USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 87
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Hazeville, Orlando, and Sebago were post-offices in this township; the former is closed up.
At Sebago, January 15, 1881, a cutting affray occurred which resulted in the death of a Mr. Carpenter, who lived near Alpha, in Grundy county. Carpenter attended a party and became drunk, and was ordered to leave the house of Mr. Dennis. He went out but called Dennis out, saying he could whip him. Dennis went out and Carpenter struck at him with his fist, when Dennis drew a knife and cut him twice. Carpenter managed to walk home, a distance of nearly five miles, but died in a few days. He was unconscious soon after getting home, having been cut one time in the head. Dennis fled the country.
Mrs. John Norvell accidentally shot herself about the third of June, 1881 She lived near Orlinda. She suffered for a few days terribly, and then died. Several doctors were in attendance, and tried to find the ball, but could not. She was a kind and estimable woman, and a good wife and neighbor.
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
On the passage of the new township organization law, by the General Assembly, in the winter of 1880 and 1881, the several townships of Linn county organized under its provisions, and the first election for township officers came off in April, 1881. Jackson township elected the following officers: trustee, L. B. Phillips; justices of the peace, Alexander Gooch and G. H. Norvell; and S. A. Crookshanks, clerk and assessor. These gentle-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
men constituted the town board, with G. H. Norvell as chairman. The first meeting was held at the residence of R. D. Crookshanks, but afterward at the Hannan, or at the Jackson school-house. The present officers are the same, with the addition of H. B. Chandler, as constable.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
MARK ARNOLD
was born in Howard county, Missouri, January 1, 1820. Mr. Arnold has been a farmer all his life; as early as 1839 he came to Linn county, and is one of the early settlers and prosperous farmers; he has made by his own exertions a splendid farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He was married in Linn county September 12, 1844, to Miss Susan Brown, daugh- ter of Henry T. and Mildred Brown. They have five children, John H., James L., Annie M., Millard C., and Margaret P. Mrs. Arnold died De- cember 14, 1867. She was a lady loved and respected by all, and was a kind mother and a loving wife, and left many friends to mourn her loss.
JENKINS GOOCH
was born in Sheridan county, Missouri, September 7, 1841. Mr. Gooch was only three years old when, with his parents, he came to this county. He received a good academical education, and in 1866 he commenced the study of medicine at Roanoake, under the preceptorship of Dr. Harvey; was with him about one year. He then attended lectures two winters at McDowell's College, of St. Louis. In 1868 he commenced the practice of medicine in Linn county, and has ever since been prominently identified in the profes- sion. He was married in Linn county February 11, 1874, to Miss Bettie Morris. Their family consists of four children: Tilden, born May 28, 1875; Linn, born February 27, 1877; Richard, born May 11, 1880; Pau- line, born January 13, 1882.
ALEXANDER GOOCH.
This gentleman was born in Sheridan county, Missouri, November 23, 1835. He came to this county with his parents when he was but six years of age. He has been reared and educated in this county, and has always followed farming, and now owns a splendid farm of two hundred and twenty acres. He was married in this county November 8, 1854, to Miss Mary F. Bragg. She came to this county with her parents when she was but three years of age, where she continued to live until her death, which oc- curred December 8, 1871, after an illness of about two years. By this
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
union there were eight children, six of whom are living, James R., William J., John A., Harvey P., Mary E., and Howard. Those deceased are, Lucy H. and Milton. Mr. Gooch was married a second time to Mary E. Phillips,. February 10, 1874. She is a native of Kentucky and came to this county when she was ten years of age. By this marriage there have been born. four children, of whom two are living, Lola A. and Mildred A. Those de- ceased are Nora J. and Jeremiah.
ROLIN GOOCH
was born in Kentucky, February 17, 1813, where he lived until he was. eighteen years of age, when he, with his parents, removed to Missouri,. locating in Sheridan county, where they lived until 1839, when they removed to Grundy county, Missouri, and from there to Linn county, in. December, 1841, locating in this township, where he has ever since lived,. being one of the oldest settlers now living, and a man highly esteemed by all who know him. He owns a fine farm of two hundred and sixty-eight acres. Mr. Gooch was married in Sheridan county, Missouri, December 18, 1835. He has seven children living, Alexander, Joseph, Jenkins, Gideon, Mildred, Rolin, and Nathaniel. His wife died November 17, 1854. He. was again married May 6, 1856.
