Badger Township

Badger Township

Badger -township comprises township 35, range 30. In the aggregate the general surface is fairly divided between timber and prairie. The latter embraces the central and southern por¬ tions of the township, while the timbered lands lie generally in the northern part, along the west fork of Clear creek, and its tributaries, Sturgis and Camp branch. There is some rough land in the township. In general the farming lands are of superior quality, and there are many fine farms.

The coal stratum underlying the township has not been opened very extensively. In about 1874 a mine was established in the southeastern portion of the township, on the farm of A. Miller, and it is claimed that this was the first regular coal bank in the township. There is an abundance of coal, timber, stone, water, and clay in Badger township.

The peculiar rock formation, called the Clear creek sandstone, exists in this township to a considerable extent. On section 16 and elsewhere in the vicinity it abounds as a fine, valuable grit¬ stone, suitable for grindstones, whetstones, and oilstones. Forty years ago the settlers here made their own grindstones, and on one occasion Dr. A. Badger took a load of them to the Gasconade country and sold them very readily to the settlers.

First Settlers

Perhaps the first actual settlers in Badger township were Esq. Isaac D. Smith and his son-in-law, John Hanson, who came in 1842 to the northern part of the township on the north side of Clear creek. Smith located in the timber on section 4, and Hanson east of him. on section 3. But the same vear Judge James Overstreet settled in the northeast corner of the township on the southwest quarter of section 1, half a mile northeast of Westminster church.

In 1843 a man named Johnson came in and bought out Judge Overstreet, who moved over into the eastern border of Cedar County, where he lived a short time. With Johnson came his son-in-law, a man named Scruggs, who settled on section 9, on the south side of Clear creek, south of Esq. Smith, and two miles west of Westminster. Johnson in a few years sold out to Dr.

In the spring of 1843 the Tij>pitt family - Singleton. James, and their father - came in, and with them a Mr. Woods, a sonin-law of the old gentleman. All located in the western part of the township on Clear creek. James Tippitt settled on the north side of the creek (se. *4 sec. Tj : Singleton Tippitt was a mile north se. *4 sec. 6) in the edge of the timber, mile north (se. *4 sec. 6) in the edge of the timber.

In June. 1844. Dr. Albert Badger, for whom the township was named, settled on the northeast quarter of section 11. in the northeastern part of the township.

In the summer of 1846 Dr. Harding and family settled in Badger township, and in the spring of 1847 Thomas Shivers and Mr. Wooliver came in. The latter bought out Esq. Isaac Smith, who moved over on the southwest quarter of section 1. He sold his farm to Stapp and went to Texas in 1855. Thomas Shivers, who settled on section 20, was a soldier of the War of 1812. and served under Andrew Jackson.

Of some of the first settlers of Badger township it may be stated that Isaac D. Smith was bora in Lee county. Virginia. March 22. 1800: emigrated to Williamsburg. Kv. in 1817. and married there in 1820: came to Osage county. Missouri, in 1833. and settled on the site of Linn, afterward the county seat. He raised eleven children, nine of whom, in their turn, had large families. He died in 1852 at Old Montevallo.

John Hanson, Smith's son-in-law, was an eccentric character, rough, uncouth, and semi- civilized. It is said that he never, or verv rarelv. wore a hat or anv sort of head covering. but went bareheaded in all sorts of weather, his long, matted, shaggy hair furnishing sufficient protection for his cranium. He lived in the woods in a little pole cabin, which he removed three times in order to be near firewood. He said it was easier to move his cabin to the wood than to move the wood to the cabin. The cabin could be moved in one day. but the wood required several days to move. His house was always set in the thick timber, and when this was cut down and burned for a considerable radius around, it was time to move again. Hanson died in this township and was buried in the Stapp graveyard.

county, there was an election in what is now Clear Creek town¬ ship, then about the center of what was designated as Clear Creek precinct, a district twelve by twenty-four miles in extent ; the voting place was at Overstreet's Sulphur Springs, in Virgil township. Isaac Smith, of the Badger settlement, was chosen justice of the peace.

