USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 86
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ARNOLD SETTLEMENT,
and Arnold's house afterward became headquarters for the Confederates in the civil war, which left its mark of desolation all over the county for some twenty-three years after. Harvey Bragg, a brother of William before spoken of, also settled in December, 1838, and staked his claim on section sixteen, township sixty, range twenty-one, something like three miles north of the
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Arnold settlement. Harvey Bragg and Jacob Hill were brothers-in-law. There were quite a number of refugee Mormons came into the township, as the war at that time was making it unpleasant for their tribe, but they left when it was decided that the Mormons must go, by the surrender of Far West, and Adam-on-Di-a-mon. Jeremiah Hooker, quite a prominent man in Linn county affairs, settled on Locust Creek and there was quite a settle- ment around him.
The first child born in the Arnold settlement was a daughter of Jacob and Eliza Hill in May, 1839. She grew to womanhood, married, and re- moved to California. Among the first deaths in that settlement was Fred- erick Phillips in 1842, buried in Phillips' graveyard.
In the Gooch neighborhood the first marriage was about 1841, Mr. Silas Norval and Miss Ellen Ward being the parties to the contract, but a little previous to this, or about the same time, Mr. Ross and Miss Patty Pence were united in marriage in the Moore neighborhood.
Over on section twenty-seven, in the Flournoy's settlement, near Locusty Creek, a colored child was born, the mother being owned by Mrs. S. P. Flournoy. A negro child belonging to Wm. S. Flournoy died in 1840, and was buried on section three. These were the first births and deaths in that neighborhood. Margaret Phillips, daughter of Oliver and Eliza Phillips, who were in the Gooch settlement, was the first child born there, and Gideon Gooch, the child of Roland and Silaby Gooch, was born in March, 1843. Rebecca Belshe died in the summer of 1842 and was buried in Ward's cemetery, the first buried there.
The first child born in Jackson township, as near as dates can be ascer- tained, was Presley Thomas. He was born in 1839.
ON LICK BRANCH.
Among the noted characters in those early days was William Smith, who settled on Lick Branch. He was called "Stump-finger Billy," as he had a portion of one hand cut off. William Daily was another character, and those two believed themselves the greatest wrestlers and the strongest men in that whole section of country, and made their boasts of it. Smith was, evidently, the best man, but in a tussle, when he carried too much corn whisky, Daily got the advantage and threw him. In 1840, Smith sold out to W. S. Flournoy, and moved east of Locust Creek, became a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and died during the war. Avenett Moore and family also moved into that section in 1840, and until they got their own cabin built, occupied Smith's.
W. S. Flournoy married Miss Cornelia Ball, in 1841. It was in the win- ter of 1840 that two negroes, belonging to Mrs. Flournoy, got lost in the woods on going home from the mill on Locust Creek in a violent snow- storm, and one froze to death. They had wandered some twelve miles from their home when found.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Mr. A. F. Moore, a settler of 1839, died in November, 1842, and was buried on a spot selected by himself, on the northwest corner of section three, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one. His death was seriously mourned, for he was a kind neighbor and friend. "His wife followed him two years later. She was buried by his side. Their son, F. A. Moore, married Miss Julia Baker, in 1843, and another son, William H. Moore, married Miss Martha Turner, of Kentucky, in 1846. William H. went to California during the gold fever, and died there.
Mr. J. McCown settled on the hill overlooking Locust Creek, near where the Myles' mills now stand. He was a noted Methodist class-leader. In 1840 George and Hiram Hurlbut and Lorin Reynolds bought Mccown out and built the mill above. Henry Brown lived further up the creek, and was considered one of the best farmers in the township. Mr. Pence set- tled near Brown, and was the father of Patty Pence, whose marriage is- recorded elsewhere. The widow Shees, who married Capt. Thomas Barbee, was. an early settler. She died during the Mexican War, the Captain being ab- sent. William A. Berryman, Punt, Lawyer Drake, Miller, and known. proverbially as an honest man, William Reynolds, and James T. Page, the. strong man, as he was called, were all early settlers, and gave the stamp of their energy and genius upon the early settlement of Jackson township. Page, the man last mentioned, was known to have lifted, at one time, nine hundred and sixty-five pounds. This fact has been vouched for by credita- ble witnesses. Mr. Page died in May, 1852, and his widow now lives in Memphis, Scotland county, Missouri. There has been, and there is now, brain power and brawn in Jackson township, and if they will now add a little pride, it will prove a wonderful change to the township.
