Daviess County, Missouri - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 41 of those read), 1882

General Pesortption

Sheridan township was first organized in 1869, and its territory was taken from the townships of Gallatin and Jefferson. It is a good township of land, though on some of the uplands the soil is light. On Marrowbone Creek, of which there are two branches on the eastern edge of Monroe township, the soil is ofa rich black mould, very deep and extremely fertile. Tt has some fine timber, and in this the township has a sonree of considerable wealth, and as Marrowbone Creek waters the township on both the north and south, the timber is pretty evenly distributed over the township except in the central part.

Sheridan is bounded on the north by Liberty, and on the east by Monroe township. On the south it joins the Caldwell county line, and on the west Colfax township. In aren of territory it is a congressional township, and is designated as township tifty-eight north, of range twenty-cight west. It has twenty-one thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven and eighty-one one-hundredths acres of land, nearly one half of which is timber, and the remainder prairie. Sheridan township in the last ten years has advanced but a trifle in population, in fact losing, when the natural inerease is considered, The population in 1879 was 923, and only 967 in 1880, a gain of forty-four in ten years. This will hurdly do to brag on. The trouble with both Sheridan and Monroe townships, is that there are too many non-resident land-holders, and this, in tact, afleets the whole county, more or less. There has been but one valuation by townships since the organization, and that was in 1877, when the assessment of real estate was given at $144,282, and the personal property at $54,410, making « total valuation of $198,692. With the natural increase of land under cultivation and of stock, by the present settlers, there has been nothing to give melt greater valuation to the township since that year, and at this time can be safely estimated at $250,- 000. It is a well watered township for stock purposes, and there are some very fine springs. Marrowbone Creek and Dog Creek are the principal streams, the latter a branch of Honey Creek, as is also the former, and the branches of these creeks spread pretty well over the township. Certainly

The north and west portions of the township are the most thickly settled parts, and there some of the finest and best improved farms in the county can be found. This township has no villages within its borders. The principal places of trade being Hamilton and Kidder on the southern border of the township, and Gallatin, the county seat.

The Pioneers

Sheridan township was first settled in the year 1833, and the first settler was James McCreary, who drove his preémption stake in the southeast quarter of section thirteen. E, Mann was the next arrival and he came the same year, and soon after a few more whose names are forgotten. In 1834 quite a number came in, among whom were Isaac Splawn, Benjamin Rowell, E. Kelso, Charles MeGee, Nathan Marsh, Anthony Mullins, E. Hulett, and A. MeMurtry. These old pioneers were the first that settled in the township, and they blazed the way for those who followed. It was these pioneers and their families who had their full share of the suffering and privation incident to the settlement of a new country. They had neither mills to grind their corn or stores within a reasonable distance to do their trading. A burnt hole in a log with a deerskin stretched over it and a stick cut for a pestle comprised their milling facilities. One or two hand-mills were in the township. Richmond, in Ray county, and Liberty in Clay, were the principal trading points. The former for store goods, the latter for milling purposes. Gaime was plenty and that carried them through in many close places. Deerskin pants and moccasins and coonskin caps were the rule and not the exception, Mrs, Anthony MeMullins, Mrs. Anna Kelso, and Mrs. Naney McCreary were the first to weave and spin. They did the first work of this kind in the township in 1835, and the shirts for the men and dresses for themselves were all made out of the same line of goods. It was. warm, comfortable, and durable and that was the great object in those days. The cabins were of the most primitive order, and the chinks were stopped up with mud, which was the principal ingredient that went into the chimneys, along with a few sticks. The women of those days had their full share ot pioneer life, and to vet at the truth of the matter, very many of the pioneer men of those days would have come up missing if their wives had not been along.

Settlers began to arrive and settle all over the township, not rapidly, but they kept dropping in, one or two families ata time. The principal settlement was the MeCreary-Kelso, on the east side, and in the north was the Hulett-MeMurtry.

James B. MeCreary came from North Carolina, and his was among the tirst deaths, if not the first, in the county, occurring in 1835. The next death reported was that of Sarah E. Lisle, a child born in the township in January, 1841. Ter parents eame to the township in 1839. Her clothing accidentally caught tire and she was burned te death, in 1845, and was lnited iyi what is known as Hopkin's cemetery, Her father's name was George Lisle, and her mother's, Rebecea Lisle, wee Lenliart, .

In 1840 came the MeMurtrys (a brother having preceded them several years betore). They were Jolin, Joseph, (reorge and Samuel, from Tennessee. Then came tie Noahs the same year, from Ohio; their names were George and Reuben, Richard Woodress came at the same time. They all] settled in the central and north portions of the township. Thomas Keis and Dr. Samuel Venable also eame in 1840. This last gentleman resided in Gallatin, practiced in the township, and was also the only physieian in Gallatin for some time. He came trom Virginia, and has since died, but atter he had removed from Daviess county. The first physician to practice in the township was Dr. W. P. Thompson, who visited the houses of the first settlers jn 1833, and Dr. Venable was the next.

Besides those who came in 1884 and 1835, there came Ira Norris and J. Whittier, they settled in what is now District No. 2, where the first settlers located.

The first preacher was the Rev. Janes McMahan, and he heli the tirst religious service at the residence of J. Lenhart. The next minister in the township was a Mormon. There were several of that tribe around trom 1836 to 1838.

The first two schools taught in school-honses was in section seven, on the west side of the township, and in section twenty-four on the eastern border. They were both erected in 1542. They were, of course, built of logs, in the highest style of the art in vogne at that time. The neighbors united to pat them up, and they were the joint property of the people of the district in which they were located. ax

The first school tanghtin the township on section seven, was by C. Needler, and he had some thirteen pupils, at the usual price of $1.40 per scholar, unless the higher branches were taught.

