Grundy County, Missouri - Maeion Township, 1881

Maeion Township

Its Boundaru Lines - 1838 to 1842 - The Hentherlij War - The Redskins - $10,000 Cost- Thomas's Grove-Churches - Schools - The first SchoQl-house - An Elopement - Preparing for Battle, an Incident - The Indian Outhreak of 184:2 - The Gulliver War - Assassination - Description - First Elections-Township Officers - Lindlei/ - Its First Settlers - Incorporation - Business Houses - Its Famous Mineral Sprinff-Biographies.

Investigation of the County Court records of Livingston county shows that the territory now comprising Grundy and Mercer counties was divided into townships. At that time all that portion east of Grand Kiver, and the Weldon or East Fork, to the Iowa line, was called Muddy Creek. This was in 1837. In 1839, at the May term of said court, the following will be found of record :

First Boundary

"Ordered that a township be made as follows; to-wit, beginning at the east corner of township ISTo. 59, range No. 24; thence north with the said ranffe line to the State boundarv; thence east with the said boundary to where the Linn county line intersects the same; then south with the said Linn county to township No. 59; thence with the said township line to the beginning. Said township to be called Marion township."

This order of the court constituted Marion one of the original townships which composed the county in 1841, and which remained in force until 1845, when the number was reduced to seven, and of this number Marion still remained one of the prominent townships until the reorganization of the county under the new law, in 1872, which cut off Wilson township from the south and a part of Liberty from the north, thus contracting the territory of Marion to its present size.

Marion township was made the home of the white man in 1838. In that year the settlers first began to arrive. Among those early comers were Joseph, Uriah and Samuel Rooks, of Indiana, and John and Joab Holloway, all of whom settled in the township in the fall of 1838. Robert Ishmael was also one of the arrivals in that year, as were John Brown and James Chrisman. The following year Marshall Humphrys and Thomas Dobbins settled in the same neighborhood, but were just over the line in Sullivan county. They may be counted among Marion's early settlers as they both have been closely connected with the growth of the township since their settlement in the vicinity. The year 1840 added the family of Elisha Kilburn to the settlement. Samuel Bailey came in 1842, and from that time on new-comers were dropping in every now and then, among whom may be named as early pioneers, E. L. and Nathan Winters, D. C. Smith, Solomon Kna])p, William, James and Samuel Barr, C. B. Knight, James Winters, AV^illiam Ilayden, William J, Hatcher, James and Thomas Clawson. These all united with the Urst named arrivals in building up the best interests of the new country in which they lived. Their cabin homes were simple and their wants were i'ew, and on the whole niany of them sigh for the good times of by-gone days. They endured hardships then, but there are many hardships now which did not trouble them in those "halcyon days of yore." Trading was done principally at Brunswick, sixty-live miles away. And that wasn't much. The pioneer did not depend a great deal on the outside world for either food or clothing, but with plow and rifle procured the one, and the spinning-wheel and loom furnished the other.

