Clinton County, Missouri - Chapter 4, 1923

ACT OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY - SEAT OF JUSTICE - REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS - APPOINTMENT OF FIRST OFFICERS^COURT PROCEEDINGS - SALE OF LOTS - ORGANIZATION OF ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS - SHOAL TOWNSHIP - PLATTE - LA¬ FAYETTE - LATHROP - CONCORD - ATCHISON - JACKSON - CLINTON - H14RDIN.

Clinton County was organized by act of the General Assembly of Missouri in 1833 and its boundary defined as follows: "The portion of territory heretofore attached to the County of Clay, in the State of Mis¬ souri, lying within the following boundaries, to-wit: Commencing at the northwest corner of the County of Clay, running thence with the boundary line of the state north, to the middle of township fifty-seven ; thence with the middle of said township east, to the boundary line of said tract, so attached to Clay County; thence with the said boundary south, to the Clay County line; and thence with the said line to the beginning, be, and the same is hereby declared to be a separate and distinct county, to be known and called by the name of Clinton, in honor of DeWitt Clinton, of New York."

David R. Atchison, John Long and Howard Everett were appointed commissioners for the purpose of selecting the seat of justice for said County of Clinton; and the said commissioners were vested with all the powers granted to commissioners, under the law entitled, an act for the organizing of counties hereafter established, approved Jan. 14, 1825. The act took effect Jan. 2, 1833.

On Jan. 15, 1833, John P. Smith, Archibald Elliott and Stephen Jones were appointed and commissioned justices of the County Court for the county. The following is the report of commissioners : "To the Honorable Judge of the Clinton Circuit Court: The undersigned commissioners ap¬ pointed by the Legislature of the State of Missouri to select and designate a place for the location of the seat of justice for the County of Clinton, do report to your honor, that they have selected the following described tract of land as a suitable place for the location of said seat of justice, to-wit: The east half of the northwest quarter of Section 24, of Township 55, Range 32, containing 80 acres. Also a tract of land beginning at a stake at the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 24, Township 55, Range 32, running thence west to a stake 12 poles; thence north to a stake 80 poles; thence east to a stake 12 poles; thence south to the beginning, containing six acres, more or less. For title papers, your honor is referred to papers marked 1, 2, and 3.

One of these commissioners, Gen. David R. Atchison, afterwards stated that it was the intention of the commissioners to locate the county seat on the 80 acres of land lying just east of the present site of Plattsburg, and upon a more elevated spot of ground. This fact being made known, a man named Walker hastened to Lexington to the land office and entered the 80-acre tract, believing by so doing that a chance was opened for a speculation. This act upon the part of Walker caused the commissioners to locate the county seat where it now is.

On the second Monday of March, 1833, the first County Court met in the County of Clinton, at the house of Laban Garrett, and there organized and set in motion the machinery necessary to its civil government.

The justices having taken the oath of office, they then took their seats, constituting the County Court of Clinton County, and caused procla¬ mation to be made thereof, accordingly, by Thompson Smith, who had been appointed sheriff. John P. Smith was appointed presiding justice of the court.

"It is ordered, that Richard R. Rees be, and he is hereby, appointed clerk of this court, who, together with Joel Lamham, Rice B. Davenport, and Elijah Fry, entered into and acknowledged bond to the State of Mis¬ souri in the penalty of $3,006, lawful money of the United States, condi¬ tioned as the court directs, which bond is approved of by the court and ordered to be certified to the secretary of state.

"It is ordered, that Elijah Fry be, and he is hereby, appointed assessor for the County of Clinton, for the year of our Lord 1833, who appeared and entered into bond with Eice B. Davenport, Joel Lamham, and Benja¬ min F. Wilkinson, his securities, in the penalty of $600, which they ac¬ knowledged in open court, and the court approved said bond."

This was all the business done by the court at the first meeting, in March, 1833. On the 8th day of April, following, the court again met, special term, at the house of John Biggerstaff, all the justices being pres¬ ent. The first thing that engaged the attention of the court was the following.

"This day Richard R. Rees presented his account against the county, amounting to $18.50, for books and stationery, purchased for the county, which account is allowed, and ordered paid out of any money in the county treasury."

The court then appointed Washington Huffaker collector of the County; Levi Shalcher, county surveyor; and John Biggerstaff, county treasurer. Abner Jackson was appointed constable of LaFayette Town¬ ship, and Ezekial Smith constable of Jackson Township.

