USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens > Part 19
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From the close of Mr. Sherwood's services until April, 1874, the church was without a pastor. During this time, however, regular services were maintained, a sermon being read every Sabbath by Elder W. K. Adams.
At this time the services of Rev. A. D. Workman, of Maryville, were secured, and he continued to preach twice each month till, on the first. Sabbath of July, Rev. W. H. Ilsley entered upon his work.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
During the spring of 1875, a subscription paper was circulated with a view to the erection of a church building, and a sufficient amount was raised to warrant the commencement of the work. The foundation of a house, 28x50 feet, was laid, but owing to the stringency of the times and the visitation of the grasshoppers, the work was delayed for a time. It was not resumed till the next fall, when it was taken up, and the building completed and furnished, at a cost of $2,400, $700 of which was received from the Board of Church Erection. The plan of the house was drawn by George H. Hotaling, one of the elders, and the house was built by Mr. L. D. Eversole, a member of the church.
The church has a good Sabbath School and a fair Sabbath School library. The church is now in a good condition, and has done a good work in Hopkins and vicinity.
Rev. William C. Smith has been engaged to supply the church for six months, and enters upon his work with every prospect of success.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The First Baptist Church, of Hopkins, was organized on Saturday before the 3d Sabbath in May, 1877. The names of original members were, Geo. W. Sturgeon, Margaret Sturgeon, Obadiah Sturgeon, Julia Ann Sturgeon, Jeptha Sturgeon, Lucinda Sturgeon, Marion Sturgeon, Josephine Sturgeon, John M. Sturgeon, Thomas R. Sturgeon, Margareta Sturgeon, Martha A. Downing, E. B. Yeomans, Sarah J. Yeomans, Jesse Godsey, E. S. Godsey, Elizabeth Godsey, John W. Jones and Nancy Jones. The church was bought from U. B. Brethern at $400.00, and is a frame building. It was dedicated by Brother H. J. Latour. Names of pastors : First, Joseph Yates ; second, H. J. Latour ; A. M. Wallace, pastor at this time. Number of present membership, 40.
The church had not been recognized by brethren from sister churches until the April meeting, 1879. The church holds her member- ship with the Northwestern Association at this time.
XENIA LODGE, NO. 50, A. F. & A. M.
Xenia Lodge commenced work under a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of Missouri at its 45th Grand Communication, in October, 1865. The dispensation was dated October 16th, 1865, and signed by John D. Vincil, Grand Master of Missouri.
The officers named in it were, N. Goslee, W. M .; E. Van Buren, S. W. and Washington Downing, J. W.
The organization was designated as Xenia Lodge, but at the next annual communication of the Grand Lodge the dispensation was sur- rendered and a charter ordered, at which time the Lodge was designated
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
by the name of Xenia, and the No. 50 affixed by the Grand Secretary. The charter was dated June 2d, 1866, and signed by John D. Vincil, Grand Master, and four other grand officers.
Xenia Lodge, at its organization, was the third lodge in the county, and its jurisdiction extended north, east and west about twelve miles. Though its membership was small, yet in infancy it took due caution to select the best men for its followers, and thereby grew and prospered until May 27, 1871, when it was thought best by a majority of its mem- bers to erect a new hall, and at its completion, June 2, 1871, the Grand Master of Missouri granted it permission to move to its new hall at Hopkins, Missouri, it being within its present local jurisdiction, and June 24, 1871, Xenia Lodge No. 50 was removed from Xenia to its new hall, and the hall dedicated in due and ancient form, Brother Ephraim Myers, D. D. G. M., acting as grand master on the occasion. The. pres- ent membership numbers sixty. The present officers are as follows :
John Donlin, W. M .; J. S. Anderson, S. W .; C. Mooter, J. W .; T. W. Porter, Treasurer ; H. M. Austin, Secretary ; E. B. Yeoman, S. D .; WV. H. Cochrane, J. D .; A. Watson, S. S .; H. Caudle, J. S .; M. A. Hamm, Tyler.