E. HANNAN
was born in Virginia, January 7, 1818. When about seventeen years of age he came to Boone county, Missouri, where he remained until the fall of 1837, when he came to Linn county and located in Jackson township, where he has ever since lived. He owns a well-improved farm of two hun- dred acres. He was married in Howard county, Missouri, December 12, 1838, to Miss Frances Clarkson. They have had a family of eight children,. four of whom are living; Thomas (deceased), Lucy A., Eliza (deceased),. Susan (deceased), William H., (deceased), Nancy E., Sarah, and Keziah.
JOHN HOOVER.
The subject of this sketch was born in Sullivan county, Missouri, Novem- ber 11, 1839, where he was reared and educated. He has always followed the occupation of a farmer. In the spring of 1871, he came to Linn county and located in this township, where he has ever since resided. He owns a. well improved farm of eighty acres. He was married in Sullivan county, .. November 11, 1863, to Miss E. J. Powell. Their family consists of eight. children, named as follows: Marion W., Cora A., John L., William C., Oscar L., Edward W., Albert C., and Leonard F.
THOMAS H. KIMBROUGH
was born in North Carolina, January 26, 1821. When about seven years of age our subject came with his parents to Missouri and located in Lincoln
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
county, where he was reared and educated. He came to Linn county in 1856, where he has since lived. He owns a fine farm of five hundred and forty acres. Mr. K. was married in St. Charles, Missouri, January 4, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Moore, a native of Virginia. By this union they have eleven children, John W., Owen, Joseph, Sarah F., Millie A., Carrie, Mar- maduke, Mollie, Margaret, Hattie, and Henry.
THOMAS MORRIS
was born December 31, 1811, in Madison county, Kentucky, but was reared in Greene county, same State. In 1833 he came to Missouri and located in Howard county, where he remained until 1837, when he came to Linn county, and is one of the oldest settlers now living. He first located in Benton township, where he lived until 1852, and then came to this town- ship, where he has lived ever since. He owns a well improved farm of three hundred and ninety acres. Mr. Morris was married in Howard county, Missouri, April 15, 1835, to Miss Elizabeth Warren, a native of Tennessee. By this union they have had twelve children, eight of whom are living: Susan J., born April 16, 1836; Elizabeth A., born August 10, 1838; William T., born March 20, 1840, and died July 3, 1841; James M., born July 26, 1842; John W., born February 26, 1844; Martha A., born Feb- ruary 17, 1846; Alfred P., born January 7, 1848, and died February 23, 1854; Mary F., born January 25, 1850, died January 28, 1854; Malvina A., born January 7, 1852; Pennelia M., born April 16, 1854; Lucy E., born August 21, 1856; Cordelia A., born September 6, 1859, died August 26, 1.860.
Mr. Morris was impaneled on the first grand jury ever held in Linn county. There being no court-room at that time they convened under the shade of a large oak tree. The case was against one Nichols for selling whisky without license; he was convicted and fined.
THOMPSON B. MOORE
was born in Virginia, May 14, 1829, and is one of the pioneers of Linn county; came here with his parents in 1840, where he has ever since lived; he was married in Linn county, January 25, 1848, to Miss Nancy M. Jennings, a native of Shelby county, Kentucky. His family consists of six children, named William F., M. T., Augusta A., Creed T., Richard H. D., and Annie M.
Mr. Moore served fourteen months in the Mexican War, and was honor- ably discharged at Fort Leavenworth.
LEE B. PHILLIPS
was born in Kentucky, June 22, 1840. When but four years of age, he came with his father to Howard county, Missouri. They remained there
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
only one year, and then came to Linn county, locating in this township. Here he was reared and educated, and has always followed the occupation of a farmer. He now owns a well cultivated farm of four hundred and ten acres.
Soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion, Mr. Phillips, in September, 1861, enlisted in the Confederate service, Missouri State Guards, and in March, 1862, he reënlisted in Company K, Second Missouri Infantry, and participated in the following battles: Lexington, Missouri, Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Corinth, Mississippi, surrendered at Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, and was exchanged in February, 1864. He then went to Dalton, and was in Shermans' raid through Georgia, December 20, 1866.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Calhoun, a native of Linn county. By this union, they have seven children: William, Walter, Charley, Peter, Ed, Floy, and Robert L.
MANLY THOMAS
was born in Canada, September 6, 1846. Here our subject was reared and educated. In the fall of 1868, he came to Sullivan county, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising until January, 1878, when he came to Linn county. In 1879 he embarked in the mercantile business at Orlinda, a little place named in honor of his sister.
He was married in Linn county, January 8, 1878, to Miss Alice Rush, a native of Marshall county, Virginia. They have one son, Asa, born October 13, 1879.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
GRANTSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
The Last Organization-Its Metes and Bounds-Early Settlement-Schools, Churches, and .Cemeteries-Timber and Streams-Population and Valuation-Square Miles and Acres -Scenes and Incidents-Grantsville Village -- Township Officers-Business-Biograph- ies.
Grantsville township, the last one organized in the county, was origi- nally a part of Locust Creek, then of Benton, Baker and Enterprise. Its southern border was, it might be said, a part of old Locust Creek town- ship settlement, and was, therefore, or that portion of it, settled nearly as early as any other section of the county.
Some of the most noted of the early pioneers were residents of this township, as now formed, and they have left their mark upon the pages of Linn county's history. The Southerlands, Floods, Fores, Cornett and
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
others were representative men of their day and generation, and in some respects they have been credited to the early history of Locust Creek town- ship, for in this history we find no Grantsville township until 1871. It will require less, then, of early history, for in giving it there would be but a repetition, in a measure, of the settlement of Locust Creek. W. P. South- erland came in the fall of 1836, and among those who came about that time, or perhaps sooner, were Silas Fore, Charles A. Fore, John J. Flood,. Thomas Russell, most all from Virginia. Mr. Southerland settled on sec- tion ten, township fifty-nine, range twenty, and the others can be credited to Locust Creek township, in part. William Cornett was a near neighbor,. and so was John W. Minnis, of Benton township. Peter Fore settled on the southwest corner of section thirty-four, township fifty-nine, range twenty, not over three miles from the county seat. James Phillips and William D. Southerland were also a part of the pioneer band.
Game, of course, was abundant, and the bay of the hounds, the crack of the rifle, and the hum of the spinning-wheel was the principal music, and was a very satisfactory kind of music. Practical sense was its inspiring mel- ody, and to the pioneer it gave token of meat and clothing.
OF COURSE.
Marriages were in progress in those days, but while there was just as much happiness all around, there was not quite as much fuss as of later years. It never entered the minds of the young couple of that day to make a public exhibition of themselves to a gaping multitude of strangers, and so early history is sadly deficient in flash marriages and unhappy divorces. Among the first marriages were those of Doctor Dryden to Miss Russell, John Clarkson to Miss Southerland, and William Barbee to Miss Cornett .. All these, as this history shows, were happy marriages, and their offspring, or many of them, are residents of Linn county at this day, honored and hon- orable citizens. Rev. A. F. Martin, of the Missionary Baptist, yet living, was the first minister who preached in this township, and Dr. Dryden, the first practicing physician.
It was nearly thirty-five years from the time the first settler made his home here that Grantsville, as a township, had a local habitation and a name.
ITS METES AND BOUNDS.
Grantsville township was organized in 1871, and was taken off of no. less than four townships, each contributing its share to the new organiza- tion. There wasn't any practical use for this township, but it was made,. and the boundary on the west was made to cut sections, but it did manage to follow the township lines dividing fifty-eight and fifty-nine, and fifty- nine and sixty. The township lies wholly in congressional township fifty-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
nine, and in ranges nineteen and twenty. The township's east and west lines are irregular in form, the former running north on a section line three miles, then east half a mile, and then north, dividing section fourteen; and striking West Yellow Creek, that stream is made the dividing line for the next three miles, or nearly that distance. The first line followed that stream all the way from the southeast corner of section fourteen, and the dividing line between Locust Creek and Yellow Creek townships, in their original form, was this stream. Its west line runs north four miles, divid- ing sections, then east one mile, then north two miles, again dividing sec- tions. Its area is six miles, north and south, the north line seven miles east and west, and its south line seven and one half miles, enclosing forty-four and one-fourth square miles, or 28,480 acres of land.
