Montevallo Township

Montevallo Township

Montevallo township is composed of congressional township 34, range 29, and is the southeastern township of Vernon county, adjoining Cedar on the east and Barton on the south. It is a "long township,' ' eight miles in length from north to south, and about five miles in width.

-Nearly two-thirds of the township is, or was originally, timber land. The prairie runs in a strip, varying in width from the northeast to the southwest, with an arm two miles wide extend¬ ing from Montevallo town to the county line. The timber lands are generally rough, broken, and covered with black-jack jungles. The sandstone is very abundant and found on the surface in many places. Along McCarty's creek, in the western part, and Horse creek, in the southeastern, the timber is dense.

McCarty's branch, which takes its rise in Barton county and flows northward through the western tier of sections in this township and empties into Clear creek, and Horse creek, which cuts across the southeast corner, are the leading streams in Montevallo. Mulberry branch, Pea branch, and Mill branch are in the northwest, and McDougal's branch (or "Little Cynthia") is in the southeast, emptying into Horse creek, near the Cedar county line.

There are a few living springs in the township, and no scarcity of water. Coal exists in considerable quantities, but has been opened or developed more extensively in the southern part. The best fields known are in the southwestern portion of the town¬ ship, on McCarty's creek. Over on Horse creek parties claim to have found specimens of iron ore. which is not improbable, con¬ sidering the ferruginous (or ironish) character of the general formation of the county. The dark yellow sandstone, the red clay, and the dark water of the township are all colored with iron in one form or another.

Early History G16 History Of Verhoh County

Polk county to "Little Cynthia" creek, in the southern part of the township (center of section 22), now part of the old McDougal farm. ("Little Cynthia" was named for Cynthia Brown.) Dunnagan left in a year and a half, and moved three miles to the westward, over on McCarty's creek (section 19). His house was in the little valley, almost on the bank of the creek. But the location was very sickly, and one night in the rainy season of 1814 the branch overflowed its banks, flooded the valley, down which it poured a volume of water that would float a steamboat, and "drowned out" Dunnagan and his family. He then took refuge in the grove which still bears his name, where he died in the year 1867. He was a prominent citizen in early days, and his grove was a well known locality. While this was a part of Bates county Mr. Dunnagan was a justice of the peace of what then was Clear Creek township.

McCarty, who gave his name to the little creek, settled on the stream about two miles from the Barton county line (north part of section 30). He came in 1838, or not later than 1839. In about ten years he sold his claim to one McSwain, who in turn sold to Samuel Dunnagan.

Sometime about 1845 a man, named Kitchen, located a mile north of McCarty's claim (on section 18), but when the California gold fever broke out, in 1849, he contracted it and it carried him on to the Pacific coast. McSwain, too, went to the diggings and never returned. Capt. Elijah Smith located on McCarty's branch in the southwest part of the township (s. % se. sec. 30), on Smith's branch.

In the northern part of the township Joseph Martin settled on the site of Old Montevallo about the year 1840. He and his sons were famous grindstone makers in early clays. They used the Clear creek sandstone and hauled their wares to Independence and Lexington sometimes, where they readily exchanged them for merchandise of various sorts. Martin died at Old Montevallo,

James Ray, a Tennesseean, settled on Mill branch, in the northern part of the township (lot 9, nw. % sec. 4), in the year 1842. His daughter, Mrs. J. P. Grace, was born here the follow¬ ing year. Ray was a blacksmith, and although he owned a farm he worked chiefly at his trade. He afterward lived near Monte¬ vallo and died in this neighborhood. He had four sons killed on the Southern side during the Civil War; two, George W. and John II., were killed at Wilson's ereek. The place on which Ray first lived was first settled and improved about 1840, by a man named Piper, from whom Kay purchased the claim.

The first religious services by the people in the southern part of the township, were held at Samuel Dunnagin's, in Dunnagin's Grove, in 1846. Rev. Joseph Dunnagin, a brother of Esq. Dunnagin, was t he preacher. lie, too, was from Polk county. If Rev. Thomas W. German was not the first preacher in the north¬ ern part of the township, he was certainly among the first.

The first school in the southern part was taught at Esq. Dun¬ nagin 's by a man named McKinney. Some of the scholars in the northern part, along Mulberry, attended Callison's and Reed's schools, over in Virgil. Robert Jordan was an early teacher in this section of country. After a time, when the Montevallo Academy was established, it was generally resorted to by those desiring a good education.

Like their neighbors in other portions of the country, the first settlers in Montevallo township enjoyed a sort of from-handto-mouth existence. Few cultivated more than twenty acres of land: a forty-acre tract was a "big farm." Stock was generally raised, but there were no large herds or flocks, and not much pains taken or expense incurred with either hogs or cattle. Hogs ran in the timber, and were uniformly mast-fattened. Some¬ times, a week or two before slaughtering time, they were shut up and fed on corn to "harden" the fat; for the fat portions of mast-fed pork "drip" badly - that is, the lard oozes out, except in extreme cold weather, and keeps the meat in bad condition.