The lodge meets the first Saturday of each month. The lodge owns a fine hall, and has between $400 and $500 surplus in the treasury. The following is a list of its Past Masters: N. Goslee, G. W. Pistole, John Donlin, A. C. Kennedy, H. McCoy, R. Terrill.
HOPKINS LODGE NO. 333, I. O. O. F.
This lodge was organized April 7, 1875, and the charter granted May 20, 1875. The following are the names of its charter members :
J. L. Anderson, G. W. Wilcox, J. A. Worth, H. Lowery, J. M. Pierce, E. A. Bugbee, M. S. Arnold, Cyrus White, Harvey Moorehouse, Stanton Hook, William Herbert, C. Green, W. H. Sutherland, H. C. Fleming, J. F. Randolph.
The following are the names of its first officers : J. L. Anderson, N. G .; H. Lowery, V. G .; J. A. Worth, R. S .; G. W. Wilcox, Treasurer ; J. M. Pierce, P. S .; N. S. Arnold, Conductor ; H. C. Fleming, Warden ; S. Hook, R. S. N. G .; H. Sutherland, L. S. N. G .; C. White, L. S. N. G .; C. E. Green, I. G .; H. Moorehouse, O. G .; William M. Herbert, R. S. S.
The present membership numbers fifty-two. The lodge is growing, having gained twelve members the past year, and is in good condition.
The following are the names of Past Grands up to the present time ; G. W. Wilcox, H. Lowery, P. Dale, J. L. Anderson, J. D. Randolph, W. H. Sutherland, H. M. Austin, R. P. Johnson, G. T. Tibbetts and M. H. Gladman.
187
HISTORY OF NOPAWAY COUNTY.
The Odd Fellows' Hall Association, composed of members of the order exclusively, are erecting a fine hall on Barnard Street, in the brick block over E. C. Wolfer's grocery store to be used for lodge purposes. The cost will be about $2,000.
HOPKINS LODGE OF ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
This lodge was organized August 1, 1879, with the following char- ter members : H. Lowery, J. A. Stewart, A. S. DeHaven, M. E. Byers, John Donlin, A. F. Malott, Wm. Hughes, A. Watson, E. F. Gaynor, J. W. Waddill and P. Dale. The present membership numbers twenty-one. The lodge is in a prosperous condition. It meets the first and third Wednesday nights of each month.
HOPKINS LODGE 1. O. G. T., NO. 410.
This lodge was organized November 16, 1880, with about seventy charter members. The present membership number seventy-four. The lodge is in good condition and has done a good work in the temperance cause in Hopkins and vicinity. Many men will look back to this lodge as having rescued them from a drunkard's grave. The following are the names of its first officers : P. Dale, W. C. T .; Eva Johnson, W. V. T .; E. Griffin, Chaplain ; Mrs. S. DeHaven, Secretary ; S. K. Ray, Financial Secretary ; E. C. Wolfers, Treasurer ; Levi Grate, Marshal ; R. Boat- man, I. G .; Frank Drumm, O. G .; J. F. Randolph, P. W. C. T .; H. M. Austin, L. D.
BANK OF HOPKINS,
was organized in 1873, by Goodsill Brothers and F. Dunning. They carried on the business until 1877, when a joint stock company was formed, with Alexander Goodsill as president and Edward Donlin cash- ier. In July, 1877, W. Dunning became president, which position he still holds. J. C. Powell superceded Donlin as cashier in July, 1877, and in January, 1880, he was superceded by C. W. Taylor, who fills the position now (1881). The bank has a capital of $15,000, with a surplus of $5,000. Although a stock company, it is not an incorporated bank. The stock- holders are large real estate owners.
The Hopkins Town Company was incorporated on the 3Ist of December, 1870. The stock of the company was placed at $18,000, the names of the corporators and the amounts of their respective holdings being as follows : A. L. Hopkins, $6,000 ; Samuel McFarland, $3,000 ; Albert P. Morehouse, $3,000 ; Matthew G. Roseberry, $3,000 ; James W. Strong, $3,000. Mr. McFarland was the first and only president, and Mr. Moorehouse the first secretary. The stock is now practically all held by Mr. McFarland, and Mr. Alex Grant, the present secretary.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
HOPKINS CORNET BAND.