At this term of the court. Concord Township was established; James Hull was appointed constable of LaFayette Township, and Henry F. Mitchell, commissioner of the seat of justice.

A sale of lots in the county seat was ordered and lot No. 110 was reserved for the erection of a Court House thereon; the sale date was April 7, 1834.

Benjamin F. Wilkerson was appointed the first assessor of the county. William F. Franklin was recommended as a suitable person for justice of the peace of Jackson Township.

In March, 1836, the county court established the different road dis¬ tricts of the county, to the number of nine, and appointed overseers for the same.

At a special term of the court held June 4, 1838, an order was made dividing the attached portion of Clinton County into additional townships as follows : "First, Nodaway Township, commencing on the old boundary line at David Castile's ; thence north to the northern boundary of the state ; thence west with said boundary to the Missouri River; thence down said river to Liberty warehouse; thence east by William Pyburn's, Joseph Gage's, and so on to the place of beginning."

"Second, Jefferson Township, commencing at the southeast corner of Nodaway Township - that is at David Castile's, on the old boundary line ; thence west by Joseph Gage's and William Pyburn's and to strike the Missouri River at Dougherty's Landing; thence down said river to Pal¬ mer's; thence east to James Gilmore's, and to the Platte River; thence up said river to the mouth of the Third Fork; thence up said fork to the beginning."

Crawford Township, commencing at Palmer's, on the Missouri River; thence down said river to the mouth of Sugar Creek ; thence up said creek to the dividing ridge between Sugar Creek and Bee Creek; thence east to Nathan Turner's; thence up Bee Creek to a point immediately south of Richard Hill's; thence north to the south boundary of Jefferson Township, and thence to the beginning at Palmer's."

"Linville Township: All that country south of Sugar Creek, and south of the dividing ridge, between Sugar Creek, and Bee Creek, and south of Nathan Turner's."

On December 7, 1871, the County Court made the following order in reference to naming and describing the municipal townships, as they now exist:

"It is ordered by the court that Clinton County be, and the same is hereby, subdivided into nine municipal townships, named and described as follows :

"Shoal Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 24, in Township 57, of Range 30; thence south to the southeast corner of Sec¬ tion 24, in Township 56, of Range 30 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 19, in Township 56, of Range 30; thence north 286 links, to the southeast corner of Section 24, in Township 56, of Range 31 ; thence west to the southwest corner of said Section 24, in Township 56, of Range 31 ; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 1, in Township 56, of Range 31 ; thence west 21 links to the southwest corner of Section 36, in Township 57, of Range 31 ; thence north to the northwest corner of Sec¬ tion 24, in Township 57, of Range 31 ; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 24, in Township 57, of Range 31 ; thence north 164 links to the northwest corner of Section 19, in Township 57, of Range 39 ; thence east to the place of beginning.

"Platte Township begins at the southeast comer of Section 23, in Township 57, of Range 31 ; thence south to the southeast comer of Section 35, in said township and range; thence east 21 links to the northeast corner of Section 2, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 23, in said Township 56, of Range 31; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 19, in said Township 56, of Range 31 ; thence north 29 links to the southeast corner of Section 24, in Town¬ ship 56, of Range 32; thence west to the southwest comer of Section 23, in said Township 56, of Range 32 ; thence north to the northwest comer of Section 2, in said Township 56, of Range 32 ; thence east 198 links to the southwest comer of Section 35, in Township 57, of Range 32 ; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 23, in said Township 57, of Range 32 ; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 24, in said Township 57, of Range 32; thence south 50 links, to the northwest corner of Section 19, in Township 57, of Range 31 ; thence east to the place of beginning.

"LaFayette Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 22, in Township 57, of Range 32 ; thence south to the southeast corner of Section

34, in said township and range; thence west 198 links, to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 56, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 22, in said Township 56, of Range 32 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 19, in said Township 56, of Range 32; thence north 61 links to the southeast corner of Section 24, in Town¬ ship 56, of Range 33 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 22, in said Township 56, of Range 33; thence west 600 links to the former west boundary of the State of Missouri; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 21, in Township 57, of Range 33; thence north 23 links; thence east 567 links to the northwest corner of Section 22, in said Town¬ ship 57, of Range 33 ; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 24, of said Township 57, of Range 33 ; thence north 162 links to the northwest corner of Section 19, in Township 57, of Range 32 ; thence east to the place of beginning.

