Johnson County, Missouri - Chapter 9: - Jefferson Township, 1881

Since the day in which this township was christened in honor of the patriot and statesman, Thomas Jefferson, time has been at work. The wheels of progress have turned westward, and by skill and industry the intelligent sons of toil have developed the natural resources which the lib¬ eral hand of the Omnipotent has so freely distributed among them.

Situate under a genial sky, in a latitude where sanitary laws are mocked, where liberty, honesty of purpose and high regard for the welfare of the community held full sway, lived some of the best and noblest pioneers of Johnson county. May not their children, with relevancy and due respect, honor the names of their illustrious sires? A few biographical sketches of to-day may appear meaningless and out of place but perhaps ere the sands of time have worn through a century hence, these pages have been vener¬ ated and baptized in tears from sympathizing friends, whose hearts almost

Many of those who were born and reared here can reflectingly call to memory, " The house where I was born," the rural home, where the log cabin in its primitive grotesqueness stood by the little woods that skirted the stream. Soon after this followed the little log school house by the road side and the well remembered schoolmaster, who with rod in hand ruled his little school.

Progress and enterprise had brought wealth and affluence to many of the early settlers prior to 1861. Before this time bad, designing men, worthless, without principle or means came here as the offshoot from the slop-pail of other states, and through envy coveted the property of honest citizens. The circumstances of the war developed what was in the hearts, of these men, and by the time the civil strife closed in the spring of 1865, the old settlers had been robbed of about all their personal property. Since that time those who are entitled to enjoy happy domestic homes have again became prominent, while those who held the "ill-got" gains have drifted into vileness and poverty, with shame written on their brows. They have made no retribution, neither is there rest for their souls.

Name. - It is quite common to notice the importance attached to a name. Individuals, objects and places alike become thus conspicuous. The name of a township, after years of familiarity, becomes a common house¬ hold word. We care not where the individual may roam, he will still, tendenly recall the name of his home township.

Jefferson township is one of the four original townships of the county, formed by an order of court, May, 4, 1835. It then embraced almost one fourth of the county, but by the formation of the other townships around it, it has been reduced in size until it now embraces about sixty square miles in the extreme southeastern portion of Johnson county. The town¬ ship took its name in honor of the " father of Democracy," Thomas Jef¬ ferson, the third president of the United States.

Jefferson township is bounded on the north by Washington township, on the east by Pettis county, on the south by Henry county, and on the west by Post Oak township, and contains about sixty square miles. Its southeast corner is about twenty-five miles from the county seat, Warrensburg. The inhabitants of the southern half do most of their trading in the town of Windsor, Henry county, a distance of about five to ten miles, while those living in the northern portion go to Knob Noster, a town on the Missouri Pacific railroad, near the centre of Washington town¬ ship.

Physical Features . - The surface is diversified. High Point is the great¬ est eminence in the township, and perhaps, as high as any elevation of the county. On the elevations the soil is a sandy loam, mixed with clay, and is quite productive when well cultivated. In the northwest part of the township the land surface has hill and dale, and contains some excellent timber. Here the soil varies from sand loam mixed with clay to black lime stone land in the valleys. Some of this is hlack-jack land on the upland and resin-weed land in the lowlands. In northern and eastern parts the surface is slightly rolling and undulating. Although the soil is not deep, yet it is underlaid with a fine bed of marl which makes it very valuable for subsoiling. Blue grass grows very luxuriant here and makes fine pastures.

In the southeastern portions the land is quite rolling and often uneven, but fine agricultural lands. Most of the soil is a deep limestone, from mulatto to black soils. There is some timber here, but no dense and extensive forests. In the southwestern part of the township we have the head waters of Tebo. Here the land is often termed " High Point Tebo." , The land is sandy and quite rolling on the elevations, while in the low¬ lands and creek bottoms the soil is somewhat mixed, nevertheless, quite productive.

