USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 76
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740
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
CURTAILED.
Benton township was finally curtailed of its fair dimensions, a portion of her territory being given to Grantsville and another portion to Enterprise townships. This leaves but a small portion of her original boundary, which yet gives her an average of five miles in breadth by six and a-half long, or thirty-one and a-half square miles with an area of 20,160 acres of rich soil, both prairie and woodland, and watered by numerous branches which empty into Locust Creek. The country is mostly prairie, but the timber belt skirts all the streams. Thus while it is adapted to stock-raising it is also equally the home of the cereals, and as a fruit growing country it is unsurpassed. In fact, it is one of the best and largest fruit growing town- ships in the county, and apples, especially of Ben Davis variety, are raised in immense quantities. Coal can be mined in this township on Locust Creek, on what is known as Van Welkin's Claim, and on Lowe's Branch on the southeast quarter of section thirty-one, township sixty, of range twenty. Coal has been often dug for blacksmith's use. It is an excellent quality of bituminous coal, burns clear and bright, and reducing the entire mass to ashes, leaving no clinkers. The Van Webber vein has been worked con- siderably, but wood is too plentiful to make coal mining in that vicinity much of an object as yet. Coal, however, underlies a large portion of the township and can be found from a depth of seventy to one hundred feet. Some day it will prove a source of great wealth to its owners. The geo- logical survey shows that Linn county is in the center of the seven counties which show vast coal deposits-the widest veins being in the northern part. There is also plenty of good building stone in the township, and a first class article of brick clay is found in abundance. The best quarries found yet are at Prather's ford on Lucust Creek, and on J. T. Moffett's place on the southeast quarter of section thirty-one, township sixty, of range twenty, but as there has been thus far little call for it these quarries have been about the only ones worked. There are other quarries of stone the equal of the above at other points, but as the demand being limited it is not sought for.
Lowe's Branch, Swain's Branch and Priest's Branch were named after persons of the same name, the former from a man who was drowned in it during a heavy freshet. There is also a stream called Plum Branch. This took its name from the immense quantities of wild plums which grew along its banks and were gathered by bushels by the settlers. Crab apples and hazel nuts were also plentiful. But these wild fruits of the forest are now gone and in their places are found the apple, the peach, pears and cherries. Grapes thrive here and it is destined to become the home of many vineyards, and the sparkling wine will become ere long an article of extensive commerce. It is believed that ere long stock-raising, fruit cul-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
ture, and grape growing will be the predominant work of the farmers of this township, and while they will probably always raise every variety of cereals and vegetables for home consumption, with the exception of corn and hay, none will prove to overshadow the above as the leading products of the township.
WHO THEY WERE AND WHEN THEY CAME.
It is hardly to be supposed that a township rich in all the attributes of agricultural and mineral wealth, would remain unsettled long, and it was not. Benton township found many settlers in 1836, but somehow the rec- ord was not kept. Those old pioneers could make history, but they had no thought of the future outside of their own personal progress, and while mak- ing history failed almost entirely in keeping a record of events. Again, very many instances are remembered of a purely local or family character, which to those who were participants was worthy of their remembrance, but it is not history, and therefore not of interest to the general reader. These have been left out because matter of greater moment has been found to fill these pages. The early arrivals were soon followed by others. John W. Minnes, as before stated, came in 1836. Then there was A. M. Venable, elected to the county office of assessor at the election of 1838, who came about the same time, and with him came Benjamin Lewis, John and Wil- liam Daily. Lewis settled on the northwest quarter of section twenty-nine, township sixty, of range twenty. A. M. Venable built his log hut on the same section. They both came from Virginia. Isaac Taylor, who came in 1838, settled on the southwest quarter of section twenty-one, township sixty, range twenty. David Jenkins came in 1837. He bought out John Daily in 1838, and the latter and his brother bought out Ben. Lewis and Vena- ble. Pete Swain came in 1837 and staked his claim on the northeast quar- ter of section seventeen, township sixty, range twenty. This was the pioneer from which Swain Branch took its name.
John Ogle settled on the northwest quarter of section twenty-eight, township sixty, range twenty, and came from East Tennessee. Robert Warren came in 1842 and lived on the northwest quarter of section twenty- nine, township sixty range twenty ; afterward purchased and still owned by Joseph Schrock. This latter gentleman did not come to Benton town- ship until 1848. William G. Gooch, a Kentuckian, came from Pike county and settled in the township in 1841, and Mrs. William Alexander in 1843.
