Knoxville Township

Knoxville Township

Knoxville township was established in 1841. It comprises all of congressional township fifty-four, range twenty-eight; twelve sections in township fifty-four, range twenty-seven ; eight sections in township fiftythree, same range, and twenty-four sections in township fifty-three, range twenty-eight.

The number of inhabitants of the township, as shown by tenth census, including Knoxville and Taitsville, with a population of eighty-eight and one hundred and eight respectively, is 2,301 .

Knoxville township was settled about 1833. In that year a man named Barnes (who became a useful and respected citizen), from Tennessee, settled on section seven, congressional township fifty-four, range twentyeight; and Vincent Silk wood, the same year, settled in the township, as also did a family of Thompsons, from Kentucky.

A settlement was made on the present sight of Knoxville, originally called "Buncombe," in the spring of 1834; the Hatfields, Stolins and others from Tennessee and Kentucky forming the settlement.

Drs. Kelly and Davis, mentioned in connection with the history of Grape Grove township, and Dr. John C. Tiffin, from Ohio. Dr. Tiffin, a graduate of the Ohio medical college, of Cincinnati, is now retired from active practice, and is living at Knoxville. He has had a large and successful practice, and is an honored member of the community in which he lives.

In addition to those already mentioned, John A. Stone, a Baptist, and Moses Rainwater, Methodist, preached in this township at an early day.

Knoxville is fourteen miles north and inland from Richmond, situated in Knoxville township, in center of section thirty-five, congressional township fifty-four, range twenty-eight; has a population, according to the tenth U. S. census, of eighty-eight, four stores carrying stocks of general merchandise, two drug stores, two wagon shops, one saddle and harness shop, two blacksmith shops, a hotel and a post office, with daily mail.

The town is unincorporated, and as its limits can not be sharply defined, eighty-eight is, of course, only the approximate population. We have received one statement estimating the population at two hundred, which is probably more nearly correct than the other.

It has a justice of the peace, a constable, and two physicians. There is, also, a Masonic lodge, and a church building in the town. Services are held in the latter by two denominations.

In the spring of 1834 a Mr. Hatfield occupied a small house, near the present site of Knoxville, which took the name of " Buncombe." The first store-house was erected in the summer of 1834, by one Jacob Stollins. He carried a small stock of general merchandise. At that time there were only two or three houses in the place.

About three and a half miles southwest of Knoxville, on the west fork of Crooked river, is situated the saw and grist mill of J. B. Belch er Esq.

While this mill is operated exclusively in Ray county, it is not stationary, but is moved from one locality to another, in order that it may be kept convenient to suitable timber. When the timber of one locality has been used, the mill is removed; and our apology for giving an account of it in connection with the history of Knoxville, is that the writer is informed it is now located nearer that village*than any other.

Mr. Belcher operates this mill with no other assistance than that afforded by members of his family, thereby practicing a very laudable economy, as well as having his work done in a prompt and satisfactory manner. Mr. Belcher displays a judgment worthy of emulation, in so thoroughly utilizing the force represented by his own family.

There is considerable walnut timber, of good quality, in the neighborhood of Mr. B.'s present location. This he saws for other parties, and it finds its way to distant markets.

MILLVILLE. Millville, a bright and thriving little village of about two hundred souls, ten miles northeast of Richmond, in the north part of section fifteen, township fifty-three, range twenty-seven, is pleasantly situated at the base of some beautiful wooded hills, in the midst of a rich, partially timbered and partially prairie country, highly improved and exceedingly productive

In 1837, C. W. Stillwell built the first blacksmith shop in Millville. The first store was opened about the year 1842, by Milton and S. L. McCuistion.

This was the only store in Millville till 1845, when George A. Mason engaged in the mercantile business in that town. Since that time various persons have been engaged in merchandizing in Millville, among whom we mention the following: T. B. Fowler, R. C. Wild, J. Y. Coppage,

Morton

A hamlet of about one hundred inhabitants, is situated in the heart of the most beautiful and fertile agricultural region in northwest Missouri, is in Crooked River township, near the center of section eighteen, congressional township fifty-two, of range twenty-six.

The school-house was built in the year 1856. It is a frame, and cost three hundred dollars. Miss Sarah Bohannon was the first teacher. She had about twenty pupils, and received as a salary twenty dollars per month.

The first marriage solemnized in Morton is said to have been that of George Ewing to Miss Lyda Tisdale, but we have been unable to ascertain.

Two dry goods stores, a saddle and harness shop, two blacksmith shops and one dru£ store constitute the business establishments of the town. There is also a very handsome union church in the place.

Like every town in Ray county, Morton is surrounded by a hospitable, intelligent and enterprising people, and is supported by inexhaustible natural sources.

Hardin was laid out in 1868, and incorporated in October, 1870. James Darby was the first mayor; John D. Reyburn built the first house, and Fountain Roselle was the owner of the first store in Hardin. The first school-house in the town was built in 1870, at a cost of seven hundred dollars.

The first death that occuored in Hardin was that of William Hunt, who died in 1870. His remains were interred at Knoxville, Ray county,, Missouri.

Reverend F. Bone, of the M. E. Church South, was the first minister in Hardin. Religious services were held at the Union church, described elsewhere in this volume. The town has a handsome cemetery, threefourths of a mile to the southeast.

Hardin is a progressive, enterprising little village, situated in sections thirty-two and thirty-three, congressional township fifty-two, range twenty-six, and in sections four and five, township fifty-one, range twentysix, on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific railway, six miles east of R. & L. Junction. It has twelve business houses, one church, owned and used by several denominations, a good school-house, one hotel, and an elevator, and is in as fine a farming country as there is in Missouri. The town enjoys a large trade, comparatively speaking, and as a shipping point for grain and live stock, is one of the most important in the county. The Telegraph steam flouring mills are located here, and no similar mills in a town of equal size will sutler disparagement by comparison with them.

The population of Hardin was not separately reported by the enumerator, who, in June, 1880, took the census of Crooked River township, in which it is located; hence, the number of its inhabitants cannot be definitely stated; it is safe to say, however, that it is from two hundred and fifty to three hundred.

The town stands at the head of the famous sugar tree bottom of Carroll county. The greater portion of the surrounding country is prairie, inter-