Daviess County, Missouri - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 43 of those read), 1882

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 43 of those read)

Water Supply, Extent of Territory, ete- - Pioneers - An Incident - Slightly Taken in - Union Church - V ictoria - Alto Vista - Barbecue - $10,000 Worth - Population - Elections and Officers - Biographical Sketches.

Water Supply, Extent Of Territory, Eto

Jefferson township was originally a part of Grindstone township, one of the three first townships of which Daviess county was formed. It was also one of the earliest townships settled. The western part was populated largely from the people of Virginia, Kentucky and other Southern States, while the east portion drew its settlers from the Eastern and Middle States, Jef. ferson township seems to be the fountain head of the head-waters of innumerable creeks and streams that flow to nearly every point of the compass, north, east, and south emptying into Grand River, while those on the west pass into DeKalb county. Eleven creeks and branches rise within the limits of Jefferson township, and from these streams are tound plenty of water, and on their banks timber of every quality known to the soil is 'grown. It is in every respect one of the best townships in the county for richness of soil and splendid timber supply. ;

In size Jefferson townsbip is now a congressional township, six miles square, and having wpon the assessment roll twenty-two thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight and ninety-four one-hundredths acres of land. nearly equally divided between prairie and timber with a rich and deep alluvial soil on the bottom lands while the prairies are in places of a black mould, and again of a rich loam, It is this latter soil which is so valuable tor raising fruit, and Jefferson township is the best frait growing one, and with more of it,than any township in the county. The finest orchard in the county of Daviess is probably in this township, is the property of Joseph H. Mallory, » native of Carroll county, Virginia, but since 1541, a resident of Jetferson township. A yreat many of the farmers have given special attention to fruit culture, and the result is what might be expected, splendid orchards, the best of grafted fruits, and plenty of them,

This township lies on the west side of the county, in the second tier of townships, from the south, and is bounded on the north by Marion, east by Liberty and south by Colfax townships, and its western border is the dividing line between Daviess and DeKalb counties. Soon after the Lreak-up of these original townships of the county, Jefferson came into lite, and in 1859 was then one of the seven townships of which Daviess county was composed. From that time until 1870 Jefferson was the largest township in the county and was a potent factor in its history. It was also the greatest in population until it was dismembered, and in point of farm improvements is the equal of any in the county. So much for the township whose primitive name was that of "Grindstone," but which when placed among the munieipal sisters of the county was given the name of Jefferson, who was the immortal embodiment of Democracy and free government, whose achievements as a statesman have no parallel in our country's history.

Jefferson was one of the earliest townships to find settlers, and Andersou Smith was the first permanent white settler who located in the township. Mr. Smith came originally from Tennessee and located in Clay county, Missouri, in 1833. In 1834 he removed to Jefferson township, Daviess county, and settled on section seventeen. dust before his removal, he was married, in Clay county, to Miss Mahala A. Henderson, a sister of Judge Henderson, of this county, and his trip to Jefferson was the starting out in life of this young couple. Mr. Henderson and John Owings came the same year. John Iiggins, Elijah Armstrong and Wiley Cope all came from Tennessee and settled in the township in 1835 and 1836. New arrivals soon built up tke intervening space and it was not Jong before the pioneers were in neighborly distances of each other. Joseph H. Mallory came in 1841 and is the oldest settler now living in the township.

The tirst death in the township was that of James Camel, who was killed by being thrown from his horse, near where the town of Alto Vista now stands. The first natural death was that of Miss Owings, who died in 1842,. and the first cottin was made for her by J. H. Mallory. She died of typhoid fever, and was buried in the cemetery known as the Black graveyard in Colfax township. This was the first interment in that cemetery.

The first child bora in Jefferson township was George A., son of Anderson and Mahala A. Smith, whose birth occurred in the year 1835. George: A. Smith is still living and is, of course, the oldest native of Jefferson township.

An Incident

An incident transpired in the early pioneer days of Anderson Smith, which came near being an accident and a serious one. Like all the pioneers of those days, Mr. Smith located on timbered land, and his cabin was, of course, on the bank of a creek, so that water would be handy. <A rainy season had already swollen the streains and they were all nearly bank-full, when another storm set in and Mr. Smith was rudely awakened by the rushing water and the drift-wood striking lis cabin as it passed swiftly by. It soon became evident that the cabin must go, and there was no time to lose. The water was rising rapidly. Mrs. Smith was in bad health and very feeble, and Mr. Smith took her and lis infant child upon his back and, wading in water in places waist-deep and keeping the drift-wood from striking him, with his hands, succeeded in reaching high ground. It was not altogether a pleasant night thus to pass, but they stood it. Such was only one of the very many perils and experiences of a pioneer life. Mr. Smith lived to a good old age and died, in the winter of 1877, on the farm where he first settled. There he had lived, rearing a family of four sturdy sons an' three daughters, and there he died beloved by his family, respected by all. His wife still survives him and his children are all married and settled and well provided with this world's goods.