The first case before Esq. Smith was a notable one. It was an action for debt, based on a running account. The parties lived some miles away. The plaintiff, Peter "Welch, could read and write, but the defendant, Thomas Massey, could not, and therefore engaged a lawyer, Hon. Kindred Pearson, to conduct' his defense. The cause was tried before a jury, with Esq. Smith to decide the law points. The defendant's counsel examined the account sued on and demanded a non-suit, because he said the aforesaid account was not "intelligible." The magistrate was surprised but silent. Repeated demands for a non-suit at last brought the summary inquiry: "Mr. Pearson, what the devil does 'intelligible' mean?" After a few seconds of cogitation, head-scratching, and palaver, the attorney answered: "Your Honor, in this case, the word 'intelligible' means alphabetical." "Well, that's worse than the other," rejoined the dignitary; "what the devil does alfybetikle mean?" The lawyer, with a perverseness peculiar to his profession refused to serve as a dic¬ tionary, and thereupon the 'Squire overruled his motion for a non-suit, to the great delight of the spectators, who were eager to see the first lawsuit in Clear Creek precinct carried to a conclusion.

The trial was before a jury, and lasted from noon of one day until after breakfast of the next, the court remaining in session and the cause progressing through the entire night. Smith's "women folks" cooked for and fed the entire crowd, litigants, counsel, witnesses, jury, and spectators, providing a bountiful dinner and supper, and a "snack" at midnight, wind¬ ing up with a substantial breakfast the next morning.

Both the plaintiff and defendant had presented accounts and sworn to them, and each had provided a number of witnesses who had testified in support of his claim. The case became in¬ volved and so mixed up that Esq. Smith and a majority of the spectators declared they couldn't "make head or tail of it." But the gentlemen of the jury were equal to the occasion. After a short season of deliberation in a brush patch near the house, they returned and solemnly announced their verdict: 4 'We decide that both accounts shall be squared."

The decision was entirely satisfactory to everybody but the constable. That officer had ridden over the county for miles and miles, through brush thickets and over rough country, swim¬ ming streams and climbing hills, in the discharge of his duty, summoning witnesses, jurymen, and the parties litigant, and now he was ignored entirely - no provision having been made for the costs of the suit. He at once stepped forward and de¬ manded his fees, and swore that somebody had to pay them. Esq. Smith asked the jury to reassemble and redeliberate and assess the expenses of the trial properly and equitably; but Kindred Pearson objected, unless the case should be tried over, de novo, as the lawyers say.

Appalled at the consequences of a new trial, involving, as he knew it would, the feeding of another hungry crowd, Esq. Smith threw up his hands and expostulated: "For the Lord's sake, bo}rs," said he, "fix it up some other way without a new trial. By gonny, I'm clean out of meat and my wife had to borry meal for breakfast. Please don't have a new trial, boys!"

The matter was finally referred to the constable as the party most interested, and he decided that as AYelch, the plaintiff, had brought the suit, or, as he expressed it, had "commenced the fuss," it was but fair that he should pay the costs. The justice affirmed the decision. Then AYelch arose and said, "I am satis¬ fied, gentlemen ; and now if that constable, and all the other constables in Missouri, can find any property belonging to me that is exempt, they are welcome to it ; as far as I know I haven 't got half the property the law allows me. Good-clay, gents ! ' '

So ended the case. The litigants shook hands and were once more friendly. The spectators were awed and imbued with due reverence for the majesty and the workings of "the law," and it somehow seemed as if a great and beneficial event had occurred. But somehow it seemed rough on the constable, who had for his only recompense the consciousness of duty well performed.