There was a great deal of game. In the Horse creek timber and in the McCarty creek timber, and in all the timbered tracts, in fact, deer were very abundant. One of Esq. Dunnagin's boys, a lad only twelve years of age, killed 175 deer in one winter, at as late a period as after the year 1850.

Raccoon skins and deer hides were common articles of barter. The woods were full of bee trees, and often they were cut more for the beeswax they yielded than for the honey.

Municipal History

Montevallo was one of the original townships of the county. It then comprised all the territory east of Center and Drywood townships and south of Clear Creek and Center townships, to the county lines on the east and south. The first justices of the peace were B. T. Morgan, John E. Rogers, Lucas Woodward, and Joseph Stepp. The first election was at Withers' store, in Monte¬ vallo town; the judges were James Ray, James Wilson, and Isham Hatfield. In 1856 the township was divided into two voting pre¬ cincts; one called "Butler" was at Jonathan Butler's, and the judges were B. H. Brashear, William M. Brim, and Henry Prewitt; the other was at Old Montevallo ; judges, Z. German, Jacob Sigler, and Z. Williams.

After the Civil War, in November, 1866, the township was reorganized and an election held for township officers. Only seventeen votes were cast, R. T. Parks and J. H. Mitchell were elected justices of the peace ; W. T. Mitchell, constable.

In The Civil War

Nearly every acre of ground in Montevallo township was the scene of some incident worthy of record during the Civil War. Every crossroad was the locality of a skirmish ; every patch of timber through which a road ran was the scene of an ambuscade; every school house and prairie field was a mustering place or a drill ground; while many a glen and dale and bit of roadway witnessed a silent sickening tragedy, none the less horrible for its privacy and the swiftness of its execution. Some one kept count and at the close of the war it was reported that no fewer than thirty-six men had been killed in the vicinty of Old Montevallo, in this county; of these eight only were Federals or their sym¬ pathizers, while of the twenty-eight Southerners, eight had never taken up arms.

Montevallo was Confederate in her sympathies from the first. Among the people there wTere few who were not ready and eager to fight for their faith. Led by Lion. J. M. Gatewood, a citizen of the township, the able-bodied men formed themselves into a company before Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated, and this company was one of the very first to spring to arms in all Missouri upon the call of Governor Jackson. And in the desperate battle of Wilson's Creek more than one-half of this company was killed or wounded.

Montevallo furnished two other companies to the Confederate service, and from first to last more men from this township fol¬ lowed the bright but ill-starred banner of Secession than then* were voters in the fall of 1860.

Early in the summer of 1861 the military forces entered this township. The first were General Price's men, as they were hastening from the northern counties to join their leader in the Southwest. Then in the first week in September, came the entire Missouri army of 10,000 men, on its waj to Fort Scott and the Dry wood fight. Two months later came the Kansas troops, en route to Springfield to join General Fremont.

The first Federal troops that came in to permanently occupy the country were welcomed with bloody hands to hospitable graves." It was in March, 1862, when the detachment of the First Iowa cavalry reached Old Montevallo town, and notwith¬ standing they came with fair speeches and deported themselves like gentlemen, no confidence was reposed in them and no love felt for them, and they were bushwhacked before morning. Ever after there was no ground found in this township tenable for a Federal garrison, and no further attempt was made to establish one.

The various important skirmishes in the township; the hotel fight and Coffee's fight at Montevallo, with the burning of the town, the killing of Camp and others, are noted elsewhere.

There were two or three Union families in this township at the beginning of the war and they were roughly treated by the Secessionists. As time passed opportunity was given to certain parties for revenge, and they improved it. Every man known to have given active and willing aid and comfort to the Confeder¬ ates was informed upon, and his name and the particulars of his offense were reported either to the Federal authorities at Fort Scott or to the Cedar county militia. Then the tables were turned and it was the Southerners who fared hard.

ered. In the neighborhood of Old Montevallo, one night in February, 1863, five citizens were killed at their homes by the Cedar county militia. William Wood was killed and a man named Amos was taken from a sick bed and shot, and Tapp, Clendenin and Campbell were killed.

Old Jeremiah Ray, sixty years of age, was shot down by the Sixth Kansas as he was walking harmlessly along the road, a mile or so west of Montevallo. A man named Brewer, who lived in Montevallo, Avas shot by some Kansas troops as he Avas running towards his home and had refused to halt when ordered.

John Brown, Sr., Avas killed by the Kansas troops in 1863, as he was hunting cattle on the prairie in the southern part of the tOAvnship. It is said that he. too, refused to halt Avhen ordered and Avas then shot.