Fine beds of coal exist in many parts of the township. The head waters of Tebo creek are in section 30. The creek banks are low, and the chan¬ nel is filled with beds of gravel in many places. Plenty of coal is found on this creek, besides some of the best timber of the county. The bottoms are quite fertile and produce the very best hay, besides all sorts of grains. Whenever the prairie grass is killed out the blue grass at once springs into existence and produces a beautiful velvety green sward most of the year. Mr. J. M. Wall owns considerable of this fine land, both timber and pasture. Here is plenty of living water in never failing springs. These pasture lands produce the finest grasses of the county to perfec¬ tion. Mr. L. C. Littlefield owns a fine pasture of 240 acres. The great elevation of township called " High Point " is in section 21 on a divide separating the waters of Tebo from those of the township running north and east. It is a beautiful out-look.

It is said that here are found veins of ochre, choice clays, and a stratum of plumbago and black oxyde of manganese, which is susceptible of a fine polish and makes a clear black mark. The limestone here embraces sev¬ eral varieties, some of which contain numerous fossils. Several speci¬ mens of petrification, principally of wood, have been found in many places of the township.

Iu an early day this entire township was annually wrapped in flames. No doubt the luxuriant vegetation produced here fed the yearly fires that swept over this surface for centuries before the white man kindled his camp fires beside the purling brooks of Jefferson township. The land of this section is the finest in the county. Here a country home would have

The following are the creeks of the township: Brushy, Muddy, Cop¬ peras, Plum, Clear Fork, East and West Tebo. Brushy has its source in section 28, and flows northeast and empties into Muddy in the northeast quarter of section 26. This little stream is shallow and does not afford abundance of water all the year, however, several holes contain stock water much of the time. On account of the abundance of brush on this stream it gets its name. Muddy rises in the southern central part and flows pretty regularly in a northeast direction to the northeast corner of the township. This is the largest stream of the interior of the township. It has plenty of stock water. The channel is not deep, but in some places is at times very muddy, whence its name. On the borders of this stream is found good timber. Elm, walnut, hackberry, oak, and hickory grow in abundance. Only about two miles of Clear Fork pass through the northwestern corner of the township. This the largest stream in the northwest. Its name come from the clearness of the water. Plum Branch has its source in section 29, and flows northwest through section 19, uni¬ ting with Clear Fork about one-quarter of a mile in Washington town¬ ship. From the abundance of fine wild plums at an early day it took its name. Copperas creek rises in the western centrel part of the tcwnship in section 5, and flows northwest, through sections 32, 31, 30, 25, and 24, uniting with Plum creek at the township line. This stream has some timber, but is noted for its mineral specimens. In a few places copperas water breaks from the adjacent ground, hence the name. West Tebo creek has its source in the southern part of the township, a nd flows into Henry county. Here is some excellent timber, and the bottoms are very fertile. The creek is formed from the numerous brooks which run off from the uplands about " High Point." This is a beautiful, picturesque localitv, and is the home of the Fewells, Walls, and Garretts, old and res¬ pected families, who have attractive and substantial improvements on some of the choice agricultural lands of the township. East Tebo creek cuts across the corner of the county through some very rich land. Also, on the southern border, near the Henry county line, we find numerous little streams, some well timbered, that drain some of the best farms of the county. Here the soil is deep and of a black limestone loam nature, in some places, underlaid with marl which is very valuable to farmers, espe¬ cially if they ever expect to subsoil. The soil of the whole township, in general, is of a varying quality. In parts of the township it is of a reddish color, while in other parts it is of a rich black loam. There is no part of the county that will compare with this section in point of beauty and grandeur of scenery. In most places the land is quite productive and the farms and buildings are handsome and attractive. No better class of hos- pitable and kind-hearted people can be found anywhere else. Here is enterprise and industry. The people, in general are in good circumstan¬ ces and happy in their domestic affairs.

The population and statistics of the township for its size and age will favorably compare with any other township in the county. The tenth U. S. census was taken by N. T. Gray during the summer of 1880, and gave a population of 1,403.

The Early Settlers. - Those who have come before and prepared the way for these settlements we call the brave pioneers. Well may the old settlers say with Longfellow:

Very soon all those living who have seen this country change from the wild nature to the high state of domestic beauty and enlightenment, will have past away. The old settlers who settled here, were of that better class, who were neither too fond of romance, nor did they settle down to common place ideas.