A school-house was erected in District No. 2 in the year 1842, while the first one built in District No. 5 was by E. kK. Chabbuek, in 1869. At this time there are sixdistricts and six good frame schovl-houses in Sheridan township, and in this history will be found under the chapter schvols, a full and concise statement of the township fund and the number of pupils in the township.

The Prairie Ridge Christian Chureh was organized in the year 1867, by the Rev. W. H. Williams, of Gallatin, with ten members, their names being, Samuel Kindig and wife, Amos Faw and wife, Sarah Johnston, Leah Grove, Mrs. Clive Cole and Mrs. Olive Myers. The organization continved to grow in membership from year to year, and in 1878 they put upa ehureli on section six in the northwestern corner of the township, and it is the first and only church building in the township. Quite a number of its members live in Colfax and Liberty townships. It is a frame building of good size, plainly finished and furnished, and cost $1,000. It is entirely out of debt, in a flourishing condition, and is surrounded by a beautiful country. The church was dedicated in 1879 by the Rev. Alexander Newby and his sermon was delivered to one of the largest congregations which ever assembled in the neighborhood. The pastors have been: Rev. Alexander Newby, Rev. Benjamin Matchett, Jr., Rev. J. D. Jordan and Rev. John Pudner. At the present time it has one hundred and sixty members, must of whom are earnest workers in the.chureh. Since the dedication of the chureh in 1879 a Sunday-school has been formed and has been eminently suceesstul. With but few exceptions, and that has been on account of bad weather, the Sunday-school has been regularly kept up the past two years, and has an average attendance of some forty scholars. Superintendent Simon Grove has given earnest attention to the good work. The present officers of the church are Benjamin Matchett, Jr., and Simon Grove, elders; Samuel Kindig, Josephus Pastor and J. B. Johnston, deacons.

Mount Nebo Baptist Church

The members of this chureh, as early as 1858, organized, the Rev. B. F. Kenney and the Rev. Mr. Black assisting in the work. It was in July of that year. The first members of Mount Nebo Baptist Chureh, of Sheridan township, were: John Barnes and wite, Philip Place and wife, Lewis Mullins and wife, Daniel Leobo and wife, Nancy Payne and Henry H. Payne, ten members in all. The first minister was the Rev. R. ©. Mill. The chureh has now a membership of sixty-five and there is reason to believe that ere long they will erect for themselves a neat and pleasant place of worship. Services are now held in a school-house.

Church Of The United Brethren

The Church of the United Brethren was organized in 1872, by the Rev. A.D. Thomas and ten members. Mr. Thomas was the first pastor, and was succeeded by the Revs. T. B. France, Jolin B. Daviess, R. Zumbro, J. H. Brundige, O. 8. Murray, J. Berrymau and John White, in the order named, The chureh has continued to grow and now has thirty members.

Methodist service was held in the township as early as 1856 by the Rev. Griflin, now stationed at Pattonsburg. The reverend gentleman had charge of what was ealled the Albany Cirenit, and Sheridan, Liberty, Marion and Jefferson townships were a part of his circuit, ,

Good Templars

In February, 1877, the above lodge, on Saturday, February 10th, celebrated its sixth anniversary by a pleasant reunion and an elegant supper, The affair passed off most pleasantly.

A Sad Accident

The neighborhood near New Garden sehool-house was considerably excited over the finding of the body of Jacob J. Spohn, an old man nearly sixty years of age. He was found drowned in Marrowbone Creek, on Tuesday, June 14,1870. He had attended to his duties in the morning, and, after eating a light breakfast, took his fishing-pole and started for Marrowbone Creek. Not returning to dinner, his family beeame somewhat alarmed and went in search of him. They fonnd his body floating in the water about a foot below the surtace, lite apparently having been extinet some hours. His fishing-pole was tound where he liad been fishing. It is supposed that, being subject to fainting spells, he had been attacked by one of them while sitting on the bank, and had fallen forward into the creck. The coroner's verdict was: "Manner and cause of drowning to jurors unknown." The fainting was believed tu have been the true cause.

Nearly seven years later, and in the same month, another sail accident happened, and the waters of Marrowbone Creek again proved the winding sheet of another unfortunate. William Reed, while attempting to eros Marrowbone Creek, believing he conld ford it, drove in and the team soon found itself beyond its depth. In the struggle to get out, Mr. Reed in trying to help them, it is supposed, fell into the: creek and was drowned. The team also shared the fate of the unfortunate owner. A coroner's jury was impaneled by "Squire J. G. Black, who acted as coroner, and the above was the conclusion arrived at. There was no witness to the sad affair, and the manner of their death could only be judged by the appearance of the victims.

The loeal municipal affairs of the township since its organization have been economically managed. There has been no charge of peculation, and, so far as the township affairs are concerned, may be safely said to have been earried on prudently and successfully. The election for township officers in 1872 resulted as follows: George E. Barkdoll, supervisor; Miles Bristow, elerk; M. J. Benson, assessor; Charles L. McCrary, collector; Reason Castor, constable; Samuel Surface and John G. Black, justices of the peace.

At the next election some changes were made, and the spring election resulted in the choice of the following named officers: George E. Barkdoll, supervisor; Miles Bristow, clerk; Samuel Ramsbottom, collector; Madison J. Benson, assessor; William Yiesley and F. 8. Burdoin, justices; John McCrary, constable.

188$1 - Charles L. MeCrary, trustee; Robert II. Grantham, clerk and assessor; E. R. Chubbuek, collector; Levi Beeson, constable; Anson Pritchard and Asher Sandals, justices,