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 26
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 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104
ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARY-PHYSICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLERS-TOWN OF WILCOX - BUSINESS DIRECTORY-PLATTING OF MARYVILLE-ADDITIONS- - MARY- VILLE-FIRST SETTLERS-PIONEER BUSINESS MEN-PRIVATE SCHOOLS-ACADA- MIES- PUBLIC SCHOOLS- MARYVILLE BUSINESS COLLEGE - SECRET ORDERS- BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES-CHURCHES-BANK , AND BANKERS-NEWSPAPERS-FIRE DEPARTMENT -CEMETERIES-TOWN OFFICERS-MARYVILLE AS IT IS-BUSINESS DIRECTORY -POSTMASTERS.
POLK TOWNSHIP.
As now organized Polk Township lies nearly in the center of the county. It contains 121 square miles, lying eleven miles square, and is the largest township in the county. As the boundaries of this township have been changed since its first organization, we cite the several orders of the court modifying boundary lines, to present a historic view of the boundaries of the township from its first organization to the present time.
At the May term, 1845, the county court laid off Polk Township with the following bounds, to wit :
"Beginning at the northeast corner of Washington Township, thence west with said township line till it intersects White Cloud Town- ship line, thence westwardly with said line till it intersects the line of Atchison Township, thence north with the east line of the aforesaid township to the southeast corner of Buchanan Township, thence east- wardly so as to include the Gray settlement and the Mowry houses beween the One Hundred and Two and Platte Rivers, thence east to the eastern boundary of Nodaway County, thence south to the place of beginning."
On March 19, 1861, the court made the following order, changing the western boundary line of Polk Township :
" The petition presented to this court at the February term thereof, by Alonzo Thompson, and signed by himself and thirty-eight other citizens of Green and Polk Townships, praying this court to change the western boundary line of the municipal township of Polk, in this county, is granted by the court. It is therefore ordered by the court, that the western boundary line of said Polk Township, which is also the eastern line of Green Township, be changed from its present location on the
260
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
range line, between ranges 35 and 36, so as to commence on the west side of section number 35, township 64, range 36, at the southwest corner of said section, thence to run due north, continuing two miles west of the original boundary line thus changed, until it reaches the northern boundary of said Polk Township, as prayed for in said petition, and it is further ordered that the clerk of this court certify this order to the sec- retary of state as the law directs."
On June 14, 1866, the court reorganized Polk Township, with the present boundary lines, as follows :
Commencing at the northeast corner of section 19, township 65, range 34, thence west on section line between sections 8 and 19, town- ship 65, range 34, and sections 13 and 24, 14 and 23, 15 and 22, 10 and 21, 17 and 20, 18 and 19, township 65, range 35, and sections 13 and 24, 14 and 23, 15 and 22, 16 and 21, township 65, range 36, to the northwest corner of section 21, same township and range, thence south between sections 20 and 21, 28 and 29, 32 and 33, in township 65, range 36, and sections 4 and 5, 8 and 9, 16 and 17, 20 and 21, 28 and 29, 32 and 33, township 64, range 36, and sections 4 and 5, 8 and 9, to the northwest corner of section 9, township 63, range 36, thence east on section line between sections 9 and 16, 10 and 15, 1I and 14, 12 and 23, township 63, range 36, and sections 7 and 18, 8 and 17, 9 and 16, 10 and 15, 11 and 14, 12 and 13, township 63, range 35, and sections 7 and 18, to township 63, range 34, to the southwest corner of township 63, range 34, thence north between sections 7 and 8, 5 and 6, township 63, range 34, and sections 31 and 32, 29 and 30, 19 and 20, 17 and 18, 7 and 8, 5 and 6, township 64, range 34, and sections 31 and 32, 29 and 30, 19 and 20, to the northeast corner of section 19, township 65, range 34, to the place of beginning.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The physical features of the township are somewhat uniform, but present enough variety for the highest agricultural uses and for æsthet- ical purposes. The land lies gently sloping toward the south, so that the streams have a southern flow. About one-third of the distance from the eastern boundary flows the One Hundred and Two River through the township from north to south, its main affluents being the Mowry, Mozingo and White Cloud. The valley of the One Hundred and Two River varies from half a mile to a mile in width, and belts of timber are found all along this stream, affording all the usual varieties known in Northwest Missouri. White Cloud Creek flows through the western portion of the township, making an elbow toward the west, and is fairly wooded as far north as Maryville. A water shed runs across the northwestern corner of the township and passes partly down the western side, dividing the headwaters of the White Cloud from the
261
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
sources of the south branch of Clear Creek and of Florida Creek, which flow into the Nodaway River.