Their natures chose the " golden mean " in respect to aesthetic culture. Most of their time, for the first few years, was spent in opening up homes, and hence they did not pay that regard to education due from noble ancestry. They kept sacred their family blood, and so great was their vigilance in this respect, that often relatives were affianced. Let it be a transgression of the laws, or otherwise, these noble families were too proud of their stock and ancestry to see their posterity become connected with inferior families. In many cases, perhaps, they erred, but, nevertheless, no better families ever lived, than those of Jefferson township.

Prominent among the old settlers we mention the following: Mr. S. C. Gray came here in 1848, from Boone county. He was born November 15, 1820, and is now living in Sec.. 30, T. 44, R. 24, in moderate health. J. W. Fickas is now living on the old Jack Daniels' place. Col. B. F. Williams is one of the worthy old pioneers. He came here several years ago, and has educated and brought up a large and excellent family of children. He and his wife are dutiful members of the M. E. Church (south). At one time the Colonel served as justice of the peace. During the war of 1861 he cast his fortunes with the south, and served faithfully as a soldier on that side till the angel of peace spread his wings over the land, then Mr. Williams returned to his wretched and patiently waiting family. In politics he is a democrat.

David Cooper came here in the year 1833, and is dead. A. J. Cooper came here in 1835, and is living in the township, seventy-four years of age. Thomas Smith came here in 1832 from Tennessee, and is residing in Henry county, and is eighty-nine years of age. He cultivated fifteen acres of corn in 1879, and split 125 rails the day he was seventy-five years of age. Anthony Owsley came here in 1833 from Kentucky, and has passed beyond the Jordan of death. Early Tucker came herein 1832 from Kentucky, and is now among the dead. Isaac McDonald came here in 1833, and is among the unknown. Wm. Reynolds came here in 1832, and is dead. He had nineteen children by one wife. He settled at the high point of Tebo. Perhaps some of the old pioneers who yet are living can recount many incidents in which this family acted an important part.

I )avid Cooper brought up seventeen children to be grown, five of whom are living. All were married but three. Feldin Woolf first set his tent stakes here in 1833. His father fought under Gen. George Washington in the revolutionary war.

Benjamin Kinzey came here in 1831 or 1832 and is now dead, Samuel Moore came here from Kentucky in the year 1834 and is dead. Dr. Wm. Huff came about 1834 or 1836 from Kentucky. He once had an exten¬ sive practice. He died at about seventy five years old.

Owen Cooper came from Kentucky in 1836 and is living here. He is about seventy-five years of age. Robert Craig came from Tennessee in 1836 or 1837, and is living here at the age of seventy-four. Thomas J. Davis arrived here from Virginia in 1837 and has moved to Oregon. Harvey Dyer came the same year from that State and is now num¬ bered with the dead. He sold goods at Harrodsburg, once a thriving vil¬ lage of this township. James Patrick came to Missouri in 1834 from Kentucky, reared a large family, and gathered a good property ; a reverse of fortune came and he lost all, and is now in his seventy-fifth year, a poor man. He resides in Clinton, Henry county. Other old and respected settlers are: Randall Hazelwood, Jesse Enlow, Robert Douglas, Wm. Jennings, Edmond Grismon, and Thomas Neal.

give a few additional names: Kit Wingfield, Elbert, Henry, and Frank Cooper, John Owsley-, John Draper and his sons, William, Addison, and Mosely; Robert Douglas and his sons, Willis, Alfred, John, and Allen; Benjamin Wall, Benjamin Farwell, Richard B. Fewell, Washington Gar¬ ret, B. A. Holmes and his sons Robert H., John W., James R., and Benja¬ min F. ; David White, John, Elisha, William, and Addison Grison; Lar¬ kin Pettus, Wm. Birch, and Dr. Owsley. No doubt there are others, but it is not at present in our power to give them.

The early settlers found plenty of game at an early day and they spent many a happy hour in the chase. At first it is said that game was so plentiful that they almost forsook domestic affairs for the chase. The pio¬ neers in this section are quite cavaliers who admired the high-minded nature and were always at home in the saddle. Many of these hospitable and liberal settlers came here quite poor, but during their stay became quite wealthy, whose labors and wealth their children now enjoy. God has spared a few who we hope will take an interest in the details that we record upon these pages of their noble and daring chivalric lives before they enter the phantom bark and are born across the dark river of death.

