USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 85
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
There are no towns in the township and the prospects are that there will never be any. The hamlet of North Salem, instead of waxing populous and great, is on the wane, and each year grows " smaller by degrees and beautifully less." No railroads. In October, 1871, North Salem town- ship voted $25,000 in aid of that wild-cat scheme known as the " Salem, Brookfield & Northern Railway," but that so-called "enterprise " never amounted to more than to take $13,000 out of Brookfield township, and render no equivalent therefor. It is doubtful if any legitimate enterprise, no matter how feasible, would now receive any encouragement at the hands of the people, who, owing to their circumstances, seem to have lost all sentiments of public spirit, as a thing they cannot afford to indulge.
The population of the township in 1870, when its boundaries were larger than at present, was nine hundred and twenty-three. In 1880 it was eight hundred and seventy-two. The total valuation of the property in 1881 was $148,060. The township, therefore, has the least population and the lowest valuation in the county, considering its area, as it contains nearly 25,000 acres of land. The township was named for the village of North Salem
EARLY SETTLEMENT-THE BAKERS.
The first settlers in the center of North Salem township were Samuel Baker, Balaam Baker and Michael Stufflebean, who came in 1840, and James Baker and Stephen Stone, who came in 1842. All of these were originally from Kentucky. The first settlements were made on or in the vicinity of section twenty, township sixty, range eighteen.
In 1840-42, the country was very wild, and game of all kinds was abun- dant. Wolves were especially numerous. The Bakers killed dozens of them. On one occasion, James Baker says he crawled into a wolf den six- teen feet under ground, and took out eight wolf cubs. He and his brother killed about twenty-five in a year's time, shooting some of them down in the door-yard, after night fall. Venison and other wild meat furnished the tables of the settlers for some years, in the matter of flesh diet.
For some time the settlers went to a horse-mill, seven or eight miles be- yond Keytesville for their milling, and bought goods at Keytesville and Brunswick, when they carried their produce to those points, which they 51
822
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
frequently did. Linneus was not in much favor as a market for some years.
THE "FIRSTS."
The first male child born in the settlement was Daniel Baker, whose par- ents were Samuel and Rachel Baker, and who was born in 1842.
The first child of either sex born in the community was a girl, named America Baker, whose birth occurred November 13, 1842, and who was- the daughter of Balaam M. and Caroline Baker.
The first death remembered was that of Samuel Baker, a son of B. M. and Caroline, who died in January, 1845, and was buried on his father's premises. His was the first burial in the neighborhood, and doubtless the. first death.
The first marriage recorded was that of Samuel Stufflebean and Miss- Maria Beals, which occurred in December, 1844. The ceremony was per- formed by Rev. George W. Baker, a Baptist minister.
Dr. D. C. Dryden, from near Linneus, was the first physician to come into the neighborhood.
The first minister was Rev. Balaam Baker, of the Christian or Campbell- ite Church, and he held the first religious services in the township at his own house.
No school-house was built until 1855, when the citizens united and put up a small log house, with a clapboard roof, which was the first temple of learning in the township. "Uncle 'Cager" (Micajah?) is set down as the first school teacher.
The first cloth woven was a web of jeans, and the weaver was Mrs. Esther Baker. Mrs. Sally Putman and her sister, Mrs. J. Bull, were also among the early weavers.
PUTMAN AND KEITH'S SETTLEMENT.
In the northwestern portion of the township where North Salem now stands and where is now the southern part of Sullivan county, but then Linn, the first settlements were made by Jacob Keith, William Put- man, George W. Baker and Andrew Baker, in July, 1840, on section thirty-one, township sixty-one, range nineteen; and section eleven, town- ship sixty, range nineteen. They came from Indiana directly, but were originally from Kentucky.
There were no bridges then across the streams. The teams had to be swum and the wagons floated across when the waters were high. Supplies were drawn from the towns on the Missouri River, and Glasgow was the chief milling point. The first fall after the settlers came, they were nearly all taken sick, and there was a great deal of distress and suffering among them. There was also a violent storm that did a great deal of injury -
823
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
1
to their little crops. It was, indeed, a time of hardship and discomfort, that early day in North Salem.
The first birth in this settlement was a child of William and Sarah Put- man that was born in August, 1840, and died soon after, without name. This was probably the first white child born in the township.
