USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 84
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812
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
WYETT CHAPEL.
This was a Methodist Episcopal Church and was located on the north- east quarter of section nine, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, and named Wyett Chapel. The original members were Wm. Wyett and wife, Nancy Finney, Harvey Hamilton, Harriet E. Richardson, James Ainsworth, Eliza Ainsworth, and Mary Ainsworth. The church was erected in 1870, partly by the school district, and is now used both for church and school purposes. The church has grown until it now numbers some forty members. Not all of the names of the pastors can be given, but the following have officiated as such in the church: Rev. Alexander, Rev. John A. Munpower, and the Revs. Gregory, Gibbons, Richardson, Worley, Bolin, Milam, Warren, Hirly, and Dock, the latter the present pastor.
PLEASANT GROVE CHURCH.
This church, which is now located on section twenty-six, township fifty- nine, range eighteen, was first organized in 1843, and called Yellow Creek Church. Meetings were held at the residence of Jacob G. Bailey, and the church organized there, the original members being Jacob G. Bailey and wife, Sarah Maddox, Ann Long, Thomas Childers and wife, and Julia A. Bailey. The church meeting was held at Mr. Bailey's, whose residence was on section thirty-two, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. In 1872, the church, which had lain dormant for some time, was reorganized under its present name, " Pleasant Grove," and had not less than one hundred mem- bers. The church is not an expensive one, but a neat and plain house of worship, built when the congregation was poor in purse, but rich in faith, and cost about $450, or perhaps a little more. It was erected in 1874. It was dedicated by the Rev. Sparrow, who became its first minister, and he was followed by the Revs. Wellman, and Hough, A. F. Martin, and he was succeeded by Rev. Sparrow. Prior to its reorganization this Last named gentleman was its first and only pastor, and he has done much to in- crease its membership, which now numbers one hundred and seventy-five, and to increase its usefulness.
EWANJILIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This is a Swedish church, and was erected in 1875, at a cost of $500. It is situated on section twenty-four, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, in the midst of the Swedish settlement, which is located in the southeast corner of the township, an economical and thrifty set of people. The original members of the church were N. A. Anderson, Axel Hultam, John Aman, Gus Johnson, S. G. Erekson, R. G. Erekson, A. G. Erekson, Emanuel Anderson, C. Oman, M. Larson, E. A. Erekson, S. Nelson, J. S. Kogland, S. Anderson, J. F. Johnson, and S. Nelson. The church is out of debt and in flourishing condition.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
GRAVEYARDS.
The Baker graveyard was laid out in 1840, by Robert Baker, the early pioneer. It contains about one-fourth of an acre of ground, and located on the same section as his residence. The first body interred in it was that of Boland Baker, the father of Robert; and since then, there have been some forty buried within its sacred enclosure.
The Wester graveyard was located on the northwest quarter of section four, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, in the year 1842. It was laid out by Frederick Wester, who donated a half acre of ground. One of his children was the first that was buried there. There have been other inter- ments since, it being the home of the dead for all that section of the town- ship, as well as a portion of North Salem.
SCHOOLS.
Baker township has eight public or free schools, and the cause of educa- tion is deeply fixed in the hearts of the people. When the school fund runs low, taxation is resorted to for the purpose of keeping up the full term for the year. The first school believed to have been taught in the township was at what was known as Hickory Ridge. The teacher's name was Davis, and he had a fair number of scholars. The first school-house was built in the neighborhood, it being located on section sixteen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. This was in 1843.
The Wyett school-house, and also chapel, being used for both purposes, as before stated, is located on the northeast quarter of section nine, town- ship fifty-nine, range eighteen. This school is in a pretty thickly settled neighborhood, and some forty pupils make an average attendance. Its present directors are John T. Goddard, president, Marshal Davis and Adam H. Stone. This school has a winter term of four months, and the salary paid from $30 to $35 per month. The teacher the past winter was S. Baugher.