The first band was organized in February, 1874, with the players mentioned below : Leader, J. F. Randolph, first Eb cornet ; Harry Myers, second Eb cornet ; C. F. Markley, first Bb cornet ; C. Riggs, sec- ond Bb cornet; Dr. Wm. Hughes, first alto; H. Sutherland, second alto ; C. S. Martin, tenor ; John Donlin, baritone ; Ham McCoy, tuba ; A. S. Bender, snare drum; Jacob Lovden, bass drum and cymbals. This band became one of the best in the west, and sent out one of the best cornet players in the United States-Charles Riggs. He has been traveling some three years, and is now in California.
In 1878, all the members except four withdrew, and a new band was organized-the present one-with the following members : Leader, C. F. Markley, solo Bb cornet ; Harry Myers, first Eb cornet ; Frank Dunn, second Eb cornet ; J. C. Stewart, second Bb cornet ; L. G. New, first alto; W. Moorehead, second alto; S. K. Wray, third alto ; A. J. Roof, tenor ; George Shaw, baritone ; Jacob Lovden, tuba ; Frank New, snare drum ; George Ewing, bass drum and cymbals.
1
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Austin, H. M., restaurant.
Bender & Sutherland, Hopkins House. Blair, James A., stock yard and stock dealer.
Blain, J. A., stock dealer.
Brainard, Mr., feed stable.
Bram, William, insurance agent.
Buck, F. A., artist.
Bush, F. D., stock yards.
Burch, E. M., stock dealer.
Crinklaw, D., agricultural implements.
Cochrum, W. H., house painter.
Chaney, D. L., county superintendent of schools and principal of schools.
Donlin, Ed., insurance agent.
Donlin Bros., general merchandise.
Dale, P., county judge, lumber.
Downing, W., president bank.
Derrickson, David, barber.
Dawes, G. A., physician. Dale, Fred., city clerk. Downing, W., stock yards. Frayne & Jeffers, hardware and furniture.
Frazier, Chas., house painter.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Gladman, N. H., insurance agent. Goodsill Bros., lumber.
Gerard, S. W., druggist and physician. Goodson, P. D., physician.
Gladman, M. H., contractor and builder.
Grant, Alexander, attorney at law.
Grant, Alexander, superintendent rock quarry.
Herbert & Somers, groceries.
Hawkins, Mrs. S. S., millinery.
Hepburn, Thomas, harness maker.
Hansley, Harry, shoemaker.
Hughes, W. C., physician.
Hamm, M. A., livery. House & Blain, livery.
Hicks, H., grain merchant.
Herbert, C. H., house plasterer.
Johnson. R. P., general merchandise.
Jackson Bros., mills. Knox, Mrs., Tremont House.
Kennedy, A. C., depot agent.
Lowery, Harmon, druggist.
Lucas, A. G., editor Hopkins Journal.
Luse, Riley, jewelry.
Lytle, George, stock dealer. Markley, C. F., leader Hopkins brass band.
McCasham, John, carpenter.
McCoy, H., stock dealer.
Martin, C. S., hardware and furniture.
Monroe, A. C., groceries.
McIntyre, Chas., restaurant.
Moorehead, Rev. John, pastor M. E. Church.
McFarland, Samuel, president Hopkins Town Company.
Malott, D., I lacksmith. McCashum, Mrs. John., millinery.
Nixon, John, grain merchant.
Norman, W. P., jeweler.
Nurry, Jer., blacksmith. Olmstead, Mrs. J. W., millinery.
Olmstead, John W., sewing machine agent.
Porter, T. W., postmaster, books and stationery.
Pennington, George, tinner. Pierce, J. N., editor Hopkins Journal.
Pennington, J. R., wagon maker.
Randolph, J. F. & Co., hardware, furniture and undertakers.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Roper, Harry P., shoemaker.
Rusing, William, barber.
Somers, E. W., attorney at law. Strawn, N., blacksmith.
Sargent, D. A., physician.