Slightly Taken In

Impudence and cheek have been supposed by many to be peenliar institutions of these latter days of wickedness and sin, but the following incident will disabuse the mind of many as to the truthfulness of this impression: In 1838 and about the time the Mormons were getting in a good deal of nefarions work, stealing and pilfering, a party of three men mounted on fine horses rode up to the residence of Wiley Cope and enquired if there were any suspicious characters around, or if le bad seen any of those thieving Mormons. They, the horsemen, belonged to a band of vigilantes and were out on a hunt for some of the raseally crew of Mormons who liad been committing a series of depredations through that country, Mr. Cope had not seen them, but gave the riders all the information he had on the subject and then invited the men into dinner, which offer was thankfully accepted after their long ride in search of the offenders. Mr, Cope and his wite gave them the best the cabin afforded and all the encouragement possible and a hearty wish that they might capture the Mormon scoundrels they were after, Mr. Cope giving energetic expression of his hate of the whole Mormon erew. They became quite at home, and after dinner one of the three took Mr. Cope aside and privately entertained him with the way they proposed to deal with the Mormon rascals when they had caught them. In less than ahalf hour they were gone. Perhaps an hour or two had passed when Anderson Smith came up and enquired of Mr. Cope if he had seen any Mormons around that day. Mr. Cope replied that he had not, but that a party of three Mormon-hunters had been at his house and took dinner, leaving soon after. On Mr. Cope describing the men, Mr. Smith replied that they were the very Mormons he was looking out for. Mr. Cope thonght not, that in fact it could not be possible. These men were gentlemen and earnest in their desire to capture these very men Mr. Smith was after and that it wasn't possible he could be so unmercifully duped. Smith suggested an examination of Mr. Cope's premises tu see if they lad not left their marks, and sure enough there was an overcoat and several blankets missing and a few other articles, that made Mr. Cope almost swear he could see the biggest fool in Daviess county by just looking in a glass, and that in fact his hospitality had been lavished upon Mormons and not Mormon-hunters. While one had taken Mr. Cope confidentially to one side, a second had conveyed to his wite some important informution of the Mormon's doings while the third improved the opportunity by getting away with the articles aforesaid, and as soon as secured, had given the signal and all hastily left. The duped man admitted that he was angry enongh to "Qope" with all three of the strangers, but admitted that Wiley was not in Jefferson township. Erected in 1856, for many years it was the sai and about the only place of divine service In all that part of non wei Up to the commencement ot the war, some three or four hema i - inations were there represented by respectable memberships. During "ie strife ministers ceased visiting the ebureh, organizations became scattered, the the cemetery, containing many of its founders whose names are not only associated with the erection of Union Church, but appear prominently on the pages of the history of the county, in connection with many of its enterprises.

It was not until the fall of 1872, that the old church was reorganized, when the Rev. J. B. Jewell, of Gallatin, visited the neighberhood and established regular preaching onee more. Others have since followed, of whom was Rev. James Regan, who helped to keep up the good work, and the people rejoiced that they could again meet at the place of such hallowed memories to them,

Victoria

This town was laid out in 1855, by John Osborn on the northwestern part of section thirty-two and within less than a mile of the south line of the township. It never reached a very large size, but once had some seventytive inhabitants, and before the town of Winston was laid out, was a rival of Alto Vista, which was nearly two miles distant, on section nineteen, and near the DeKalb county line. A stage route in the good old days did not pass by Mr. Hine's store, or Alto Vista, which, with all the etceteras of a " Four Corners' - a blacksmith shop and a few dwellings - had, according to Mr. Hines, and his village neighbors, a proud future, was thereby slighted, and Victoria, named after the womanly Queen of England, secured the boon and high honor of having the aforesaid stage line stop at its door. At one time Victoria had two stores, a dozen dwellings, besides other accompanimente of a village, but the unsuccessful attempt to get the railroad to pass through the place, drowned the brightness of its future, and to-day it Janguishes. The census of 1880 gave it thirty-eight inhabitants, and as that was two more than its rival, it was content. John Osborn also opened the first store in the place. Being but a little over two miles from Winston, the growing railroad town, whieh latter might be called as much a part of Jefferson as of Colfax township, being situated within less than a quarter of a mile of its border, there is not much future for Vietoria, and the old Queen ot the Prairies must give way to the bright and winsome lass whose substantial charms are more inviting, and at whose gates that great agent of civilization, the iron-horse, checks his speed, nods familiarly and then goes rushing on his way. And here we leave the little town, regretting that the bright anticipations of early years have been brought to a premature end.