The first marriage was that of Wiley Keith and Miss Jane Summers, Christmas Day, 1842. This was a runaway match. John Lewellen, a jus- tice of the peace in Yellow Creek township, performed the ceremony.
Dr. D. I. Stephenson was the first resident physician that practiced in the neighborhood.
George W. Baker, the noted pioneer Old School Baptist minister, held the first religious services in the community at private houses.
The first school-house in the settlement, and in the township was built by the settlers in the year of 1841, and stood on section eleven, township sixty, range nineteen. The floor was covered with plank sawed with a whip-saw. The building was worth probably $100. William Saunders (alias William Fenton) taught the first school therein. He had about twenty scholars, and received $15 a month for his services."
OLD TIME POLITICS IN NORTH SALEM.
As elsewhere stated, the politics of North Salem township has always been anti-Democratic. In the days of Whiggery the majority of the voters inclined to that ism. Since the war the township has been overwhelmingly Republican. In 1860 Lincoln received some votes in the township, as he did throughout the northern portion of the county. Although not in the proper place the vote of the four northern townships of the county for Lin- coin in 1860 are here given:
TOWNSHIPS.
DOUGLAS,
BRECKENRIDGE.
BELL
LINCOLN.
North Salem
16
. .
. .
14
Enterprise
18
20
16
14
Benton
7
9
21
27
Jackson
. .
1*
Total for Lincoln,
56
It will be seen that in Benton township "Old Abe" obtained a plurality of the votes thrown.
In 1858 there was an exciting political contest in the county for repre- sentative in the State legislature. Colonel A. W. Flournoy was the Demo- cratic candidate and J. F. Gooch, the nominee of the Whigs, or Know-Noth- ings, as they were then called. The race was very close, although the county was Democratic. The townships were all in but this one, and Flour- noy was a little in the lead. The politicians at Linneus were in a state of
*G. W. Bruce, killed by bushwhackers in October, 1864.
824
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
great excitement. At last, looking toward the north, they saw a horseman coming on the gallop, waving his hat. When he came nearer it was seen to be Dr. D. I. Stephenson, his horse covered with foam, and his face all aglow as he shouted, " Hurrah for North Salem! Flournoy, 15; Gooch, 54!" That settled the contest in favor of the Whigs. Two years later Gooch was again a candidate, but died during the canvass, and A. W. Mullins was se- lected in his stead to make the race against E. H. Richardson, who was selected, and afterward voted for the ordinance of secession in "Claib. Jackson's legislature" at Neosho.
DURING THE WAR.
North Salem furnished quite a number of men for the Federal or Union service. Some of these men were in Crandall's company, the first to enlist in North Missouri. No men are named as having joined the Confederate army, although it is reported that some did. The militia of the township "made it hot" for their secession neighbors, and some things were done in the township during the four years of strife that ought never to have been done.
MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS.
Deaths .- In March, 1876, Mr. James Summers, living northeast of North Salem, a bachelor fifty years of age, was found dead in his bed. It was sup- posed that he died in an epileptic fit.
Mrs. Martha Seavey, wife of David Seavey, and daughter of William Bailey, died March 24, 1880, and was buried in the Price cemetery.
Simon Arnold, an old pioneer of the township, died July 4, 1880, aged fifty-eight years. He was a native of Virginia.
Petrifaction .- In the spring of 1876 the body of a little child that had been buried near North Salem for seven years, was exhumed and found to have become petrified.
Schools .- There are eight school-houses in the township. The Banta school-house had a reputation for having the best school in the township some years since. Miss America Clapp was a noted teacher in the years 1876 and 1877. On one occasion not long since the teacher of one of the schools in this township undertook to chastise a boy pupil for some misde- meanor. The lad "wouldn't have it that way," and drew his knife, with which he stabbed the pedagogue several times, inflicting severe wounds.
CASUALTIES AND CRIMES.
Powder explosion .- July 4, 1873, a Mr. Hannon and a young man named Moore were engaged at North Salem in firing a salute in honor of Independence Day. By some mischance about three pounds of powder which they intended using caught fire and exploded, burning them both severely. The boy's eyesight was badly affected.
825
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Accidentally shot .- August 15, 1877, Mr. Nicholas Miller was at work with a mowing machine. It being the season for prairie chickens he had a gun with him on the machine to use against the birds when opportunity presented. While driving homeward the gun was accidentally discharged, the contents lodging in Mr. Miller's body inflicting a wound from which he died in a few days.