TIMBER AND STREAMS.
Grantsville is almost central in its location east and west, and its south line is about the center of the county, north and south. The topography of this township is as pleasing to the eye as its rich virgin soil attracts the practical nature of those who have an eye for the useful as well as the beau- tiful. In fact, the rich soil of the magnificent undulating prairies, its splen- did timber-belt along the banks of its rippling water-courses, and the wood and bottom-lands, so rich in their imperishable agricultural wealth, give promise that in the near future Grantsville township will rank, both in wealth and prosperity, the equal of any township in the county. Its tim- ber is mostly oak, hackberry, and hickory. Nearly all the timber found in this section is found here, but the above represents the best and greater quantity that is turned into lumber. Its streams are Long Branch, Turkey Creek, and Bear Branch, with other smaller streams. Those mentioned, how- ever, permeate its whole boundary, being west, central and east, and run- ning north and south through the township. Yellow Creek, which is a large stream and used, as is Long Branch, for milling purposes, passes through the southeastern and eastern part, some four miles, and then forms its eastern boundary line two miles on its north end. It is on all of these splendid streams of living water, where a wealth of timber is to be found. Besides these streams, there are a few springs to be found, and of course water can be reached in digging wells anywhere from twelve to forty feet deep. Take the township altogether in its rolling prairies, splendid tim- ber, live water-courses, and wealth of soil, and Grantsville township, from an agricultural point of view, is hard to beat.
POPULATION AND VALUATION.
The township not having been organized in 1870, the population that year belonged to the townships from which it was formed. The census of 1880 gives a population of 1,040, being the eleventh in size, only two town-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
ships having less, Benton 1,019, and Enterprise 644. It is from this date that the growth of the township can be dated in population, but its increase in wealth can be partially, if not fully, gathered from 1876. For the past three or four years Grantsville township has very perceptibly improved, and the gain in population has been considerable, which will show a marked increase when the census of 1890 shall have been taken.
A full and thorough assessed valuation of the township has not been given until the year 1881, when the new township organization law gave an as- sessor to each township. They had a better knowledge of the property and valuation than one general county assessor could possibly have, and the re- turns of 1881 show that Grantsville had an assessed valuation that year of $267,086, and while it is the eleventh in population it was the ninth in val- uation. From this time onward there is no doubt of the steady if not rapid progress of this township. It is rich in grapes, prolific in the yield of the cereals and fruits, and berries find a soil indigenous to their growth. All that is needed is the population to coin wealth from her soil.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Church of Christ was organized in August, 1870, by Elder Carter, with seventeen names on the roll of membership. The church has not yet any place of worship of its own, but holds regular services at the Grants- ville school-house, in the village of Grantsville. The church has grown steadily in strength, good work, and in membership, and it has now seventy-one members. Regular services are held at the school-house above mentioned, and two of the original members of the church have been delegated as ministers of the gospel. These are Ambrose Nickell and William A. Nickell.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This is said to have been the first church organized in Grantsville town- ship; is called the Bear Branch Methodist Episcopal Church; and is situated ongone of the most beautiful building sites in the county, a rising emi- nence, which gives it a splendid view of the surrounding country. The church building was erected in 1876, by John A. Brown, builder, at a cost of $1,550. The church was dedicated in December of the same year by the Rev. Noland, and the first regular service was held and sermon preached by the Rev. C. Grimes, soon after. The church is a frame building, neatly finished, and is located on section sixteen, township fifty-nine, range nine- teen. It is at this time in a favorable condition with increasing member- ship.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
A church of this denomination was organized on the third Sunday in July, 1860, by the Rev. Albert F. Martin, who was also its first pastor, in
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
what is known as Guyer settlement. In the spring of 1877 a Baptist church was erected on section nine, township fifty-nine, range nineteen, costing in the neighborhood of $1,500, and was dedicated in July of the same year by the Rev. A. F. Martin, on the third Sunday of that month. This church is still in a prosperous condition, with every promise of great future usefulness.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This denomination erected a plain and substantial church building on section twelve, of township fifty-nine, range twenty, at a cost of eight hun- dred dollars. This was in the year 1880, and the house was dedicated by the Rev. Mr. Reed. Since the erection of their edifice the church has steadily grown and prospered.
