Howard County, Missouri - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 4 of those read), 1883 (part 2 of 2)

All the experience of the early pioneers of tliis county goes far to confirm the theory that, after ;dl, happiness is pretty evenly balanced in this world. They had their privations and hardships, but they had also their own peculiar joys. If they were poor, they weie free from the burden of pride and vanity ; free also from the anxiety and care that always attends the possession of wealth. Other people's eyes cost them nothing. If they had few neighbors, they were on the best of terms with those they had. Envy, jealousy and strife had not crept in. A common interest and a common symjiathy bound them together with the strongest ties. They were a little world to themselves, and the good feeling that prevailed was all the stronger because they were so far removed from the great world of the east.

Among these pioneers there was realized such a community of interest that there existed a community of feeling. There were no castes, except an aristocracy of benevolence, and no nobility, except a uobiiity of generosity. They were bound together with such a

Jseiiilibors did not oven wail for an invitation or rcquost to help one another. Was a settler's caliin hiirnetl or blown down? ^so sooner was the fact known tlironghout the neiphhoriiood than the settlers asscnililed to assist the unfortniiate one to lehuild his lioiue. They came ^vith as little hesitation, ami with as le.nch alaerity as though the}' were all niemljers of the same family and hound together by ties of blooiL One man's interest was every other man's interest. Now, this general state of feeling anumg the pioneers was by no means peculiar to these counties, although it was strongly illustrated here. It prevailed generally throughout the west during the time of the early settlement. The very nature of things taught the settlers the necessity of dwelling together in this spirit. It was their only jn'otection. Tho\' liad come far away from the well established reign of law, and entered ri new country , where civil authority was still feeble, and totally unable to alTord protection and redress grievances. pTere tlie settlers lived some little time l)efore there was an ofljcer of the law in the county. Each man's protection was in the good will and friendshii) of those about him, and th-c thing any mrai might well dread was the ill will of the community. It was more terrible than thehnv. It was no uncommon thing in tlie early times for hardened men, who iiad no fears of jails or penitentiaries, to stand in great fear of the indignation of a pioneer commnnity. Such were some of the characteristics of Howard county.

The lirst buildings in the county were not just like the log cabins that immediately succeeded them. The latter required some help and .1 gvcat deal of labor to build. The very first buildings constructed were a cross between " hoop cabins " and Indian bark huts. As soon as enough men could be got together for a " cabin raising," then log cabins were in style. Many a pioneer can remember the happiest time of his life as that when he lived in one of these homely but comfortable old cabins.

A window with sash and glass was a rarity, and was an evidence of wealth and aristocracy which Imt few could support. They were often made with greased paper put over the window, which admitted a little light, but more often there was nothing whatever over it, or the cracks between the loirs, without either chinking or daubing, were the depeiideaee I'or liirlit and air. The doors were fastened M'itli uldfashioned wooden hitidies, and fbi- :i friend, or neigh'ior, or traveller, the string' always hung out, for the pioneers of the west were ho-pitable and cnteitaiiied viiitors to the he.^i of their ahilitv. It is notieeable with wh;'.t affection the pioneers speak of their old log catiins. It lu ly be douiiled whether palaces ever sheltered happier hearts than those homely cabins. The following is a good descrijition of tlio-re old landmarks, but few of which now remain: -

" These were of round logs, notched together at the corners, riljbed with poles and covered with boards split from a tree. A puncheon iloor was then hud down, a hoh' cut in tlie end and a stick chinuic}' run u|.). A clapboard door is made, a window is o[iened by cuttingout a hole in the side or end two feet srpiare, and tini.-lied without glass or transparency. The house is then ' chinked ' and ' daubed ' v.itli mud. The cabin is now ready to go into. The household and kitchen furniture is adjusttnl, and life on the frontier is begun in earnest.

" Tlie one-ie':gi'd bedstead, now a piece of furniture of tlie pa.-t, was made by cuttiuu' a stick the proi>er length, b(jring holes at one end one and a half inches in diameter, at right angles, and the same sized holes corresponding with those in the logs of the cabin the length and breadth desired for the bed, in which are inserted poles.

" Upon these poles the clapboards are laid, or linn bark is interwoven consecutivel}" trom pole to pole. Upon this primitive structure the bed is laid. The convenience of a cook stove was not thought of, but instead, the cooking was done by the t'aithful housewit'e in pots, kettles, and skillets, on and about the Ijig lire-place, and very freijuently over and around, too, the distended jjedal extremities of the legal sovereign of the household, while the latter was imlulging in the luxuries of a cob-pipe and discussing the probable results of a contemplated deer hunt on the Missouri river or some one of its small tributaries."