Lieut. Wesley L. Ball Avas shot by a detachment of Kansas troops led by a Captain Moore and piloted and instructed by Frank Wyrick and Jefferson Moore. This Avas in the fall of 1862. Lieutenant Ball was a lieutenant in Gatewood's old com¬ pany ; returning home he was captured by the Kansas troops and taken to Fort Scott. After a confinement of some months he Avas released on oath. The Federals claimed that he Avas a spy on them, notwithstanding his oath, and that he eA-en Avas a bush- AAThacker Avhen opportunity offered. They Avent one night, took him out a hundred vards from the house, and shot him down. But if the Federals had not killed Lieutenant Ball, the bush- AAfiiackers Avould haA^e slain him the first opportunity. While in' prison at Fort Scott he betrayed a plan of escape A\Thich some of his felloAv prisoners had matured, and caused them to be shackled and closely confined. Henry Taylor and others SAVore Arengeance against him for his treachery, which Avas occasioned by his personal hatred of one of the men in the plot.

Manuel Collins, a Union man and a member of the Federal militia,- killed two bushwhackers named Hugh Gantier and John Crockett, by beating out their brains with a smoothing iron. All three were in a dAvelling house and Collins Avas virtually a pris¬ oner. He contrived to secure the Aveapon and getting behind the bushwhackers, he, by tAvo powerful and swiftly delUered bloAArs, crushed their skulls.

Old Montevallo

The old town of Montevallo stood partly on lots 4 and 5 of the northeast quarter of section 5, or about a mile and a half to the northwest of the present town, a little west of the Lipe branch and a mile east of McCarty creek. The main street was the road from Nevada or Balltown to Springfield, which ran from northwest to southeast, and the principal portion of the town was built on either side of this street. Quite a number ofhouses were scattered irregularly about, and there was no com¬ pactness or solidity in the general character of the place.

The founder of the town was William Withers, who estab¬ lished a store here in the year 1850. The site was originally owned by Joseph Martin, the old grindstone maker, who settled upon it about the year 1840. Not long afterward J. M. Gatewood and Hon. William Blanton came to the place, and soon after the town was laid out. The name was given by Rev. Thomas German, the first school commissioner of Vernon county, and a prominent citizen. Air. German was a good scholar and chris¬ tened the town from two Spanish words - Monte Vallo, meaning a combination of hill and valley. As the town was situated in a pleasant little vale or valley, between two ranges of hills, the name was quite appropriate.

The county records show that in November, 1855, Asa Elliott was a licensed merchant in Montevallo, with William Withers and Thomas W. German as his sureties. In June, 1856, George Pape was licensed to keep a dramshop.

By a special act of the legislature, approved December 12, 1855, the Montevallo Academy was chartered. The first board of trustees was composed of R. P. Walker, Robert Crockett, James II. Mulkey, D. W. Martindale, R. T. Morgan, Thomas W. German and C. L. Clark. The building was not completed until in 1857. Schools were scarce at that day, and the establishment of the academy was largely encouraged by the citizens, who were generally believers in and promoters of the cause of educa¬ tion. There were several families of good social position and refinement, and the location of the academy was a matter of much advantage and consequence to the little town.

story in height, but was large and roomy. Religious services were held here from time to time in the absence of church build¬ ings. The first principal, probably, was Rev. Thomas W. Ger¬ man, although a Miss Ladd, of Kansas City, was an early teacher, and it is claimed that she really taught the first school. After Mr. German came Prof. Gregory. When the Civil War broke out the teachers were Prof. M. A. Page and Miss H. B. Stanwood, both excellent teachers.

Upon the commencement of hostilities, Prof. Page, who was a Northern man, left the country, but Miss Standwood died in the summer of 1861, far away from her home and kindred in the Northland, and was buried in the lonely, obscure cemetery east of Montevallo.

Montevallo was regularly incorporated by the county court February 9, 1860, on petition of F. M. German, John Dade, Wil¬ liam T. Maddox and others. The first board of trustees consisted of F. G. Reavis, John Dade, Jesse T. Griggs, W. B. Randolph and William James. All records of the proceedings of the board of the succeeding officers, etc., were "lost in the war."

After the war broke out the academy building was used to hold war meetings and for quarters for the Southern troops, and was destroyed in the burning of the town in the spring of 1862.

In the year 1857, Mr. F. G. Reavis came from Leesville, Henry county, to Montevallo and established a store, and soon after built and operated a carding machine. Mr. German, Obediah Keithley and Y illiam Withers put up a steam saw7 mill on Mill branch, a little east of town, about the same time, and after¬ wards added to it a corn cracker.

At the outbreak of the war the town contained three stores - Brown's, Reavis', and Weidemyer's; the hotels of Scobey, Drake, and Mattox; some shops, Joe Wood's livery stable, and about fifty dwelling houses. The population is variously estimated to have been from 250 to 350.

But wdien the war ended nothing remained of the town but a few ruins that were not inflammable - a few naked and wrecked chimneys, and a dozen unfilled wells. So complete had been its destruction by the flames of vrar that no attempt even wras made to rebuild it. The site is now a farm. Even the old Nevada and Lamar road is completely obliterated.

The present town of Montevallo is the successor to "Old" Montevallo, which, as elsewhere noted, was west of the Lipe branch, on the middle of section 5. The present town is laid out cn the east half of lot 2 .of the northeast quarter of section 4, in Montevallo township. The site was entered by Obediah Keitliley, December 25, 1855, but the town was regularly laid out by Samuel Manatt, November 25, 1881, but had been settled some years previously.

