USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 77
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In the fall of 1839 a hunting party of Iowa Indians badly scared the daughter of John Holland and the wife of Robert W. Holland. The In- dians meant no harm, but as all the rest of the family of John Holland were away but one daughter, she ran to her brother's house, and Robert's wife equally scared took her child and the two and another sister started for a neighbors. In their fright they got lost and were found by the Indians, who instead of hurting them, built a fire, got them comfortable and gave them some venison, and then mounted them on ponies and took them to their homes. It was a big scare which was never forgotten by the victims, and a very happy termination which also found a dwelling in their memories.
The first road laid out in Benton township was in 1840, and was the State road leading from Linneus to Milan, in Sullivan county.
Wesley Chapel, and the cemetry adjoining, occupies two acres of ground;
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it was given to the church by William F. Gibson, in 1854. The first church was built by the contribution of the neighbors, in labor, material, etc., of about $300, and when completed was worth about $1,000, that being its cost. A class was established some years before the church was erected, and preaching had at the houses of the settlers. The early members of this church were Joseph Shrock and wife, Thomas Morris and wife, William Alexander and wife, Daniel Root, David Alexander, Matthew Troder and wife, and others whose names were not remembered. The Rev. John W. Ellis was in charge when the church was built.
The first body interred in the graveyard was that of Newton Albert, who died in 1855.
VARIOUS ITEMS.
There was a joke started on Irvin Ogan when he was elected to the leg- islature, that on arriving at Jefferson City, he knocked at the gate of the penitentiary for admittance, and swore, on the keeper's refusal to let him in, that " he had a certificate of election and he be d-d if he wouldn't come in." This was the joke and it was probably started by his Whig oppo- nents.
Another election story was told about that time on A. W. Flournoy, who was running for the lower house. Flournoy was in favor of establishing a normal school, and his opponent took advantage of the hostility of the people to the Mormons, brought on by the Mormon War a short time pre- vious, and this opponent stated this normal school was a Mormon school, the name being changed to deceive. As there was no telegraph in those days, Mr. Flournoy did not find out his opponent's tactics until too late, and although in a large majority he was defeated. There were quite a number of these election stories, but the above being vouched for are given.
Militia training was in vogue in those days, and when camp meetings were started they became immensely popular with the people, and they came from miles around, bringing their provisions and picnicing during the time the meetings were held.
One of the incidents of the late war was the attack on old man Thomas Gooch's place and a demand for him to come out, but fearing violence he escaped out of the back door and made for the brush. He escaped un- harmed, although several shots were fired at him, one ball passing through his clothes. The same party broke into the house of Hiram Jenkins, and stole a few things but hurt no one.
One of the exciting topics in Benton township was the subscription to the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, known at first as the North Mis- souri Central Railroad. The legality of that subscription has been and is yet denied. It was proven that but twenty-three votes were cast subscrib- ing the $20,000, and only seventeen in favor. Quite an indignation meet-
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ing was held and strong resolutions passed refusing to pay principal or in- terest, and to fight the matter in and through the courts. Benton township, however, voted to pay fifty cents on the dollar, and the local holders of the: bonds accepted and a few thousand dollars were redeemed, but those held. by the railroad company refused to compromise. The history of the case. will be found under the article of railroads in another chapter.
ACCIDENTS.
In a hunting expedition, March 23, 1872, Zachariah Morris accidentally shot Robert Arnold, son of Mark Arnold. He left a wife and two chil- dren.
The Rev. Thaddeus Brogan, a Catholic priest, was drowned in a slough while attempting to cross. He missed the bridge.
A son of William Haines was drowned in a pond near Browning, while watering a horse. While in the water the horse threw him.
A Mrs. Enoch Cornett, in cutting down a tree, accidentally got in the way and the tree falling on her she was killed. This happened October 13, 1874.
In April, 1876, the house and its contents of John Gooch were destroyed. by fire. The family were away from home. A donation was raised for the family.
Mr. William Guthrie was drowned at Prather's ford, on Locust Creek, in the summer of 1881. He lived near Nevada in Grundy county.
In 1870 Columbus Miller was drowned in the same creek.
Robert Winters was killed by the cars at Browning in 1876.