The people of to-da}-, familiarized with '- Charter Oak '" cooking stoves and ranges, would be ill at home were they compelled to juvpare a meal with no other conveniences than those provided in a pioneer cabin. Kude lire-places were built in chimneys composed of mud a.ad slicks, oi-, ut best, uudre.^aed atone. These tire-places served for heating and cooking purposes ; also for ventilation. Around the cheerful blaze of this tire the meal was prepared, and these meals were not so Ijad, either. As elsewhere reuuirked, thev were not aiich

;i;5 would tempt uii epicure, hut such as afforded the most heaUhl'iil nourishment for a race of people who were driven to the exposure and Imrd.-hips v>-liicii were their lot. We hear of few dyspeptics in those days. .Another ailvanta.ii'e of these eookinii- arranii-enients was that the stove-pipe never fell down, and the pioneer was spared bcinir subjected to the most trying of ordeals, and one probably more productive of profanity than any other.

Before the country became supplied with mills which were of easy access, and even in some instances afterv.-ard, hominy-blocks were used. Tliey exist now only in the memory of the oldest settlers, but as relics of tlie "long ago" a description of them will not be uninteresting : -

A tree of suitable size, say from eighteen inches to two feet in diameter, was selected in the forest and felled to the ground. If ;i cross-cut saw happened to be convenient, the ti'ce was -' butted," that is, the kerf end was sawed off so that it would stand steady when ready for usc. If tliore were no cross-cut saw in the neighboriiooti, strong arms and sharp axes were ready to do the work. Then the proper length, from four to five feet, was measured off and sawed or cat square. When this was done the block was raised on end and the work of cutting out a hollow in one of the ends was commenced. This was generally done with a comtnon chopping ax. Sometimes a smaller one was used. When the cavity was judged to be large enough, a lire was built in it and caiefully watched till the ragged edges were burned away. When completed the hominy-biock somewhat resembled a druggist's mortar. Then a pestle, or somethingto crush the corn, was necessary. This was usually made from a suitably sized piece of timber, with an iron wedge attached, the large end down. This completed the machinery, and the block was ready for use. Sometimes one hominy-block accommodated an entire neighborhood and was the means of staying the hunger of many mouths.

lu civinfi the bill of fare above we should have added meat, for of this they had plenty. Deer would be seen daily trooping over the prairie in droves of from twelve to twenty, and sometimes as many as liftv would be seen grazing together. Elk were also found, and wild turkeys and prairie chickens without number. Bears were not unknown. Music of the natural order was not wantin<r. and every night the pioneers were lulled to rest by the screeching of panther.- and the howling of wolves. When the dogs ventured too far out from the cabins at night, they would be driven back by the wolves chasing

All the stream? of water also alinundeil in tlsh, and a g-ood supidv of these could be })rocured by the expense of a little time and labor. Those who years ago improved the tishing" advantages of the country never tire telling of tiie dainty meals which the streams atlorded. Sometimes large parties would get together, and, iiavingbeen provided with cooking utensils and facilities for camping out, would go off some distance and si)end iveeks together. Xo danger then of being ordered oifannui's preriiises or arrcsteil for tresjia.ss. One of the peeuliaicircumslanees that snrrouiuled the eaiiy lite of the pioneei'S was a strange loneliness. The solitude seemed almost to oppre>s them. Months would pass during which they would scarcely see a human fa.ce outside their own families.

On occasions of siK'eial interest, such as election, holiday celebra- Liviij, or caiiii)-iii>->.tirigs, it was nothing unusual for a few settlers ^\llo lived in the immediate neighl)orhood of the meeting to entertain scores of those who had come from a distance.

Kouch and rude though "the surroundings rna}^ have been, the 'pioneers were none the less honest, sincere, hospital.ile arid kind in their relations. It is true, as a rule, and of univei->al application, that there is a greater degree of real humanity among the ]:)ioneers of any country than there is when the country becomes old and rich. If there is an absence of refinement, that absence is more than compensated in the presence of generous hearts and truthful lives. Thev are bold, industrious and enterprising. Generally speaking, thev are earnest thinkers, and possessed of a diversified fund of useful, practical information. As a rule they do not arrive at a conclusion bv means of a course of rational reasoning, but, nevertheless, have a queer way of getting at the facts. They hate cowards and shams of every kind, and above all things, falsehoods and deception, aud cultivate an integrity which seldom permits them to prostitute themselves to a narrow policy of imposture. Such were the characteristics of the men and women vrlio pioneered the ^vay to the country of the Sacs, Foxes, Kickapoos and Pottawatomie Indians. A few of them yet remain, and although some of their descendants are among the wealthy and most substantial of the people of the county, they have not forgotten their old time hospitality and free and easy ways. In contrasting the present social atlairs with pioneer times, one has well said : - ot'lou the women, too, and \vhilo the men pilccl iii) the logs tli:'.t fashionoil the primitive dwelling-place, the prepared the dinner. Sometimes it ^s'ai eooked by big log fires near the site where the cabin was building; in other ca-e? it was pie])ared at the nearest cabin, and at the propci- hour was carried to where the men were at ^^or] . li' one man in tlie iieighborliood killed a beet, a pig or a deer, every other family in the, ncigliboi-hood was sure to receive a }>iece.