Zodiac

The springs bearing this name are located in the southeast corner of the township (sw. cor. sw. sec. 35), on Horse creek. There is a hotel here and a good bath house, and the locality, though not advertised largely, is liberally frequented during the warm seasons. A town was regularly laid oft* here in Sep¬ tember, 1881, by Moses Isenhower. The site is romantic and picturesque, and lovers of beautiful natural scenery are delighted with the views here presented.

Montevallo Lodge, No. 316, I. 0. 0. F. Received its charter May 20, 1874. Among the original members were John S. Lewis, John B. Mallory, Phil Hathaway, Thomas Gilbert, E. Elswick, William Warner, Harry Stuterville, Preston Pope, Andrew J. Culbertson, A. W. Van Swearingen and Charles II. Ilaines.

Montevallo Lodge, No. 490, A. F. and A. M. Was put to work under dispensation December 5, A. D. 1872. A charter was granted October 15, 1874, the following being among the con¬ stituent members: S. G. Popplewell, A. J. Culbertson, J. II. Brown, Charles Cox, William Branes, Thomas Cook, James T. Moore, B. L. McKinney and J. Roark.

Early Churches

very first, if not the first, Baptist organization in Vernon county. Elder D. R. Murphy formed a few persons of Baptist proclivities into an organization October 15, 1848, some of those who con¬ stituted that first body being Horatio Packard, M. H. Wilson, Eliza Copland, Lurena Wilson, G. L. Wilson, Alanson Packard, Eleanor Rose, Smith Bledsoe and Mary Hurt. In 1862, owing to certain war troubles, it was thought advisable to disband the church, but in February, 1867, a reorganization was effected by Rev. J. B. Carrico, at the house of James Robertson, with the following members: James Robertson, R. Conyers, Isom Hat¬ field, I. Paryman, J. M. Standley, Patsey Hatfield, Eliza J. Con¬ yers, Aury Paryman, Mary Ann Robertson, Bennett Utterback and Sidney Utterback.

Montevallo M. E. Church, South

The church record was lost or destroyed about twenty years ago and little record of the organization can be given back of that time. Regular services were held at the old town, but no organization of which we can learn. About 1873 a class was formed at the present town, with Rev. T. J. Strinfield as first pastor. A parsonage was purchased but services held in the school house. Rev. AY. D. Stewart, who had been the pastor at old town in 1855-56, was one of the early pastors of the new class and is still living. A church building was erected in 1886 and dedicated by Bishop Eugene R. Hendricks of Kansas City during the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Morehead, the structure cost¬ ing about $1,200. Since then it has had a varied experience. We do not know names of charter members, but none are now living. It has suffered severely from removals and death dur¬ ing its existence, hundreds having come into its fold and then moved away or died. Its membership has therefore varied in numbers, running from about 50 to 100. It now numbers be¬ tween 80 and 90, and is at present what is known among Metho¬ dists as a half station. The pastors who have served the church since 1890 are: Revs. B. V. Alton, T. C. Puckett, S. G. Melborn, J. E. Harney, A. G. Moore, W. B. Carrico, W. P Bar- rett, AY. D. Johnson, S. 0. Borland, C. A. Harris, \V. T. McGuire, M. Larkin, G. H. Green and T. B. Farny. In the history of a church it is the women who deserve mention, but there has been so many who devoted their time and energy to its interests that we cannot name all, hence will not any. Among the men who have in the past served in an official capacity are A. J. Snider, Monroe Overstreet, Andrew Ilanson, George Selsor, Robinson Pierce, J. R. Rector, II. H. Dillon and J. W. Howell. Serving at present time: A. J. Burkey, M. A. Pinkerton, B. Drummond, John Golladav. J. W. Armstrong, L. E. Fanning and II. M. Snider, the present pastor, Rev. T. B. Fany. Its Sabbath school, of which A. J. Burkey is superintendent, has an enrollment of about 100.

Arbor Grove M. E. Church, South

This church owes its origin to Mrs. Sarah G. McAllister, who in 1881 started a Sunday school in a brush arbor. In 1882 a class was formed and in the next few years a small frame church was erected. This soon proved too small and was sold to be used for a dwelling and removed. The present structure was erected in 1887 at a cost of about $1,000. The charter mem¬ bers were Sarah G. McAllister, E. E. McAllister, Mattie Mc¬ Allister, Minnie McAllister, David and Mary States, Percy States, Elizabeth Henry, Flora, Addie and Emma Henry, YVilliain Ball and wife, Edward Ball, Robert Estus and Lucinda Estus and Sarah J. Hoke. The pastor at that time was Rev. J. N. Anthony. This church, like about all country churches, has suffered severely by removal of its members to other parts. Its membership at present time will not exceed forty. It seems to have been the case all over Missouri for the last ten years that when the membership of the church removed from the community, those who took their place in the community seldom took their place in the church. The officials who have served this church we have not the means to ascertain, but among them, besides those named as charter mem¬ bers, are J. B. Adams, J. J. Adams, E. A. Bird, R. B. Kahler, A.