The most of those who settled in the Gibson neighborhood (Gibson settled in 1837) were from Kentucky and Tennessee.
David Ogle, who was born in East Tennessee, staked his claim on the southeast quarter of section twenty-eight, township sixty, range twenty, in 1841. John Ball and Lot Lantz were among the first settlers, the former settling on section seven, township sixty, range twenty; the latter was for several years county judge. 46
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
William Southerland, also a prominent citizen, settled on the northwest quarter of section thirty-four, township sixty, range twenty, just west of Purdin. T. J. Moffatt made his home on section six, township fifty-nine, range twenty, and arrived there on Christmas Day, 1839; C. B. Purdin, on same section, township, and range, coming in 1837. Thomas S. Gooch came at the same time his brother William came, and they have a large number of descendants. Joseph McCormack came in 1839, and settled on section twenty-nine, township sixty, range twenty. Daniel Vrooman was another early settler, but, while coming as early as 1837, left after a short residence. Frank E. Stone came in 1840 and settled on section seven, town- ship sixty, range twenty. D. C. Pierce and Benjamin Pierce came from Tennessee; James Gilmore from Virginia, Henry Brown from Boone county; and Jethro, Dodson and others.
Mr. James Brown's widow is still living, and gives many interesting items in her early experience, among which was one about her husband shooting a fine large buck, only severely wounding him. He took off his suspenders and tied the buck with them, as he supposed they would be strong enough, but the buck recovered, broke his bands and took them along, and Mr. Brown, instead of being one fine deer ahead, was out his suspenders. Mrs. Brown said she often went coon hunting with her husband, as she did not like to stay by herself. There is something curious in the fact that many of the old settlers, in digging wells, found at the depth of from fifteen to forty feet well preserved timbers. By what convulsion of nature was this section turned apparently upside down is hard to conjecture.
There was quite a rush to this township for a year and it improved quite rapidly. Keytesville was their principal trading point, and their black- smithing and repairing were all done there, besides being their post-office. It wasn't much fun to take a trip and so the settlers did not go very often, and when one was obliged to go he did the trading and the errands for the neighbors miles around. No roads, no bridges; in. fact the roads were any- where the settlers could find any. At last Keytesville dropped out. Henry Brown and Thomas Barbee started a store on Kentucky Rupell's place, and a mill by the Botts' brothers did the work for the settlements around. There was quite a high bluff between the Gibson settlement and the mill on Locust Creek, and it is said the settlers used to climb that bluff to go to mill for something like three years before they found out that there was an opening that saved them hours of hard work carrying their grists to and from the mill over that bluff.
In a conversation with Mrs. Nancy Minnis, wife of John W. Minnis, the first sheriff of Linn county, she says they came from Tennessee; that Jere Hooker came in 1837; also Morgan Pierce and William Bingham; that Barton school-house, afterward called Crab Orchard, was located on sec- tion twelve, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one, and was built in 1838,
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743
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
and that her daughter Adeline taught in it in the summer of 1839. The first store was the one spoken of above on Kentucky Rupell's place, and did a good business. The first physician was a Dr. Talilee, who remained in the township but a few months, when he was followed by Dr. Jacob Holland, who practiced some two years, and then removed to Sullivan county. Then Dr. Nathaniel Dryden took his practice, but he lived in Locust Creek township. He came from Kentucky, and dying several years ago, was buried in the Rupell graveyard. The Rev. Jesse Goins, before spoken of in this work, was supposed to have been the first preacher. Rev. William F. Gibson and Thomas Barbee were known to have preached several times, although the latter was a store-keeper, so-called at the time. Rev. Constantine Dryden and Rev. Forsythes, both Methodists, also preached at an early day, and are often spoken of as the first in the town- ship. Mrs. Minnis is now living with her granddaughter, Mrs. J. T. Prather. Mr. Prather is an old settler, has a fine farm, fruit, and some blooded stock, and holds a leading position as a citizen in town and county. Judge Schrock, George W. Taylor, William O. Browning, and others in the town- ship are giving their attention to blooded stock, and it is expected that Benton township will lead all others in that line. The farmers are pretty ambitious, and propose to beat their neighbors, if possible.