Dragged to death .- North of North Salem, in January, 1872, a school teacher named Debolt Miller, accompanied by his wife, was leading a horse to water, having one end of a halter fastened to his wrist. The horse be- came frightened and ran away, dragging Mr. Miller along the ground by his arm in spite of his efforts to free himself. Mrs. Miller followed after her husband as fast as she could, and when she came up with him found him lying under the horse. She went for assistance, but on her return her husband was dead.
Cattle stampeded .- In the spring of 1879 about three hundred head of cattle that were grazing in this township, were stampeded by certain par- ties, and driven off some ten or fifteen miles. It was believed that the in- tention was to take some of them to certain markets and sell them. Some of the parties were indicted for the offense, but as yet no one has been pun- ished.
NORTH SALEM VILLAGE.
The little village of North Salem, on section eleven, township sixty, range nineteen, was first started about the year 1850, by "Jack" Baker, and called " Whig Town," by which name it was long known. The Whigs were in the majority over the Democrats in that section in those days, and the township has always been anti-Democratic. In April, 1858, the town was regularly laid out by William Sanders, on land owned by John R. and Susannah Baker. When the post-office was established Mr. Putman wished to call it Salem, in honor of his old home in Indiana; but there was already one Salem in Missouri, the county seat of Dent county, and so the place was called North Salem. Singularly enough, the records showed that the town of North Salem was laid out in April, 1858, while Putman's Addition was platted October 11, 1856, two years before the main town, on land owned by Peter and Araminta D. Putman.
Jolın Baker, a son of Rev. Baker, is said to have built the first house in North Salem, and also the first building used as a store in the township. Here the leading articles were groceries and whisky, which were sold or bartered in exchange for pelts, honey, tallow, feathers, etc. 'The first regu- lar dry-goods store was opened by Peter l'utman, in about the year 1857. Dr. David I. Stephenson, a native Missourian, was the first practicing physician in the place. The doctor now resides in Linneus. He states that the first person to practice any of the branches of medicine and surgery in
826
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
the neighborhood was Mrs. Sally Putman, who acted as midwife on many occasions.
The first minister was Rev. Baker, who afterwards died in North Salem. Joseph Bryan taught the first school in the village, in the year 1858. In December, 1874, the present school-house was built, costing five hundred dollars. It is a frame, twenty-two by thirty feet in size.
In the early days of North Salem it was a favorite resort for the settlers, nearly all of whom at that day drank whisky. There was a plentiful sup- ply of that beverage in the village. Dr. Stephenson states that every Sat- urday, during the summer months, the men would meet at the village and have a shooting match, the prize usually being a quarter of beef or mutton. A great deal of whisky was drank, and sometimes there would be a fisticuff between the belligerently disposed. These affrays were always fought with nature's weapons, no other kind being permitted.
In 1870 the population of North Salem was thirty; in 1880 it was only twenty-four. The place is very insignificant in size and importance, and its future prospects are not so brilliant as to dazzle the beholder.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
North Salem has one church building, the Methodist Episcopal, or North- ern Methodists. The church organization was constituted in 1862, during the civil war. Some of the original members were James and Rachel Duskins, S. C. and Mary Arnold, Thomas and Elizabeth Severe, David and Ann Moore, and Levi Nix and wife. The church building, a frame, was erected in 1870, at a cost of $1,350. It was dedicated by Rev. M. Shu- mate. The pastors of this church have been Nathan Cordray, J. McKnight Reeder, G. W. Walker, - Phifield, B. T. Stauber, J. W. Scott, T. McNealy, Henry Crampton, and -- Rozelle. The present number of members is fifty.
POST-OFFICES. .
Sedgwick post-office, section fifteen, township sixty, range eighteen, in this township, was established some years since, and named in honor of the Union general of that name who was killed in one of the battles of the Wilderness, in Virginia, in the spring of 1864. Captain Seevey was the first postmaster.
Garfield post-office was established in November, 1880, at Stufflbean's mill, on Yellow Creek, on section thirty-five, township sixty, range ninteen, and named after President Garfield. North Salem is the other post-office in the township.
OFFICIAL HISTORY.
The official history of this township cannot be given, for the reason that the township clerk, Mr. George D. Kelsey, refuses to furnish the necessary
827
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
information, although promising to do so, coolly pocketing the postage stamps furnished him to defray the expense of forwarding by mail a brief transcript of his records. He explains that he has sold out his property and has no longer any interest in the affairs of the township.