Montevallo Village School

The Montevallo village school was organized under the vil¬ lage act about the year 1867 with six directors and the em¬ ployment of two teachers and something like an enrollment of 150 pupils. A considerable portion of the original territory has been detached from the district and rural districts formed as the population increased. The school was taught in one room by two teachers until the present school house was erected twentyfive years ago. Our present school house is unsanitary and un¬ comfortable under the present conditions ; neither the pupils nor teachers can do the best kind of work. There are quite a num¬ ber of the patrons of the school who would like to erect a new school house.

The school has made slow but steady progress for the more thorough and higher education; at least part of the high school course is taught in the school each year. The first teachers were J. E. Smith, principal, and Miss Ella Johnson, primary; last year, E. W. Briget, principal; Miss Alice Craig, primary. The school for the present year will be under the efficient man¬ agement of Mrs. Loretta Nance, principal, and Miss Alice Craig, primary, with an enrollment of seventy-one.

Montevallo township is one of the older settled sections of the country, probably the oldest except that portion along the Osage river. The pioneer always made his abode along the streams, and Horse creek, which cuts across the southeast cor¬ ner, was the first stopping place of those coming from the East and Southeast in the march of immigration. McCarty creek rising in Benton on the south, flows almost due north through the west¬ ern tier of sections. Wilkey and Cynthia creeks on the east and Mill branch heading near the town of Montevallo, were also of sufficient proportions to attract the eye of the early settler. The prairie portion, running northeast and southwest and com¬ prising about two-thirds of its area, was not taken up, or rather was not fenced, until long after the Civil War; in fact, as late as 1875 it was supposed that it would be several generations before a large part of it would be fenced, and had not some material other than rails been discovered for fencing, it no doubt would have been a long time; but- barbed wire solved the problem, and not long after those living here found themselves confined to the tract of land on which they lived and a narrow strip on the outside called the public highway. In the face of this condition the early settler was almost as helpless as the Indian when the game is killed or driven out, raising little grain or forage; in fact, having little land cleared, he had always looked to the vast open prairie for the sustenance of his stock, both win¬ ter and summer, and wholly unable to at once adapt himself to changed conditions, the prospect was indeed gloomy and many moved on.

Of that period prior to about 1845 extremely little is known and very little need be said. In Brown's "History of Vernon County" we find the names, McCarty, McSwain, Kitchen, Wil¬ key, Dunnegan, Joseph Martin, James Ray, Evan Lipe, Dr. Smith and some others. The descendants of Evan Lipe are some of them in the county, and also some of James Ray's, but of the others not one of the lineage remain. E. VT. Smith, a son of Dr. Smith, after serving in the Confederate army, returned and was a resident of the township until a fewT years ago, when he removed to Oklahoma and died there. Condy S. Dunnagan, a son of Samuel Dunnagan, remained for some years after the war. In 1870 he ran for the office of representative in the legis¬ lature. The principal ground on which he based his appeal for votes wras on the promise that if elected he would go to Jeffer¬ son City with a wagon and ox team, take his provisions and camp on the state house grounds and thus be able to bring back his salary and spend it at home. The state records do not show that he served a term. The names of two streams, McCarty and

Wilkey, and of Dunnagan Grove, is all that remains to remind ns of these pioneers. Those of the present day can not see how they existed, but humanity quickly adapts itself to its surroundings and necessities : each age produces a people suitable to its needs. On all occasions we hear the life of the pioneer depicted as one of toil, privation and hardships. Could it not be that a life such as that of today would have been to him unbearable? We have no reason to believe that he did not get as much of the sweet and as little of the bitter in passing through life as the average of mankind. Certain it is that with every one of them as they grew older and conditions changed for what is usually called the better, they bemoaned the passing away of the good old days. But he is gone, and let us hope that when he crossed the river he found a haven of rest in the beyond.

The next period was from about 1815 to the beginning of the Civil War. This was a period of somewhat permanent growth, had it not been interfered with by the war. Crude grist mills were established here and there, and we read in Brown's history that a carding mill was located at Old Montevallo; and those who settled in what is now Montevallo township are en¬ tirely too numerous to mention, if we even knew them. On Horse ceek was J. N. Robinson and a few others. Mr. Robin¬ son still lives there, loved and honored by those who know him, and gives many interesting reminiscences of the early days. The nearest mill was on Sac river and about the only means of travel ox teams. On Little Cynthia, John Brown, Sr., and Seaton Ready. The former was killed by the Federals during the Civil War while on the prairie hunting his horses. Two of his sons still live in the county. John Brown, now of Sheldon, after serving in the Confederate army and a short stay in Texas, re¬ turned and has since been a resident. George R. Brown lives a few miles south of the town of Montevallo in sight of the old homestead. He was too young for the army, but he, with the rest of the family, were compelled to leave for safety and went to Texas. He returned after the war and has since been a resident of the township.