Mr. Pat Darr, on his way to Nebraska, accidentally had two of his chil- dren killed by the discharge of a gun. He returned to Benton township. One of the children was a girl of twelve years, and the other an infant. Mrs. Darr was also wounded, the infant being killed in her arms.
VALUATION AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The assessed valuation of Benton township, real and personal, for 1881, was $233,935. The passage of what was called the new township organiza- tion law, in 1872, resulted in making Silas Hale the first trustee, W. T. Prather, first clerk, and Milton Stone, assessor. The meeting of the town- ship board was at Gooch's school-house.
The first school-house was in the forks of Locust Creek, and it is said that Jesse Goins, Thomas Prather and Jerry Hooker were, at different times, teachers. There are six school districts in the township.
The present township officers, under the law of 1880-81, are: trustee, Jefferson Kennedy; clerk and assessor, W. T. Prather; constable, Hiram Haynes, and justices of the peace, William Browning and F. M. Elliott.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
BROWNING.
Browning is one of the most flourishing towns in Linn county, and is sit- uated on the northern border of the county, about one-third of the town being over the line in Sullivan county. The principal part, if not all of the business of the town and the post-office, is located in Linn county. It is and is likely to be, one of the best shipping stations and important business points on the line of the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, or rather, the name of the road having been changed in January, 1882, the Chi- cago, Burlington & Kansas City Railroad. The town was named after Mrs. Browning, of Burlington, Iowa, by Justin Clark, of the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad Company, and is in honor of the wife of a brother of Orville H. Browning.
The land upon which Browning stands was formerly owned by Lot Lantz for some years one of the county judges and a prominent citizen. Mr. B. F. Northcott, then prominently connected with the above railroad company, was the founder in connection with a few other gentlemen. The town was surveyed in the fall of 1872, and laid out in October and November of that year. There is a beautiful and rich agricultural country surrounding Brown- ing, and both timber and prairie land lies contiguous, lumber, etc., being one great item of shipment. C. G. Bigger, then county surveyor, laid off the town.
In February, 1873, it boasted of having one general store, one blacksmith shop, one saloon, and a post-office. Dr. Robinson, and F. E. Stone entertained travelers. They, however, did not keep hotel, but did it to accommodate those who came there until a hotel was built.
The post-office was established the last of the year, and George B. Wil- liams, of Linneus, was appointed postmaster. He failed to remove to Brown- ing, and John Edwards attended to the duties of the office. He has proved acceptable to the people and a change has not been desired.
The first house was built by John Gable as a residence for B. F. North- cott.
John Edwards kept a store on the east side of the railroad, now used as a hoop-pole shop.
The first school in Browning was taught in the spring or summer of 1874, by W. T. Wogan. He did not have many pupils, as the town was small.
The first marriage in Browning was in 1873, and the happy couple were Mr. N. O. Beacham and Miss Matilda Smith.
The first child born was believed to have been the son of William and Rebecca Armstrong, in the spring of 1873, and as it lived but a short time, its death was the first recorded.
Mr. John Edward died in the fall of the same year, 1873.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
The first female child born in Browning was Rebecca Biswell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Biswell, whose birth occurred October 13, 1875.
Dr. William Witter, who came from Milan, was the first physician, af- ter the town was laid out, but he only remained a short time and then re- turned.
Dr. William R. Robinson, who lived just outside of the corporation, is an old settler, coming there years ago. He has practiced in Browning and vicinity for many years. He is now giving up much of his practice, on ac- count of old age, except among special friends and relatives.
Dr. Patterson, who also lives just outside of the town limits, does quite a large practice, and owns a drug store. He came just before Dr. Witter.
Before a church was erected religious services were held in the building now occupied by J. T. Fleming & Son, as a store, by the Rev. J. H. Cox. He was, also, the first minister, and belonged to the Methodist denomina- tion.
There is no cemetery in Browning, but Wesley chapel burying-ground is used, and also the graveyard at Jenkins' school-house.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
The largest number of people ever gathered at Browning were at the fourth of July celebrations of 1873 and 1877. There were two thousand five hundred persons at the first, and over three thousand at the latter date. An accident, by shooting, occurred at the latter celebration; a Mr. Anderson being shot and seriously wounded.
The first school-house built, of any value, was in 1881, having a cupola and bell, and cost, when completed, $600.
The depot grounds of the railroad company cover nine acres.