" ^Vo were all on an eijualiiy. Aristocratic feelings were unknown and. would not have Ijeeu tolerated. What one had v.e all had, aud tliat was the happiest period of my life. But to-day, if you lean against a neighbor's shade tree, he will charge you for it. If 3'ou are poor and fall sick, you may lie and sutTer almost unnoticed and unattended, and probably go to the poor-house ; and just as like as not the man who would report you to the authorities as a subject of county care would cliarge the county for making the report."

Of the old settlers, some are still living in the county, in the enjoyment of the fortunes the}" founded in early times, '- having veaj^cd an hnnd''ed f-jld." Nearly all, however, have yiasscd away. A uf them have gone to the far west, and arc still playing the part of i)ioneers. .But wherc\'er they mav bo, wliatever fate may lietide them, it is but truth to sa}' that they weie excellent men, as a class, and have left a deep and enduring impression upon the county and the state. " The}' builded better than the}' knew." They were, of course, ui'^n of activity and energy, or they would never li.ive decided to face the trials of pioneer life. The great majority of them were poor, but the lessons taught them in the early days were of such a character that few of them have remained so. They made their mistakes in business pursuits like other men. Scarcely one of them but allowed golden opportunities, for pecuniary profit, at least, to pass by unheeded. "What are now some of the choicest farms in Howard county were no;, taken up by the pioneers, who preferred land of very njucli less value. They ha.ve seen nuuiy of their prophesies fulfilled, and others come to naught. Whether they have attained the success they desired, their own hearts can tell.

To one looking over the situation then, from the standpoint now, it certainly does not seem very cheering, and }'ct, from the testimony of some old pioneers, it was a most enjoyable tin)e, and we of the present live in degenerate days.

At that time it certainly would have been much more difficult for those old settlers to understand how it could be possible that sixtyfive years hence, the citizens at the present age of the count}'? prolo4 I^^TOl;Y of iiowAim am> ch.vkitox countiks.

gresy would lie coiniil:iiiiii!g of li;ird limes and destitution, anil th:it thej thcnijel\-e5, perlitiji-;, would be among that numlier, than it is now I'or us to aiipreciate liow they rould t'oel so clu'erful and contented with their meagre means and hunil)le lot of hardships and de])vivations during tliose early pioneer days.

The seeret was, doul'tless, that they lived within their mean-, however limited, not coveting more o( luxury and comfort than tlieir income would afford, and the natural result was prosperity and contentment, wiih always room for one more stranger at the fireside, and a cordial wi-lcome to a place at their ta'de for even the most hungry guest.

Hun-ianity, with all its ills, is, nevert'neless, fortunately characterized with remarkable ilexibility, which enables it to accommodate itself to circumstances. After all, the secret of happiness lies in one's ability to accommodate himself to his surroundings.

It is sometimes remarked that there were no pla'?es forpulilic cntertaiuiiu ui till later yoai's. The fact is, there were many such places ; in f ;ct, eve-.v cabin was a place of entertainment, and these liotels were sometimes crowded to their utmost capacity. On sn.ch occasions, when bedtime came, the first family would take the back part of the cabin, and so continue filling up by families until the limit v.as reached. Tlie young men slept in the wagon outside. In the mmning, those nearest the door arose first and went outride to dress. Meals wore served on the end of a wagon, and consisted of corn bread, buttermilk and fat pork, and occasionally colfee, to take away the moriiing chill. On Sundays, for a change, they had bread made of wheat '- tramped <nit " on the ground by horses, cleaned with a sheet anil pounded by liaiKl. This was tlie best, the most fastidious they could obtain, and this only one day in seven. Xot a moment of time was lo?t. It was necessary that they should raise enough sod corn to take them through the coming winter, and also get as much breaking done as possible. They brought with them enough corn to give the horses an occasional feed, in order to keep them able for hard work, but ill the main they had to live on prairie grass. The cattle got nothing else than grass.