Hiram Ready, after serving in the army, came back to Cyn¬ thia creek, where he remained until his death a few years ago. His wife and some of his children are residents of the town¬ ship at this time. Toward the northern portion of the town- ship a small tributary of Horse creek heads. Running east it soon crosses the line into Cedar countv. On this lived John and Thadeus Clendenin, John Anderson and Joseph U. Crane. Mr. Crane still lives where he first settled. lie, Jasper N. Robinson and George R. Brown being probably the only men now living in the township who were here before the war. John Clendenin was killed by Federal troops, but left several children, who are still living: Airs. Mary C. Smith and Mrs. Jane Pierce, of Mon¬ tevallo; Mrs. Lou Falkner, of Montevallo township; Mrs. Eslinger, Miss Nannie Clendenin, of Virgil; H. P. Clendenin, of Eldorado Springs, and William Clendenin, of Oklahoma. Thadeus Clendenin went South at the beginning of the war and never returned.

Along and near the head of McCarty creek was E. W. Smith, Joe Phillips, the McCoys and Dr. J. W. Keithly. Dr. Keithly had a practice covering parts of Vernon, Dade, Cedar and Bar¬ ton counties. Some of his children and grandchildren still live in the county. The elder McCoy was killed by Joe Phillips, who, coming in from the army just after the beginning of the war, found the old man living with Mrs. Phillips. He went to the house one night where they were living and, calling McCoy to the door, put a load of buckshot into him.

The "before-the-war ' ' settlers in the north and northwest portions of the township were far more numerous, as in this portion was located the old town of Montevallo. In the list were Thomas German, William Withers, John Dado, F. G. Reavis, J. M. Gatewood, Robert Crockett, William Blanton, W. T. Mad¬ dox, Joe Wood, John and Anson Campbell. All are now dead. The cemeterv established bv the old town was southeast from that place in the direction of and not far from half-way be¬ tween there and the present town. It was adopted by the new town and is now the- cemetery used by it and the community. A modest sandstone monument marks the grave of William Withers and discloses the fact that he died in 1858. This monu¬ ment stands upright and is apparently in as good condition as when placed there. A few more graves marked with sandstone slabs, on which the inscription is yet discernable, can be found ; but in most cases they cannot be identified, and in many cases there is nothing to indicate the location of a grave. All is overgrown with native bluestem.

F. G. Reavis returned after the war and lived for many years on his farm adjoining the old town site. Addison G. Reavis, of Perelta land grant farms in Arizona and New Mex¬ ico, was a son. This circumstance shows that Vernon county soil can produce a man of large aspirations. "William Blanton was the father of Horace and Walter Blanton, lately of Nevada. Horace Wood, formerly county surveyor, is a son of the late Joe Wood, above named.

John Campbell lived in the township for many years after the war and died here, leaving several children, only one of whom, Joseph A., is now a resident of the township. He lives on the old homestead. A son of Campbell was killed during the war. One son, William D., is still a resident.

One passing through the old town site today would never suspect that fifty years ago a flourishing village adorned its surface. Near the northwest corner of the cemetery, however, on what was then a prairie knoll, now heavily timbered, the location of the seminary, which was quite a flourishing institu¬ tion in its day, is plainly discernable. The town was located at cross-roads, one running north and south from the Missouri river to Granby and the south, and one east and west from Fort Scott to Bolivar. Mr. F. M. Fortune, now a resident of the township, carried the mail on horseback from Fort Scott to Bolivar in 1861, Drywood, Nevada and Montevallo being the only offices on the route in this county.

The principal means of enjoyment by these pioneers was hunting, and this may also be called an occupation, as it fur¬ nished a material part of their subsistence. The man who was the best shot was the prominent man of the community. In addition to this was the horse race, shooting match, etc. And while they knew nothing of the scientific boxing contest of the present day, it was a very frequent custom to imitate very closely the pugilistic encounter at many of their gatherings by forming a ring around two who proposed to 11 knock it out" with bare fists, simply to determine who was the best man. The man in the community who had the reputation of being able to whip anyone who might come against him was the hero.

Churches and school houses were rare; in fact, there was not a church house, and few, if any, school houses in the town¬ ship before the Avar, except the seminary at Old MonteAmllo, and that was not used until 1857. The Civil War coming on in 1861 put a stop to all further settlement and progress and be¬ fore it was over resulted in the depopulation of the country. This portion being Southern in its sympathies suffered acutely at the close of the war. It could be said of it, as of the destruction of Solomon's temple, "Not one stone was left upon another." The old town was completely destroyed in 1862. Every portion of the township was the scene of battle or skirm¬ ish and of conflagration. Both soldiers and citizens were killed. A number of small burying grounds here and there in woods this day and shows the predominance of the animal in mankind, that such animosity could be aroused as to result in the trage¬ dies and outrages of this period.

struggle. Nearly all of those engaged in it have gone to the great beyond. The dead of both sides rest side by side in the blood-stained soil on which they fought, and the living of both sides dwell in peace and harmony around their graves. So let it be.