COUNTRY CHURCHES-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Sedgwick Old School Presbyterian Church was first organized May 12, 1878. Some of the first members were Samuel and Nancy Price, and their daughters, Martha and Lucy Jane; William Henry Jones, Mary J. Jones, and Ephraim E. Jones. The congregation has no church building, but holds services in the Elm Grove school-house. The pastor is Rev. David A. Wilson, of Milan. The present number of members is twenty- two. In connection with the church is a sabbath-school, which was organ- ized in May, 1877; it is the only sabbath-school in the neighborhood, and has an average attendance of near sixty scholars. It is in a highly pros- perous condition.
UNITED BRETHEREN CHURCH.
There is a congregation of the United Bretheren Church in this township, which meets at the Hill school-house. It was organized in the year 1863. Among the original members were W. D. and Rachel Hill, James and Elizabeth Breedlove, and Mary J. Newton. The first pastor of the con- gregation was B. J. Murray ; after him were Revs. Carpenter, J. Edwards, Wallace, Mckinney, Hess, Fields, J. W. White, and the present preacher, George Fraker. The number of members at present is only seven. W. H. Coram is the present class-leader; Polly A. Hill is the class-steward.
CHAPTER XXXII.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Organization and Boundary Lines-Number of Acres and Square Miles-Valuation of Real and Personal Property, 1881-The Lay of the Land-Half-tilled Farms and Home Surroundings-Stock-raising and Tobacco Culture-When the Chinch-bugs got a Bite -Who Settled it and When, but it Wasn't Dunbar-Several Settlements-Progress-The Professions-Schools and Churches-Cemeteries-War Items-Arnold's Death and Re- taliation-Incidents and Accidents-Dead Towns-Township Organization-Township Officers-Biographies.
Jackson township is the northwest township in the county, and originally was organized out of the territory of Parsons Creek. It was one of the seven original townships which formed the municipal districts or divisions of Linn county in 1845, which were formed after the organization of Sul-
828
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
livan county. At that time Parsons Creek and Jackson townships occupied all the territory west of Locust Creek, that stream being their eastern boundary line. The organization of Clay township out of the two above named, took three miles off of Jackson township's south border, leaving its present boundary as follows: On the north by Sullivan county, east by Locust Creek, south by Clay, and west by Livingston and Grundy coun- ties. Its population in 1870 was 948 and in 1880, 1,740. It has increased more rapidly in population than any other township in the county in the past decade, excepting Enterprise. Just why this should have been so is hard to determine, but is true nevertheless, and ought to spur the other townships to action.
The boundary above spoken of gives a north and south line of seven and one-half miles, and an east and west line, with the exception of one mile on the south, of about the same average. This gives it an area of fifty-two and three-fourths square miles, or a landed area of 33,760 acres, without going into fractions. The assessed valuation of Jackson township for the year 1881 was $331,330, the wealthiest agricultural township in the county, for Jackson township has neither a town nor village within its border, and is the sixth in wealth in the county. This is a showing to be proud of .. However, there is one thing that Jackson township citizens should remem- ber, and that is, good comfortable homes with pleasant surroundings will add much to their credit. Families in good circumstances should not live in cabins.
THE LAY OF THE LAND, ETC.