Polk Township is well adapted for agricultural purposes. The soil of the uplands is of a rich vegetable mold, and varies from one to three feet in thickness. The soil of the valleys is a rich black alluvium, and varies from three to ten feet in depth.
Corn is a staple crop, and winter wheat, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, hemp, flax, millet and sorghum are all raised in greater or less quanti- ties. Most of the fruits in this latitude flourish, and grapes are raised in profusion. All the grasses do well-the blue grass finding a con- genial soil here, displacing in its growth to a considerable extent the wild prairie grasses.
Stock raising has become one of the leading industries of the town- ship, and the highest grades of cattle and hogs have been introduced.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settlements in Polk Township were made along the One Hundred and Two River and the White Cloud. Thomas Adams was the first settler in the township. He came from some of the lower coun- ties of Missouri in 1840, and took a claim in the north part of what is now the city of Maryville. He built a cabin in the grove which has since received the name of Adams' Grove. This grove contains 1,000 acres of land, and the timber is made up largely of Burr oak. Mr. Adams cleared twenty acres of land and opened a little farm. In 1849, he sold out and went to Texas.
Noah Garren came in 1840, and located in a grove on the ridge four miles southeast of Maryville, and one mile east of the One Hun- dred and Two River. He lived there until 1849, when he moved to the northeast part of Nodaway County.
In 1840, John Mozingo and his two sons, Allen and Silas, emigrated from Culpepper County, Tennessee, and took a claim four miles south- east of Maryville, on the bottom, on the east side of the One Hundred and Two River. He built a log cabin and improved a farm. He was a hunter, and noted for his hospitality. Allen and Silas took claims near their father. Allen died in 1878, but Silas is still living. The boys were hunters and kept hounds for the chase. He had a very strong voice, and neighbors have heard him calling his stock for three miles.
John Trosper came from Tennessee in 1840, and took a claim three miles east of the present town of Maryville and one mile east of the One Hundred and Two, in the timber. He built a small log cabin 14x 14 feet, which was a type of many of the houses of those days. The end of the house was cut out and a chimney of notched poles con- structed, daubed inside and outside with mortar. The chimney had a
262
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
mud back and jambs. Two square rocks were used for andirons. A few seedling apple trees were raised, two of which are still standing, as large in diameter as a flour barrel. Some years these trees bear twenty bushels each. One of the trees has been split down, but a portion of the tree is alive and vigorous. Two cherry trees are still standing, a foot in diameter, and occasionally bear a good crop of cherries. Mr. Trosper was a hunter and very hospitable. He went to Kansas in 1860, and is now deceased.
The Lanham brothers came in 1841, and settled on the One Hun- dred and Two River, four miles east and a little north of the present site of Maryville. Their claims were near each other in the timber, one mile and a half east of the One Hundred and Two River. They both went to Texas.
William Saunders, brother of James Saunders, came in the year 1846, and traded for land in the north part of the town. He was mur- dered and robbed in Maryville in 1879. His family still reside here.
In 1843, John Jackson came from Ohio and settled on a claim, two miles north of Maryville. He was treasurer of Nodaway County from 1845 to 1849. He was a good farmer and an estimable man. He died in 1873. At the organization of the county the revenue was very small, amounting one year to only $300. One year the treasurer only received $1.25 for his services. Mr. Jackson kept his office at his home.
A. Terhune emigrated from Indiana and arrived in Andrew County in the spring of 1841. He located six miles north and a little west of the present site of Savannah at Bennett's Lane. This was the first place in that section where enough settlers' farms were contiguous when fenced in, to form a road. Bennett's Lane was known all through Andrew and Nodaway Counties. The lane ran north and south about three miles. On the east side of the lane were located the farms of Elisha, John, Isaiah and William Bennett, and also the farms of Mr. Hayes who came with them, and Joshua Wilson. On the west side of the lane were located the farms of Jacob Bohart, John Farrens, David Terhune, David Brock, Lyman Ashley and A. Terhune.
A. Terhune lived there until 1848, when he moved to Nodaway County and settled one mile north of where Skidmore now is, where he built the fourth mill in the county.
In 1841, when he came to Andrew County, there was only one corn cracker, called Davis & Stanberry's Mill, on the One Hundred and Two. It was located three miles east of the present town of Savannah.
Hollister's Mill on the Nodaway, two miles west of the present town of Fillmore, was the next mill in Andrew County, built in the year 1842.