It is the largest stock shipping point in the county, excepting Brookfield. Within the past year there has been received at Browning for shipment, in logs and lumber, two hundred and sixty-eight thousand feet.
A fine iron bridge spans the branch of Locust Creek that comes up to the town; it is built on the line between Linn and Sullivan counties, and connects the town on the Sullivan county side with the real town of Brown- ing, in Linn county. This bridge cost $1,700.
Hoop-poles is another important industry, and no less than eight car loads, each car having twenty-eight thousand tierce and sixty thousand barrel hoops, were shipped last year. The markets being Chicago, Minne- apolis, and St. Louis.
INCORPORATED.
Browning was incorporated February 6, 1878, and her boundaries were defined as follows: fifty acres off of the east end of lot two, and ten acres off of the north side of the east half of lot one, of the west half of sec-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
tion eight, and twelve acres off of the west end, and three and twenty- five hundredths of the northwest corner of lot one of the east half of section eight, all in township sixty, range twenty.
The first board of trustees was: W. J. Kennedy, W. J. McCrary, H. C. Hill, Y. J. Biswell and S. A. Malony.
The town has grown rapidly since its incorporation, and especially the last two years has seen wonderful improvements. There is no town in Linn county that have a more wide awake set of business men than Brown- ing, and the spirit of improvement pervades all classes of her citizens. They have built a good, substantial calaboose; have good sidewalks, for which a heavy fine is assessed if driven or ridden on. They have passed a heavy license tax, and if a saloon is ever started, $500, being the charges, must be paid for a six months' license. A wine and beer saloon is taxed forty-five dollars, and a billiard table twenty dollars per year. All these places are required to close at ten P. M., and are not allowed .to open until four A. M.
Mr. S. H. Eads had the honor of being the first to violate a town ordi- nance, having discharged fire-arms within the town limits. He paid a fine of one dollar and costs.
No fires have ever occurred at Browning up to April 1, 1882.
Two burglaries were committed the past year, one breaking into the safe of B. D. Bolling, and securing six hundred and three dollars and fifty cents, on the night of. September 15, 1881, and the other on the night of Decem- ber 6, 1881, entering the store of Y. J. Biswell & Brother, and getting a few hundred dollars only. They had a large amount of money in their safe only a few days before, over three thousand dollars, but one of the firm had been to Linneus and took it with him, depositing it in the bank at that place.
A man by the name of Sterling was shot and seriously wounded by an- other named Norvell. The latter was tried, convicted, and sent to the peni- tentiary.
The first newspaper published in the town was called the Monitor, issued weekly, and was a neat and well edited sheet. When it suspended is not recorded. The next venture in the field of literature was the Browning Reporter, A. Robinson, editor and proprietor. This is still published, be- ing a five-column folio, issued on Thursday of each week, and is a good local paper. If it is well supported it will do more to build up the town than any other business connected with it, or located within its borders.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The erection of the Methodist Episcopal church of Browning was in 1874. It is a frame building, neatly and comfortably finished, and cost about nine hundred dollars. It has a fine-toned bell. It was dedicated in
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
February, 1880, by the Rev. John F. Mesuer, and the principal contributor was the Rev. William R. Robinson. The society was first organized as early as 1850, by the Rev. Moses Trader, who, with Stephen Cotter and wife, and others, were the first members. The church was removed from the country after the town was laid out and the present edifice erected. Quit a number of changes were made in the pastorate from 1850 to 1882. Among those who officiated were the Revs. Moses Trader, John James, J. C. Slater, William Carr, John F. New, John McKnight, R. E. Sidebottom, John Amack, George Walker, Lucian Shumate, J. H. Cox, James Allen, N. Cordray, Alfred Chester, John C. McNeiley and Henry Crampton.
The present membership numbers sixty, which shows the church is in a flourishing condition. Preaching is held semi-monthly, and prayer meet- ings twice a week, Sunday and Thursday afternoons. It is a unity church, believes in the teachings of John Wesley, and supports its pastor liberally. Its future is bright and promising.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church was first organized in the year 1858, by a few old settlers who were anxious to form an organization. The original members cannot all be given, but the following names are known to have become members and helped to give it a start: Thomas S. Gooch, William Bringham, Leon- ard Shoemaker, and Miles Chenoweth. The church moved along with varying succèss until the year 1874, when it was decided to move from En- terprise, where it was located, to Browning, and there erect a suitable church building. This was done at the cost of eight hundred dollars. It was the first Christian Church in the township. It has a membership of eighty, and Rev. William M. Downing is the pastor. Being congregational in form, it is governed by overseers and elders, and the Bible is its guide .. The first church in Benton township was a Baptist, located on section twenty-eight, township sixty, range twenty, on the farm of David Ogle.