The Hackler school-house is situated on the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. It is hardly known by that name now. The building is a neat frame structure, costing $375, and the average winter term is from four to five months. Its present directors are Marion Young, George Wyant and W. W. Bailey. The average at- tendance is from forty-five to fifty, and the salary paid $35 per month. On the southwest quarter of section twenty-six, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, stands Pleasant Grove school-house, which was built in the Cen- tennial year, or 1876. It cost nearly $400, and is, in all respects, a neat and comfortable school building. Mr. Henry Herrington taught the last term, and received a tuition fee of $35 per month. They manage to have in this district six months of schooling each year. Messrs. David Chal-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
mers, O. Baugher and Charles Lindberg are the trustees. The regular at- tendance at this school is about forty.
The Baker school-house, the present one, was erected in 1880, at the cost of $300. It answers the purpose for which it was intended, and is well at- tended. It is situated on section eighteen, township fifty-nine, range eight- een, and on the northwest quarter. The school term is four months, and Miss Newkirk received a salary of $25 a month for the session of 1881 and 1882. The directors are William Baker and David Watson.
WAR NEWS AND OTHER ITEMS.
Charles Henderson and a Mr. Overstreet were killed during the war by the militia. Just what caused this summary proceeding, unless it was hate, is not recorded. It was in this township that Mart Hamilton succeeded in raising a portion of his company; and a spice of family war caused a Mr. Taylor Picknell to run away with a Mrs. Coffman. This was the first runa- way in the county. It is also of record that two men, Baker and Williams by name, who returned from the army, concluded to turn bushwhacker, and raid it on their own account. The report is that they robbed Andrew Nestor and some two or three others, when some men hearing of it at New Boston, started in pursuit of the thieves. Baker was wounded and died of his wounds in about two weeks. There is no mention of what became of Williams.
It is said that the only slave ever owned in Baker township was a colored man belonging to George W. Nagle, and that since the war and freedom no colored man has ever made his home in Baker. It looks as if the colored man had no use for that section of the country. In fact Linn county, out of a population of 20,000, has less than nine hundred colored people in the entire county.
The best portable mill in the township is owned by Byler & Kidder, and has a cutting capacity of 6,000 feet of lumber, or 18,000 shingles per day. It is located for the spring of 1882 on the southwest quarter of section ten, township fifty-nine, range eighteen. A fine stationary saw and custom mill is that of Joseph Reece, which is located on the southwest quarter of section sixteen, township fifty-nine, range eighteen.
In the southeast quarter of the township some Swedes settled about the year 1869. Since then the colony has grown and prospered. In fact there are more continually coming from over the sea. They differ considerably from the native American. They can and do work as hard, but are more frugal in their living, and are not given to fine houses or barns. While not altogether liked by their American neighbors, they are a peaceful class of citizens, and are, of course, no way disturbed, but are admired for their great thrift and ability for hard work. They are making some very fine farms in that section of the township. It is claimed by a traveler that Ba-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
ker township has the economical man of Linn county, and his reason for this assertion was, that in talking with a rather well-to-do farmer in the township, he asked him to hold his horse while he made a memorandum of some facts gleaned. The old farmer held his horse so well that he would not allow him to nibble the grass at his feet, but continually jerked the horse's head to prevent it from stealing his grass. This certainly showed a prudent care of his property. The discoverer of this magnificent graduate in the school of economy, thought that such qualities as were possessed and exhibited by his farming friend should not fail to be recorded, and be handed down to the rising generation as a standard to be aimed at if never attained. While our informant was sorry for the the horse, his admiration for the man and the exhibit of his marvelous trial of character, knew no bounds. It was a sight to be remembered.
TOWN OFFICERS.
As the new organization law gives each township their own local officers the last election gave the following namned citizens their official position : trustee, A. H. Stone; clerk, J. T. Goddard; constable, James Ray; justices of the peace, John A. Brown, and L. B. Hudson.
NEW BOSTON.
New Boston, the only village in Baker township, is located on section one of township fifty-nine, range eighteen, being the extreme northeastern sec- tion of land in the township. The village is principally located on the southeast quarter of said section, and is a small place, without any great pretentions to metropolitan proportions or the expectation of ever reach- ing any very great size. Not being on a line of railroad, it has not the vanity or importance of towns thus located, and it fears no rivalry. Thus, being comparatively free from jealousy of rival towns, New Boston moves along with a sort of slow, humdrum life, now and then erecting a new buid- ing, clearing up a new garden spot, or canvassing its future prospects, if a few live and energetic farmers would move into the neighborhood, with large families. New Boston is essentially a village in all its departments. The women have their gossip, and the men congregate at some store and tell their stories, and they all feel happy and are satisfied with their little town and town-life. There is a pretty good section of country around it, and a good deal of business is done during the year. The business men keep fair stock and sell cheap, so that the farmers find it to their interest to patronize the village, rather than to go to more pretentious towns, pay higher prices and lose a day more time.