SCHOOL-HOUSES.
The first school taught in the Gibson settlement was by a Mr. Rupell, and was not far from William F. Gibson's residence. There were nearly twenty pupils in attendance, and the tuition was two dollars and fifty cents for three months. A log school-house was built on Mr. Gibson's land, and the neighbors came together and put it up. In fact, building school- houses or attending a " raising" were matters that called forth a unity of spirit and of action that showed the true character of the pioneers of early days. Men would go miles to assist a neighbor, and no thought was given as to pay. If the neighbor wanted help in return, he got it, and so squared all accounts. All that was asked was, we help you now, at any time you find a neighbor needing your assistance, go and help him, and you cancel our debt, and thus was formed a settlement that became a veritable band of brothers.
The Gooch school-house was first built in 1847, on the northwest corner of section thirty-one, township sixty, range twenty. This building did duty for about ten years, when the present school-house was built, at a cost of about $225. This has been one of the most successful schools in the township. It has an attendance of twenty-one pupils, on an average. Charles Johnson was the last teacher, and received thirty dollars per month. J. W. Harvey and A. J. Schrock, directors, and P. Haucks, clerk.
The Jenkins school-house on the northeast quarter of section twenty,
744
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
township sixty, range twenty, was put up in 1868, and the Mundell school- house in 1870. The former cost $250, and the latter nearly $400. The Jenkins school started many years ago, in a log hut, and but a few months' school. Now there is an average of seven months schooling each year. John Kille was the last teacher; but who taught the young idea how to shoot, in the forties, and in the old log hut, is not known. The Mundell school had thirty-five pupils at the last session, and William Gavel was the teacher. The school-house of old was burned down a few years before, and on its ruins was built the present building, one of the best in the township. J. A. Mundell, B. F. Stone and David Stone are the present directors; Mr. Mundell is president, and B. F. Stone, clerk.
In 1843, a log school-house was built on the northwest quarter of sec- tion thirty-two, township sixty, range twenty, and in 1850, a frame house was put up, costing $450; Joseph B. Fields was the first teacher. Another was erected in 1840, on southeast quarter of section six, township fifty- nine, range twenty, but a school had been taught in an old log hut by Richard Long sometime before the neighbors built this house. It was as early as 1838 or 1839, and is supposed to have been the first school taught in the township. The Hooker school-house, near Jeremiah Hooker's place, was one of the first put up, and was the work of the neighbors in the set- tlement.
The Pierce school-house is located on section thirty-six, township sixty, range twenty one, and was erected in 1869, at a cost of $350. The teacher receives thirty dollars per month, and the session is five months. T. J. Mof- fett, Peter Capity, and D. C. Pierce are the trustees. The last teacher was Emmet B. Fields.
Brown's school-house, or Hickory College, a name given it by the Rev. H. P. Thorp, stands on the northwest quarter of section seven, township fifty-nine, range twenty. P. Pound, William Purdin and James Moffett, trustees. Its first teacher was the Rev. Thorp, mentioned above, and the building was erected in 1870; but many years before, a school was kept in that district.
The Bailey school-house was situated on the southeast quarter of section eight, township fifty-nine, range twenty, and was erected in 1856. Some twenty pupils attend this school, the teacher receiving thirty-five dollars per month. The trustees are B. G. Johnson, Henry Brown, and John T. Young; A. M. Hunter, clerk. Spelling matches have, for a number of years past, been prominent in school circles in the township.
The first weaving that was done was by Mrs. Robert Warren; Mrs. Gib- son also wove cloth, and many others, if not all. The original settlers' wives were experts with the spinning-wheel and the shuttle; linsey, jeans and rag-carpets were the goods made, and they were the fashion of that day and generation, and it wouldn't hurt now if it was revived.
745
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
AMONG THE GRAVEYARDS.
Jenkins' graveyard is located on the northeast quarter of section twenty, township sixty, range twenty, and contains a little less than a quarter of an acre of ground. The first interment was in the year 1841, and the body was that of Elvin F. Jenkins.
