Moss Creek Township

Moss Creek Township

Moss Creek township embraces thirty six full sections of six hundred and forty acres each. With the exception of the extreme north eastern corner of the township where the bluffs of the Wakanda overlook the stream of that name, the township is level bottom lands, well watered with streams, lakes and sloughs, and rich as the famed valley of the Nile. ' Moss Creek, a stream of clear water, fed wholly from springs, runs in a north easterly course through the township, emptying its waters into the sluggish Wakanda three miles above Carrollton. Moss Creek derives its name from the green moss that every spring covers the surface of its waters. It is of such nutritiousness that stock seek it as a sweeter morsel than the rich pastures that abound through the township, aad hundreds of head of cattle can be seen at times standing in its waters and enjoying the rich food it affords. The stream is the home of some of the gamest of the finny tribe, bass, croppy &c., and thousands of pounds of fish have been taken from its waters in a single season. The winters of 1879 and 1880 being more severe than usual, tons of fish died from the exclusion of air by the hard freeze, and yet the supply "has not been exhausted. The Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific railroad traverses the township from east to west, and with the single exception of Smith township. Moss Creek is the only one through which the railroad passes, that has no local town.

John A. Austin, Virginia; Dr. W. W. Austin, Virginia; Col. W. W. Austin, Saul Gilmartin in 1837; A. C. Blackwell located on section 30 in 1839, and was made postmaster, the office being named Round Grove. Mr. Blackwell was also the first justice of the peace of the township. R. B... Hudson came in 1849; John Alt came in 1849 also, but did not locate permanently until 1852, where he resided till August, 1881, when he was gathered to his fathers. Ed W. Turner, in 1842, came to the county with his family and located on whatyvas known as Round Grove farm. Being settled on the direct stage road to St. Joseph, and the west, he opened a house of entertainment for travelers. It became a place of note to all who traveled over the road, and was known as the best feeding place in the western country. Moss Creek was a splendid fishing stream and these considerations induced these commercial tourists to while away several days at a time, enjoying the sport of fishing, and eating the splendid meals provided by the host and hostess of Round Grove farm. The latter part of his life Mr. Turner spent in Carrollton where he died on the 17th of March, 1879, honored and respected for his integrity and unflinchr ing honesty.

Among the early marriages in Moss Creek were Howell L. Heston and Miss Esther Austin, November 14, 1843, at the residence of John A. Austin, the ceremony being performed by Rev. John Yantis, a Presbyterian preacher. About the 4th of June, 1844, at the same place by a Methodist minister, name unknown, W m. C. Price led to the altar Miss Sarah M. Austin, and about the same time, Holman Snead married Miss Susan C. Austin, the ritual being said by Rev. Yantis.

In the winter of 1842 was born to Dr. Ed and Susan Arnold, a daughter, Bettie, and in 1845 a son named John. These were probablythe first in the township.

The first death was that of W. W. Austin, who died in 1843, and was buried in what was known as the Austin graveyard. He was the first regular physician who located in Moss Creek, having located there in 1836, on his arrival from Bedford county, Virginia.

The first religious service was held in the southeast quarter of section 34, in a log cabin, by Rev. Ellington, a Methodist, in 1845. Here also was the first school taught, the teacher, an Irishman, named O'Risdon. He had about fifteen pupils for which he received a compensation of one dollar a month per head. The first school house was a small frame that cost about $100, built by the citizens on land owned by Clark Lindsey. To Mrs. .Sarah Austin, wife of Peter Austin, and mother to John A., belongs the honor of having done the first weaving of cloth, carpets, etc. At this time a sack of corn was thrown across a horse and a ride of sixteen miles to mill, and grinding your corn by horse power, was a necessity, or you had no grist, the road to mill being simply a deer trail.

Wii.D Moss Mills

These mills are located on Moss creek from which the mill derives its name, and was in 1865 enlarged and improved under that " boss " miller, Jas. F. Lawton, proprietor.

The main building is 40x50 feet and two and a half stories high, and has three run of four feet burs. The engine room is 26x26 feet, with an engine of eighty horse-power and a water wheel of forty five horse power capacity.

Connected with this fine property are three dwellings, barns, fences, houses, etc., requiring the investment ot a capital of $5,000. The machinery, all new and of the very best, costing about $12,000, and incidental necessities to the amount of about $3,000, or an aggregate of about $20,000 invested in the property. From eight to twelve hands are employed in and about the premises, and a business amounting to from seventy to one hundred thousand dollars for the past year has been the result. Its trade is almost exclusively local, and so popular is the " Wild Moss Flour" brand of flour that the demand is almost always in excess of the supply. - If the capacity of the Wild Moss Mills was five times greater, its popularity would increase correspondingly. Its trade being strictly local its popularity is circumscribed as a matter of course, to the country contiguous to the mills.

Notwithstanding all this the mills and proprietor are known not only in our own country but in most of the countries of Europe, and even in remoter Asia. They are known from the fact that at these mills, and under the proprietorship of James F. Lawton, an experiment was tried and tried successfully, in baking bread in a quicker space of time from wheat growing in the field, than was ever before accomplished by any other mill or miller in this or any other age, or in this or any other country.

In 1876 James F. Lawton conceived the idea of an experiment in producing bread in the quickest possible time from growing wheat, and, on trial, in eight and a quarter minutes from the time the reaper struck the grain, Mrs. Lawton had bread from the wheat. Not satisfied with this feat, Lawton two years afterwards determined to beat his own time, making preparations accordingly. Inviting about fifty of the best citizens to witness the operation, Lawton had every thing ready on the day of trial and the fun began. At 4 o'clock, 6 minutes and 10 seconds, the reapers, struck the grain, and in 1 minute and 15 seconds a peck of wheat was in a sack and on the horse, and the horse on its way to the mill 16 rods away, the wheat being cut, threshed, bagged, and on its way to mill in this space of time. In one minute and 17 seconds the flour, ground and bolted, was in the hands of Mrs. Lawton, and in 1 minute and 23 seconds more, or in just 3 minutes and 55 seconds from the starting of the reaper, the first griddle-cake was being devoured by a dozen men. In just four minutes and 37 seconds from the time the reaper entered the wheat, a pan of hot biscuit was delivered to the crowd of invited guests.

