Pettis County, Missouri - Chapter 18: Flat Creek Township, 1919

Flat Creek Township. - The writer has been unable to ascertain why this township was named Flat Creek. It is possible, but not certain, that it derives its name from the creek flowing across its northern bor¬ der and separating its territory from that of Sedalia township. The Sedalia, Warsaw and Southwestern railroad runs south through the center of the township.

This township was organized, when the question was voted on by the county in 1872, as a municipal township. When first formed it con¬ tained about thirty-six sections. Afterwards it was increased by taking from Sedalia township, on the north, several sections and making Flat Creek the dividing line between the two townships. Now Flat Creek contains about fifty sections or approximately 32,000 acres. The first township board was made up of the following citizens: J. C. Hatton, W. M. Devole, M. Parish. 0. JP. Hatton was first township trustee and Jacob A. Yankee was the first clerk.

In the west, south and east parts of the township the land is high, rolling prairie. The northern part is much more broken. The principal streams are Flat Creek, Spring Fork and Walnut Branch. The last two empty into Flat Creek.

The early settlers in this township came from Virginia, North Caro¬ lina and Kentucky. George Cathey came from North Carolina in 1827, settled and here made his home for many years. Joseph DeFord came from Kentucky in 1829. In 1830 John McFatrich came from Kentucky. David Holmes came in 1833 from South Carolina, and remained in the township a number of years. John Brow came in 1833 from the same State, as did also George Marshall in the same year. Jolly Parish moved to this township in 1833, from Kentucky. Also in the same year came Benjamin Randall, from the same State, and in 1835, Pemberton Casin, and in 1839, Elias Hale. In 1835, Jacob Yankee came to this township from the "Blue Grass State." Col. John E. Crawford came to this town¬ ship in 1838. He came with his family when there were only seven or eight houses in the township, and those were on the south side of the creek, and were all made of logs with sticks and clay chimneys. Mathias Ray came into the county and settled in this township in 1840. Abram McCormick came in 1833 from Kentucky. James McCormick came from Kentucky in 1833. William R. Anderson came to the town¬ ship in 1833, from Virginia. Thomas Gibbs came in 1830 from Ken¬ tucky. Joseph Deusman came in 1833 from Kentucky. William Mosbey settled in this township in 1833. He came from Kentucky. Michael Goodnight came in 1835, and George May in 1836, both from Kentucky.

Flat Creek township was sectionized in 1832, the Government sur¬ veyor being Mr. Shields. The first school was taught by R. A. McFar¬ land, on his own farm. The first marriage in the township was Henry Small to Nancy Mosby in the year 1836, and the first death was that of Samuel Marshall in the year 1836. The first minister was Rev. Millice, who held services at Abram McCormick's and W. R. Anderson's houses. The first church was arected at what is called Brown's Springs. The first school house erected in the township was on Col. Crawford's farm. This was a rude structure built of logs, and had the uncovered ground for a floor. After a while another was erected and for years these were the only two school houses in the township and were also used for church worship. The first physician to locate in the township was Doctor Brown. The first postoffice was called Spring Fork, and J. E. Crawford was postmaster. In 1847, the township recorded its first suicide. In that year a man named Calvin Hall hung himself.

The leading and most profitable business of the township is agricul¬ ture and stock raising. The deep limestone soils are practicably inex¬ haustible. Wheat has nearly always done well here. Timothy and clover yield well. Vineyards do well wherever cultivated and proper care is taken of them. There are some fine orchards in the township. Some farmers are paying attention to small fruit, with marked success.

class leaders being George Marshall and wife, Mrs. D. Anderson and others. The original members of the class were George Marshall and wife, W. R. Anderson and wife, Jacob Yankee, W. H. and W. P. Anderson and families, and Absalom Elliott and family. The early preachers were: Revs. Josiah Godby, Robert A. Allen, A. C. Briggs, John N. Anthony, Preston Philips, presiding elder.

Bethlehem Baptist Church was organized June 7, 1851, by Elder G. W. Sands and Deacon J. E. Crawford. The first house of worship was erected in 1860, at a cost of $1,000, by Henry Ebiling, and was dedicated on the 27th of May, the same year, by Elder C. J. Teas. The second house was erected in 1870 by Mr. Smith, and cost when completed $1,800. It was dedicated the fourth Sunday in November, 1870, by Elder R. H. Harris.

Aikins Mackey was murdered in this township shortly after the war by parties unknown. The same fate befell his son, A. M. Mackey, in November, 1911, in the city of Sedalia. Mackey was engaged in running a hack and carriage line. He was standing at the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Depot waiting for a passenger train to arrive from the South shortly after noon. While standing near his carriage a man by the name of John L. Jones rushed up to Mackey and stabbed him to death. Jones was tried the January following his crime. William Dillard O'Bannon was the prosecuting attorney. He was assisted in the trial by W. D. Steele and Mark A. McGruder. Jones was defended by William G. Lynch, afterward Assistant United States District Attorney for West¬ ern Missouri, and by Claude Wilkerson. After a three days' trial the jury rendered a verdict imposing the death penalty. The case was ap¬ pealed to the Supreme Court and Jones given a new trial. New trial was held in Boonville, on change of venue, and a penitentiary sentence given Jones by the jury.

Flat Creek township has one Catholic Church, known as St. Patrick's Church, located at Spring Fork. The church edifice is a new brick veneer, thirty-four by sixty-four, and cost $10,000. It is of Gothic style. Rev. Father F. J. Knoebbler is in charge of the church. Early priests have been Revs. Fathers Geth, Schmidt, Haeckler, Koaemer. Membership of the church is twenty families. Cemetery is known as St. Patrick's Ceme¬ tery.

Its early ministers were Revs. J. K. Godby, W. H. Roger, I. B. Dotson, T. B. White. More recent ministers were, Revs. Zeb Thomas and D. M. Trout. Present minister is Rev. Joseph DeWitt. The building is a good, substantial frame. There is a cemetery in connection with the church.

Point Pleasant, a Methodist Episcopal Church, is two miles west and eight miles south of Sedalia. Church building is a one-room frame in good condition and has a seating capacity of 200. Present minister is Rev. J. Clifton Lee. Membership numbers twenty-five, with a Sunday school attendance of thirty. Point Pleasant Cemetery is just north of the church building.

New Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, located six and a half miles south of Sedalia, is an organization well kept and attended. The building is a large, substantial frame in good condition. Member¬ ship is forty, with a Sunday school attendance of twenty-five. Rev. Samuel Brooks is the present minister. Trustees are, Isaac Elliott, B. F. Elliott, W. H. Elliott, J. A. Elliott and Vest Elliott. Stewards are, H. A. Elliott, A. P. Elliott and Vest Elliott. Vest Elliott is the superin¬ tendent of the Sunday school.

Pleasant Hill, a Southern Methodist Church, six miles southeast of Sedalia, has a nice frame building valued at $2,000 and well furnished. The membership numbers seventy-five, with Sunday school attendance of fifty-five. Services are held here twice each month, on the second and fourth Sundays. Rev. Cayton is the present minister. Pleasant Hill Cemetery is used in connection with the church and is well kept.

This township has six public schools, all well attended and disciplined. Prairie Grove has an enrollment of nineteen, and Mary Gehringer is teach¬ ing. South Side enrolled forty-six this year, and Orma Teter is the teacher. Walnut has twenty pupils, and Eunice Smith is teaching them. Anderson has an enrollment of forty-five, and Lynn E. Callison is the teacher. Pleasant Valley has twenty pupils, with Hazel Thompson as teacher. Liberty school enrolled eighteen this September, and Mrs. Libbie Silsby is teaching.