In the summer of 1844, the first school south of the Osage and east of Upper Drywood, was taught at the residence of Isaac Smith, in this township, by James Hays. The teacher had a dozen scholars, the children of the few settlers in the country, their age varying from five years to twenty-one. The branches taught were rudimentary, and the course of instruction was simple and not at all thorough. Dr. John Smith, afterward a well-known citizen of this township, was one of the pupils at this school. It is claimed that this was the first school taught in Vernon county.

Although the first school in the township was taught in the summer of 1844, the first public school house was not built until 1860, when the Badger school house, a little south of the residence of Dr. Badger (near the center of section 11), was erected. The first school in this building was taught in the winter of 1861, by Hon. Alfred Cummins. Air. Cummins taught his first school in Virgil township in the summer of 1859.

The first preachers in Badger were Methodists. Rev. Mr. Crow came in 1844, and preached occasionally until 1855. Rev. Ash¬ craft held services here from 1849 to 1856. Rev. T. J. Wallace, of the Christian Church, came to the township prior to the Civil War. Rev. Ashcraft lived at the "Seven Mounds," in Cedar county, while Rev. Crow resided in what is now the northern part of Dover township.

In the early settlement roving bands of Indians frequently camped in the bottoms, while they hunted in various parts of the country. The women made baskets and all of them traded and trafficked more or less with the settlers. The savages were repre¬ sentatives of various tribes, the Osages, Pottawattamies, Miamis, Sacs and Foxes, and perhaps others. All were friendly.

Game was abundant. Packs of wolves and herds of deer were to be found on the prairies, and flocks of turkeys lived in the timber. The Indians preferred this ground for hunting to the territory out in Kansas, even as far west or southwest as the Arkansas river.

During the Civil War Badger township was the scene of a tragedy or two, and the few citizens that were left were preyed upon rather disastrously. Many wagon loads of corn, hay, and oats were hauled off and fed out by the Federal cavalry.

In the spring of 1862, two Confederates were hung in the edge of the Clear Creek timber, in the northeast corner of the township (northeast section 1), north and east of Richard Butler's. Their names were Thomas Ryan and James Johnson, and their execu¬ tioners were Kansas men under the command of Captain Moore probably. Ryan lived in Clear Creek township ; he was a young married man and a son of Wm. Ryan ; he had been in Price's army and was a prisoner at Clintonville. Captain Moore had gotten hold of him and was carrying him through the country. Johnson lived near Nevada ; he too had served under General Price, but was at home when captured.

Valentine Mashaney, of this township, was killed by a detach¬ ment of Company A, third Wisconsin cavalry, on a charge of feed¬ ing, harboring and otherwise aiding and abetting Confederate bushwhackers.

The prairie portion of the township was not settled until after the war. A few fields had been opened by parties living in the timber, but no houses were built out upon the prairie until after 1865.

Some of the hard characters that infested the Clear creek coun¬ try after the war located in this township. A man named John Wilson was hung on Clear creek by the "Regulators;" he was accused of horse stealing and other crimes. An old German named Wonsettler located here afterwards. He and his wife were noted pilferers and thieves. The "Regulators" visited them and gave them both a sound whipping and ordered them from the country.

The land in this township was surveyed by the government and placed in market in the year 1843. No entries were made prior to that year, although a few claims had been taken.

Badger township was organized in January, 1873, and named in honor of Dr. Albert Badger, one of its oldest, prominent and most worthy citizens. It is now well improved and settled and contains good farms and comfortable homes, the abodes of a very respectable class of citizens.

Greene Springs located in the northeastern part of the town¬ ship have been noted for many years for the medicinal virtues of the waters. A few people make their homes here, and if they had railroad facilities no doubt they would rival the famous springs of Eldorado.

A village or town adjoining this spring was regularly laid out and platted on the land of John C. Shaffer (south half northwest quarter southeast quarter section 12-35-30) by Mr. Greene, on the 25th of September, 1886, and named Greene Springs.