CEMETERIES.
Grantsville cemetery covers two acres of ground, which was a gift from Mr. E. C. Hutchinson, and was laid out in the year 1868. The grounds have been improved and neatly fenced. The first burial was in the same year, the spring of 1868, and the body of a Mr. Smith, who died at Grants- vill, was interred therein.
Bear Branch cemetery, consisting of something like an acre of ground, was laid out in 1877, and the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Guyer was first con- signed to earth within its sacred precinct. There may be other graveyards within the limits of the township, but no others were given by those who gathered the information from the township.
SCHOOLS.
Grantsville, like all the other townships, is well provided with public schools. In the chapter of school history the amount of the township fund of Grantsville as well as all other townships is given, and this with the county and State funds support no less than seven public schools, with an average school term of six months annually. The school-houses are all neat frame buildings, furnished with good seats and desks, and com- pleted, cost a trifle over four hundred dollars each. The salary of teachers varies from twenty to thirty-five dollars per month.
The oldest school in the township seems to have been one built in the Guyer settlement in 1847. There had been schools taught previous to that year, but the neighbors in that settlement united together and put up a neat log school-house. The school-house built by John Guyer, William Kennedy and William Guyer in the fall of the above year, and those who aided in its construction by furnishing material, etc., besides the builders, were S. Kelly, George Tooly, Henry D. Guyer, James Pace, L. Pullen, D. White, James Buchanan, E. Angell, and H. Ginet. When completed H.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
D. Shifflet was secured as teacher, and he opened what was called a sub- scription school with some thirty-five pupils. It was not long after this started before other settlements enclosed school-houses, until a full and complete system of education was inaugurated, and now, as above recorded, there are seven schools with all the modern appliances for a good English education. In this regard Grantsville is fully up to her sister townships.
AT DIFFERENT TIMES
incidents and accidents have happened which have been, however, mostly of local surrounding, and are not of general interest. Among the many was the fact of triplets being born to the wife of Mr. J. F. Kelly, in December, 1868. The children were two boys and a girl, and one boy and the girl weighed seven pounds each, and the other boy baby seven and three quar- ters. What makes the incident more singular is that the same lady had twins twice, or seven children at three births, six of whom are now living. Mr. Kelly is now a citizen of Linneus.
A sad and fatal accident was the death of Edward Hamilton, county su- perintendent of public schools, July 14, 1871, who was struck by lightning and instantly killed. He was a man generally respected for his noble qual- ities, and he was sincerely mourned by neighbors and friends.
The first farmers' club organized in Grantsville township was on March 7, 1873. The meeting was well attended, and the following officers were. elected: President, Charles J. Hale; vice-president, J. I. Cassity; secre- tary, Lyman Smith; and treasurer, E. C. Hutchinson. The meeting was held at the village of Grantsville.
The most noted burglary committed in the township was on the night of June 5, 1873, when the residence of Rev. A. F. Martin was entered, and $500 in greenbacks stolen, and his son losing his watch. The next night D. Hindee lost a horse, which was undoubtedly taken by the same thief to. effect his escape.
The principal damage done in this township by the tornado of Septem- ber, 1876, which was so destructive in the eastern part of the county, was the killing of three horses by lightning on the farm of A. P. Dobbins.
About the saddest case of suicide was that of E. B. Robertson, in 1879, who severed an artery in his arm with a razor and bled to death. While not very deeply involved, he was in debt, and it seemed to worry him con- siderable, but no one thought his case was so serious as to anyway impair his mind or cause him to seek death to avoid his trouble. He went to the barn about dusk, and it seems after severing the artery, calmly laid down and bled to death. He showed no struggle, but quietly met his fate while- in a fit of deep despondency. Not returning, the family went to look for- him and found him as above. He was a kind man and neighbor, a county bridge commissioner, and a member of the Baptist Church. His age was
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
about fifty years. Not only his family, but his friends and neighbors were shocked at his untimely fate.
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