The next mill in Andrew County was built in 1843, on Lincoln Creek, four or five miles west of where Savannah now is.
White Hall was a very small place and had only a few goods for sale.
263
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Settlers went to Liberty, Clay County, to secure anything of impor- tance in the line of merchandise or flour. Some of the settlers would volunteer and go to Liberty for a wagon load of groceries, etc., which would be divided among the neighbors. It took about eight days to go to Liberty and return with ox teams, two or three yoke being attached to a wagon. Often two neighbors would go together, sleeping in the wagon and killing game and cooking their food along the way.
Erastus Downing and A. Terhune built the fourth mill, a frame building, in Nodaway County on the Nodaway River, near where the present town of Skidmore is located. It took two years time to erect and complete the mill, which only had one run of stone. The irons for the mill were procured from St. Louis. Downing was a blacksmith, and forged out the bar iron for the sawmill which was at the same point and in the same building on the river.
Mr. Terhune sold his interest in the mill to E. Downing in 1851, and went to a point on the Nodaway River, where Quitman is now located, and bought a mill site of Hiram Lee, who had been there several years, and who built the third mill in Nodaway County. Mr. Lee had put a log across the stream, about eighty feet long, in sections, then put in brush and rock above and earth upon the rock to make a dam. The flume where the water was let into the mill was made of split puncheons. The mill house was made of round logs from the bed rock up. In that mill was a pair of "nigger heads," as the pioneer called them, or home- made burrs, constructed out of "lost rocks" or boulders. The wheel was a wooden tub wheel. The capacity of the mill was fifteen bushels of corn a day. For toll the miller took out one-eighth. The mill made good meal. This structure, in the spring of 1852, was entirely washed away, and was a total loss.
Immediately after this, Mr. Terhune put up a frame structure for both a grist and saw mill. In the fall of 1852, after the mill was running several months, there came a freeze, mush ice drifted down the Nodaway, and lodged above the dam, the river rose on account of the gorge, and washed out eighty feet around the end of the dam, the water running in the new channel eight feet deep. Mr. Terhune worked all winter, and stopped the wash around so that the mill run again, and was in excellent order. Mr. Terhune sold out his mill in 1853 to Rankin Russell, who was the founder of Quitman.
Mr. Terhune then removed to Andrew County and went on to his large farm. He remained there three years, and then moved near Mary- ville, and bought a farm of eighty acres, formerly owned by James Ray, for $1,200. Forty acres were under cultivation. The eastern portion of Maryville now extends on to this farm. He then bought in 1860, 500 acres adjoining Maryville on the southeast. He kept this farm until 1878. When Mr. Terhune came to the county in 1856, he brought a
264
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
steam saw mill and put it up on the One Hundred and Two River two miles and a half east of Maryville. After this he kept store and tavern in Maryville and handled live stock.
Other old settlers who located in Polk Township before the year 1850: Jesse Harris. James Ingles. John Mozingo. James Vaughn. William Ingles.
Green McCafferty. Daniel Swearingen.
John Scott, Maryville.
C. S. Burns, Maryville.
Henry Swearingen, Sr.
L. M. Jester, Maryville.
A. T. Jenkins, Maryville.
Amos Graham, Maryville,
John Saunders, Maryville. L. B. Torrance, Maryville. Andrew Jordan, Maryville.
William Bowen, Maryville.
James Saunders, Maryville.
William Saunders, Maryville.
Benjamin Torrance, Maryville. Benjamin F. Simms, Maryville. John Belew, one mile east of Maryville.
John Trosper, three miles east of Maryville. Peter Trosper, three miles east of Maryville. Isaac Cox, five miles southwest of Maryville. John Collett, six miles northeast of Maryville. Jacob Shepherd, three miles east of Maryville. James Ray, one-quarter mile east of Maryville. John Jackson, one-half mile north of Maryville. Wilhite, two miles southeast of Maryville. Isaac Lannan, six miles northeast of Maryville. Foster, three miles southeast of Maryville. Copple, three miles southeast of Maryville. Andrew Shepherd, three miles east of Maryville. William Ray, one-quarter mile east of Maryville. Thomas Ray, one-quarter mile east of Maryville. Thomas Adams, one half mile north of Maryville. Leroy Snoderly, one-half mile north of Maryville. John McKnight, two miles southeast of Maryville. James Ray, Jr., one-quarter mile east of Maryville.
265
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
William McKnight, two miles southeast of Maryville.