The Heatherly War

Among the early and interesting incidents in the history of Marion township, the Heatherly War takes a prominent place. The disturbance which gave rise to the above name, took place in the year 1838. At that time there was a gang of roughs, known as the Heatherlys, infesting that region, who were in the habit of committing depredations upon the property of the settlers, although most against the Pottawattamie Indians, thus causing bad feeling to exist. The gang was composed of the Heatherlys, a man named Thomas, one Hawkins, and several others, in all some seven or eight. Horse-stealing was one of their pastimes, and opportunity offering, they raided an Indian camp and made way with several of their ponies. Taking the stolen property they crossed Grand River, and made a detour through the country south, in the hopes of eluding pursuit, and Anally encamped in a grove two miles south of Lindley, where they were enjoying themselves in what they considered a safe retreat. It is impossible to state how long tliey were there, but within a short time after their arrival a party of twenty mounted Indians put in an appearance and asked for a parley. The Indians demanded the immediate return of the stolen steeds or a fio-ht. They did not want to make any trouble, but the ponies they must have. During this parley, the man Thomas drew his weapon arid shot one of the Indians. This brought on a light at once, which was short and sharp. Thomas was killed, also one Indian, and another of the Heatherly gang ''bit the dust." This fight culminated in the Heatherly War, which lasted several months, and forced the governor of the State to call out 2,000 State troops and send them to the scene of action. The Indians justly claimed that they had been ill-treated, and so lost no opportunity to retaliate upon the whites, and during the course of the contention between the opposing forces, the settlers suffered most. The redskins were getting decidedly the best of the war, as the Heatherlys were about wiped out in one or two subsequent fights, finally leaving the country after the close of the difliculties, which was brought about by the arrival of the troops. The troops met the Indians near the Iowa line, but before hostilities opened a parley was held and the Indians surrendered, on condition that they be given a fair trial for the offenses committed during the struggle. This ])ut an end to the war and to the "reign of terror" in the neighborhood which existed during the difliculties. The Indians were taken before tlie Circuit Court, then in session at Richmond, in Ray county, where tliey were acquitted when it was shown that the Ileatherly gang were the offenders. This war was one of the leading topics of conversation among the settlers for years afterward, and the excitement during its progress will be remembered as long as the memory of the "old settler lasts. It was reported that the war, including the expenses of tlie Indian trials, cost the State in the neighborhood of $70,000. The grove whei-e the first fight took place became the burialground of Tliomas, and was known for years after as the "Thomas Grove," and parts of the skeleton of the desperado have been picked up and carried away of late years. The grove was known later as the " Joab Hollaway Grove," and now bears the title by which it is known all over the township, tliat of " Union Grove." What became of the Heatherlj^s is not known. They were not settlers in the township, but were what might be termed " squattei's," and remained in one location as long as it wasn't " too hot " for them, made so by their thieving proclivities, which had got them into several difficulties previous to the war that finally deprived the township of their presence, Tliomas had the honor of being the first white person ushered into another world from Marion township, and his bones were left to bleach in the sun that penetrated the dusky shades of "Union Grove." The body was left to the elements for burial, while the guiltj^ soul winged its flight to a final reckoning. This account difters from that in the general ' historj', learned from other sources.

The early settlement of Marion township was not marked by the organization or erection of any churches, and although there may have been, and probably was preaching semi-occasionally in those early days, its recollection has passed out of the memory of the living pioneers as being too indistinct to say positively whether there was or not. However, if there is no evidence of preaching in Marion township, there is ample proof that the citizens received the benefits and influence of the Christian religion as early as the year 1843, when the Rev. JSTathan Winters, a Methodist divine and the first in that section of the country, conducted religious services at the home of Thomas Dobbins, a short distance over the line in Sullivan county, thus taking the credit of early religious service from tlie township. Rev. N. Winters was a resident of Marion township up to the time the northern part of it became the southern portion of Liberty, and thus Marion is shorn of another of her honors.

Tlie first church erected in the township was by the Christian denomination in 1858. The Rev. David Wright was the first pastor, and organized the church with about twenty members. The congregation came from three counties to Lindley to worship, being from Linn, Sullivan and Grundy, This church has now a membership of about fifty, and services are held once a month in the Lindley Methodist Episcopal church, the Rev. Daniel Mclnturff being the present officiating minister.

The Lindley M. E. Church

The Methodist Episcopal church of Lindley is an excellent structure, built of wood, neatly and tastefully finished. It cost something like $2,400, the greater part of which amount was contributed by Mr. Thomas Dobbins, with the proviso that it should be under the influence and control of the Metliodist Church, but that its doors should always be open to all other sects and denominations to use as a house of worship. The church organization is in a flourishing condition under the pastoral charge of the Rev. A. Taylor.

Protestant Methodist Church

This is the name of a church organization formed in the fall of 1873, in the northern part of Marion township. Rev. John Kennedy was the first pastor, and Mr. D. C. Smith was class-leader and steward. The original members were Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Bowen, Mrs. A. Hall, Miss Rebecca Hooper, and Miss Mary J. Eavelin. After the first organization, Mr. Smith was the only male member of the congregation for two years. Services are now held in the Center Union school-house, and the membership has increased until it now numbers twenty-five. Rev. Joseph Willis is the present officiating pastor.