The Jenkin's school-house burying-grounds are on the southeast quarter of section seventeen, township sixty, range twenty, and were laid out by John Eden in 1870, and contain about one acre of ground. Susan Eden was the first to leave her body within its limits, while her spirit took its flight to a brighter and happier land. The town of Browing having, as yet, no cemetery uses this, and also the graveyard adjoining Wesley Chapel.
The Moffett graveyard was a part of the northwest quarter of section seven, township fifty-nine, range twenty, and was laid out in 1852. Mr. William Moffett was buried there in April, 1852-the first burial.
The Gooch graveyard was laid out in 1851 by Thomas S. and William G. Gooch on the southeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township sixty, range twenty. George Milton Gooch, son of Thomas S. Gooch, was interred there in 1852, and afterward the body of John F. Gooch reposed in the same grounds. There are now some twenty graves within the enclosure.
Pierce's graveyard was among the first laid out, if not the first in Ben- ton township. It contains an acre of ground, and was laid out in the year 1840 by James M. Pierce and his father. It is located on section one, township fifty-nine, range twenty. The first body committed to its keep- ing was Mrs. Tersey Pierce, the same year it was made.
The Prather graveyard, one-half acre, was on the southeast quarter of section twelve, township sixty, range twenty-one, and was laid out by Thomas Prather. The first burial was the body of Miss Mary E. Prather, who died in 1857.
A small graveyard was laid out on section thirty-one, on the northeast quarter, township sixty, range twenty, in the year 1841. There was no particular name given it. The first burials were James Gilmes and his wife, and since then others have been interred within its sacred precincts.
MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS.
The first marriage known in Benton township was that of Schuyler Powell to Miss Emily Mullins, in the fall of 1837, and the neighbors gen- erally turned out to witness the interesting ceremony. The bride was ar- rayed in the latest fashion, but the writer is obliged to confess that her hair was not banged nor plastered down to her eyes, giving her a sort of half idiotic expression, but on the contrary was combed neatly back, showing a handsome forehead, as well as a look and action of a perfectly sane person. She was not arrayed in costly apparel, such as silks and satins, and we are
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
also compelled to record the fact that she had no hoop skirts. Still the wedding was a grand success, and the groom just as happy as he could be. The couple went to housekeeping with a pot or two, a gourd, bucket, a rifle and ax, prepared to coin wealth by the sweat of their brows, sat- isfied that with health their future was as bright and promising as their hearts could wish. The next important event was the marriage of Mr. M. Smith to Miss Adeline Minnis, daughter of Captain Minnis, the first sheriff of the county. This wedding took place in 1838, and at the home of Cap- tain M., on the southeast quarter of section thirty-two, township sixty, range twenty. Both of these wedding services were performed by William F. Gibson, justice of the peace.
. Joseph Knifong and Miss Thurlow, in 1840, were the next, but this. couple found themselves in Sullivan county when it was organized. About the same time Jeremiah Smith and Miss Sevier were married by Rev. Goins. It was a runaway match.
" Mr. Hanly and Miss Mary Slocum were married also by Mr. Gibson, in 1843, some two and one half miles from his residence. These were the first early marriages.
Among the first births was George Taylor, son of Isaac and Elizabeth Taylor, on section twenty-one, township sixty, range twenty. Elvina. daugh- ter of Robert Warren, was born in 1841, on a farm about two miles south of Browning ; and Ellen J. Hawley, daughter of James and Mary Hawley, was also one of the early natives of Benton township. She first saw light on section twenty-eight, township sixty, range twenty. And this child also was one of the first whose soul was wafted to the God who gave it. She died in 1845, and was buried in the Gibson family graveyard. William H. Moore, son of Amos and Ruth Moore, was born on the southeast quarter of section twenty-eight, township sixty, range twenty, in 1840, and Elvira Jenkins in 1841. She was the daughter of David and Magdalena Jenkins. It is said that the daughter of William F. Gibson was the first death in the township, who was buried in the family lot above mentioned. Mr. Newton Albert died as early as 1838 or 1839, on the northeast quarter of section thirty-one, township sixty, range twenty, and was buried in the Wesley chapel graveyard. Another early death .was the daughter of John Daily, who died at the age of two years, in 1840. Mr. Lot Lantz went to Lin- neus for the coffin. Squir e Goins's wife, Mr. Brooks's wife, and the old man Knifong, all died in 1841.
