,542
36,305
2,300
2,300
North Salem.
471
13.615
39
1,095
1,948
25,080
235
235
Baker
543
15,550
80
2,600
1.964
24,625
2,550
2,550
Bucklin
769
24,485
131
5,090
2,705
34,640
4,735
4,735
Enterprise.
370
10,870
50
1,590
1,897
27,535
2,065
2,065
Brookfield .
748
23,655
85
3,685
2,220
29,225
2,330
2,330
Grantsville
641
18,745
61
2,180
2,694
39,195
3,310
3,310
Yellow Creek .
542
16,540
102
4,010
2,507
30,775
2,950
2,950
Jefferson.
840
25,200
99
3,615
2.153
26,150
5,440
5,440
Jackson
992
30,340
86
4,240
2,260
29,320
2,110
.2,110
Clay .
808
22,910
108
3,740
1,799
23,565
3,280
3,280
Parson Creek ..
707
20,930
119
4,085
1,960
27,435
5,939!
5,940
8,706|$260,810|1,116|$40,790|28,182 $373,545|38,919
$38,940
1
. ..
..
249
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
ASSESSMENT 1880-CONTINUED.
HOGS.
MONEY, NOTES, AND BONDS.
BOOKS.
ALL OTHER PROPERTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
No.
Value.
Value.
Value.
Value.
Benton
1,624|$
2,665|$
22,460 $
$ 17,530
Locust Creek.
2,995
5,540
58,200
5,000
37,650
North Salem
2,046
3,835
8,225
9,500
Baker
2,493
4,010
11,915
12,935
Bucklin
3,152
5,460
17,830
27,595
Enterprise
1,545
3,085
17,645
11,055
Brookfield
1,883
3,850
59,920
10,500
68,280
Grantsville.
2,200
4,355
19,820
18,245
Yellow Creek
2,191
4,135
17,190
18,685
Jefferson
2,817
5,555
22,335
33,685
Jackson
4,804
8,445
22,265
23,370
Clay . ..
3,322
5,690
32,445
25,080
Parson Creek.
2,588
5,015
32,880
38,915
33,662 $ 61,650 $
342,030 $ 15,500
$ 342,530
TOWNSHIPS.
Personal.
Grand total
real and
personal.
Benton .
$
80,805|$
177,855
Locust Creek
171,095
396,530
North Salem
61,585
148,060
Baker
74,185
166,575
Bucklin
119,835
314,430
Enterprise
72,845
146,700
Brookfield ..
201,570
611,645
Grantsville.
105,850
247,985
Yellow Creek
94,525
259,375
Jefferson .
121,900
359,315
Jackson
120,335
303,355
Clay
116,710
317,360
Parson Creek.
135,230
351,690
Total
$ 1,527,367
$ 3,800,875
250
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
LINN COUNTY ASSESSMENT 1881-RETURNED JANUARY 1, 1881.
LAND.
TOWN LOTS.
HORSES.
TOWNSHIPS
Acres.
Valuation.
Av. per ac.
Number.
Value.
Number.
Value.
Average.
Par'n O'k
34,875.71|$
217,783|$6.24| 318|$ 47,830
706|$ 26,630 $
37.72
Jefferson .
36,452.58
219,345
6.01
706
50,325
793
29,045
36.60
Brookf'd .
26,475.97
190,950
7.21
1405
246,690
722
26,470
36.67
Locust Ck
30,603.52
176,190
5.75
524
74,278
841
30,155
35.85
Yellow C .
32,482.53
165,985
5.11
190
9,620
613
21,820
35.59
Benton
19,983.83
107,444
5.37
422
30,155
487
17,480
35.89
Clay. ...
31,577.77
179,227
5.67
28
3,725
837
26,072
31.15
Baker
. ..
29,504.92
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