I. O. O. F.
The Browning Lodge No. 373 of the I. O. O. F. was instituted by D. A. Sheppard, and its dispensation dates from April 26, 1877. Its charter was dated and received May 19, 1877, and the following names appear as charter members: Y. J. Biswell, H. A. Atkins, J. P. Hardy, A. V. Chenoweth, John Gable, and Hiram Powell.
Its first officers were Y. J. Biswell, N. G .; J. P. Hardy, V. G .; A. V. Chenoweth, secretary, and John Gable, treasurer.
The order has greatly flourished and now numbers forty-two members. They have built a neat hall, and furnished it in a handsome manner. The building is a frame one and cost seven hundred dollars. Its present officers . are G. Anderson, N. G .; James Creason, V. G .; J. S. Duncan, secretary, and D. W. Biswell, treasurer.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
A. O. U. W.
The order of A. O. U. W. was not instituted until the seventeenth day of May, 1880, P. P. Ellis, D. D. G. M., organizing the same. The charter is of the same date, and its charter members are the following well known citizens of Browning: B. D. Bolling, D. W. Biswell, J. W. O'Neal, W. T. Stephenson, Ola Nelson, S. J. Huss, T. M. Brinkley, J. M. Shafer, Y. J. Biswell, C. W. Northcott, G. Anderson, John T. Gooch, G. R. Woodward, H. C. Hill, B. F. Carter, C. Penn, J. C. Stone, C. F. Turner, J. A. Mairs, John Mairs, J. S. Alexander and J. W. Lindsey. On the organization of the order the following officers were elected: C. Penn, M. W .; B. F. Carter, P. M. W .; J. M. Shafer, F .; T. M. Brinkley, O .; B. D. Bolling, recorder; Y. J. Biswell, receiver; H. C. Hill, financial secretary; C. W. Northcott, G .; J. C. Stone, I. W .; G. R. Woodward, O. W .; W. T. Stephenson, G. An- derson and Y. J. Biswell were selected as trustees, and Mairs and Stephen- son medical examiners.
The order is now scarcely two years old and has a present membership of thirty-four, with every prospect of a steady and solid increase as the town of Browning shall grow and prosper. The order at present has no hall of its own, but meet in the I. O. O. F. hall. It has lost but one member by death. Mr. Y. J. Biswell, who died April 7, 1881; and thirty days thereafter two thousand dollars was paid to his family. There has been no suspension of mem- bers. They expect to build a hall for themselves in the near future. The order can be said to be in good shape, with a bright outlook for future im- provement and success. Its present officers are as follows, all of whom show a commendable pride in the success of their order: P. M. W., J. M. Shafer; M. W., D. W. Biswell; F., W. T. Stephenson; O., G. R. Woodward; recorder, J. W. O'Neal; I. W., J. W. Lindsey; receiver, T. M. Brinkley; financial secretary, J. Huse; O. W., C. N. Smock.
Browning has not yet become a city of the fourth class, but as it is young in years and uncommonly vigorous for its age, many moons will not have passed ere she too will be knocking at the door for admission among her sister cities, and with her vim and enterprise will soon become the peer of any in Linn county. Her motto is progress, and business energy and en- terprise the pillar of her success. Her officers March 1, 1882, were F. E. Stone, chairman of the board; D. B. Bolling, clerk; B. F. Carter, T. M. Brinkley, J. N. O'Neal, and George R. Woodward, trustees; Peter McDow- ell, marshal.
PURDIN.
Purdin is a small station on the Chicago, Burlington & Kansas City Railroad, located about five miles north of Linneus, the county seat. It was first surveyed by C. G. Briggs, county surveyor, in 1873, and it was laid out on land owned by Peter and Elizabeth Bond, and Charles and Ly-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
dia Purdin, these lands being on sections seven and eight, township fifty- nine, range twenty. The hope of making a town then seemed somewhat blasted. For eight years it remained the same, and to this day it is not large enough to excite the jealousy of either Linneus or Browning. Purdin station was laid out in 1878, and surveyed in 1881. It is a railroad depot, and of considerable convenience to the farmers living near, and as such was established in 1881, in the month of October. There are now sixty-two and one-half acres laid out for a town, fifty acres of which are owned by the White Breast Coal and Mining Company. They are anxious to make a town, and offer liberal inducements.