It is said that Mrs. Minnis, wife of John W., was quite a doctor, and pre- scribed for a good many cases in that early day and with much success. There was also a Dr. Cooper in the township for a short time, besides the physicians spoken of previously. And there can also be added to the list of preachers the name of the Rev. Mr. Aldridge, who held regular service at Mount Nebo church, two and one-half miles west of Browning, and
747.
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
known also as Hooker's school-house. It was one of the oldest established organizations in the township. It has no church of its own, and the members meet at the Mundell school-house.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
The largest yield of wheat reported in Benton township was in 1876,. when James Brown sowed three-fourths of a bushel of wheat on three- fourths of an acre of ground, and the yield was twenty-three bushels.
The first merchant in Benton township was Jacob Langsfield, who opened a general store on section four, township fifty-nine, range twenty. This was about 1839.
The first brick house in the township was erected in 1846, by Henry T. Brown, on the southeast quarter, section twelve, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one. The brick were made of Benton township clay. Mr. Brown also put up the first horse mill in the township, somewhere about 1840 .. There is also a relic, the antlers of a buck which has ten full grown prongs and one short one. This would go to show a buck of immense size, a father of the forest. This trophy is in the hands of Mrs. James Brown, now a widow. There are also on section thirty-four, township sixty, range twenty, and on the northwest quarter, what are known as the " Twins." They are two pin oak trees, joined together about five feet from the ground by an arm fully a foot and a half long which seems to grow into both trees. The most curious article found in the township and which has, and will ever be, a source of wonder, was from appearance a regular bombshell. It was egg- shaped, about nine inches in diameter at the large and five inches at the small end. It was iron, the shell being about one inch in thickness and filled with a dark substance much resembling powder, and which, on dry- ing, actually flashed, although but slightly. The shell was easily broken- seemingly being rusted clear through. Now, when it is known that this shell was found twenty-six feet below the surface, being found in digging a well, curiosity is fully excited. Take this incident with the fact that well preserved walnut and oak timber have been found forty feet below the sur- face, through solid earth, and there is certainly food for thought and conjec- ture. This shell was found by James and Allen Gillespie on their farm, which lies just over and on both sides the Sullivan county line, and is on the east half of the northeast quarter of section thirty-one, township sixty- one, range twenty.
A rather unfortunate occurrence, especially for the Indian, happened in in 1840. An Indian out hunting was enveloped in a deer skin, with antlers, standing out as a decoy for some deer. William Daily, familiarly called Uncle Billy, was also out early that morning to secure some venison steak for breakfast. It was not long before he spied the antlers, and judging from their position where the head should be, let drive. The result was a
748
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
bounding up, a groan, and then all was quiet. Uncle Billy was a good deal surprised at the form as it sprang up and then fell. On examining his prize it proved to be a dead Indian. Uncle Billy had shot to kill, and the evidence that he had succeeded was right before him. He didn't love In- dians anyway, and his neighbors say he never grieved over the affair. He kept the skin.
WOLF HUNTING.
Wolf hunting was a pastime indulged in by most of the early settlers, though at times when a good many wolves got together, the hunt was the other way. This was the experience of a young man who went to look for a horse and found some fifteen wolves, and it took some tall running to get under cover before they reached him. He concluded to hunt the horse the next day during daylight. Another case was where some renowned hunters got the worst of it. They were Henry Brown, William Gibson, William But- ler, and others. They secured one of those coyotes and tied it. Butler con- cluded to carry it on the horse in front of him after tying its jaws. He did not have it long before it got loose and caught him by the nose in the strug- gle, and the way they got it loose from that nose was to hastily cut its throat. Getting lost in the woods, and following the wrong track, was a common oc- currence. Then at the end of a long tramp lasting one or two days the sight of a cabin produced a feeling of great happiness. When compelled to be out all night the hunter found it safest to roost in the forks of a tree. Still those hunting days were considered the merriest of the year. One of the liveliest wolf hunts was had by Uncle Frank Stone and others. It gave them a long chase by Alexander's and Isaac Taylor's farms, and then south by Daniel Root's and William Gooch's. It was finally caught, being broken down, and finding another they gave chase and captured it also. Root's smoke house did duty as a prison for the first one while they hunted the second. Uncle Frank was a great hunter and a fine horseman.
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