An interesting comparison might be drawn between the conveniences which now make the life of a farmer a comparatively ea>y one, and the almo-;t total lack of such conveniences in early days. A brief

]jet the eliililreii of such illu.-5lriou.s sires draw their own eoin[i:u-- i^oiis, and niay tlie result-^ of these conniarisons silence the voice of complaint which so oftea is hoard in the laud.

Tlie onh.- plows tliev had at iitsl were wdiat they stylc'l " bull plows. '" The uii>ald-bo:;i'ds were g(Miei-;dly of wood, but in some oa.sos they were half wood and half iron. The man who had one of the latter descrijnion was lo(>ked upon as something of an aristocrat. But these old -' bull jilows " did good S'-rviee, and they must be awarded the honor of first stiri-ing the soil of Ho^^-ard county, as well as that of all the oldest counties of this state.

The amount of mouev which some farmers annually invest iii agricultund implements would have kept the pioneer farmer in farming utensils during a whole lifetime. The pioneer farmer invested little money in such things, lieeause ho had little money to spare, and tlien again bemuse the expensive machinery now used would not iiave been, at all adapted to the rerpuremeiits of pioneer farming. The " bull plow "' was probaltly better adapted to tlie tields al)ouriding in stumps and roots than would the modern sulky plow have been, and the old-l'ashioncd wdieat cradle did i)etter execution than would a modern harvester under like circumstances. The prairies were seldom settled till after the pioneer period, and that portion of the country which was the hardest to put under cultivation, and the most ditlicult to cultivate after it was improved, first was cultivated ; it was well for the countrv that such was the case, for the present generaticn. familiarized as it is with iarniing machinery of such complicated pattern, would scarcely undertake the clearing otf of dense forests and cultivating the ground with the kind of implements their fathers used, and which they would have to use for some kinds of work.

Mills And Tiiading Points

Notwithstanding the fact that some of the early settlers were energetic millwrights, who emi)loyed all their energy, and what mean> I hey posse:iSed, in erecting mills at a few^ of the many favorite millsites which abound in the county; yet going to mill in those day-, when there were no roads, no bridges, no ferry boats, and scarcely any conveniences for travelling, was no small task, where so many rivers aud treacherous streams were to be crossed, and such a trip was often attended with ureat danirer to the traveller when- these streams

swollen lieyond their banks. ]5ut even unJer the^c cireunistiuiccs. ?onic of the more :tdventurous and ingonioiis ones, in case ot" enievgeiioy, fmnul (lie u-uys and means by which to cross the swollen stveanis, and succeed in making tlie trij.. At othei- times again, all attem})(s failed them, and they were compelled to remain at home until the waters sub-iided, and depend on the gcncrositv of their t'oi'Uinate neiglibors.

Some stories are related Avith regard to the uano'cr, perils and hnrdshi^js of forced travels to mills, and for i)ro\-isi(iiis, which remind one of forced marches in military can)i)aigns, and when wc liear of the heroic and daring conduct of the liardy pioneers in jirocnrir'g bread for their loved ones, we thirds that here were heroes more valiant than arjy of the renowned soldiei's of ancient or modern times.

During the first two years, and perhaps not until some time afterward, there was not a public highway established and worked on which they could travel ; and as the settlers were generally far apart, and mills and trailing points were at great distances, going from place to place was not only very tedious, but attended sometimes with great danger. Not a railroad had yet entered the state, and there was scarcely a thought in the minds of the people here of such a thini: ever reaching the wild west ; and, if thought of, jicople had no conception of what a i-evolution a railroad and telegra])h line throueh the county would cause in its progress. Then there was no ra.ilroad in the United States ; not a mile of track on the continent, while now there are over 100,000 miles of railroad extending their trunks and branches in every direction over our land.

Supplies in those days were obtained at St. Charles and St. Loui.-. Mail v:as carried by horses and wagon traii-portation, and telegrajih dispatches were transmitted by tlie memory and lips of emigrants coming in, or strangers passing through.

The first mills were built in the forts. These were small atfair,*. The first grist and saw mill combined \vas erected at Old Franklin, in 1819, by Shadrack Barnes, and the buhrs were set on the saw-frame. At first the mill only ground corn which had to be sifted after it waground, as there were no bolts in the mill. There was only one run of buhrs which, as well as the mill irons, were l>rought from St. Louis. They were shipped up the Missouri river. The mill cost about $50. The mill h.ad no gearing, the buhrs being located over the wheel, and. running with the same velocity as the wheel. It was a frame mill. one story liigh, and had a capacity of fifty bushels a day. People came from far and near, attracted by the reports of the completion of the mill, "^vith their grists, so that, for tlays before it was ready for woik, the ri\er Ijottoiu was dotted over with huugr\ and patient men, \vaitiniz until it was ready to do their work, so that they might return with their meal and flour to supjjly their families and those of their thus enduring the hardships of camp life in those early liays in ortler that they might be able to secure the simple necessaries of life, devoid of ail hixuries.