The close of the war found the country practically as it was before any settlement. It was, of course, better known and some had homesteads with a small amount of cleared land to which to return. A great many of the former inhabitants, for various reasons, never came back ; probably a majority. How¬ ever, others did come. From 1866 to 1880 they came rapidly. All the former settlements along the creeks were soon occu¬ pied ; new farms along the creek bottoms and in the timber were started, and along the edges of the timber the prairie here and there was encroached upon. They came from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia ; in fact, from most of the southern and eastern states, and some from foreign countries, quite a number from the older parts of Missouri. Just after the war the state established a road from Sedalia to Carthage. This ran diagonally from southeast to southwest, through Montevallo township, and along this highway the travel was immense - the land speculator, the freighter, immigrant, etc. Towns sprang up every few miles along the route. Many of those who came were of course of that class who did not remain long anywhere ; but among the more permanent were many who im¬ mediately took their place as good citizens and bore well their part as active participants in the affairs of the community and county. Outside of the town we recall the names of William L. Haynes, J. L. Dickson, William Willey, John B. Grimsley, T\ illiam Shelton, Joe W. Smith, J. B. Adams, H. G. Snider, James W. Waters, Jacob and Ludwig Faeurbach, J. P. Carter, Isaac Periman, H. C. and G. W. Wallace, A. J. Snider, Charles Nippert, Thomas Hathaway, D. W. C. Malloy, the Leedy's and the children of many of those who then or later joined in the activities of citizenship. There are many more, and we wish we could name them all. We want, however, to record the fact that no better people, as a whole, could be found, coming from different states and even different foreign countries, of every political faith and religious view. They rapidly became assimi¬ lated and were ever ready to help each other, as well as the stranger within their gates, and though comparatively poor, were ever willing to divide their scanty store with those who needed. And what can be said of the men will apply with even more force to the womanhood of that day. Let it be said of the latter, as well as those good women of an earlier day, no more true, generous, devoted, self-sacrificing class will ever be found. No wanderer or neighbor in need was ever turned away empty. We, like all of this period who still remain, bemoan the passing of the good old days. There were still others connected with this period of 1866-80, but who were more intimately con¬ nected with the present town, a brief narrative of which will be given hereafter.

Commencing about 1880 the aspect of the country, as well as the citizenship, began to change. Barbed wire came into general use and the prairie land which up to this time had remained un¬ fenced was soon enclosed. The roads then used, which ran in any direction desired without regard to surveys, were forced onto lines. New buildings were erected on the prairie. Spring wagons, buggies, and carriages began to take the place of the farm wagon and the saddle. Farming machinery and farming methods increased and improved. Considerable of this was done by residents, but many newcomers were added to the population. Since then one by one the older settlers have passed away or moved elsewhere. The opening of Oklahoma took many, and in all the territory from here to the Pacific they have gone, until hardly any remain. The oldest personal tax list available is that of 1873: it contains 110 names; a comparison with the list at this time shows three names only which are on both. There are, however, on the latter list several of the sons of those on the former. We no longer have the pleasure of crossing a stream of any size at certain "fords;" bridges, mostly steel, spanning all important streams. We can hardly find a public road along which the telephone posts, with from one to a half dozen wires, are not in evidence, and many other evidences of the march of civilization. The primitive school house has been replaced with the frame or stone building and modern furniture. Churches have been erected and the school house no longer used for re¬ ligious worship. Hut of this later period it must be left for some one in the future to write; some one who by long residence has in time become an old settler.

