Grundy County, Missouri - Jackson Township, 1881

Jackson Township

Its Earl// Settlement - From hididiui, Illinois and Virginia - Tradiuff-point - Forest and Streams - Prairie - Births and Deaths - First Phi/sician - Wedding Hells - Christianity and Education - Extent of Domain - First Township Officers - Where they Met - Population - Present Town Board - Biographies.

This township, which bears the name of the iron-willed "Hero of New Orleans," was first settled in 1837, by the families of William and Josiah Evans, who came from the prairie land of Illinois. They were the pioneer settlers, but were not allowed to remain long alone in their new home, for 'ere the budding flowers of the following spring had opened, they had neighbors, in the families of James May and WiJlis Adkinson. The first came from the land of the " Hoosiers," Indiana; and the latter family was from Illinois, but their location was just over the line in what is now Livingston county. Amid the perils and hardships of pioneer life the year passed quickly by, and in the fall of 1839 other settlers came, in the families of George Williams, from Virginia; Solomon Tolliday, from Illinois; and William Uttinger, from! Indiana; this made quite a settlement, and although it was ten or twelve miles to a neighbor's, the lonesome feeling had left the community. The year of 1840 brought the family of John Henr}^ who came from the southern part of the State. Later came the families of W. S. Pond, James Poberts, aiid Gedaliah Hughes, so that in 1841, when Grundy was taken from the jurisdiction of Livingston county, there was quite a settlement in what was then the southern part of Trenton township. These early settlers were all in the prime of life, and went vigorously to work to build their cabin homes and till the fertile soil. The greater part of the township was grass-covered prairie, with plenty of timber along the streams. Oxen were used, as there were no horses in the township. The nearest horse-mills were at Spring Hill and Chillicothe, in Livingston county, sixteen miles distant, to which they slowly ti-aveled with their ox-teams to get their necessary supplies. Later Trenton became the trading-point. Like the settlers of other townships, their clothing was of home manufacture. As early as 1839 the first loom was made by James May for his wife, Mrs. Perlina May, still a hale and hearty old lady with good memory of the early struggles of her husband and herself, and the neighboring families. Hers was the first loom and she did the first weaving. There were no other looms in the township for some time afterward, and Mrs. May often loaned hers to the neighbors.

Births And Deaths

Creighton Smith, son of Mrs. Rachel Smith, was the first child born in the townshi]), which event occurred in 1839. The little fellow lived to be only four or five years old, when he was called to a better land than this. In the followino^ year, 1840, James and Minerva Roberts became the happy parents of a bouncing bo}^, who was given the name of Thomas. Father, another and child have long ago sought their resting places beneath the sod.

In September of 1839 Samuel Smith died. This was the first death, and the remains were quietly laid away under the shade and rustling branches of tlie trees along the banks of Grand River. Here, too, all that was mortal of the infant child of William Evans was placed, and the winds whispered .a requiem over the little mound that marked the last sleeping place. Theirs were the only gi-aves in that early burial-ground.

Dr. William Clark was the first medical practitioner and his home was in Livingston county, at Spring Hill. Pliysicians were not in demand in those days, and the practice extended over many miles of territory.

Wedding Bells

The first glad chimes of the wedding bells rang out in 1859, when Mr. Robert Belshe and Miss Susan May were united in the holy bonds. The ceremony was perfoi-med at the family residence of James May, father of the bride. The couple are still living in the township.

Churches And Schools

The Rev. James Johnson, a Methodist divine, conducted the first religious ^services in the township. The meetings were held at the homes of the settlers, the cabin of William Evans being the oftenest used. This was in 1840, and it was three years before other denominations held services, when a Presbyterian minister officiated, holding tlie meetings at the home of James May.

In this same year, 1843, the first scliool was taught in the township. An old cabin which had been deserted for a better one, was used as a schoolhouse. It was located on Grand River, in the western part of the township. Mr. Samuel Brooks was the first teacher, and his pupils numbered not over a dozen, sometimes less. For his services he received a dollar per month for each pupil, and the school continued in session three months, which was considered a long time, and the children were expected to pick up a fair education in two or three terms. This school-house was continued in use until 1848, when a school-house was built especially for the purpose. Hewn logs were used in its erection, and it was considered an elegant structure, and probably was at that time. It occupied a site on land owned by William Evans. On Sundays the building was dedicated to religious

The first church erected in tlie townsliip was Imilt in 1866, and was known as tlie Skinner Union Church. Services were licld in the buikJing by any denomination tliat wished to use it. In 1873 the Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Churcli was erected. At present no services are conducted in it, the congregation l)eing without a pastoi*. Tlie Honey Creek Christian Church is located in the northern part of the township, and was dedicated in 1872, and religious worship is conducted regularly by the Rev. James Mack. These are the only church edifices in the township, although several other denominations are represented.

Extent Of Territory

Until the year 1872 Jackson was a part of Trenton township, but under the new organization law the County Court of Grundy county issued the following:

'J It is ordered by the court that all of township ISTo. sixty, of range 'No. twenty-four, lying east of Grand River, and sections seven, eight, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-nine, thirty-one and thirty-two, of township No. sixty, of range No. twenty-three, be named and known as Jackson township."

The township covers an area of eighteen thousand nine hundred and twenty acres, mostly beautiful prairie land. With Gi'and River as its western boundary line. Big Muddy Creek skirting its northwestern corner, Honey Creek flowing through its center, and No Creek crossing the township on the east, it is well supplied with water from running streams. Trenton township bounds Jackson on the north, Wilson on the east, Livingston county on the south, and Grand River divides its territory from Jefferson on the west.

The first township board met at the house of William Morris, and was composed of the following members: William C. Evans, justice of the peace and chairman of the board; Patrick C. Conniff, justice of the peace; James Mack, trustee; Isaac Mulford, collector; Thomas Hubbard, assessor; William Morris, clerk; and George Blivens, constable. They promptly transacted the township business and proved an efficient set of officers.

The present officers are Patrick C. Conniff and LorenB. Hubbell, justices of the pe.ice; William Spencer, trustee; Edward M. Crawford, collector; George W. McLain, clerk and assessor; and Christopher C. Griffin, constable. These gentlemen are giving entire satisfaction in their several positions t( the citizens of the township.