The founders of New Boston were A. Borron and R. A. C. Wright. It has never had any town plot, nor has it been incorporated. The citizens buy their lots by the acre instead of by the foot, and a garden spot is as
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
necessary as the ground the houses stand on. The village has not yet reached the height of a vegetable market, and the inhabitants do their own rais- ing in that line. New Boston became a post-office in 1872, with R. A. C. Wright as the first postmaster. Messrs. Borron & Wright erected the first store, and in that was kept the post-office, and they were the first merch- ants.
Some years ago there was a log house built by a William Murray, on the spot where New Boston now stands, but the hut is gone and New Boston rises gradually on its ruins.
SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND LODGES.
The first school house was built 1873 and its first teacher was John S. Wilkes. The house is frame and cost some three hundred dollars. They have an average attendance at the school of some thirty-three pupils; and they pay thirty dollars, and even forty dollars, per month to a competent instructor. The school trustees are: L. D. Mckinney, president, Jason Crail and John Anderson; clerk, John Baker. The last teacher was Miss Fannie James and she received thirty dollars per month tuition. The past year there were six months' schooling.
The Christian Church of New Boston was organized at the Wyett school- house on section nine, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, in the year 1873. The original members were: Marshal H. Davis, Thomas Greenstreet and wife, Edgar Davis and wife, Joseph Cable and wife, James Crowder and wife, and a few others whose names were forgotten. The church building cost eight hundred dollars and was erected in 1875 and dedicated the same year by the Rev. W. W. Jones. The church has no regular preacher, but the minister above named resides there and service is held occasionally by him. The membership numbers forty.
New Boston Lodge No. 284, of A. F. & A. M., was instituted by Dr. B. B. Putnam, and dispensation granted October 20, 1880. The lodge re- ceived its charter October 13, 1881, and the names of the following persons were inscribed on the charter: W. C. Tolly, George W. Nagle, J. W. For- rest, Presley Moore, R. A. C. Wright, W. C. Kelsey, Lorenzo Mckinney, and a few others. The officers elected on its organization were: W. C. Tolly, W. M .; G. W. Nagle, S. W .; J. W. Forrest, J. W. Its present offi- cers are: W. C. Tolly, W. M .; George W. Nagle, S. W .; William Davis, J. W. They have no hall of their own as yet, but meet over the store of Wright & Davis, where a comfortable lodge room has been fitted up. The present, membership is fifteen.
CURRENT EVENTS.
The first marriage was that of Thomas R. Davis and Miss S. E. Wright, July 7, 1873, William Davis, justice of the peace, performing the cere- mony.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Charles Borron was the first male child born within the incorporated limits of New Boston, and the first female child born was Eva, daughter of John and Mary Wright, the latter being also the first child born in New Boston, and the year, 1873, if not 1872.
The first death was Oscar, the son of Albert and Lucy Swink, who died May 17, 1875.
Dr. S. R. Cox came from Illinois, and was the first practicing physician. He died a few years since at New Boston.
The Christian denomination held their first religious service in this place, the Rev. W. W. Jones officiating.
The New Boston cemetery is situated just outside of the town, and has enclosed a half-acre of ground given by L. B. Hudson. It lies on a gentle slope northwest of the town. A daughter of C. E. Mckinney was the first body interred within its sacred enclosure, and at this time some thirty-five mounds tell of death's work in the country around.
"HELL'S SQUARE ACRE."
As before mentioned, New Boston has no rival, but this was not so in its early day. In 1872 and 1873 there was a town, or village called New Bos- ton, over the line in Macon county. It was called New Boston, but it was old enough to be the grandfather of the present village of that name in Linn county. Age had so crippled the Macon county village, that it had every appearance of dying without any outside help. This decreipt appearance with the look of ultimate extinction, within a few years at farthest, caused the building up of the Linn county New Boston, and the Macon county af- fair was called "old town." This starting up of the real and present New Boston was the signal on the part of a few persons, who lived at the old place, to get upon their ear and hurl anathemas deep and vengeful at New Boston.
