Hughes Township

Hughes Township

-Hughes township is situated in the southwestern corner of Nodaway county and comprises about sixty-two sections of most excellent farming lands. It is bounded on the west by the Nodaway river, dividing this county from Holt county, on the north by Monroe and Polk townships, on the east by White Cloud township and on the south by the Andrew county line.

Hughes was one of the original sub-divisions of Nodaway county and covered a much larger scope of country than it does now. At the April term of county court in 1845 the following order of court appears of record:

"All that territory within the following limits shall be called and known as Hughes township, to-wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of Atchison township; thence southward on the line dividing Nodaway county from Atch¬ ison and Holt counties to the southern boundary of Nodaway county. Thence east on the line dividing Nodaway and Andrew counties to the divide between Nodaway river and White Cloud. Thence north on said divide till it intersects Atchison township/'

Subsequently ( 1866) the township was again changed and cut down. Still later, Monroe township was formed out of territory which was originally included in Hughes and Green townships.

Physical Features

The numerous creeks and the Nodaway river afford an excellent drain¬ age for this territory. Among the creeks may be mentioned the Halifax, Rain. Elkhorn. McDowell branch and Bagiev branch. Wolf Hollow empties into the Elkhorn and runs toward the northwest, and the Little Elkhorn empties into the main Elkhorn.

The land of Hughes township is gently rolling for the most part, and the streams are skirted with considerable native timber, though not nearly so much as was found when the county was first settled. The landscape scenery is unsurpassed in this section of Missouri.

Past And Present

The soil is of the richest character and stands both rain and dryness to a wonderful degree. The township, one of the oldest farming sections in the county, presents unusual attractions for the farmer, the stock raiser and horticulturist. The streams and springs found gushing out here and there over the territory of the township afford abundant water for man and beast. Coal, lime, rock and sand of excellent grades are to be had from but a little distance beneath the surface. As a corn and grass growing belt there is none to surpass it in all Missouri. Farmers away back in 1880, before the science of agriculture had brought to light so many modern ideas connected with tilling, reported and backed by affidavit the fact of producing as high as one hundred bushels of corn per acre. Improved grades of all kinds of stock have been imported and raised with great profit to the husbandmen in the last twenty years and more. The first Shorthorn bull ever exhibited in Nodaway county was shown at the county fair by H. C. Linville, of near Gra¬ ham. Contentment seems to reign almost supreme among the farmers of this wealthy portion of the county.

A Tradition

Tradition says that the Elkhorn creek of this township derived its name from the fact of a very large elk having been killed at an early date near the stream, and his horns were placed by the huntsman in the branches of a tree and remained there several years, giving rise to the name of Elkhorn to that part of the country, and later, when naming streams, this creek took its name from these immense horns. A very plausible theory indeed.

The Early Settlers

The first white man to invade the wilds of Hughes township, as now known, as well as the first in all Nodaway county, w7as Isaac Hogan, referred to at length in the "Early Settlement" chapter. Before going into the details of settlement in this township, the reader's attention is called to a list of many of the hardy pioneers who located here, with the dates at which they made settlement in what is now Hughes township :

In the year 1843, Barlett Curl, James Curl, Peter, James, William, Peter, Jr., and Martin Noffsinger, John Isom, John Clarke, William Glaze, John W right.

From an able, interesting, public address given at Graham, July 4, 1879, by Dr. J. W. Morgan, the following extracts are taken, as they contain valu¬ able early settlement facts concerning Hughes township and as such should be preserved in book form :

During the fall of 1841 Lorenzo Dow Vinsonhaler left Ross county, Ohio, for the purpose of finding a home in the West. Sometime during the fall following, he, in company with Harvey Dillon, found the Nodaway river and took claims on the east side of that stream. Dillon remained a number of years, built a log house and broke and fenced some prairie land. Having brought some apple seeds with him, he started a seedling nursery and put out an orchard numbering two hundred trees, which was at last accounts bearing delicious fruit. Vinsonhaler laid claim to the tract later owned by Judge William Seeper. He broke land and the following year planted corn. After two years he sold out and accompanied John C. Fremont's ex¬ plorers to California; was lost in the mountains for a great while, where many of the party perished from cold and hunger. After their supplies were ex¬ hausted, they lived on the flesh of mules that had frozen to death or died from starvation. He accompanied Fremont to Washington City and was a witness in his behalf in an investigation ordered by the authorities at Washington during President Polk's administration. His testimony relieved General Fre¬ mont from censure. He afterward returned to California, where his eyes were closed in death many years ago.