Hcnting And Trapping

The sports and means of recreation v,-ere not so numerous and varied among the early settlers as at present, but thev were more enjoyable and ipivigorating than now.

Hunters now-a-days would be only too glad to be able to tind and enjoy their favorable opportunity for hunting and tishing, and even travel many miles, counting it rare pleasure to spend a few weeks on the water courses and wild prairies, in hunt and chase and fishiug frolics. There were a good many excellent hunters here at an enrly d;iy, who enjoyed the sport as well as any can at the present time.

Wild animals of almost every species known in the wilds of the west were found in great abundance. The prairies, and woods, and streams, and various bodies of ^vater, were all tliickly inhabited before the v.'hitc' man came aud for some time afterward. Although the Indians slew many of them, yet the natural law prevailed here as well as elsewhere - " wild man and wild beast thrive together."

Serpents were to be found in such large uuiubers. and of such immense size that some stories told by the early settlers would be incredible were it not for the large array of concurrent testimony, wlueh is to be had from the most authentic sources. Deer, turkeys, ducks, geesa, squirrels, and various other kinds of choice game were plentiful and to be had at the expense of killing only. The fur animals were abundant; such as the otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, raccoon, panther, fox, wolf, wild-cat and bear.

An old resident of the county told us, that in 1809, while he was travelling a distance of six miles, he saw as many as seventy-three deer, in herds of from six to ten.

Hunting Bee Trees

Another source of profitable recreation among the old settlers was that of hunting bees. The forests along the water courses were e. - pecially prolitic of bee trees. They were found in great numbers on

The following pa--age i.'^ found in the " lu'port of the ]->\plorini;' Expedition to the Kocky Monntain.*, in the year 1842, by Captain John C. Fremont," page ('i9.

"Hereon the t^uniniit, wliere the .stillness v,-as absolute; unbroken by any sound, and the solitude complete, we thought ourselves beyond the regions of animated life : but while we were sitting on. the rocks, a solitary bee came winging his tlight from the eastern valley, and lit ou tlie knee of one of the men. AVe pleased ourselves with the idea that he was the llrst of his species to cross the numntain l)airicr, a solilray pioneer to foretell the advance of civilization."

Gregg, in his Commerce of the Prairies," page 178, a'oI. I., says: "Tlie lioney bee appe;irs to have emigrated exclu>ivelv from ll'c east, as its march has been observetl westward. The bee. nnuuig \\esterQ pioneers, is tlie pi'overbi.d prerairsor of the Anglo-Anu-rican populatiDU. In fact, the aborigir.es of the frontier havcgenerallv corroborated this statement, f(jr the_y used to say th.-it tliej' knew the white njan was not far behind \vhen the Ijees ai)i)cared among them."

There were other recreations, such as shooting nuitches andrpulling parties, whieli obtained ir^ those da}'s, and wliich were enjoved to the fullest e.vleiit. The cpitlting parties were especially pleasant and agreeable to those who attemled. The established rule in those days at these parties was to pay either one dollar in uu)nev or split one hundred rails during the course of the day. The men would generally split the rails and the women would remain in the house and do the quilting. After the day's work was done the night would be passed in dancing.

to wli:it is now known us Hownrd coxintv t'nc wolves were verv innnofous, aiid that ho paid his taxes for many years in wolf scalps. Hi< cabin was in tlie cd-e of the timber, that skiitod Snlphnr ereek, and at night ilic liowh of these aninjals were so loud and incessant that to sleep, at times, was almost impossible. 0)"ten, at midnight, all

At once there rose so wil'l a yel), Within that dark and narrow dell, As all the litnils from heaven that fell Had pealed the banner-cry of hell.

At such times the whole air seemed to be filled with the vibrations of their most infernal and diabolical music. The wolf was not onlv a midnlirht prowler here, but "vvas seen in the daytime, sin£l\' oiill packs, warily skulking upon the outskirts of a thicket, or salivinfc cautiously along the open path, with a sneaking look of mingled cowardice and cruelty.

Chapter

Before proceeding any further, vve deem it proper, since we are about to enter upon tlie history of the townships, to give some exphiuatious of the county and township systems, and government, surveys, as much depends in business and civil transactions, upon county limits and county organizations.

County And Towksiup Systems

"With regard to the origin of dividing individual states into county and townsliip organizations, wltich, in an important measure, should have the po.ver aisd opportuuity of tvansactiiig their own business and governing themselves, under the approval of, and subject to, the state and general government, of which they l)oth form a part, we quote from Elijah 'SI. Haines, who is considered good autliority on the subject.