PROGRESS.
The first three years of the settlement of Jackson township, from 1838. to 1841, the pioneers found their only trading point at Brunswick and Glas- gow, and their nearest mill Keytesville, but this only lasted until the last date mentioned, when the Bowyer horse-mill got under way. They, of course, neither had roads nor bridges in those days, and it was not until some years later that the State road from Linneus to Trenton or Princeton was located through the township.
Timber seems to have increased since the settlement, for there is more timber now than in 1840. In those days, the gad-fly was of good deal of an- noyance to the cattle on the prairies, and the settlers generally located in or near the woodland on that account. They were a green-headed fly, and sometimes tormented the cattle to their death. The usual hand-mill and log-hole to pound corn in were used when a mill could not be reached, and one family who had brought a large coffee-mill with them often used it to grind their corn. When the Bowyer mills started it was a great help, but even that was not sufficient to do all the grinding for fifteen miles around,
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
and the hand-mill, and log-mortar with an iron wedge for a pestle did duty as late as 1845.
Somehow, the people were remarkably healthy in those days. They didn't die of consumption; they never had the gout; and when their time did come, they were so old that a change beyond the dark river was wel- comed as a release. Game, of course, was in abundance, and the pioneer thought nothing of doing a big day's work, and then, in the twilight, or even late at night, watch the deer-licks, and bring home a week's supply of meat. There can be much said of the times of long ago, and it is not hard to believe, with the simple wants of the old settlers, that they had as full a life of enjoyment as the generations of a later day.
In the Moore settlement, which was about two miles south of the Flour- noys, on section three, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one, they gathered some of the best and most energetic citizens around them that lived in the township. They settled there in 1840. Everett T. Moore, father of T. B. Moore, settled on the above section in October of the last named year. Then William Jackson, from Chariton county, William and Asa Kirby, from Howard county, Missouri, and Andrew and Charles Caughron, from Trumpee, and a Mr. Parks, all settled in the country around.
After Bowyer's, then came Brown's horse-mill, about two miles east of this settlement, and that, added to Bowyer, gave the pioneers their home grinding, and Keytesville belonged to the past, but not to the forgotten past, as there were too many incidents in a trip of fifty or sixty miles, with an ox team, to make such a journey easily forgotten. Jackson township settled and grew, both in wealth and population, and up to the present time, it has been one steady, onward march.
PHYSICIANS, WEAVING AND SCHOOLS.
The first physician who practiced in the county was Dr. Driden, and he came from Linneus when called for. The first resident physician in the township, however, was Dr. Jenkins Gooch, who is still a resident and leading citizen of the township.
Mrs. Polly Ward, Mrs. Silaby Gooch, Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Moore were among those who spun and wove their own clothes and those of their fam- ilies. Some wove carpets, but it generally became a part of the household duty to make the spinning-wheel hum in the home of the pioneer. All did not have looms, but the spinning-wheel was a necessity of the times. The two first named had looms, also as did a few others.
The first school was taught by William Haley Moore, in an old log cabin on Roland Gooch's land, section thirty-one, township sixty, range twenty- one. This school was stated by another informant as being located on sec- tion six, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one, which is directly south of thirty-one and joins it. Moore had about fifteen pupils and got two dollars
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
and a half per scholar. Just what year this was neither of the informants could give, but it was probably in 1843 or 1844. The first school-house was not built until 1846. Oliver Phillips put it up on section eight, south- east of the old hut, about one mile or a little over. This was a log school- house and cost fifty dollars completed, and from this beginning the town- ship school system of Jackson started. Mr. Moore started to California in 1851 and died on the way.