Presbyterian Church South. In 1868 this church was organ¬ ized with the following members : Charles N. Logan, Sarah Lo¬ gan, Mrs. Elizabeth Butler, Miss Sarah Logan, Miss Nancy Lo¬ gan, Miss Emma Badger, Dr. A. Badger, Mrs. Sarah E. Badger, Mrs. Cochran, Mrs. E. D. Harding, Mrs. Joseph E. Harding, Jo¬ sephine Arrington, Henry L. Badger, William A. Gose and Bar¬ bary Gose. A frame church building was erected in 1882 on the northeast corner of section 11, which cost $1,200.

D. S. Mosley, wife and daughter, G. W. Sullivan and wife, R. T. Mountjoy and wife, T. J. Haley and wife, J. D. Cline, J. Id. More and wife, V illiam A. More and wife, I. C. Bole and wife, Francis Lynd, Mrs. M. J. Ewell. Mollie Ewell and M. S. More. In 1882, on section 29, a frame house of worship was erected at a cost of $750.

West Fork Christian Church was organized in 1874. Some of the first members were M. P. Stroud, Priscilla Stroud, Charles BolanJ and wife, George Sullivan and wife, David Morreslv and wife, Sophia McGavney and George Mountjoy and wife.

Lee Kibler

M. E. Church South. Marvin chapel is located on section 20 and was erected in 1884 at a cost of $800. In 1908 the church was remodeled and enlarged at a cost of $1,200. The original members were Elizabeth Sullivan, Henrv Purnell and wife. Andrew Kibler and wife, I. T. Kibler and wife, M. M. Haverstick and wife, J. M. Anderson and wife, W. McGary and wife, T. Y. Brannock and wife, L. A. Swaney and wife, Mrs. J. B. Moon,

E. C. Hedrick and Cora Haverstick. Those still holding membership of the original members are L. A. Swaney and wife, Mrs. Sarah Kibler, AY. McGary and M. M. Haverstick.

The organization of this church occurred in 1882 by Swift and Dowdy, while pastors of the Nevada circuit in the fall of 1883 the Nevada circuit was divided, forming what is known as the Sheldon circuit of which Marvin chapel is a part and was served one year by H. L. Anderson as pastor, at which time he was succeeded by E. H. Morrison (1884), who was followed in 1885 by D. B. Price. After serving one year, C. A. Emmons came on the work and was pastor two years, being succeeded in 1888 by B. H. Gragg. In the fall of 1889 came J. T. Loyal as pastor and served the church one year, being followed in the fall of 1890 by T. C. Puckett, who remained on the work two years, and was succeeded by J. P. Robb in 1892, who was followed in 1893 by W. P. Barrett, who was pastor one year, being succeeded by L. M. Phillips in 1894, who remained two years. In the fall of 1896 S. G. AYelborn came as pastor and served the church two years, being succeeded by J. J. Reed in 1898, who remained till 1901, when Marvin chapel was cut off from the Sheldon circuit and put with Austin chapel of Nevada, and Jacob Shook made their pastor. After serving one year, Marvin and Austin was separated and Marvin put back on the Sheldon circuit and served one year each by the following pastors: F. E. Gordon (1902),

L. F. Shook (1903), R. J. Kyle (1904). J. Y. Busby came on the work in the fall of 1905. After serving the people about six months, he was very suddenly called to his reward, dying in the home of J. F. Hill. His funeral was preached at Marvin chapel by AY. G. Beasley, after which he was laid to rest in Deepwood cemetery, Nevada, and Joseph King was pastor during the bal¬ ance of the year and was succeeded in the fall of 1906 by C. L. Stofer, who remained one year, followed by E. S. Ailor in 1907. In 1908 J. D. Randolph was appointed to the work, but was soon transferred to another conference and Joseph King was pastor for one year and was followed in 1909 by T. C. Puckett, who is the present pastor.

The present membership is 155. The Sabbath school in con¬ nection with the church has a membership of 200. D. M. Hoff¬ man served as superintendent from the building of the church till the fall of 1898, at which time he was succeeded by Lee Kibler, the present superintendent. The trustees are L. A. Swaney, E.