Jackson township is mostly rolling prairies, perhaps, in some places, a trifle too rolling to be desirable; but the soil is rich, and what Jackson most needs is more thorough cultivation. Half tilled farms do not always pay, and without any increase in population, the real and personal property of Jackson could be increased fifty per cent, if thorough cultivation was given the land now improved. The timber along Locust Creek is good, but that which lies on the banks of the smaller streams is not of much value for lumber, but gives a plentiful supply of firewood and fencing. There are several tracts of beautiful, level prairies scattered here and there through the township, just undulating enough to give it sufficient drainage, and they make magnificent farms. There is some good timber in the south part of the township, but the best lies on the west side on Parsons Creek, and on the east on Locust Creek. There are few better watered townships in the county, and no better stock-raising country can be found in Linn county. The heaviest stock-raiser, and dealer in stock, living in Linn county is Mr.". Charles Lightener, who has one farm of about seven hundred acres in a body and has some splendid stock. The streams are Locust Creek on the west, West and East Parsons Creek in the central and western portion of
829
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
the township, and Big and Little Muddy in the northwest part of the town- ship. Parsons Creek and Locust Creek have numerous branches within the township, and these in connection with other springs make it a magnifi- cent stock range. Coal is found along Locust Creek as described in Benton township history, and one vein, Hooker's, has been worked. It is an eighteen-inch vein, but the coal is considered of only a fair quality. Lime- stone also crops out here and there along the streams, while sandstone is not far off. Corn and grass grow bountifully and a few years ago wheat was the leading crop, but the chinch bug got pretty bad and the crop was changed to tobacco, and that crop, with grass, is indigenous to the soil. Corn always yields a bountiful harvest, and stock-raising now leads, leaving wheat and other less important cereals entirely out. The township was set- tled early and small farms are more generally the rule than the exception. This is right, and now let those small farms be thoroughly cultivated, homes improved, residences made more comfortable, and thrift take full possession of the people, and Jackson township can and will become the best and wealthiest in the county. Submitting to deprivations to hoard money won't pay in the long run.
SETTLING JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
There is no earlier settlement of record in this township than the winter of 1837-38. Somebody was informed that Dunbar, who was killed and rob- bed by the Heatherly gang, and whose body was thrown into Medicine Creek, in Grundy county, actually built a cabin in Jackson township, as early as 1830. There is not a particle of truth in this. The Heatherly gang did not settle in Grundy county, or make it their headquarters until the winter of 1834-35, for they simply squatted and robbed until the loca- tion got too hot for them, and then they mnade tracks for other quarters. Dunbar was killed in 1835, and another man with him, and the gang that was in this murder were two of the Heatherly gang, Hawkins and a negro. man. The two men were on a prospecting tour. But in 1836 it is proba- ble there might have been a cabin or two over the Grundy or Livingston county line, but if so they were not known to those who really settled Jack- son township. *
THE BRAGG SETTLEMENT.
Jesse Goins, from Chariton county, perhaps was one of the best and most favorably known citizens of Linn county, who settled in Benton township in 1838, and erected his cabin, for all the settlers had cabins, on the west half of section eighteen, township sixty, range twenty. He says that the northeast section of Jackson township was settled in 1838. William N. Bragg came from Alabama in 1839, and settled on the southeast quarter of section seventeen, township sixty, range twenty-one, right on the banks of
830
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
East Parsons Creek. This man was subsequently hung by the militia, and though not killed, died afterward from the effect. And William Calhoun, who was murdered and robbed by so-called loyal militia, but really thieves and cut-throats, came to Jackson township from Indiana, in 1840, and proved for nearly twenty-five years one of its most enterprising and honorable citi- zens. He settled on the south half of section eight, township sixty, range twenty-one. Daniel and Nathan Keithley came from St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1845. These were the principle settlers in that neighborhood, and they were some of the best farmers in the county, for nearly all their efforts were successful.
Among the earliest of those who settled in Jackson township, and who wielded the most influence in a family point of view were the Flournoys. John G., William, and the mother of these gentlemen, all settled on section twenty-seven, township sixty, range twenty-one, in the year 1838.
GOOCH SETTLEMENT.
This might in truth be called a part of the other mentioned settlement, for a portion was on the same section. Asa Kirby settled on section sev- enteen, township sixty, range twenty-one. On section five, township fifty- nine, range twenty-one, Oliver Phillips settled, who came originally from Kentucky, but direct from Howard county, and Thomas Morris from the same State and from Howard county also. Lewis Wright, from Virginia, settled on section eight; Manoah Swigleton, from Kentucky, on section nine, Daniel Layman, Howard county, section five, all in section fifty-nine, township twenty-one, and all came in 1840; and Roland, from Kentucky, originally, came the same year, settling on section six. These were the principal ones in that section of the county, that is south of the congres- sional township line dividing fifty-nine and sixty. Right north of this line and on section twelve, township sixty, range twenty-one, Mark Arnold set- tled, one of the most prominent characters of the township, a representative man who came in the early days, having settled as above mentioned in March, 1839, still hale and hearty, with a clear memory of many important past events. Just before Arnold, that is in February, Esau Hannan came and settled on section twenty-nine, just north of Arnolds, and Jacob Hill settled in December, 1838, about two months before Hannan on section thirty-one, right west of Arnold. This might be called the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.