The county system originated with Viiginia, whose early settlers soon became large landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living apart in almost baronial magniiieence, on their own estates, and owning the laboring part of the population. Thus the materials for a town were not at hand ; the voters being thinly distrilnited over a great area.

The county organization, where a few influential men managed the wholesale business of a comniunity, retaining their places almost at their pleasure, scarcely resitonsil^le at all, except in name, and permitted to conduct the county concerns as their ideas or wishes might direct, was moreover consonant with their recollections or traditions of the judicial and social dignities of the landed aristocracy of England, in descent from whom, the Virginia gentlemnii felt so much pride. In 18o4, eight counties were organized in Virginia, and the system extending throughout the state, spread into all the southern states, and some of the northern states ; unless we except the nearly similar division into "districts," in South Carolina, and that into " ptirishes " in Louisiana, from the Freiicli laws.

Illiiioi.-, which, with its vast additional ton'itoiy, l.iecanie a .(lui'.ty lit" on its conquest by General George Kogers Clark, idiiincd th<j county crgani/.ution, whicii was formerly extended over tiic >late I'V the constitution of ISIS, and continued in exclusive use, iin'il the constitution ot" 184^. Untlm- this system, as in other states .idoptiuL:' it, much local husiness was transacted t^v the commis.iioners in each cnunty, wiio constituted a county court, -will! quarter]}' sessions.

During the period ending with the constitution of 1847, a large portion of tlie state had become tilled np with a popnlatiiui of jS'e\v 1-higland birth or character, daily growing more and more compact and dissatistied witli the eon!p)aratively arbitrary and inetKcieiit county s\stem. It was maintained 1)V the people that the heavy populated districts would always control the election of the commissioners to tlie di-advantage of the n)oro tliinly iiopnhitdl sections - in short, that under that system " equal ;nid exact justice " to all parl^ of the county <'oidd not l)e secured.

'!'lie t^rst li'gal enactment coneern.ing the system, pi-ovided that, wlicrca-, " particnhir townships ha\'c many things which concern only th<.-mselves and the ordering of their own atl'airs, and disposing of b\i8ine~s in their <i\vn tcnvn." therefore, tlie " freemen of evorv townshi]i, or a majority part of them, shall onlv have jiower to dispose ot' tiieir o^vu lanils and wooils, with all the ai)i)iirtenanees of sa.id town, to Lfi uit lots, and to make sucli orders as may concern the well ordering iif their own tiovns not reinignant to the laws and orders establish.ed by the general court."

Thcv might also (says Mr. Ilaines) impose tines of not nmre than twenty shilings. and "choose their own jiarticular officers, as cf)nsta- 'iles, surveyors for the highway and the like."

Evidently this enactment relieved the general court of a muss of inanici[iai details, without any danger to the power of that Ijody in <"ontrolling general measures of pul)lic policy.

Tliey made laws, ordered their e.\ecutif)n by otKcers, tried and decided ci\il and criniinal causes, emicted all nninner ot' muincijial reirulations, and, in fact, did all the public business of the colony.

Thus we find that the valuable system of county, townsliip and town organizations had Iieen tlioroughly trieil and proven long before there was need of adopting it in ^Missouri or any of the broad region west of tiie Mississipi)! river. Jjut as the n.-w country began to bo t)pened, and as eastern peo[)le l)egau to move westward across the might}' river, and form thick settlements along its -western bank, the territory and state, and county and township organizations soon t'olfowed in quick succession, and those dill'erent systems became more or less improved, according as deemed necessaiy l>y the experience and Judgment and demands of the peojile, until tliev have arrived at the present .stage of advancement and etticiene'V. In the setthauentof the teri'itory of Missouri, the legislature began by orga.nizini;- counties on the Mis.vi-.sippi river. As each new county was t'ornied. it ^va< ii'ade to include under legal jurisdiction all the country bordering west of it, and required to grant to the actual settlers electoral privileges and an equal share of the county government, with those who properly lived in the geographical limits of the count} .

1 he counties first organized along the eastern borders of the state were given for a short time juri.-diction over the lands and sittlemeuts adjoiuin.g each on the west, until these localities became sufficientlv settled to support organizations of their own.

No [jerson can int<'lligent!y underst.and the history of a conntr}' without at the same time knowing its geography, and in order that a clear aud correct idea of the geograph}' of Howard countv may be olitained from the language already used in detining ditierent localities and pieces of land,v.e insert herewith the plan of government surveys as given in Mi-. E. A. Hickman's property maj) of Jackson county. Missouri : -

Previous to the formation of our present government, the etistcrn jjortion of North America consisted of a numlier of British colonics, the territory of which was granted in large tracts to British noblemen. By treaty of 1783, these grants were acknowledged as valid bv the colonies. After the revolutionary war. when these colonies were acknowledged independent states, all public domain within their bouniiaries was acknowledged to be the propti-ty of the colony within the bounds of which saiil domain was situated.