Alto Vista

This is another bright luminary whose early years were given to rivalling a sister town in all that went to prove her great superiority, and in the bold expression of her great expectations. It is sad to think that this rival town, after a quarter of a century of life's fitful fever, should number, all

'told, only some forty persons. Again has Winston cansed blight where once the glamor of " great expectations" threw its weleome folds over all it . a hl . (era e re M "| } } contained. The town of Alto V ista was laid out by M.D. Hines, in the year 1856, who also opened the first store, and whose trade really covered a Jarge extent of country. It was beeanse they did not get a stage route that started the town of Alto Vista into life, but beine a little over four miles from the young " Queen of the Prairies," she is likely to retain her present population, which twas thirty-six hy the census of 1880. Having a trade reaching over into DeKalb county, all is not Jost, but the lialo whieh surrounds its future is sadly dimmed.

The only barbecue ever held in Daviess county, that any record is known of, was held way back in the year 1858, and it was on the 4th of July of that year. It was held at Alto Vista, the citizens of that little town exerting themselves to make it a success, It proved one in every particular, the people coming from miles around to take part in the celebration. The crowd present was estimated at two thousand, and was the largest gathering ever seen in the county, up to that time. Alto Vista crowned herself all over with glory on that natal day of national independence, and her patriotism became known far and wide. The leading spirits were M. M, McPhetridge, 'George A. Smith, T. B. Crowder, W. F. Richardson, and a few others whose names are forgotten. It was an immense boom for Alto Vista, and 4 Victoria" bowed her head and wept. Her rival was one ahead.

Ten Thousand Dollars Worth

Jefferson township was anxious that the iron-liorse should have his stee! laid track run through her territory, and on the 31st of August, 1571, proposed by a vote of her people to give $10,000 for the much coveted boon, but the road was surveyed through only a corner of the township, and so all her work eame to nanght. The amount of railroad track within the township is about two and one-fourth miles, in the southeastern corner, ranning principally through sections number thirty-six and thirty-five, and just barely touching sections twenty-five and thirty-four, But Winston is so near that it is only about seven miles to the station from the farthest portion of her territory, while nearly hall of the township can reach freighting facilities by a travel of only three miles.

Population

The first census of Jefferson township of record is that taken by the government fer the decade ending in 1560. At that time Jefferson township ineluded the territory of Colfax, Liberty and Marion and was given at 2,084.

(of whom 114 were negroes), a number just five greater than Grand River: township, the next in size in the county, In 1870 Jefferson was shorn of her territory, the townships above named, and the census of that year gave her 1,059 of whom forty-one were colored - a little over half of the population of ten years before, but three-fourths of her area had been taken from her. The census of 1880 shows a population of 1,372 a gain of thirty per cent in the past decade, which is four per cent greater than the average of the State, The assessed valuation of the township in 1877, the last year taken, was as follows:

Elections And Officers

The first election for township officers was under the new township organization law which remained in force until the first of January, 1878, when it was repealed,

The election in the spring of 1872 resulted as follows: Wesley Lee, supervisor; Wm. Smith, clerk; Brad. W. Stout, assessor; Olden Cole, colleetor; J. N. Moore, constable; 8. R. Grieggs and R. Richardson, justices of the peace.

1873 - Wesley Lee, supervisor; W. J. Smith, township clerk; Brad. WStont, collector; J. D. M. Jacks, assessor; J. H. Mallory and Dick Richardson justices of the peace; George Smith, constable.

1875 - T. DG. Crowder, trustee; W. J. Smith, clerk; Joseph H. Mallory and R, N. Moore, justices of the peace; Brad W. Stout, collector; Elisha Frost, assessor; Isaac D. Davis, constable.

1877 - Daniel Pefiley, trustee; W. Stout, clerk; Brad. W. Stout, assessor; P. A. Morrison, collector; E. E. Mallory, constable; J. Tl. Mallory and R. N. Moore, justices of the peace.

The reénactment of the township law at the session of 1880-81, again gave the people of the several townships the right to choose their local officers, and the following were elected in the spring of 1881: Elisha Frost,. trustee; B. W. Stout, collector; W. T. Hughes, clerk; V. W. Scrivinger,. constable; J. H. Mallory and Newton Moore, justices of the peace.