We now turn to the town of Montevallo. The present town was laid out in 1868 and immediately became a great trade cen¬ ter for that time. It is situated about one mile east and one-half mile south of the old town, on high prairie land and not in the valley that suggested the name of the former town; was when located on what was the Sedalia and Carthage state road. In¬ corporated April 18, 1871, with Robinson Pierce, William II. Smith, John Anderson, George Davis, and J. J. Glover, all of whom, except Davis, were for many years after connected with its interests. All are now dead. Like almost all Western towns, it was laid out around a public square; facing this scpiare numer¬ ous small wooden business houses with imitation scpiare fronts were built. Some of these yet remain. Among the first mer¬ chants were Malone & Rochester, P. Hathaway, Lipscomb & Bogan, all general stores. Keithly Bros. & Dielir were also among the first. C. C. Cornwell, drugs; C. C. Simmonton also drugs, and probably some others. John Nelson, hardware; E. G. Lewis, harness and saddlery. Of these only C. C. Simmonton remained any length of time. A. W. YanSwearingen, an attorney, came about 1869, and from that time to his death in 1884, he was prominent in town, township, and county affairs. Harry YanSwearingen, a brother, is still a resident and has for all these years been connected with the educational interests of the com¬ munity. Judge Thomas YanSwearingen, their father, coming a few years later, remained an attorney of the town until a few years ago, when he went to Ohio, where he died shortly after. About 1871 W. H. Smith bought the store of Malone & Rochester, and with the exception of about one year remained in the mer¬ cantile business until 1895, doing a large and successful business. S. D. Buck, now of Nevada, as a member of the firm of Buck & St. John, early succeeded John Nelson in the hardware business, grew to fine proportions and continued until Mr. Buck's removal to Walker some years ago, and was succeeded by H. H. Dillion, who, having died, was succeeded by the late J. W. ITonell. J. a' Harper, now dead, and A. H. Davis, now of Milo, at a little later period became identified with the business interests of the town as general merchants; Mr. Davis doing a large business for about tw enty years. Joseph W. Smith, one of the early merchants, quit that business and built the flouring mill, which he con¬ ducted for several years. The medical profession of the early times was represented by Drs. S. G. Papplewell, Ewell Elswick, J. C. McMillen, John Lipscomb, and J. "W. Fields ; and others at diffeient times for a short time. An incident occurred in con¬ nection with Dr. Lipscomb probably worth relating. He and R. H. (Hilt) Jarboe, of Dover township, had been great friends, but became estranged, and one day Jarboe was in town when the docior, who had been to see a patient, came in. He had a spur on each boot, the rowels of which were fully a half-inch long, noted for being kept in good condition. They soon met and a combat ensued. Jarboe being the larger and probably more active, soon had the doctor down on his back and he on top of him. The doctor at once brought those spurs into action on Jarboe 's back. For once the top man preferred to be on the bot¬ tom and it is needless to say that no one had to take Jarboe off. The incidents of those days, amusing and otherwise, if all could be recorded would fill a large volume. Joseph Roack, now living in Arkansas, and J. P. Grace, now of Nevada, were the con¬ stables of an early period and had as much riding to do as the county sheriff of today ; even if not as much income. The first hotel was a log structure, but soon enlarged by a frame addition, and all weather-boarded, is still the hostlery of the town. We have before us an account book kept by one of the early landlords. V e copy the first account in it and the first few items, leaving out dates and name : One pint whiskey, 50c ; three cigars, 15c ; one pint whiskey, 50c; four cakes soap, 20c ; one pint alcohol. 60c; one plug tobacco, 20c; board', $2.50." The above was for one week. Of course this is not a sample exactly, but many of them are somewhat similar. The present firm of Stuermer Pros, came with their father, August Stuermer, to the county just after the war, first to Nevada and shortly after here. J. W. Stuermer, of the firm, has for more than thirty years been identified with the business interests of the town. The legal profession bore a part in the affairs of town, township and community. The more per¬ manent of these were George Selsor, A. W. VanSwearingen, Judge Thomas Van Swearingen and the writer. Others came and went at different periods and for varying lengths of time. The prac¬ tice covered a territory including Vernon, Barton, Cedar, and, occasionally, Dade and St. Clair counties. The mode of travel and equipment was that of the old-time preacher, horseback and pair of saddle-bags across the saddle. A large part of the time was spent in the saddle. We went through snow, rain, heat and what not. There being no bridges, often had to swim swollen streams. Here it would be well to speak of the numerous changes in this, as in all other townships, in the matter of litigation in justices' courts especially. Every justice of the peace had more or less business, and in Montevallo court was held almost regu¬ larly every week. Often we ran far into the night to complete the docket of that day. Now it is often the case that a justice will serve his term without issuing a single writ. We wish we could recall and mention all who deserve recognition, but cannot do so. The town has improved somewhat, especially in the quality of its business buildings, and there has been added since an earlier day two church buildings, a better school house, a large town hall ; also better dwellings have replaced the former, but the population is no greater than in 1870.

We will not close this article without reference to a large class of men who are no doubt brought to the surface by condi¬ tions peculiar to the county being newly settled. While there was among them doctors, lawyers, veterinaries, and possibly now and then a preacher, the usual prefix to their name was that of "Prof." There were professors of everything under the sun. Hardly a week passed that notices were not posted around town that "Prof. So and So" would lecture one, two or three nights, as the case might be. These were often men of some education, ability and natural refinement, but always total failures. They had gotten down and out in iheir eastern homes and, coming to the verge of poverty, had started out to find a new home in the W est, reform, and make a new start in life. They started in the wrong direction. Any friend knowing conditions here would have told them to turn their faces to the far East (Maine) instead. In all these new7 V estern towns, at frequent intervals, along the street at this time would appear a sign across the sidewalk, fre¬ quently in crude and uneven letters, "Drugs," "New Drugs," Banner Drug Store, or something similar. From three-fourths to nine-tenths of the business of these institutions consisted in the sale of intoxicants. If one of these learned men went over the first night in town without falling a victim to the allurements of one of these drug signs, he was unusually fortunate. The time for their first lecture to begin frequently found them in too prime condition, f hey soon moved on and others came. The lawyers, doctors, etc., were a little more permanent, but it was but a question of time, and a very short time, until they, too, joined in the procession. Poor fellow's ! They had a common tie, a com¬ mon failing, and no doubt a common destiny: this destiny being a hospitable resting place in a potter's field.

AYith this wre must close, and let us hope that the one who writes of us in the distant future can say of us, as wTe can of those in the past, "They done the best they knew."