It was interfering with the growth of their town, they said, when, in fact, it had its growth and was far on the shady side of life with the down grade unex- ceptionally smooth for its rapid extinction and death. They became very much excited at the progress of their rival, and with an evil spirit, and also with a reckless disregard of polite language, they named Linn county's New Boston, "Hell's Square Acre."
ITS BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The business of New Boston is represented by the following business houses :
Drug store. 1
Grocery store, also keeps drugs ... 1
General store, with drugs ... ... 1 Dry goods, clothing, groceries, etc., being a double store .. 1 Physician, who keeps his own sup- ply of drugs 1 Furniture and undertaking estab- lishment . 1 Millinery store. 1 Hotel 1 Notary public. 1
Blacksmith shop
2
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
One school-house, a church, Masonic lodge, and post-office, and is a pretty lively little town of nearly one hundred inhabitants. The merchants deal largely in shaved hoop-poles and ship large quantities annually. Arthur Borron kept the first hotel. The only fire which has ever occurred there, was the burning of the store of J. M. Davis, in January, 1882, fully insured and the loss promptly paid. There are no saloons in the place and none necessary while the drug stores hold their own. As there is no town in North Salem township nearer than ten miles, New Boston has quite an ex- tent of country, and its trade, while perfectly safe from all rivalry, is des- tined to grow as the country settles up. There is an abundance of cheap land in that section of Linn county, and when it shall become known will hasten the increase of the population in that section of the county. When you take the price of land in Baker township into consideration, there will be found few more inviting townships for the immigrant.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF BAKER TOWNSHIP.
-
J. W. BAKER
was born in this county, February 13, 1845. He is a son of Andrew and Catharine Baker, his father having been one of the early settlers of Baker township. Mr. Baker was raised a farmer, and has always followed that vo- cation. He was married March 5, 1867, to Sarah Pace, a native of Buch . anan county, Missouri, and daughter of James and Zerelda Pace, both of whom were born in Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the parents of five children, all living, named, H. R. Baker, W. Bertie, Edward G., Florence May, and Rose. Mr. Baker is of English-Irish descent, that mixture of blood which rarely fails to produce vigorous constitutions of both mind and body.
DR. JAMES S. CANTWELL
was born in Indiana, August 2, 1816. He is the son of Adam and Sarah Cantwell, the maiden name of the latter being Simmons. Dr. Cantwell be- gan the study of medicine, first in Indiana under Dr. A. H. Stewart, of Louisville. In 1839 he and Dr. Stewart went to Iowa together, and con - tinued to read under his direction in the latter State. He attended lectures at the Keokuk Medical College, and first began the practice in that city, in 1836. Dr. Cantwell was married on the ninth of November, 1838, to Miss Catharine A. Everheart, daughter of John and Elizabeth Everheart, and born in the city of Cincinnati. Both her parents were natives of Penn- sylvania, and her father was for many years a prominent minister and pre- siding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Cantwell's father was a Baptist minister. He and wife are the parents of eleven children, seven
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
of whom are still living. Their names are, William H. (deceased), Edward J., Martha Jane, Harriet Frances, Mary (deceased), Emily, Louisa, Nancy, Minnie (deceased), Eva (deceased), and James L. Dr. Cantwell belongs to the Methodist Church, and his wife to the Presbyterian Church. It was in 1849 that Dr. Cantwell came to Linn county and located. He has been a citizen here ever since, and has therefore practiced thirty-three years in the county. During the war he was in the Forty-second Missouri Infantry, and was first de- tailed for the recruiting service, and subsequently to practice as army phys- ician and surgeon. He was part of the time in Benton Barracks at St. Louis, Missouri. Was also in the Clay Hospital, at Louisville, and in the general hospital at Nashville. Dr. Cantwell is a Freemason, and belongs to the St. Catharine lodge. His residence is in . section twenty-six, town- ship fifty-nine, range nineteen.