The history of the township system of Jefferson is quite brief. The people were enraptured with this new style of government, and are yet earnest advocates of the system. It is said that schools, roads, and all enterprises of the township prospered; in brief, they like this system of township government, and would vote for it to a man. At the close of the war there were not enough loyal men to hold office. In order to get officers, Jefferson was attached to Post Oak.

Henry Divers made the first entry in 1833. A very few farms had been opened prior to this date. This township, at present, has no town or village. Harrodsburg, once a little village of some future prosperity, has long been forgotten. It is now no more. It was once the name of a town on the Warrensburg & Warsaw road, which at one time promised to rival the former. At one time it contained two or three stores, a postoffice and blacksmith shop.

Fate was against it however, and the Harrodsburg of yore is now a desolate waste, where the owl chants his doleful requiem the long night through. No vestige of the village remains. It has gone like the recol¬ lections of a dream, and the very name is suggestive of the tomb. Eldo- rado, is the name applied to a point on the line of Johnson and Pettis counties. A store, post-office, church, and school-house, constitute the village. There are only two post-offices of this township. One is called Owsley, in memory of an old and respected pioneer, Moses Owsley. Miss Sallie Wood is postmistress. Henrietta is the name of a post-office in the northern part of the township. The office is kept at the residence of Hon. Wm. P. Greenlee, who is postmaster.

The roads of the township1 are generally quite good. Although they are not worked as much as in other places, yet the land and soil is of such a nature as to keep the roads from wearing away. There are roads lead¬ ing to Knob Noster, Windsor, Sedalia, and Warrensburg. There are no large bridges of the township; a few wooden ones span the small streams of the different parts of this township. Of wet seasons some of the roads become quite miry.

The pioneers of this township have done well in church work. For a long time preaching was held in the old log school-houses, prior to any church buildings. Feeldin Woolf is said to have preached the first ser¬ mon in the township, which was in 1833, at his own residence.

Elder B. F. Goodwin, one of the faithful old pioneers of the township, to whom we are indebted for valuable information, came to this state from Kentucky in the year 1845, and married the 13th of March of the same year. He is now sixty years old. He has two children living and two dead. He states that he has married one hundred and thirty-seven coup¬ les, and received about $500 for the same.

The Old Hi%h Point Baptist Church was twelve miles south of Knob Noster, on the main road leading from that town to Calhoun. It was organized in 1833 by Elders Simpson and Ricketts and the old building was put up in 1855, by R. B. Craig and John Eperson, and cost $800. The first sermon was preached here by Rev. B. F. Goodwin. The fol¬ lowing is a list of the pastors: Elders Simpson, Ricketts, W. P. C. Caldwell, B. F. Goodwin, A Horn, H. M. Cockrell, and T. J. Nevelle. The names of the original members are: Benj. Snelling and wife, Vin- 4 cent Snelling and wife, John Draper and wife, Anthony Owsley and wife, Ann White, and John T. Rickets and wife. The church book was con¬ sumed by fire with the residence of A. Draper in 1863. The membership here was about two hundred prior to sending out new branches. Old High Point church has been like a hive of bees, when it became numerous it sent out new colonies. About fifty memberships were taken out to organize Harmony Baptist Church in Post Oak township, six miles west. Providence and Elk Fork churches are off-shoots of this old scion.

New High Point Baftist Church is in secs. 7 and 8, tp. 44, r. 24. Five acres of land at $30 per acre, were purchased of Enoch Callicotte. The house, 40x60, was erected in the fall of 1881, and cost $2,000. The building committee were Rev. B. F. Goodwin, J. M. Wall, E. C. Arnold and Sidney Jarvis. The church deacons are S. P. Kinzey and Hon. Wm. P. Greenlee. W. F. P. Pool is the church clerk.

Pleasant Grove M. E. Church South, is just across the line in Wash¬ ington township. Here is also a congregation of Cumberland Presbyte¬ rians. The building is a union house of worship. Rev. L. H. Davis, a devoted and warm-hearted man, is serving as preacher in charge for the Methodists.