Stouder, Son & Co., general merchandise.
Shackelford, Swain & Co., clothing.
Slanker, H., meat market.
Strain, Josiah, mayor. Stewart, Mrs. L., millinery.
Steward, A. V., wagon maker.
Stewart, John A., harness maker.
Taylor, C. W., clothing.
Worley, George, city express.
Wolfers, E. C., general merchandise.
Watson & Wray, agricultural implements.
Woodridge, B., clothing.
Wilfley, R. H., city attorney.
Welch, B. J. & Co., grain merchants. Welch, B. J., elevator.
Wilcox, George W., contractor and builder.
Wooldridge, -, stock dealer.
Young, W. H., groceries.
Yourkman, J. H., carpenter.
CHAPTER XIII.
HUGHES TOWNSHIP.
ITS BOUNDARY-PHYSICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLERS-CHURCHES -PATRONS OF HUS- BANDRY-GRAHAM-BUSINESS DIRECTORY-SECRET ORDERS.
BOUNDARY.
At the April Special Term, 1845, the following order of court appears, establishing Hughes Township :
" All that territory within the following limits shall be called and known by the name of Hughes Township, to wit :
Beginning at the southwest corner of Atchison Township; thence southward on the line dividing Nodaway County from Atchison and Holt Counties to the southern boundary of Nodaway County. Thence east on the line dividing Nodaway and Andrew Counties to the divide between Nodaway River and White Cloud. Thence north on said divide till it intersects Atchison Township."
The court, June 14th, 1866, passed an order defining the bounds of Hughes Township, as follows :
"Commencing at the northeast corner of section 15, township 63, range 36 ; thence west between sections 10 and 15, 9 and 16 to the north- west corner of section 16, township 63, range 36; thence north between sections 8 and 9 to the northeast corner of section 8 ; thence west be- tween 5 and 8, 6 and 7, township 63, range 36, and sections I and 12, 2 and II, 3 and 10, 4 and 9, 5 and 8, 6 and 7, township 63, range 37, and sections I and 12, 2 and II, 3 and 10, township 63, range 38, to the northwest corner of section 10, township 63, range 38 ; thence south in the center of section and west of county line between sections 9 and 10. 16 and 15, 21 and 22, to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 22 ; thence east on the center line dividing sections 22, 23 and 24, township 63, range 36, and sections 19, 20 and 21, to the Nodaway River, township 63, range 37 ; thence meandering with the east bank of said river south to near the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 35, township 62, range 37 ; thence east on the south line of said county to the southeast corner of section 34, township 62, range 36 : thence north on section line between sections 34 and 35, 26 and 27, 22
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
and 23, 14 and 15, 10 and 11, 2 and 3, township 62, range 36, and sections 34 and 35, 20 and 27, 14 and 15, to the northeast corner of section 15, township 63, range 36, to the place of beginning."
Subsequently Monroe Township was formed out of territory which originally belonged to Hughes and Green Townships.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Hughes Township is well watered by several creeks whose general bearings are from the northeast toward the southwest, all of them emp- tying into the Nodaway River. The names of these creeks, as we pass from the south towards the north, are as follows : Halifax, Rain Creek, Elkhorn, McDowell Branch and Bagley Branch. Wolf Hollow emp- ties into the Elkhorn and runs toward the northwest, and the Little Elkhorn runs into the Elkhorn.
The land of Hughes Township, forming a portion of the eastern val- ley of the Nodaway River, rises with a gentle slope as we pass eastward from the river, with a slight inclination toward the north, and is quite rolling. The river is fringed with beautiful groves along the valley, and some picturesque spurs covered with timber or brush set back for some distance from the river, making a scene, as one descends into the valley toward the west, of unusual beauty.
The soil of the township is a rich vegetable mold resting on a sub- soil in which the Loess of the bluff formation is about equally inter- mixed with the usual clay subsoil of the county. This combination makes an excellent soil, being light and easily worked, and so porous that water rarely stands upon it, yet possessing such power of capillary attraction that it is not materially affected by drouth.