While tile public domain was the property of the colonies, it was disposed of as follows ; Each individual caused the tract he desired to p!ircha-e to be surveyed and platted. A copy of the survey was then tiled with the register of laiuls, when, by paying into the state or colonial treasury an agreed price, the purchaser received a patent for the land. This method of disposing of public lands made lawsuits nn:i:erous, owing to ditferent surveys often including the sauie ground. To avoid these difficulties and eifect a general moasurement of tlie territories, the United Stales adopted the pi-escnt mode or SA'steni fif laud surveys, a d.scription of which we give, as follows :

In an unsurve^ed region, a point of marked and changeless topographical features is selected as an initial jxiint. The exact latitude and longitude of this point is ascertained by astronomical observation, and a suitable monument of iron or stone to perjictuate the position. Through this i^oint a irue nortli and south line is run, which is calh'd a princijHiJ meriJirni. This principal mei-idian may l)e extended north and south uny desired distance. Along this line are [placed, at distances of one-lialf mile from each other, posts of wood or stone, or mounds of earth. These posts are said to esfabliith the line, and are called section and quarter-section posts. Principal meridians are luindjered in the order in wliich they are established. Thr<nii;h the same initial point from which the principal meridian v\-as survoved, aniitlier line is now run and esttdjlished by mile and halt-mile posts, as betbre, in a true east and west direction. This line is called the ha.se lidc, and like the })rincipal meridian, may be extended imletinitely in either direction. These lines form the basis oi the survey of the country inio townships and ranges. Township lines extend east and west, parallel with the base line, at distances of six miles from the base line and from each other, dividing the country into strips six miles wide, whicji strips are called townships. Range lines lun north and south parallel to the priucipal meridian, dividing the conntrv into stri[)s six miles wide, which strips are called ranges. Townshi[i strips are numbered from the ba-^e line and range strii)s are nundjcred from the principal meridian. Town'^hiiJS lying north of the base line aie "townships north:" those on the south are "townships south."' The stri[) lyiu'j next the ha-e line is to\vns]iip one, the next one tt) tliiit township iwo, and soon. Tlic range strips are nuni1)Ci'ei.l in tlu^ same inanner, counting tVom the princijial meridian east or west, as the case may lie.

The township and range lines thus divide t!ie country into six-mile squares. Each oi' those squares is called a congressional township. All north and south lines north of the equator approach each otlier as tlicj extend north, finally meeting at tlie noilli pole; therefore north and south lines are not literally pai-allel. The east and west '>oundar}' lines of any range heing six miles apart in the latitude of Missouri or Kansas, would, in thirty miles, approach eack other at 2.!* chains, or 190 feet. If, therefore, the width of the range when started from the base line is made exactly six miles, it he 2.9 chains too narrow at the distance of thirly miles, or live tov.-nships north. To correct the \vidth of ranges and keep them to thejiroper \\idth, the range lines are not surveyed in a continuous straight line, like the principal meridian, entirely across the state, hut only across a limited number of townships, usually five, where the width of the range is co')i-ev(ed by begiiuiing a ne\\ line on the side of tlie range most distant from the prlnci[)al meridian, at such a point as ^s'ill nndvc the range its correct width. All range lines are corrected in the same man.ner. The east and west township line on -which these corrections are nnide are ealh-d correction lines, or standard jiarallels. Tlie surveys of the state of ]\Iissoui'i were made from the fifth principal meridian, which runs through the state, and its ranges are numliered from it. The State of Kansas is surveyed and niimheretl froni the sixtli. Congressional townships are divided into thirty-six square miles, called sec/ions, and tire known by numbers, according to their ])ositiou. The follnwing diagram shows the order of numbers iiml the sections in congre=>ional township.

Soctions are diviilcd intu quiirters, ciglil!i< ami sixtcfnths, and are deserihed by their position in tiic section. The full seclii.n contain- 6-10 aci-e^, the qnnrter 160, the eighth 80, and the sixteenth 40. In the t'ollowint!; diagram of u section the position designated by a is known us the northwest qnarcer : / is the northeast quarter ; of the northeast quarter; d would be the south half of the southeast quarter, and would contain SO acres.

Congres;.-ional townships, as we luu e seen are six mile squares of land, nnide by the town.-hip anil range lines, while civil or numicipai townships are civil divisions, made for purposes of government, the one having no reference to the other, though similar in name. On the county map we see both kinds of townships - the congressional usually designated by numbers and in squares ; the municipal or civil t(r\vnship by name and in various forms.