The cause of religion has not developed in the way of churches in this township as might be expected. One church building, perhaps, is all that we learned anything about within the township. The township has occasionally organized a Sunday school, but, so far, none have proved evergreen. It is true that the people are high-minded and have exalted spiritual ideas and great reverence for heavenly things, but from some cause, not a great many of the citizens are very enthusiastic in the Sun¬ day school work, nor the enterprise of church buildings. Perhaps the reason for only one church is the great number of adherents to the Bap¬ tist faith, since the Baptists are quite respectfully represented here. There are a few Presbyterians, Christians, Methodists, and Cumberland Presbyterians in various neighborhoods, none of which are sufficiently strong and able to support an independent congregation.

The first burials were made on the little farms opened by the first set¬ tlers, and those who followed claimed a right to lay their dead the first. In some of these old graves slumber the hunter, the woodsman, and the aged sires, who, like Moses, only could view the promised land, which has since been occupied by their children. In these different old ceme¬ teries sleep the unconscious dead of every degree of society.

Most of the graveyards proper, were started about 1840. Cooper cemetery is a family burying place. Goodwin's cemetery is near his resi¬ dence where he has two children buried. Tucker cemetery is in section 37. It was started in 1840. Combs cemetery is a family graveyard. There are a few graves in section 32, and also, on C. D. Ranis' land in section 35. Old High Point cemetery is near the old church, A. P. Blewett, who was a native of Kentucky, and had lived here about ten years, was the first to sleep in the new cemetery. His burial took place August 24, 1881. There are a few other graves in other places, we learn, of the township, which we are not able to locate. Schools were early estab¬ lished here by the first settlers. Most of the old pioneers could read and write, and were not without common intelligence. When the log school house was put up on the hill side, parental training was somewhat slack¬ ened. Many of the old maxims may be applicable here, to favorably impress the noble qualities of the old pioneers upon their offspring. "As the teacher so the school." "As the parents so both teacher and school."

Every teacher of experience knows how much easier it is for a child to learn who has educated parents. These settlements had but little diffi¬ culty in giving their children the proper education for true citizenship. The children not only pursued the common branches, but often stepped higher in the scale of scholastic lore. The people here, like every other place in the first settlement of the county, opened subscription schools. They well knew that sweet and sunny childhood need the tender hand of care to guide it aright.

Some of the quaint log school houses are well remembered by those who were school boys and girls in pioneer Johnson county. The old log houses have long since passed away, however, they will not be forgotten.

One old log school-house stood between the residences of Anthony Ows¬ ley and Isaac McDonald, whose door was so low that the larger scholars were obliged to bow in order to enter. Many interesting incidents are connected with this school yet fresh in the memory of the members of that old school. Another log school house stood just west of the old Pettus farm. Here, beside erudition, mirth and frivolity helped to chase the long dull school days away.

On Clear Fork, near the Maj. Neal farm, stood an antique log cabin once used as church and school building. The methods of school man¬ agement of those days could scarcely be tolerated now. In some of the old schools the pupil was required, at the point of the rod, to successfully recite his lesson. In those days repetition often passed for progress. The child exercised the faculty of memory of some things, without learning to think. His mathematics was written, and geography memorized. A few studied grammar in a mechanical way, and but few could hold intelligent epistolary correspondence. The subject of capitalizing, paragraphing, and punctuation was left almost entirely to the caprice of the printer. But few of these people were pedantic, nevertheless it is said "A little learn¬ ing is a dangerous thing." The plain, unassuming manliness of these well-bred pioneers was a trait peculiar to themselves brought from the older states.

