Camden Township

Camden Township

Camden township was established July 5, 1841. Its boundaries are as follows: Beginning at a point in the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river, on range line, between ranges twenty-six and twenty-seven ; thence north with said line to northeast corner of section thirteen, township fifty-one, range twenty seven; thence with a tier of sections west to Clay county line; thence south, with said line to middle of main channel of Missouri river; thence with said river in middle of the main channel thereof, to the beginning.

The first election was held in Camden township, August 2, 1841. At its May term, May 2, 1842, the county court, on petition of a large number of the inhabitants of Fishing River township, praying for a change in said township, made the following order:

Ordered, That a part of Fishing River township be stricken off and attached to Camden township, and that the line between said townships, hereafter be as follows: Beginning on the range line between sections twenty-nine and thirty, at the township line between townships fifty-one and fifty-two; thence east to the northeast corner of section four, on said township line; thence south to southeast corner of section nine; thence west to range line aforesaid.

That part of Camden township, east of range twenty-nine, was originally in BlufTton township, and subsequently in Richmond township; that west of range twenty-eight was formerly a part of Fishing River township, hence, as already stated, the territory embraced in this township was settled at a very early date - as early as 1818.

Among the first settlers we mention the following, nearly all of whom were from Tennessee: Jeremiah, Samuel and John Crowley, Thomas English, Richard and Aaron Linville, Branick Wilkinson, William and Henry Morgan, John C. Cates, Sen., Joseph E. Brockman, John Elliott,

Frank Jackson, Ballard Hudgins and others. In the days of the first settlers a physician's practice was co-extensive with the county. The same is true of a minister's preaching; hence, many of the physicians, mentioned at different places in this work, practiced medicine in Camden township, and the same is true of the ministers with respect to their preaching.

Camden is situated on the north bank of the Missouri river, on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway, five miles west of Richmond and Lexington Junction, and six miles southwest of Richmond; was incorporated in May, 1838.

It is a town of some importance, in a part of the county most admirably adapted to the culture of grain and fruit, as well as inexhaustibly rich in mining resources.

The coal mines in the vicinity are a source of considerable wealth to the town, and afford employment to one hundred and fifty to two hundred men.

Wood, coal and water being convenient and abundant, Camden presents decided advantages for manufacturing. Population, according to United States census of 1880, five hundred and nine.