By the measurement thus made by the government the courses and distances are defined between an_y two points. St. Louis is in tnwnsliip 44 north, range 8 east, and Independence is in tov\-nship 49 nortli, range 32 west; how far, then, are Kansas City and St. Louis apart on a direct line "' St. Louis is forty townships east - 240 miles - and five townshi])s south - thirty miles; the base and pei'pendicular ot a right-angled triangle, tlie hypothenuse being the required distance."'

The " township," as the term is used in common phraseology, in nnrny instances, is widely distinguished from that of " town," though many persons persist in confounding the two. " Li the United States, many of the states are divided into townships of five, six, seven, or perhaps ten miles square, and the inhabitants of such townships are vested with certain powers for regulating their own alTairs, ?uch as repairing roads and providing for the poor. The township is suliordinate to the county." A " to\vn " is simply a collection of bouses, cither large or small, and opposed to " country."

ship surveys shntiM lio tli'U'oimiilv inidc'i-.-tfioii liv every iiuollioent farmer ami l)iHiiie>s man ; still tlivro arc soine [xiiiils eoiineeted with the midprstaiulini'dl' it, wiiicli need close ami careful attention. The law whieli cstalilisheil this s_vslini) requircil that tlie north ami south lines should eorre-pond exactly ^s-itll the uii'ri<liau passincT through that jioint ; also, that each to^\-n^hip should lie six miles srpnn'e. To do thi.. wouhl he an utter ini[ii)s.sihility, since tlie liixure of the earth causes the meridian^ to C(niverge toward the pole, makiufj the north line of each township shorter than the south tine of the same town^hiii. To obviate the errors which are on tliis account, constantly oecurrinLV, correction lines ai'e e-tahlishcd. Tliey are parallels hounding a line of townships on the north, when l_\ing noitliof the principal base; on the south line of townships -when lying south of the prip.cipal base .from which the snrve\-s, as they are continued, are laid out anew ; the range lines again stai'ting at correct distance-, from the principal niei'idian. in Michi'^an these correction lines are repieated at the em] of every tenth townsliip, but in Oregon the\- have been repeated with every fit^li township. The instrm'tions to the surve}'ors Iku'c l)een that cacii i'ange of townships should be made as much over six miles in width on each base and correction line as it will fall short of the same width where it closes on to the next correction line north ; and it is further provided that in all cases, where the exterior lines of the towpiships shall exceed, or shall not extend six miles, the excess of deficiency shall be si)ecially noted, and added to or deducted tVom the western or northern sections or half sections in such toA\nship, according as the error may be in running tlui lines from east to west, or from south to north. In order to throw the excess of deficiencies on the north and on tlic west sides of the townsliip, it is necessar\' to survey the section lines from south to north, on a true meridian, leaving the result in the north line of the township to be governed by the convexity of the earth, and the convergenc}- of the meridians.

Navigable rivers, lakes and islands are " meandered" or sur\eyed by the compass and chain along the banks. "The instruments employed on these surveys, besides the solar compass, are a surveying chain thirty-three feet long, of fit'ty links, and another of smaller wire, as a standard to be used for correcting the farmer as often at least as every other day, also eleven tally pins, made of steel, telesco|:)e, targets, tape measure and tools for marking the lines upon trees or stones. In surveying through woods, trees interce[)ted b}- the line are marked with two chip? or notches, one on each side ; these are called siillit or line trees. Soiiielliiie> oIIkm' trees in tlie vieinity iire hlazed oil two sides qiirirtering to^vard tlie line; but if some distance iVoin the line the two bhizes should he near together on the .side lacing the line. These ;ire lound to be permanent inailcs, nr)t whollv reco'jnizahle tor many }'ears, but carrying ivith them tlieir own age by the rings of growth arouuvl the blaze, which may at any .^ubserjiicnt time i)c cut out and counted as years ; and the same arc recognized in courts of law as evidence of the date of the survey. They cannot be obliterated by cutting do\vu the trees or otherwise without leaving evidence of the act. Corners are marked upon trees if found at the right sjtots, or else upon posts set in the ground, and sometimes a monument of stones is used for a township i'orner, and a single stone for section corner; mounds of earth are made when there are no stones nor timber. The corners of the four adjacent sections are designated by distinct marks cut into a tree, one in each section. These trees, facing the corner, arc i^lairihmarked with the letters B. T. (bearing tree) cut into tlie wood. Notches cut upon the corner post^ or trees indicate the nunilier of miles to the outliiics of the township, or if on tlie boundaries of the township, to the township corners.