The cruel manner in which children were punished for misbehaviors is no more practiced. Brutal force is fast giving way to the soothing influ¬ ence of kind words. It was common a half century ago for the teacher to freely use the ferrule upon incorrigible pupils, striking them in the palms of the hand or on the head. Gagging was practiced some, and perhaps some old pioneers yet living can recount an instance or two ol this sort of punishment for whispering. It is said that in one instance a young lady just entering her teens was gagged with a forked stick, the facts are vouched for by reliable informants. Civilization, within the last score of years has made rapid progress. Among the pioneer schoolmasters we have the names of Dabney Pettus who came from Virginia; Thab Butler, who also came from Virginia; Edward C. Curren, from Kentucky ; Sam'l Lowe, from Kentucky, subsequently became clerk in the legislature of this state; Mrs. Nancy Bryant, a widow; Ep. M. Smith, who was one of the best teachers, from Kentucky; Wm. Winfrey, from Tennessee; Joe Goodwin; Green Reese, who now resides in Indiana; Wm. Fewell, one of the stalwart schoolmasters that ruled his school, and Mr. Nutter, an excellent teacher.

The pioneer teachers have given way for a new corps of mind-trainers. Among those who are now active in the pedegogic work, we have learned but few of their names. Miss Fannie Williamson, a musician of no ordinary ability, is among the most prominent teachers now active in the teacher's field. J. H. L. Scott, a farmer of this vicinity, has taught here with good success. Thompson school No. 4 is a frame building, erected in 1868, and cost $619. The following is the list of teachers who have taught here: J. H. L. Scott, Miss Lula M. Caldwell, Miss Luella Draper, R. W. Palmer, L. Mohler, Miss Sallie Gray, Miss Annie Suther¬ land, Miss Celeste Scotr, W. H. Scott. Besides this school there are about half a dozen others, all have frame buildings, and school is kept in them from four to nine months in the year. In civic societies this town¬ ship is well up to the times. Cold Spring Lodge, No. 274, A. F. and A. M., was organized in 1878, by G. R. D. G. W. M. The charter mem¬ bers are: Obe Wallace, the first master; Obe Hall, the first secretary; J. M. Wall, W. W. Gass, E. C. Arnold, M. P. Norman, S. M. Clark, Silas Greer, C. D. Ranis, W. A. Williams, R. L. Irwin, C. T. Caldwell, T. J. Caldwell, N. T. Gray. This order in connection with the grange, own a well furnished and commodious hall, in the second story of a frame, on the site of the old Henrietta store. The present officers are: Dr. L. D. Ewing, W. M. and Obe Hall, secretary.

Henrietta Grange was organized here in the j^ear 1873. M. C. Draper was first master, and E. W. Blewett, the secretary. The charter mem¬ bers were: J. M. Wall, Ned Bradley, Wm. Bradley, Mrs. M. C. Draper, Mrs. Hattie Blewett, Mrs. Nannie B. Wall, and Miss Ophelia Perry. At the second election, J. M. Wall was chosen master and re-elected, and served for several successive years. At present Hon. W. P. Greenlee is master, and B. F. Wall, Jr., secretary. The present membership of this farmers' organization is 125. The members claim good results from this institution. They enjoy the co-operation as farmers in buying and selling. They order their groceries, farming implements, and other machinery directly through their agent in St. Louis. The elegantly furnished spacious hall indicates the class of people who meet there. The hall stands on the land formerly owned by Jesse Enlow, one of the oldest set¬ tlers of the township. It was built by the grangers and masons, and cost

For some time a store and post-office was kept open in the lower story of this building, but the store ceased with the ushering in of 1881, and the post-office was moved to the residence of Hon. W. P. Greenlee. The name, Henrietta, is an associate name of the place and post office, given when the office was organized in 1879. W. P. Greenlee was the first postmaster, then J. W. Wall, Mr. Steward, Frank Hall, and now back to the hands of W. P. Greenlee.