Rural Dale P.Aptist Church

This thriving organization is located at Rural Dale, near the center of Marion townshij), and has a large and steadily growing membership, presided over by the Rev. H. H. Turner. They have a substantial church building, well finished and commodious. The church was first erected in 1876, but was unfortunately destroyed by fire in June of the following year. With unusual energy the members immediately went to work and erected another, and in September, 1877, the present church was completed and ready for use, at a cost of $1,600. The first building was dedicated to the worship of

The Separate Baptist Church Of Jesus Christ

The above is the name of an organization very little known, and as its tenets are somewhat different from those of other churches, with a sketch of the organization in Marion township and Grundy county, will be ^iven a copy of its creed or, as the society calls it, "constitution." The Sinai Separate Baptist Church in Christ, has its organization in the southwestern part of Marion township, and services are held in the district school-house. This church was established on the 5th day of June, 1869, with eight members on the original roll, whose names are as follows: L. D. Sherow, J. H. Stucker, Elbert Sapp, Samuel Sherow, Mary Sherow, Nancy Slierow, Maggie Sapp and Esther Sherow. From this small membership the congregation has grown steadily larger, until it now numbers fifty-three. Since its organization, the following pastors have officiated: Rev. A. B. Lemons, Rev. C. C. Nickum, Rev. J. Koble, and its present minister, Rev. Joseph Evans. Mr. L..S. Fleshman is the dean of the church, and Mr. William Bickels, clerk. There are several ministers of the church who reside in this countv, whose names are here given, with address: Rev. A. B. Lemons and Rev. Joseph Evans, TrentoTi; Rev. Andrew Beckner, moderator, and Rev, Rankin Blackburn, Rural Dale; Rev. J. Stucker, clerk, Alpha. In conclusion, the articles of faith of the organization are appended, under the head of

Constitution

" "We, the members of the Separate Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, in north Missouri, being regularly baptized upon the profession of our taith in Christ, are convinced of the necessity of a combination of churches in order to perpetuate a union and communion among us, and to preserve and maintain a friendly correspondence with each other, have thus agreed to give ourselves to the Lord and to one another, and, therefore, we are constituted on the word of God alone, holding that all Christians have the right to commune together at the Lord's table. Said association shall be composed of delegates from the different churches, who shall represent themselves by letter and messenger.

" The letters shall express their number in fellowship, baptized, received by letter, dismissed, excluded and dead, since the last meeting of the association; the members thus chosen, when convened, to be denominated the North Missouri Association of Separate Baptists, who are to have no power to lord it over God's heritage, nor to have any ecclesiastical power over the churches. But if, in her opinion, any church or minister of her body becomes disorderly or unscriptural, she may diiscontinue fellowship with such churches or ministers.

"New clinrclies may be admitted into this association, wlio are to ])etition by letter and delegates, and if, on examination by the association, they are found orthodox and orderly, they may be admitted into this association.

"The churches comprising this association shall be entitled to equal representation, not exceeding five. The association, when convened, shall, after being called to order, proceed to choose a moderator and clerk, which shall be done b}' a private vote of the association.

"The moderator shall state all questions in order before the association for discussion, and no member shall speak more than twice on the same subject without leave of the association. Each member before speaking on any subject shall arise and address the moderator. The moderator may give instruction on any subject when necessary or called upon, but shall have no vote only in case of a tie; then his vote shall be final.

The first school in Marion township was taught by Judge Marshall IIum])lirys when he was a young man and a resident of Sulliv^an county. The building used was the first school-house erected in that region. It was erected in the year 1845, of hewn logs. Seats were made of split logs, windows simply holes with oiled paper for glass, fire-place to hold six foot wood, and chimney of mud and sticks. Here the youth of the day from the surrounding neighborhood, in both Grundy and Sullivan counties, were wont to assemble to become grounded in the rudiments of education. The school-house was built on the line between the two counties named, and was located one quarter of a mile north from Lindley. There are now seven school-houses in the township, in M'hich from four to six months school is held every year. The school facilities will rank with any other township in the county. The Rural Dale school-house, which was built in 1864:, is probably the oldest of the school buildings now in use. The brick schoolhouse at Lindley was finished later in the same year, and is the first and -only brick school building in the townshij).