There are now no less than eleven school-houses and districts in Jackson township. The school-houses are all frame and cost about four hundred . dollars each, and are in every way well fixed with seats and desks, fully up to the average school-house of the day. With the school fund of the State, township and county, they manage to keep up nearly an average of six months' schooling, and in addition thereto, a school tax is levied whenever® it is required; but it seldom exceeds two to four mills on the dollar. With this light tax the school year is completed. The following are the locations of the schools of the township: Fairview school-house is about the center of sec- tion fourteen, township sixty, range twenty-two; Climax, on section thirteen, township sixty, range twenty-two; Hooker's, on the northeast quarter of sec- tion sixteen, township sixty, range twenty-one; Light's, on the northwest quarter of section twenty-seven, township sixty, range twenty-one; Jackson Center, on the southwest quarter of section twenty-nine, township sixty, range twenty-two; West Liberty, on section twenty-six, township sixty, range twenty-two; North Sebago, on the southwest quarter of section two, township fifty-nine, range twenty-two; South Sebago, on section fourteen, township fifty-nine, range twenty-two; Mt. Olive, on the southeast quarter of section six, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one; Pleasant Shade, on the northwest quarter of section three, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one; and the last, the name of which was forgotten, is situated on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section sixteen, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one. These schools are all well attended, the teachers are paid from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars per month, and the schools are flourish- ing.
CHURCHES.
There was now and then a preaching at the cabins of the settlers by those ministers who traversed the circuit, but the first service held at a school- house was by the Rev. Jesse Goins, of the Missionary Baptist, who preached at the old Mt. Olive log school-house in November, 1848. This old school- house was about half a mile from the site of the present Mount Olive school-house.
MT. OLIVE CHURCH.
The Baptist Church by this name was organized June 8, 1849, and the officiating clergymen were Elders Kemp Scott,A. F. Martin and Jesse Goins.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
The clerk of the occasion was A. W. Flournoy and the name was given in by Mr. Thomas Flournoy. This last person is now a resident of Califor- nia. Of the elders present, Elder Scott died in Carroll county, Mis- souri, in 1864, and Elders Martin and Goins are still living, highly hon- ored citizens of Linn county. The names of those who were members at the organization are here given: William Wright, William H. Moore, Thompson B. Moore, John M. Wright, Francis A. Moore, Lucy T. Jennings, Lucy A. Basket, Margaret J. Basket, Lucy Wright, and Nancy M. Moore. After the organization the following persons joined the church; viz., Miss Susan Phillips, Mr. William Kirby and wife, Hannah Bragg, and Sarah Wright. The first minister was Elder Jesse Goins, and he commenced his duties July 14, 1849, and devoted his time to the church for nine years. Elder Martin was then called and remained one year, when Elder Goins was unanimously recalled and continued as pastor until 1863, when it came to a close or rested until 1867. That year it was decided to effect an organiza- tion, and to that effect met at the residence of J. Phillips, and some forty members enrolled their names The church organization at once elected Elder Goins pastor, and for another nine years he served the church, or un- til 1876. He was succeeded by Elder W. W. Waldron; he by Elder F. M. Wadley, on March 15, 1879, and this latter minister is still officiating as
such at this writing, April, 1882. The first deacons were, William Kirby, and John McAllister, who were elected July 14, 1849, the latter also acting as clerk. Mr. McAllister resigned and went to California, April, 1852, and Deacon Kirby was killed by being thrown from his horse in the fall of 1851. They were succeeded April 11th, 1852, by Deacons T. B. Moore and Nelson Bragg. The latter died in 1864, and Deacon Moore is still serving at this writing. In 1870 R. H. Moore was elected deacon, and died in 1877, and was succeeded by Matthias Jacobs in 1878, who like Deacon Moore, still serves. In June, 1878, J. N. Bailey, A. Gooch, and S. J. Phillips were elected deacons. In 1852 R. H. Moore was elected clerk, and resigned in 1857, followed by S. J. Phillips; then J. C. Highbough, and he by J. N. Can- ada, present clerk. The Mount Olive Church was the first in the township, and now have a handsome church building, which cost $1,200. It has at this time a membership of one hundred and eighty-five, and is in a flour- ishing condition, with every prospect of a continuance of the good work in which it is engaged.
MAGNOLIA CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1873, by J. H. Tharp, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to which denomination the Magnolia Church be- longs. A neat and substantial church building was erected at a cost of $825, and dedicated December 21, 1873, by the Rev. J. B. Mitchell. The origi- nal members numbered thirty-five, and were as follows: David Cady, M.