DILLARD V. HOWARD
was born in Macon county, Missouri, November 17, 1843. His parents were Thomas J. and Ann Howard, both natives of Kentucky. Dr. Howard received his professional education at the Eclectic Medical College of Cin- cinnati, graduating in the spring of 1866, with the degree of M. D. He first began practice at the old town of New Boston in Macon county, but in 1876 moved to " new " New Boston in Baker township, Linn county, where he has ever since continued to practice. He was married December 9, 1875, to Miss Corena F. Jones, a native of Howard county, this State, and a daughter of Hardin and Susan J. Jones. They have one child, a daughter named Dora V. Mrs. Howard is a member of the Christian Church. The doctor belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is in fellowship with the New Boston lodge No. 284. During the civil war Dr. H. served in the Confederate army, and was in the company commanded by Mart Hamilton of the Fourth Regiment of Missouri Volunteers, General Clark's brigade. He was but seventeen years old when he enlisted, and while yet a boy, smelt the powder of battle in the Pea Ridge engagement in which he participated as his first battle. Dr. Howard does a good prac- tice in his locality, and keeps on hand a supply of pure drugs which he uses in his profession.
ALBERT H. STONE.
The subject of this sketch was to the manor born, being a native of Ba- ker township, Linn county, born April 7, 1844. His father and grand- father were born in Virginia, and his mother in Howard county, Missouri. Mr. Stone has always lived in Baker township, engaged in farming. He served one term, and was elected to a second term as township assessor un- der the first adoption of the township organization in this county. He was prevented from completing his second term by abolition of the system of
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
organization. On the twenty-ninth day of August, 1865, he was married to Miss Maria E. Roberts. She died September 2, 1876, having borne him four children, all of whom still survive. Their names are, Robert L., William W., Mary J., and Arthur M. Mr. Stone was a second time married September 25, 1878, to Miss Sarah E. Cable, a native of Wolf county, Kentucky, and daughter of Joseph and Margaret Cable. Two children have been born of this second union, named Emma Alma, and Orie Ellen. Mr. Stone is a member of the Baptist Church, and his wife of the Christian Church. He has his homestead, in section three, township fifty-nine, range eighteen, well improved, with good residence and barn, and a fine young orchard. He owns three improved farms, aggregating six hundred acres in all. .
CHAPTER XXXI.
NORTH SALEM TOWNSHIP.
Position and Description-Early Settlements-" The Firsts "-Old Time Politics-During the War-Miscellaneous Incidents-Casualties and Crimes-North Salem Village, its Settlement, etc .- Methodist Church-Post-office in the Township-Official History- County Churches, Presbyterian and United Brethren.
POSITION AND DESCRIPTION.
This township lies in the northeast corner of Linn county. Its bounda- ries are: Commencing at the southeast corner of section thirty-five, town- ship sixty, range eighteen, on the Macon county line; thence north along the county line to the Sullivan county line; thence west along the Sulli- van county line to near the middle of section ten, township sixty, range nineteen; thence south to the southwest corner of section thirty-four, town- ship sixty, range nineteen; thence east to the place of beginning.
The general surface of this township is broken and rough, owing to the presence of so many streams and water-courses. The headwaters of Yel- low Creek, Winnegan, and Badger Creek, are all in this township. The soil is usually not very productive, and much of it is unbroken and unim- proved. . Some tracts, however, are remarkably fertile. In 1877, J. F. Baker, living three miles east of North Salem town, raised a watermelon weighing fifty-one and one-half pounds.
As the soil of the township is poor, it follows that the people are un- thrifty; for, as a rule, in the west people do not grow rich on unproductive soil, unless they are foreigners. Many of the citizens of the township are still living in the identical cabins in which they first dwelt when they settled here, thirty years ago. As one old settler puts it: " We came here
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
poor, and we have held our own mighty well!" For a long time after its first settlement not much attempt was made to improve the territory now included within North Salem township. Indeed there was more new land broken in the township in the spring of 1877, nearly forty years after its settlement, than in any previous five years. The country seemed to be going backward, in some particulars. In December, 1878, James A. Baker, an old settler, caught a full-grown beaver, weighing forty-three pounds, the first he had ever heard of in this county. The animal was taken near Stufflebean's mill, section thirty-five, township sixty, range nineteen.
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