Hughes Township presents unusual attractions to the farmer, the horticulturist and to the stock grower. The natural resources are abund- ant, nothing seeming to have been left out that can contribute to the comfort of man. The soil is rich and deep, the country is well watered by streams, springs burst out of the hillsides, excellent well water is found twelve to fifty feet deep ; there is an abundance of excellent tim- ber, coal outcrops in veins, there are fine stone quarries of both lime- stone and freestone, and there is a beauty in the landscape and a pastoral loveliness to the scene quite charming to the observer. All the cereals of the Upper Missouri Valley flourish, and the grasses are luxuriant. Farmers have reported as high an average as 108 bushels of corn to the acre by actual measurement. Improved grades of cattle and sheep have been introduced. The first short horn bull ever shown at the Nodaway County Fair was exhibited by Mr. H. C. Linville, who resides near Gra- ham. The farmers have an air of contentment about their comfortable homes that seems to say that "their lines have fallen to them in pleas- ant places, and they have a goodly heritage."
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
There is a tradition that the Elkhorn derived its name from the fol- lowing circumstance connected with pioneer life : It seems that a man killed an elk near Graham, stopped, built a fire and cooked some of the meat. The horns of the elk being very large, he cut off the elk's head, and hung the horns on or set them up by a tree, where they remained for a long time. The place becoming known as the Elkhorn, the name was afterward naturally given to the creek that flowed near by.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first white man to locate in Hughes Township, and in fact to settle in the County of Nodaway, was Isaac Hogan, to whom we have already referred in our chapter on "Early Settlements." We take thc following from the admirable address of Dr. J. W. Morgan, delivered at Graham on July 4, 1879 :
During the fall of 1841, Lorenzo Dow Vinsonhaler left Ross County, Ohio, for the purpose of finding a home in the West. Some time dur- ing the fall following, he, in company with Harvey Dillon, found the Nodaway Valley, and took claims on the east side of the Nodaway River. Dillon selected the fine land now owned and cultivated by Lewis Anders, He remained there for a number of years ; built a log cabin, broke and fenced some prairie. Having brought some apple seeds with him, he started a seedling nursery and put out an orchard, num- bering, perhaps, two hundred trees, which has for a number of years been bearing delicious fruit. He sold his land to Finley McCrary, of Highland, Kansas. Dillon's whereabouts are to us unknown. Dow Vin- sonhaler laid claim to the tract of land now owned by Judge Wm. Seeper. This was a choice selection. He built a house, and the follow- ing season broke and fenced a considerable amount of land, and raised a crop of corn. Here he remained for a few years, and then sold out and accompanied John C. Fremont's explorers to California ; was lost in the mountains for a great while, where many of the party perished from cold and hunger ; their supplies being exhausted, they lived on the flesh of mules that had frozen to death, or died from starvation. He accompanied Fremont to Washington City, and was a witness in his behalf in an investigation ordered by the authorities at Washington during President Polk's administration. His testimony relieved General Fremont from censure. He afterward returned to California, where his eyes were closed in death many years ago.
Sometime during the fall of 1840, Elijah Bunten, James Bryant and Harvey White explored the White Cloud country and took claims. In those days all that was necessary to be the owner of a tract of land as large as one desired, was to lay claim to it ; the manner of procuring a title in fee simple was to cut down four trees and chop them off and lay
13
194
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
the foundation for a house. Whether the cabin was ever completed or not, it constituted a claim that all honorable men respected. In the mind of the pioneer, any man who would attempt to intrude, or, as they termed it, "jump a claim," was looked upon as a thief.
Elijah Bunten was a professional claim-taker. The first claim he selected was on the west side of White Cloud ; his claim included all timber land on that side of the creek. He built a log cabin near where the residence of Marion Woodard now stands, cleared off a few acres of timber, and raised a crop or two of corn ; meantime he took additional claims, some on the Nodaway River, one on the head of the Florida, with the center on the tract of land now owned and cultivated by Judge Solomon Shell. In the fall of 1840, he sold his claim on the White Cloud to Mijamin Byers, and built a cabin on Florida Creek.