.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
B. Russell, Adam Lash, Lucy Cuberly, Rebecca Triplet, R. N. West, Ella Burt, A. M. Cady, Jared Cady, Benjamin Burt, Charles Labor, Lizzie La- bor, John Tyre, Nancy Tyre, Fannie Jenkins, L. I. Russell, N. E. Wyman, Huston Lyster, J. W. Burt, Abram Henshaw, Laura Henshaw, Lizzie Rus- sell, Lafayette McIntyre, Nancy Lyster, Alice Lyster, Martha J. Neal, Wm. G. Cuberly, Arthusa McIntyre, Nancy Couch, Abram Lyster, Mary E. Lyster, Mary F. Neal, Marion E. West, and Susan K. West. The first pastor was the Rev. James Henry Tharp, followed by Revs. P. H. Wynn, and J. M. Ragen. Its present membership numbers fifty-one, with a prom- · ise of a long and useful life devoted to its glorious work.
MORRIS CHAPEL
is of the denomination of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is located on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section four, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one. It was first organized about the year 1852, its first classes meeting at private houses and at school-houses. Among its first members were T. B. Alexander and wife, Thomas Morris and wife, Samuel Sawyer, William Toler, Smith Ward and wife, and James Warren and wife. In the spring and summer of 1871, the congregation twenty-one; Morris Chapel, northeast quarter section four, township fifty- built a comfortable church building twenty-five by thirty-five and finished and furnished it neatly and plainly. It was a frame and cost when com- pleted $1,000. In the summer of 1871 the Rev. William Warren preached the first sermon within its walls, a sermon that made a deep impression upon his hearers, for it was both earnest and eloquent. Those who have officiated as ministers of the church are the Revs. John Ellis, William Per- kins, W. T. Ellington, William Sutton, William Robinson, W. E. Dockery, Samuel Alexander, J. G. Blakey, - Johnson, - Grimes, William War- ren, Elmore Carlisle, and the present pastor, the Rev. G. F. Tanquary. The trustee and class-leader is T. B. Alexander. The church which was named after Brother Thomas Morris, who donated one and a half acres of ground for the church in perpetuity, now numbers eighty members, and is in every way free from debt. Service is held the second sabbath of each month, and its future is one of promise.
CEMETERIES.
There are no less than eleven public or church cemeteries and grave- yards in Jackson township, and their names and locations are as follows: Pleasant Shade, northwest corner of section three, township fifty-nine, range nine, range twenty-one; Mount Olive, northeast quarter section six, town- ship fifty-nine, range twenty-one; Phillips's, southwest quarter section thirty- two, township sixty, range twenty-one; Hays's, northwest quarter section thirty-one, township sixty, range twenty-one; Hulett's, northeast quarter
1
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
of the northwest quarter section thirteen, township sixty, range twenty-two; Keithley's, southwest quarter section nine, township sixty, range twenty-one; Bragg's, southeast quarter section seventeen, township sixty, range twenty- one; Smith's, southeast quarter of the southwest quarter section twenty- three, township sixty, range twenty-two; Hooker's, northeast quarter sec- tion sixteen, township sixty, range twenty-one; and Calhoun's, south- west quarter section eight, township sixty, range twenty-one.
WAR ITEMS.
Jackson township had its trials and troubles during the war, and some bloody scenes transpired within its borders. It was called a Confederate township, and it is probable that the Southern cause was better and more numerously represented than the Federal. Butit is believed that the atroci- ties and violence of the Federal militia, and especially those from Sullivan county, was the cause of most of the home-horrors of that time. They were noted for being a cowardly, bloodthirsty set, but it has been disputed that these men really belonged to Sullivan county. They were reported as Iowa renegades, who, when Federal troops were called for, left to escape going into the regular army, and then joined the militia of Missouri for robbery, plunder, and murder. They were commanded by a Lieutenant Warner and others. Sullivan county was not guilty of being the home of all. Their acts brought on retaliation, and so blood flowed and cruel murders were committed on both sides. It was this militia that caused all the trouble with Holtzclaw, who never failed to retaliate. Calhoun was shot down in cold blood and robbed, and then Bruce and Jerome suffered death in retaliation. The former was murdered, and it was evident money was at the bottom of it, for the gang got some eight hundred dollars. Neither Bruce nor Jerome were robbed. The former undoubtedly deserved death, but there is and was a belief that Jerome, although a Connecticut Yankee, and known as a loyalist, really was an innocent man. He denied giving the militia any information of Confederate whereabouts, but others say he did. Calhoun was murdered and robbed August 27, 1864, and on the first of September following Bruce and Jerome were killed in retaliation. This Lieutenant Warner took old man William N. Bragg and nearly hung him, and as he died soon after it was believed that that is what killed him. Bruce was said to have been in this command, and Bragg's son and three others finished Bruce. There were several other raids through the town- ship, and robbery was the principal object by both parties, but when they could on either side reach an obnoxious Confederate or Federal they didn't spare him, but sent a bullet after him whenever they got a chance. Jackson township had a good many men who had some very unpleasantly close calls of this kind.