Sometime during the fall of 1840 Elijah Bunton, James Bryant and Harvey White explored the White Cloud country and took claims. In those days all that was necessary to be owner of a tract of land as large as one de¬ sired was to lay claim to it. The manner of procuring a title in fee simple was to cut down four trees and chop them off and lay the foundation for a house. Whether the cabin was ever completed or not, it constituted a claim that all honorable men respected. In the mind of the pioneer, anv man who would attempt to intrude, or, as they termed it, "jump a claim; was looked upon as a thief.

Elijah Bunten was a professional claim taker. The first claim he se¬ lected was 01 the west side of White Cloud ; his claim included all the timber land on that side of the creek. He built a log cabin near where the residence of Marion Woodard now stands, cleared off a few acres of timber and raised a crop or two of corn. Meantime, he took additional claims, some on the Nodaway river and one on the headwaters of the Florida. In the fall of 1840 he sold his claim on the White Cloud to Mijamin Byers, and then built a cabin on Florida creek.

Bunten was an energetic fellow, and when he had disposed of his interests in one part of the county, he made it his business to attract attention any way he could from it and center it on his present claim. Soon after leav¬ ing White Cloud. Burt Whitten passed by his cabin and enquired the way to White Cloud country. Bunten knew all about it, but advised him to stop there and buy his claim. Whitten asked him what kind of a country it was fertile country." When asked what he meant by "fertile." he said : "Fertile - that means a d - - d long ways from market." Whitten changed his pro¬ gramme and bought a claim on the headwaters of the Florida - all the timber land there - which was for many years known at Whittens Grove. Bunten moved to Oregon soon after, where he engaged in the claim business again. He died there in 1869.

Harvey White pitched his tent on land later owned by Richard Boat¬ wright. White was a son-in-law of Bunten. After a few years he sold to Mr. Guy and went to Oregon.

Jim Bryant was one-fourth Indian and, therefore, would do but little work, but traded and drank and hunted some. He laid claim to all the timber on the east side of White Cloud, south of the Saunders school house

These three families on White Cloud and Dave Vinsonhaler and Harvey Dillon were the only white people in Nodaway county during the winter of 1839-40. Sometime early in the spring of 1840 Isaac Hogan (the first white settler) moved his family from Platte county. Missouri, and occupied the log house he had built the year before.

During the winter of 1839-40 the country around Graham was visited by many who were wanting homes ; although the winter was cold and stormy.

these energetic spirits braved the difficulties, though they met with fewer obstacles in winter than in summer. During the winter the streams were bridged with ice, which enabled them to effect a crossing at many points which could not be crossed during the warmer season. Among the number who explored during the winter were James Finch. Nathaniel Finch, Thomas Finch, James Huff and Wesley Jenkins, the last being foreman of the com¬ pany.

Jenkins purchased the claim of "Old Bunten," consisting of all the timber that afterward belonged to Martin Palmer, Orville Graves, William Looker and James Kyle, and all the prairie land on the north side of Rain creek. He had a large family at one time, but many are dead and the re¬ mainder moved beyond the Rock mountains.

Thomas Finch settled on the land formerly owned by E. M. Gardner, built a small cabin, fenced and broke a few acres. In the winter of 1841-42 he imagined that it would be nice to own slaves, and accordingly entered into negotiations with Col. I. N. Prather, father of James Prather, of Maryville, trading his fine land for a couple of Africans. The Colonel was shrewd enough in the trade, giving him some half-witted darkies for valuable land. Finch was elated - felt wealthy. As he expressed himself. "I have had my trap set for a couple of negroes, and now I have got them." He knew noth¬ ing about negroes and was unable to dispose of them on any terms. This is the first instance of a pioneer being "scooped" in Nodaway county. In the spring of 1842 he moved to Platte county, where he laid his body down in that sleep that knows no waking.

Nathaniel Finch, Joseph Huff, Thomas Cox, William Stevens, a Mr. Henshaw, William Thomas. James Waumic and Ben Owens composed the families of this entire neighborhood, and they were sixty miles distant from any other white persons, with the single exception of a few settlers on the White Cloud. How isolated and lonely was their situation, without roads, mills, workshops, mechanics, or mail facilities - deprived of almost every¬ thing that we deem essential to our happiness, comfort and well being. Not a foot of land had been dedicated for a last resting place for the body when the toils of life were ended; without shroud or coffin, the idols of the house¬ holds had to be committed to the cold earth, no stone or monument to mark the spot where earthly flowers had faded and were mouldering to dust. Yet, they carried with them the Bible promises treasured up in honest hearts, and when the shadow fell upon them, and the rumbling clods were hiding for¬ ever from their view earth's treasures, its words whispered of "love in heaven, the home of angels, and joys too pure to die," and in faith they braved all trials and struggled on, until many have been called to rest from their labors on earth, and we trust have ascended the mountain where eternal sunshine settles on the head.