John A. Alexander, five miles southwest of Maryville.
Joseph E. Alexander, five miles southwest of Maryville.
WILCOX.
The town of Wilcox is located on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad, six and three-tenths miles by railroad, and eight miles by wagon road northeast of Maryville. The town was named in honor of B. S. Wilcox, who owned about two hundred acres of land where the town is situated. Mr. Wilcox lives in Hamden Junction, Ohio. The town is finely located on high rolling prairie land, on the divide between the headwaters of Clear Creek, running northwest, and the sources of Sand Creek and Florida Creek, running southwest, and those of the White Cloud running south. The Western Improvement Company of Missouri, composed of W. H. Blodgett, N. F. Grover, and J. G. Ander- son, laid out the town in the fall of 1879. The Town Company bought of Mr. Wilcox eighty acres of land at ten dollars an acre. They platted about twenty-five acres in town lots. The town is located on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 32, township 65, range 36, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 33, township 65, range 36. The section line running north and south between Polk and Nodaway Townships coincides with second street, the town lying in both townships. The lots have been disposed of at private sale. The first lot, lot 2, block 5, was sold to Bickett & Stanhope, February 1, 1880, at twenty-five dollars.
. The second lot was sold to A. L. Bickett August 15, 1880, at $25. It was lot 3, block 5, and was used for a dwelling.
Kirkpatrick & Son bought the third lot, lot 2, block 2, in August, 1880.
The depot building was put up before any structure was erected in the town, and was completed December, 1879.
The first building in town was a blacksmith shop, erected by Bickett & Stanhope, and was completed in February, 1880. The second build- ing was put up by A. L. Bickett for a dwelling, and was completed in February, ISSO. Soon after this C. T. Stanhope erected a dwelling, which was finished in March, 1880. Kirkpatrick & Son then put up a building, which was used for a grocery store. R. A. Burge soon erected a store building, which was completed in 1880. The section house was built during the year 1880. About this time a dwelling was put up by A. W. McGwigan, who moved into it. Samuel Hall erected a dwelling, which was completed in August, 1880. J. J. Stark next put up a dwelling, which was completed in the year 1881. In July of the same year Elijah Whitton built a dwelling.
266
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTV.
Adjoining the town plat L. S. Phillips erected a dwelling in August, 1881, and S. Cain also put up one the same year.
A good school house was completed October 20, 1881. Miss Minnie Ulrich is the principal of the school, which is in excellent condition. There are fifty-five pupils in attendance at the present time. Religious services are held in the school house by the Methodist Episcopal Church, and by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The directors of the school at the present time are as follows : J. L. Lance, J. Mustain and W. H. Jones.
The first marriage in the town was that of Mr. French Carter and Miss Celine Hefflin, in September, 1881.
The first birth was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Cain, which occurred in September, 1880.
The first death was that of Mrs. Henry Shell, which occurred Novem- ber 1, 1881.
The second birth was a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. M. Ryan, in 1881. The population of the town at the present time is about sixty.
A debating society was organized in November, IS81. The society has started out well, and holds weekly meetings in the school house. The meetings are well attended.
Wilcox is very pleasantly located, in a rich district of country, and will make a good point for business.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Bickett, A. L., blacksmith.
Booth & Glaze, druggists.
Glaze, J. T., physician.
Nienhuser, general merchandise.
Phillips, L. S., postmaster.
Phillips L. S., depot agent and grain buyer.
Ryan, Michael, boarding house for railroad.
Stratton, N. J., elevator.
Ulrich, Minnie, teacher.
White, A. D., boarding house.
PLATTING OF MARYVILLE AND SUBSEQUENT ADDITIONS.
Messrs. Brown & Montgomery, real estate agents and abstracters, Maryville, Mo., kindly furnished the following statement of the original platting of Maryville, with the subsequent additions thereto :
The land (the southwest quarter of section 17, in township 64, range 35.) upon which the original town of Maryville is situated, was granted to the State of Missouri by the United States in 1841, by an act of Con-
267
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
gress. It was selected by the State for internal improvements Novem- ber 11, 1844, and was patented by the state to Nodaway County January 15, 1848. The consideration was $1.25 per acre. The town was laid out and platted September 1, 1845 by the county court.
The first lot sold was lot 4, block 9, by Thomas Baker, commissioner for the county, to Amos Graham, June 15, 1846. The consideration was $5.25. The next conveyance was by James L. Ray, commissioner, to Thomas N. Johnson, being lot 6, block 3. The lot was sold March 29, 1847, and the consideration was $30.