"Lathrop Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 25, in Township 56, of Range 30 ; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 36, in Township 55, of Range 30; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 35, in Township 55, of Range 31 ; thence north to the northwest comer of said Section 35 ; thence east to the northeast corner of said Sec¬ tion 35; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 1, in Township 55, of Range 31 ; thence west 14 links ; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 25, in Township 56, of Range 31 ; thence east to the northeast corner of said Section 25; thence south 286 links to the north¬ west corner of Section 30, in Township 56, of Range 30; thence east to the place of beginning.

"Concord Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 26, in Township 56, of Range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of Section

35, in said Township 56, of Range 31 ; thence east 14 links to the north¬ east corner of Section 2, in Township 55, of Range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 26, in said Township 55, of Range 31 ; thence west to the west corner of Section 30, in said Township 55, of Range 31 ; thence north 16 links to the southeast corner of Section 25, in Township 55, of Range 32 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 26, in said Township 55, of Range 32; thence north to the northwest cor¬ ner of Section 2, in said Township 55, of Range 32 ; thence east 163 links ; thence north to the northwest comer of Section 26, in Township 56, of Range 32 ; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 25, of said Town¬ ship 56, of Range 32 ; thence south 29 links, to the northwest corner of Section 30, in Township 56, of Range 31; thence east to the place of be¬ ginning.

"Atchison Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 27, in Township 56, of Range 32 ; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 34, in said township and range; thence west 163 links to the northeast corner of Section 9, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 27, in said Township 55, of Range 32; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 30, in said Township 55, of Range 32 ; thence south 83 links, to the southeast corner of Section 25, in Town¬ ship 55, of Range 33; thence west to the former state boundary of the State of Missouri; thence north to a point 13 links south of the southeast corner of Section 21, in Township 56, of Range 33; thence east 600 links to the southwest corner of Section 22, in said Township 56, of Range 33 ; thence east to the northeast comer of Section 25, in said Township 56, of Range 33 ; thence south 61 links to the northwest corner of Section 30, in Township 56, of Range 32 ; thence east to the place of beginning.

"Jackson Township begins at the southeast corner of Section 1, Town¬ ship 54, of Range 30 ; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 25, in said township and range ; thence west to the southwest corner of Sec¬ tion 30, in said township and range; thence north 20 links to the south¬ east corner of Section 25, in Township 54, of Range 31 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 26, in said Township 54, of Range 31 ; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 3, in said Township 54, of Range 31 ; thence east to the place of beginning.

"Clinton Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 34, in Township 55, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of said section; thence east 34 links to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 54, of Range 31; thence south to the southeast corner of Sec¬ tion 27, of said Township 54, of Range 31 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 30, of said Township 54, of Range 31 ; thence south 58 links to the southeast corner of Section 25, of Township 54, of Range 32 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 26, of said Township 54, of Range 32; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 21, in said Township 54, of Range 32; thence east 100 links; thence north to the (6) northwest corner of Section 35, in Township 55,' of Range 32; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 25, in said Township 55, of Range 32 ; thence south 16 links to the northwest corner of Section 31, in Township

"Hardin Township begins at the northeast corner of Section 34, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence south to the southeast corner of said Section 34; thence west 100 links to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 54, of Range 32 ; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 27, in said Township 54, of Range 32 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 30, in said Township 54, and Range 32; thence north 160 links to the southeast corner of Section 25, of Township 54, of Range 33 ; thence west to the former west boundary of the State of Missouri ; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 34, in Township 55, of Range 33; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 25, in said Township 55, of Range 33 ; thence north 83 links to the northwest corner of Section 31, in Township 55, of Range 32 ; thence east to the place of beginning."

At the November term of the County Court, in 1873, the lines of Con¬ cord Township were changed, the change affecting, also, Clinton, Lathrop and Atchison Townships. The order of the court is as follows :

"It is ordered by the court that the lines of Concord Township shall be changed: to begin at the northeast corner of Section 27, in Township

56, of Range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 34, in said township and range; thence east 14 links to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 55, of Range 31 ; thence south to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of Section 34, in Township 55, of Range 31 ; thence west to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of Section 34, Township 55, of Range 32; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 3, in Township 55, of Range 32; thence east 163 links; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 27, in Township 56, of Range 32 ; thence east to the place of beginning. And it is further ordered, that the west line of Lathrop Township, the north line of Clinton Town¬ ship, and the east line of Atchison Township, be, and they are so changed, as to correspond with the above change and lines of Concord Township."