Early Mills

The nearest saw or grist-mill was on Blacksnake creek where the thriv¬ ing city of St. Joseph now stands. It was only a small one-horse affair. There was also a mill on the Platte river, near " Old Agency Ford," known as Kibby's mill. For several years these mills furnished the pioneers with bread stuffs. As was the usual custom, some two or three neighbors would join and take thirty or forty bushels of corn (wheat was not thought of) and on their return the entire neighborhood was supplied. Then it came the turn of another to go, and their borrowings had to be paid. In this man¬ ner all kept fresh bread stuffs. It usually consumed a week's time to go to mill and return, and it was through such difficulties as these that this fair county was developed.

In 1843-4 Andrew Brown bought the Hogan land and built a small mill on the Elkhorn, just east of Brown's spring. This was a great relief, as it was nearby, though even then men and boys rode twelve to fifteen miles on a sack of corn laid across the horse, and returned home the same day, feeling that it was a small job going to mill. Andrew Brown afterward laid out the town of Graham, calling it Jacksonville. In 1858 or 1859 the Missouri Legislature changed the name to Graham, so that the town and postoffice would be the same. In 1845 ^ie Bridgewater mills were built by Moore & Cock, which was indeed a valuable acquisition.

What kind of people were these early settlers? Well, they were moral people, who reverenced the laws of God and this country. They did not desecrate the Sabbath day. The rivers and creeks were not lined with fish¬ erman on Sundays, as they are now. And although game was plentiful, the quietude of the Sabbath was not rendered hideous by the crack of the rifle or shot gun. Some went to church or Sunday school, while others visited their neighbors. There were no church buildings, so they worshipped at private houses in winter and under the shade of lofty trees, "God's first temples." in the summer time.

The pioneers raised flax and hemp, and the female portion spun thread and yarn, and wove it into cloth of which garments were made. There was no talk of "store clothes" in those days.

Town Of Graham

The only town within Hughes township is Graham, situated eighteen miles from Maryville, two miles east of the Nodaway river and upon Elkhorn creek. It was laid out in 1856 by Andrew Brown, and originally con¬ sisted of four blocks,, but in 1858 Brown laid out an addition. About the same date Linville addition to Graham was platted by Abraham and Henry Linville. In 1858 there were but two stores, dealers in general merchandise, one kept by Burns & White and the other by McFadden & Daugherty. Brand & Welch conducted a drug store and Dr. W. H. Woodard ran a hotel. At that day, as well as for years before, there was a grist and saw-mill operated by Wilson & Brown. This mill first directed the public's notice toward Graham.

The town boasts of the first house for public worship within the county, the church, handsome for that date, was built in 1856 and was built jointly by various denominations. For further church history, the reader is re¬ ferred to the chapter on churches in this volume.

Graham was known as Jacksonville from the first until changed to Graham by law in 1859. A few years before the platting of the town, a postoffice was secured for the community. This office was kept a half mile north of present Graham. It was called Graham in honor of Col. Amos Graham, through whom it was established.

Graham was incorporated in 1871 and now has a population of about 400. It is beautifully surrounded by timber of native growth and is within one of the richest farming sections in northern Missouri. It is unfortunate in being an inland town ; the railroad running on the west side of the Nodaway at this point, has somewhat crippled the trade of the place.

The springs of the town are charming and valuable as a means of w^ater supply. Brown's and Spencer are among the larger springs known from pioneer days.

The following have served as postmasters at Graham : The first post¬ master was Andy Russell, when the office was located two miles from town on what is now the Kemper farm, and the office called Brownville. During the Civil war the office was located two and a half miles from present Gra¬ ham on the George Vinsonhaler farm and he was its postmaster. Later the office was moved a mile and a half south of its present site, to what is now known as the J. E. Riley farm, and a man named Houcks was postmaster. After its removal to Graham proper, the first postmaster was Richard Bohart, in Bohart & Dunlevy's store. This was about 1866; then came John Bohart, Isaac Morton, 1873. Austin Dicken, O. M. Markham, 1883-84, Isaac Morton, Joseph Long, under Cleveland's first administration, Isaac Morton, under Harrison's administration until 1892, then the present postmistress. Miss Anna E. Freytag, she having held the office to the general satisfaction of all the patrons of the office for the last eighteen years. Two free delivery routes run from Graham. No. 1 was established August 31, 1901; No. 2, in September, 1903. The former is twenty -five miles long and the latter, twenty-six miles. The office is a fourth-class.

In Hughes township there are today, the following church organizations : The Swan Chapel, Methodist, Baptist, Mt. Zion Methodist, New Hope Meth¬ odist, Centenary Methodist, Christian (Bethany), and at Graham, the Meth¬ odist. Presbyterian and Christian.