Bunten was an energetic fellow, and, when he had disposed of his interest in one part of the country, he made it his business to attract attention away from it, and center it at his claim. Soon after leaving White Cloud, Burt Whitten passed his cabin and inquired the way to White Cloud. Bunten knew all about it, but advised him to stop there and buy his claim. Whitten asked him what kind of a country White Cloud was. His answer was, " It's a d-d broken, barren, fertile coun- try." When asked what he meant by fertile, he said : "Fertile-that means a d-d long way from market."
Whitten changed his programme, and bought a claim consisting of all the timber land on the head of the Florida, which was for many years afterward known as Whitten Grove.
Bunten moved to Oregon soon after, where he engaged in the claim business. He died there in 1869.
Harvey White, a son-in-law of Bunten, pitched his tent on the land now owned by Richard Boatwright, some seven miles south and a little west of Maryville. There he remained for a few years, then sold out to a man by the name of Guy, and moved to Oregon.
Jim Bryant was one-fourth Indian, and, therefore, would do but little but trade, drink and hunt. He built a log cabin in the woods a little south of where Billy Jones' house now stands, and laid claim to all the timber land on the east side of White Cloud, south of the Saunders. school house.
These three families on White Cloud, and Dave Vinsonhaler and Harvey Dillon were the only white people who spent the winters of '39 and '40 in what is now Nodaway County. Some time early in the spring of 1840, Isaac Hogan moved his family from Platte County, and occupied the house he had built the spring before. They were accompanied by Daniel Hogan, Joseph Thompson and Richard Taylor and wife. Taylor, soon after his arrival, built a house near Spencer's spring, and commenced improving a farm. Daniel was at that time an old bachelor, and made
195
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
his home with Isaac. Thompson was a single man, and also made his home with Isaac Hogan. R. M. Stewart had concluded to remain in Platte County, and had given his claim to Joseph Thompson, who now resides east of the One Hundred and Two River.
During the winter of 1839-40, the country around Graham was vis- ited by many who were wanting homes; although the winter was cold and stormy, these energetic spirits braved the difficulties, though they met with fewer obstacles in winter than in summer. During winter the streams were bridged with ice, which enabled them to effect a crossing at many points which could not be crossed during the warmer season.
Among the number who explored during the winter were James Finch, Nathaniel Finch, Thomas Finch, James Huff and Wesley Jenkins, he being the foreman of the company.
Wesley Jenkins purchased the claim of " Old Bunten," consisting of all the timbered land now belonging to Martin Palmer, Orville Graves, William Looker and James M. Kyle, and all of the prairie land on the north and south of Rain Creek. He erected a dwelling some three hun- dred yards west of where the fine residence and barns of James M. Kyle now stand, and moved his family therein in the spring of 1840. Having means, he made considerable improvement the first year, broke and fenced about twenty acres of prairie on the south side of Rain Creek ; during the summer and fall built some log huts near where the bridge now spans the creek on the Graham and Fillmore road. The second season he inclosed a large farm on the north side of the creek, including the tillable land of Orville Graves and William Looker. He was the sire of a large household of sons and daughters, who are now dead, or living beyond the Rocky Mountains.
James Finch settled on the land now owned by Adonijah Morgan, and made considerable improvement during the summers of 1840-1-2. He afterwards sold out to Joseph Cox and moved to Platte County, and died there about 1853. Thomas Finch settled on the farm formerly owned by E. M. Gardner, built a small log cabin, fenced and broke a few acres of land. In the winter of 1841-2, he imagined that it would be nice to own some slaves, and accordingly entered into negotiations with Colonel I. N. Prather, father of James B. Prather, of Maryville, trading his fine land for a couple of Africans. The Colonel was shrewd enough in the trade, giving him some half-witted darkies, for valuable land. Finch was elated-felt wealthy. As he expressed it, " I have had my trap set for a couple of negroes, and now I have got them." He knew nothing about negroes, and was unable to dispose of them on any terms. This is the first instance of a pioneer being " scooped " in Nodaway. In the spring of 1842, he moved to Platte County, where he laid his body down to rest in that sleep that knows no waking.
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