In agricultural interests and stock-raising, this township ranks among the foremost townships of the county. The rich, beautiful agricultural land underlaid with marl, will never wear out by proper care. The main productions arc wheat and corn. Rye, oats and barley, sorghum cane, and tobacco, are profitable crops. J. M. Wall, one of the extensive farmers and stock-breeders of the township, has seven hundred and four¬ teen acres of very fine land, all under fence except ten acres of timber in Henry county. He has a pasture of blue grass, well watered, containing 160 acres, 120 acres of fine timothy that yielded the uncommon dry year of 1881, upwards of 120 tons of hay; for the same year, his wheat aver¬ aged 15 bushels per acre, and corn about 40 bushels per acre. He has on his farm 120 head of Cottswold sheep; a beautiful buck of the same stock that was brought from Canada, and cost fifty dollars. He sold nine lambs last spring at ten dollars a piece; he sheared 90 head, averaging nine and four-fifths pounds each. Mr. Wall states that his sheep are easily managed, and they pay better than anything else on the farm. He also keeps four thoroughbred short-horn Durham cows, and about 100 head of high grade cattle. He keeps some good blooded horses; one black ass six years old, fifteen and three-fourths hands high, and a fine black jack yearling fourteen and one-half hands high. He keeps fine Berkshire pigs. ,

Just as soon as the prairie grass is killed out, blue grass takes the place, as can be seen in the many large fine pastures here. Timothy meadows exist in goodly numbers. There are many fine woodland pastures along the little streams. Stock raising is an industry that excites consid¬ erable attention here. J. M. Wall, E. C. Arnold, Daniel T. Styles, Chas. P. Phillips, Isaac and John Sanborn, A. J. Cooper, and others. J. W. Garrett has a fine farm well stocked, and keeps blooded sheep and cattle.

The township might be called a prairie township, because its surface is mostly rolling prairie. The soil is well adapted to pasturage and the growing of cereals and grasses. The fine rich soils have a peculiar varying degree in the different parts of the township. In some localities the soil is only a few inches in depth, but underlaid with a fine bed of marl.

Coal exists of different degrees of quality on almost every acre of land. Ochre of good quality occurs also. It is said that a fine quality of cement rock is found in parts of the township, from which cement, fully equal to the article produced at Louisville, Ky., is manufactured.

Horticultural interests have never greatly agitated the minds of the people here, not because of the soil or climate, for there is no section of the county better adapted to fruit raising than some of Jefferson township. Fruit culture can be made here, with a trifling outlay, a considerable source of revenue.

A few farmers have small vineyards, which yield a bountiful supply of grapes every year. The apple, peach, cherry, pear and other standard fruits are found on almost every farm. A few places have excellent small fruits, such as gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, strawber¬ ries, and dwarf pears. Generally the fruit yields well, and no farmer need to deprive himself of the luxuries to be found in first-class market houses, for, by a little tact and energy, he can have all such productions around him. In the vegetable crop this township is never behind. Tomatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, potatoes and radishes do well. Even two crops are raised some years.

Every locality has its incidents, and without a few, life would be extremely prosy. At Eldorado, Robert Irwin was keeping a dry goods and grocery store in 1866. Now a little grocery store is kept by Robert Harris. Dr. Geo. Harris, a man with but one ear, practices here. Most of the church members in this vicinity go to a church in Pettis county to worship. It is said that a Mr, Douglass lived at an early day in the south¬ east corner of the county, and owned property about him in four counties. His house was in Johnson county, his blacksmith shop in Henry, his barn in Benton, and his smokehouse in Pettis. For many years the county assessors failed to tax his property, because they could not decide in their mind where Mr. Douglass really belonged.

After the civil war of 1861 had been settled in the spring of 1865, and the angel of peace was comforting the mourning land, made desolate by tne savage hand of war, a vicious and blood-thirsty fiend in the person of a young dare-devil by the name of John Clark, in company with two accessories, Steele and Means, shot, in cold blood, John Williamson, a good and respected young man, who had objected to the notorious Clark paying respects to his sister. John Williamson's death was a sudden blow to his affectionate friends and relatives, who were of the best families of the community. The desperate John Clark was at once arrested and locked in jail. Soon his deed of burning injustice preyed upon his mind and body, until he became a wretched, hopeless invalid, beyond the reach of any remedy. In this condition he was released on account of ill-health, but he was no longer himself, and soon was numbered with the dead. His accomplice, Means, fled to the state of Arkansas, where he became enam¬ ored with the attractions of a pure-minded Arkansas girl, whom he mar¬ ried under an assumed name, begat two children, and, under the burden of his crime, he died, making a death-bed confession of his real name, -after which his misled and deluded widow wrote to his parents the full particulars of her late infatuation with a man whom she did not know.