An Elopement

It is an old story that "love laughs at locksmiths," and it is o'er true. The first instance of this kind occurring in Grundy county took place in 1844, and Marion township furnished the principals for this runaway marriage. Young John Hollowaj^, one of the early settlers of the township, met and loved Miss Mary A., the fair daughter of John Merrynian, Sr., then a resident of the same township, but since the formation of Wilson his farm became a part of that township. Miss Mary returned the affection of the sturdy young pioneer, but the "old folks" put in a strong parental objec- tion, and young Holloway was given to understand that he must go elsewliere to woo. This had the eflect of making the young couple more determined, and an elopement was planned. The appointed time arrived, and with it young Holloway riding one horse and leading another. The young lady was in readiness, and with a small bundle of clothing she left her home, sprang into the saddle and galloped away. They were married in the northern part of the county, and returned in a few days on their wedding toui". The marriage proved a happy one, and the couple have reached old age, reared a large family, and are still living on the old homestead, southwest of Lindley, respected by all who know them.

Preparing For Battle

From Mr. D. C. Smith, one of the " old pioneers," the following incidentswere learned. The aflair took jjlace in Linn county, near the line of Grundy, and settlers of Marion and Wilson townships were engaged in it. It was in the fall of 1842 and reports were flying around thick and fast in regard to an uprising of the Indians. The rumors were generally found to be false, but still the settlers were on the alert and there was not a little excitement prevailing throughout the neighborhood, needing only a scintilla of reliable information to j^ut the whites in arms. With this state of affairsexisting the following incident happened. A settler living over the line la Linn county had cleared a small piece of woodland, put up his cabin and planted his corn. On the day in question he was away from home, but before leaving liad cautioned his wife to keep a sharp lookout for Indians.. She obeyed instructions, and before the day passed her worst fears were realized. Along in the afternoon she noticed an Indian, with rifle in hand,, making a stealthy approach toward the cabin. She immediately caught up her two small children under either arm and fled by the rear doorway to a Deighbor's, three miles away, whom she informed that the redskins were on the war-path. The alarm spread rapidly. The settlers hastily armed and concentrated on a central point, where temporary defenses were thrown up for the women and children. Sentinels were posted, three scouting parties were formed and sent out in as many directions to discover the whereabouts, number, etc., of the savages. The larger party set out for the spot where the Indian was discovered. Moving cautiously up on the clearing they found everything quiet, the cabin deserted and no Indians in sight. Fearing ambush, skirmishers were deployed and the woods scoured with no success until the remains of a deer which had been killed and dressed were found. This explained the matter at once. The Indian had, been hunting and wounded a deer, which had crossed the clearing, and the aborigine was in pursuit when spied by the settler's wife. But a short time had been spent in making these discoveries, and the party returned to thecamp. The whole aflair was quickly explained, and in honor of the happy conclusion of the anticipated difficulty, a grand shooting-match was proposed. Targets were made by "blazing" trees and the sliooting proceeded rapidly. In the meanwhile the two outstanding parties, finding no Indians and hearing the rapid firing, concluded that the savages had attacked the temporary fortress. Eacli party iiastened to return, but the return was necessarily slow, due precautions being taken to prevent surprise, as it was supposed the woods were full of Indians. The two squads cajneup on opposite sides of the camp after sunset. The firing still continued but it was hard for the parties to distinguish how matters stood. Judging from the shooting it was decided that the fight was firoino^ on at short rauije and the Indians were probably advancing, calculating to charge the fort at dark. With this in mind rapid ])lans were formed for a daring rush to the rescue. Orders were issued for the onset with instructions to reserve fire until the fort was gained. This was substantially the plan of both parties, and as the day waned the firing became more infrequent, and availing themselves of this opportunity each party dashed in on the unsuspecting marksmen with fierce yells and rifles ready for emergency. In the deeiDening gloom the firing party took the intruders for Indians. The opposing forces met in such close quarters that the rifles could not be used, and a wild rush was made by each party to take the fort, when it was discovered that no Indians were around. For a while things looked dangerous, and it was only the close quarters that saved several of the settlers from death. Explanations ensued and ail returned home tired but good humored. Thus ended the Indian outbreak of 1842.