Holtzclaw recruited fourteen men in Jackson township. Joseph Gooch
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
was one, and held a lieutenancy in the command. Howard Bragg was an- other, and Phillips another, and it was Bragg and his comrade who sent Bruce to his last account for the attack on Bragg's father which resulted in his death. These men also were in the Confederate service. The Flood and Sandusky company was organized in this township, their headquarters being at Mark Arnold's, and the organization taking place there, Arnold securing guns and ammunition of Robert Menefee. Jehu Barnes and five others joined Sandusky's command afterward, and among those who were captured with Colonel Robertson afterward were George Barnes, James, Thomas, and Mat Stewart, at Blackwater. One raid of the militia into Jackson township was in 1863, when some twenty citizens were arrested in harvest time and in the harvest fields. This seemed to have been done to terrorize the citizens. A Major L. T. Forman commanded the squad of militia, among whom was Captain Branson, who seemed to delight in seeing how he could scare boys by firing a pistol close to them. This game he practiced on Monroe Porter, a son of Samuel Porter. The scare was gen- erally genuine, for they were known to shoot to kill, with no more cause than they had to shoot for fun. The arrest of these citizens was placed upon the ground that bushwhackers went through the township or stopped there. Major Foreman declared he would kill them if they did not keep the bushwhackers (as he called them) out, although unarmed; but the same Major took care with his armed troops to keep out of the range of bush- whackers, and found it more safe to arrest unarmed citizens quietly at their work. War has its horrors, let peace reign.
INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS.
A sad and fatal accident occurred in this township in 1871. Several ladies who were on a visit to the family of O. C. Stalps, concluded to go in bathing in Locust Creek, some three-quarters of a mile below Myles's mill. They were Miss Jennie C. Campbell, of Macon City; Miss Sallie Wilcox, Miss Eva Stalps, and Mrs. W. P. Myles. By some mishap the first named, Miss Campbell, got into water beyond her depth, and before help could be secured, was drowned. Becoming frightened, she was not able to help herself, and the others could not reach her. Her body was soon recov- ered and sent to Macon for burial. It cast a deep shadow over her friends, and the very thought of bathing almost became a terror ever afterwards to. those friends who saw her dying struggles.
Another of those tragedies resulting from bullying happened at Sebago, January 1, 1872, a Mr. Patil shooting and killing a man by the name of Helm. The latter was a hard case and went a little too far with rather a quiet man, who, however, didn't lack for courage when the test came. Patil was acquitted on his trial.
It was in 1873 and 1874 that the chinch-bugs were so numerous in the
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
township that they destroyed the wheat crop and other small grain, which caused the farmers to drop wheat-raising except for bread, and turned their attention to corn, tobacco, hay and stock-raising, and since then the latter and tobacco have been in the lead.
Perhaps the most remarkable characters that inhabited Linn county were the Klinenipper brothers, who lived in Jackson township. They were bach- elors, and lived alone in squalid poverty, or without any of the comforts of life. They made but few acquaintances, and lived for twenty years nearly unknown and little cared for. John fell off of a load of corn-stalks which fell on him, from the effects of which he died the next day. This was Jan- uary 2, 1877, and on the twenty-fifth of the following March, George, the brother, died from heart desease, brought on by exposure. Money to the amount of $7,087.25 was found in their cabin, in crocks and barrels-$650 sewed up in a buckskin glove, $580 in an old coffee-pot, and so on. There was also 1,600 acres of land belonging to them, 1,200 of which was in Linn county, and 400 in Livingston. The neighbors tore down the house and searched the grounds, and while it is believed that several thousand dollars was found, the $7,087.25 above mentioned was all that was recovered. A brother in Germany became the heir, and he ordered the land sold, and the proceeds sent to him. Carlos Boardman had the estate in charge.
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