The shipments from this point are not heavy, but since October, 1881, some five months, one car load of hogs, four of cattle, and nine of wood-stuff have been shipped. This is not bad when it is considered that Purdin has not yet been recognized as a town. J. M. Renfro & Bro. are in the hoop-pole business, Frederick Libber is railroad agent, John T. Young is agent for the mining company, and a Mr. Ready has started a saw mill. This closes the history of Benton township and her capital cities.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-BENTON TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM G. ALEXANDER (DECEASED),
was born in Russell county, Virginia, May 5, 1814. In 1842 he moved from Tennessee to Missouri, and settled on section twenty-nine, township sixty, range twenty, in Linn county, and died there on the twenty-ninth of April, 1865. He was a member of the Southern Methodist Church, hav- ing joined in 1853. Mr. Alexander was twice married. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Gose, by whom he had two sons.' He was again married in November, 1847, to Miss Mary J. Seaman, who came with her mother and brother to this State in 1843. She was born in Powell Valley, Berkley county, Virginia, and is of Welsh-Irish descent. Mr. Alexander was also of Irish ancestry. By his last union, Mr. A. had six children, named as fol- lows: Maggie J., John R., Jonah S., Isaac T., William G., and Mary F. There was also another that died in infancy, and was never christened. Mrs. Alexander is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. She still resides on the old homestead, and some of her children live with her; the others are married, and more of them reside near their mother.
JOHN SEAMAN ALEXANDER.
It is not in an invidious sense that we apply to Mr. Alexander the term "one of the natives." From the fact that there are but few men actively
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
engaged in business west of the Mississippi River who have not followed the " star of empire " from the older settled country further east, it is a matter of interest to note these exceptions. Mr. Alexander was born in Linn county, Missouri, January 25, 1852, the place of his nativity, more definitely speaking, being three and a half miles south of the present site of Browning. His father, a Tennesseean, and mother a native of Virginia, were among the first pioneers of northern Missouri, they having emigrated west in 1840; the father died at the old homestead in the spring of 1865, while the mother still lives at the old home. Like all good boys, young Alexander served his parents until his majority, and at the age of twenty- one started in life on his own account. First he took employment as a farm hand; then accepted a position as clerk in a store; then taught school. In February, 1876, he engaged in the lumber business in partnership with B. D. Bolling, in Browning, and after a few months accepted a position as clerk in the business house of Biswell & Bro., where he continued three years. He then embarked in business on his own account, in which he still continues. Was married to Miss Dora Patterson, daughter of Dr. Lewis Patterson March 7, 1880. Has two children.
GEORGE W. BAILEY.
Prominent among the rising young men of Linn county is Mr. George W. Bailey, son of J. G. and Mary Bailey. George was born near New Bos- ton, Linn county, Missouri, May 9, 1855, on the farm which his father set- tled on in 1847, and where the old gentleman yet resides, a well-to-do and highly respected farmer. George W., from his childhood, was noted as be- ing an attentive and careful student, and of late years has devoted consid- erable time to the study of law and politics. August 15, 1879, he founded the Brookfield Advertiser, which paper he continued the publication of un- til June 21, 1881, when he accepted the position of general agent and traveling correspondent for the Commercial Advertiser, of Detroit, Mich- igan, a position which he holds at the present writing.
BEVERLY D. BOLLING.
Mr. Bolling was born at Perryville, Boyle county, Kentucky, on the eighteenth day of April, 1852, and is the son of James P. Bolling. His mother's name prior to her marriage was Lucinda Kenley. There were only two children, himself and a younger sister. When he was born his father was engaged in farming and stock-raising. His grandparents on the pa- ternal side were from Petersburg, Virginia, his father being the youngest child, with whom they lived until he left Kentucky, and removed to Mis- souri. He first moved to Johnson county and commenced merchandizing at a place called " Prairie Home," where he lived about two years. He moved in 1860 to Nodaway county, where he remained, engaged in the
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