A contest bearino- the above title was one of the events that broke the monotony of early pioneer life in Marion township, and is also badly mixed up with Linn county. Most of the participants lived near the count}' line, some in Linn and some in Grundy. There was a man in the neighborhood by the name of Fletcher L. Rutledge, who was most cordially detested by nearly all the settlers, and nicknamed "Gulliver" - whether as a descriptive appellation of his large size overcome by small principles or not, is not known. It appears that the settlers without the fear of the law in their hearts, but with the natural instinct of economy, were in the habit of cutting government timber thus saving their own. Knowing this, Gulliver threatened to inform on them if they didn't stop it. Of course, no attention was paid to this, and the resounding ring of the woodman's ax continued to echo and reecho throuo-h the forests of the government reserve. Gulliver returned to the attack and announced that he had received instructions from headquarters to take the names of all who were appropriating government tiniber, which he proposed to do. This added fuel to the already existing flames of enmity. A party of fourteen men called on Mr.

Gulliver, took him to the woods and gave him a terrible thrashing, when he was released and advised to make himself scarce in that community. Gulliver was unable to leave, but a few of his friends went to Linneus and procured a warrant for the perpetrators of the outrage. The constable, with a small posse, arrived on the ground and was met by a body of seventy men who had collected: this party defied the man of law, who was compelled to return to the county seat for assistance. The slieriif and eighty armed men next appeared upon the scene, but in the meantime the settlers recognizing that they had laid themselves liable to a severe penalty by resisting an officer of the law, made haste to " skip out," nearly every one of them leaving the county for parts unknown. This was known as the Gulliver War. It was some years before the difficulty was finally settled. Some few returned and were fined for their ])articipation in the afi*air. x\fter matters cooled oif others began to return, and even to tliis day they are still returning at odd intervals. For prudential reasons, as one of the returned ones remarked to the writer, the subject is very seldom mentioned, until another of the absent ones makes his appearance and quietly settles down, just as still another drops in.

It was during the dark da3'^s of the civil war that occurred one of those cowardly deeds detested alike by all men, and the scene was in Marion township. Joseph Wright, a respectable citizen and faithful member of the Methodist Church, of which he was a class-leader, was shot wliile standing on his own threshold. Mr. Wright's farm was situated in section twenty-six. He had just returned from his day's work and was feeding his cows, his wife was milking near by, a little son held him by the hand, while his two other boys sat on the steps a few yards away, when there rang out a sharp report of a rifle, and the husband and father sank down in the agony of a mortal wound, in the midst of those he loved. 'Twas a fiend in human shape that blighted that fair domestic scene of peace and happiness. This was on the evening of the lOtli of November, 1863, and ere the setting of another sun the wounded man sank into the cold embrace of death. The vile assassin was never found, bnt a desperate character by the name of Joseph Hooker, who had been lurking around the neighborhood, was arrested on suspicion, and although circumstances led to the belief that he was the guilty man, there was no proof, so he was released from custody.

Descriptive

Marion township is one of the largest in area, as she is in population, in the county. The township is bounded on the north by Liberty, on the east by Sullivan and Linn counties, on the south by Wilson township, and on the west by the township of Trenton. Within these boundary lines she has an area of 2G,880 acres of territory, and a popnlation of 1,307, or the second in tlie county. The township is two-tliirds fertile, un(luhitin<>^ ])rairie, and tlie remainder timber, principally along the banks of Medicine Iliver, Crooked and No creeks, which furnish the water facilities. The timber is of difterent varieties, mostly oak, elm, hickor3% birch and Cottonwood. The land is nearly all under cultivation and fine farms are the rule ratlier tlian the exception. In 1871 there were shipped from the township 2,500 hoii:sand 800 head of cattle, while the surplus of oats and barley was 25,000 bushels. Wheat, rye, flax, tobacco, beans and seed potatoes also showed a large average. There has been constant improvement going on and the township now ranks in its products among the best in the county, both as to quality and quantity.