The Southern Extension or Addition was laid out and platted in the spring of 1857. The first sale in this addition was by Henry T. Walker, commissioner, to Alonzo Thompson, conveying a large portion of the addition. This sale occurred December 16, 1859.
The Northwest Addition was platted March 9, 1857. The first con- veyance was from John T. Boyles and Levi Pickens to Jesse Stephenson, April 27, 1857, and comprised an undivided fourth of the entire addition.
M. G. Roseberry's Addition was platted June 15, 1868.
The first conveyance was lots I and 2, in block 9, by Mr. Roseberry to Persins E. Ashford.
W. M. Charles' Addition was platted September 9, 1868. The first sale was block 2, by Mr. Charles to A. Royal, on October 19, 1868.
T. L. Robinson's First Addition was platted December 9, 1868. The first conveyance was lots 3 and 4, in Union Block, by Mr. Robinson to , Wm. H. H. McLain, March 4, 1868.
Morton's Addition was made July 1, 1869. The first conveyance was made July 1, 1869, by L. V. Morton to A. H. Frazee. It consisted of lots 3 and 4, in block I.
Wm. B. Jones' Addition was made September 28, 1869, and the first conveyance was by Wm. B. Jones to James I. George, October 1, 1869, and consisted of lot I, block 3.
The Maryville City Company Addition was made December 21, 1869. The first conveyances were to a number of parties, April 9, 1870.
Hasting's Addition was made January 18, 1870. The first sale was made by Fred Hastings to Wm. Brady, January 18, 1870, and consisted of lot 8, block 32.
M. W. Charles' Second Addition was made February 16, 1870, and the first conveyance was by M. W. Charles to Newton W. and Alvin S. Charles, February 17, 1870, and consisted of the undivided fourth of the addition.
Torrance's Addition was made in March, 1870. The first sale was effected April 9, 1870, by B. F. Torrance. et al. to Henry Rokes, and comprised lots 1 and 2, block I.
Saunders' Addition was made in the year 1870. Wm. Saunders con- veyed, May 10, 1870, to F. B. McGrew the east half of block 4.
268
HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Dunn's Addition was also made in 1870. S. M. Dunn, June 11, 1870, conveyed to John E. Hudson lots 5 and 6, block I.
E. S. Stephenson's Addition bears date of June II, 1870. E. S. Stephenson, May 27, 1870, conveyed a large portion of the addition to the Maryville City Company.
Chamberlain's First Fruit Addition was made July 20, 1870. The first conveyance, of lot 3, was effected July 30, 1870, by David Chamberlain to J. S. Mow.
Prather's Addition bears date of June 21, 1875. On that day James B. Prather conveyed to James W. Markwell lots 1, 2, and 3, western boundary.
T. L. Robinson's Second Addition was made May, 1879.
L. A. Baritean's Addition is dated August 14, 1879.
John G. Costello's Addition was made February 10, 1881.
De Atley's Addition is dated April 8, 1881.
MARYVILLE.
The town of Maryville was incorporated in 1856, but the order of incorporation was annulled in 1857. It was again incorporated in 1859, but the organization lapsed, probably on account of the war. In 1866, it was again incorporated, but disincorporated in 1869. We find the following order of court, for the incorporation of Maryville (the town of Maryville), of record, dated July 19, 1869 :
" Now, at this day, comes I. V. McMillan, M. G. Roseberry, et al., and present a petition to this court, setting forth the metes and bounds of the Town of Maryville, and its commons, in the County of Nodaway, and praying that they may be incorporated, and a police established for the local government, and for the preservation and regulation of the commons appertaining to said Town of Maryville, and the court being satisfied that two-thirds of the taxable inhabitants of said Town of Mary- ville have signed said petition, and that the prayer of said petitioners is reasonable ; it is therefore declared and ordered by the court that said Town of Maryville be incorporated, and that the metes and bounds thereof be known and designated as follows, to wit : Commencing at the point in the center of section No. seventeen (17), in township No. sixty- four (64), of range No. thirty-five (35), running thence west on the half section line two hundred and forty rods (240), to the northwest corner of the northeast fourth of the southeast quarter of section No. eighteen (18), in township No. sixty-four (64), of range No. thirty-five (35), thence south on quarter section line two hundred and forty rods (240), to the southwest corner of the northeast fourth of the northeast quarter of sec- cion No. nineteen (19), in township No. sixty-four (64), of range No. thirty-five (35), thence cast on quarter section line eighty (So) rods, to
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.