First Election

The first election credited to Marion township never occurred within its present boundaries, but was held at the house of Hopkins Work, wlio, although a resident of Marion township, resided in that portion which has since been cut ofi' and named Wilson. The Livingston county court ordered an election for two justices of the peace to be held in Marion township on the 1st day of June, 1839, at the house of Hopkins Work. This order was promulgated at the preceding May term of said court. Later an election was ordered to be held at the same place on the 19th of October, 1839, for an assessor of Marion township. These were the first elections held in what are now Marion and Wilson townships. After the organization of the count}^ in 1872, following will be found a list of the officers who have served since the election which took place under the new order, April 16, 1873:

1873 - Samuel Rooks, chairman of the board; W. C. Fenner, trustee; Albert Dunlap, assessor; Andrew Beckner, clerk; John Barr, constable. Joab Holloway became trustee, vice Fenner resigned.

1881 - William C. Fenner, trustee; Daniel Kinsley and William Cox, justices of the peace; William R. Mock, collector; Samuel C. Barr, clerk; Harvey Elwood, constable.

above year as follows: William C. Fenner, trustee; William R. Mock, collector; Moses R. Metcalf and T. A. White, justices of the peace; S. C. Barr^ clerk and assessor; William Madison, constable.

The first coffin used in Marion township was made in 1840. No tools were at hand to hew it out, so a wagon -box was cut up and served as the first burial casket.

Harriet Haley, an old negro woman living on the premises of Judge Marshall Humphrys, is the only colored person having residence in tlie township.

The town of Lindley is situated in the eastern part of Marion township, its corporate limits being the Sullivan county line on the east. It is surrounded by a productive and well settled region of country, and has a large, growing and flourishing trade. It has a population of two hundred and sixty-eight, and its people are thrifty, intelligent and social.

The land where the town now stands was entered in 1841 by Thomas Dobbins, who gave to John Austin one acre as an inducement to open a store. A log cabin was built for this purpose, and the establishment was opened to the general public in 1842, on the site where Allen's blacksmith shop now stands. A large and varied assortment of merchandise was kept constantly on hand, along with a liberal supply of ardent spirits. The new trading-point was called " Stringtown," from the fact that the cabins of the settlers were strung along nearly in a row for several miles in the neighborhood. The closest cabin w^as that of Thomas Dobbins, on the Sullivan county line. In 1845 the town was laid off and named, with appropriate ceremony, in honor of Hon. James J. Lindley, who had represented that district in Congress. John Austin held a monopoly in business during his stay, which was until 1847, when he was succeeded by James Winters, who conducted his establishment without competition until 1849, when the second store in Lindley was opened, dealing in the same line of goods as the first, by Samuel Rooks.

In 1863 the " bushwhackers " raided the town and destroyed considerable property, besides taking away goods and horses. The store of N. A. Winters was among those robbed. The gang was led by a man named Holclough, from Howard county. There was no estimate of the value of the property lost by the raid.

Incorporation

The petition of the tax-payers of the town of Lindley, asking tlie County Court to luive the same incorporated, was presented at the July term, 1876, on the 17th day tliereof, and read as foUows, the same having been placed of record in Book E, of the court record of Grundy county: " To the Honorable County Court of Grundy county^ Missouri:

" We, tlie undersigned inhabitants of the town or village of Lindley, in Grundy county, Missouri, petition and pray your honorable body that we may be incorporated as a town and a body politic, under the name and description of the town of Lindley, whose metes and bounds shall be as follows; to-wit. Including the southeast quarter of section number sixteen, in township number sixty-one, of range twenty-two, and that a police may be established for the local government, and for the preservation and regulation of any commons appertaining to said town. Believing that our prayer is reasonable and just, we pray you that our petition may be granted. " Witness our signatures as taxable inhabitants of said town:

"The court granted the prayer and appointed the following trustees: C. H. Cook, T. G. Johnson, R. M. Dobson, II. H. Wilson and John Doty. " Monday, July 17, 1876:'

Town Officers

The new board of trustees appointed by the court met with all present; viz., C. H. Cook, T. G. Johnson, R. M. Dobson, H. II. Wilson and John Doty. An organization was perfected by the election of H. H. Wilson,

The postal facilities include a mail three times per week from Trenton, two mails weekl}^ from Wheeling, and the same from Browning. The postoffice is under the efficient charge of Mr. C. H. Cook.

Lindley has had two schools for the past three years, with two departments, secondary and ])rimarj, which have had a large attendance, gradually increasing, until the past year one hundred and fifty pupils were enrolled. Under the excellent management of Mr. T. A. White and Miss C. E. Crouch, who have conducted the respective departments the past year, the schools have been numbered among the best in the county, and are the especial pride of the citizens of Lindley.

The only church building in use in the town, is that of the Methodist Episcopal organization, under charge of E.ev. A. Taylor. The old brick church erected by the members of the Christian organization still stands but is unused.

Business Houses

C. H. Cook, Marshall Ilumphrys, George T. Moberly, general merchandise; Jewett, Elwood & Co., C. H. Cook, drugs; O. P. Johnson, furniture; Doty & Cox, hardware; Cole & Dunlap, hardware and tinware; G. W. Paton, groceries and notions; Mrs. Philip Robinson, Mrs. Annie Clark, millinery; attorney, Nathan Harty; physicians, Drs. H. H. Wilson, R. M. Dobson, R. H. Cabell; Lewis & Crantz, William Allen, blacksmiths; Bantz & Overman, blacksmiths and wagon makers; John Osborne, barber; John A. Patterson, hotel; H. C. Flagg, boots and shoes, harness and saddles; Graham & Cook, flouring-mill; Samuel McCormick, meat-market; S. L. Jewett, livery stable.

Recently considerable interest has been manifested in Lindley and vicinity -over the discovery of water of undoubted mineral properties, which were said to possess rare medicinal qualities. These springs are located on land belonging to Mr. Thos. Dobbins, and the following in regard to them is a letter taken from the Trenton Rejmhlican, bearing date of August 29. The letter speaks for itself:

"Since tills is an age of discovery and invention, it is liard for one to telL what a day will bring forth. A few years ago, no one dreamed that there were mineral springs in any part of these diggings, and I don't know that they have dreamed it yet; nevertheless, it is a fact. There have been springs of unsurpassed medicinal qualities discovered on the premises of Thos. Dobbins. The pasture in wliich these springs are found is a broken })rairie tract of land having a deep, wide gulch running through it by which the water comes to the surface from some hidden fountain which cannot be found by man. We know some will say it is a hoax; we look for it, it is natural - there have been croakers in every age of the world. From the developments made in mineral water in other parts of Missouri in the last few years, we cannot' help but believe the hardest question to answer in regard to this State was the water question and I have heard it stated time and again that the only objection was having to use cistern water. But the last few years have demonstrated the fact that living water can be found near the surface of every farm within the boundary of the State, if the owner will only look around and go after the hidden treasure. Some of our citizens have recuperated greatly since they have begun using the water from these springs. Mrs. O. D. Graham claims that she has been coni])letely cured, having suffered from ill health for seven years. Mrs. D. C. Bruce has also been greatly benefited by using mineral water. There are others we might mention had we space. Many cases of sore eyes have been cured by application of thewonderful water. Men have examined the water and have passed very satisfactory comment. Rev. A. Taylor thinks them good as any springs he has visited this summer in Iowa or Illinois; Rev. Dan'l Mclnturff thinks the}' are good. No chemical analysis of this water has been made yet but will be soon when we expect to hear of the best spring in the State.