A certificate of the truth of the above was at once circulated and every guest present signed, among whom was Gen. Jas. Shields, Col. J. B. Hale, Col. M. C. Shewalter, H. David, J. J.Farly, John R. Kerby and fortyone others, among the best and most reliable men in the community.

Gilead Afissio/iary Baptisi Church. - This organization was effected on the 5th of April, 1867, with John Kelly, T. A. Welch, Mordecai Wilson, Carter Booker, Mary Kelly, C. C. Emmerson, E. Welch, E. Dunkle, Bettie Wilson, M. Winkler and S. Haines as original memjDers. Their church building is a fine frame, splendidly located, and cost about $1,450, and was dedicated on the fourth Sunday in Maj^ 1876, by Rev. G. W. Hatcher. At the altar have officiated Revs. W. H. Durfey, W. S. Huft', C. Bullock, Thos. Graves, G. W. Hatcher, T. Menefee and B. Beauchamp. The congregation for a numbet^of years and until the erection of their church house met in the old Moss Creek church, located on section 28. Present membership, eighty-five.

Moss Creek Churchy M. E. South. - Moss Creek church was organized in 1853, with the following original membership: Col. Zachariah Moorman, Captain John A. Price, George Moorman, Wm. and John Haines, Stephen Mosby and Abraham Haines. The first church house was a frame located in section 28, and cost about $800, and is supposed to have been dedicated by . Rev. Joseph Devlin. Their present church building is an improvement on the first in every respect, and is located on the southeast quarter of section 27, costing $1,500. It was built the present year, and has not yet been dedicated. The pastors who have administered to the flock are Revs. Jos. Devlin, born May 10, 1848, in England. Came to America in 1852, with his parents, who located and entered 80 acres in Moss Creek township. He remained on the farm with his parents until 1875. Was educated in the public schools of the county. In 1876 he purchased a farm of 100 acres and has made additions to his tract of land until he has 205 acres, all in cultivation. On his farm there is a good farm house, an orchard of 100 trees, and other improvements. Mr. Archibald was married in 1876 to Miss Eliza Williams, a daughter of R. B. Williams, a native of Ohio. They are the parents of one child: Thomas Claude. Mr. Archibald is a member of the Gilead Baptist Church, while his wife is a Methodist.

John A. Austin

bom in 1820 in Bedford county, Virginia; oldest son of Peter and Sarah Austin, natives of Virginia. He came to Carroll county in 1842, and settled on the Missouri river bottom, where he was living in 1844, and witnessed the destruction by the high water of that year. He was married in 1855 to Miss Mar}' F. Kavanaugh. They are the parents of eight living children: Mary B., wife of Wm. H. Thomas; Sallie L., wife of Henry Young; Peter E., William A., Susan V., Lucy Jane, Henry C., and Ada E. Mr. Austin boasts of raising more children than any other man in the county. Besides eight of his own he has raised ten of his brother and sister's, and thirteen negroes. Mr. Austin's father died when he (John A.) was but 15 years old, leaving him to take care of the family. His mother is still living and is enjoying the extreme old age of 83 years. In 1847 the subject of this sketch entered the Mexican war and served twelve months, and took a trip to California in 1850. Mr. Austin is a successful farmer and one of the leading men of his township.

James T. Blackburn

born in 1825 in Kentucky. In 1837 he moved to Illinois in company with his father, and there learned the blacksmith trade, and followed farming for a number of years. He was married in Illinois in Clark county,, to Miss Elizabeth Gray, a native of Ohio. They were the parents of twelve children. Three of their sons: Benjamin, Frank, and Madison, are at present living in Carroll county, Missouri, engaged in farming. Benjamin was born in Clark county, Illinois, November 11, 1846, and raised on the farm. He enlisted in the union army in 1863, in the 106th Illinois infantry, company G. Was engaged in skirmishes at Clairington, Arkansas, and other places. Received his discharge September, 1865, at Springfield, Illinois. He was married in 1872 to Mrs. Sarah E. Allen, of Ohio. They are the parents of two children: James A. and Mary E. Frank Blackburn, brothef of Benjamin, was born in 1848 in Illinois, and raised on a farm. He came to Linn county, Missouri, in 1871, and was married the following j-ear to Miss Adaline McGee, of Illinois. Two years after the marriage he returned to Illinois. In 1876 he removed to Washington territory, entered 80 acres of land and sent for his family. His wife and two' children took the small-pox on their way and died. Mr. Blackburn took the disease just three days before his wife died, and recovered after four weeks illness. He returned to Illinois in 1877 and was subsequently married to Miss Mahala McGee, of Illinois. He removed to Linn county, Missouri, in 1880, and in 1881 located in Carroll county, and is now engaged in farming with his brothers. James M. Blackburn, brother of Benjamin and Frank, was born in Illinois June 10, 1858. He came to Missouri with his brothers in 1880. He is at present living with them on the Roe farm in section .13, of Moss Creek township.

Joseph A. Buckner

born September 8, 1835, in Ohio; son of David C. and Martha Buckner, natives of Ohio. Joseph A. was raised on a farm. In 1853 he left home and went to Virginia, where he remained a year and a half. He returned to Marrietta, Ohio, and lived there for six years. In 1860 he taught school in Virginia until 1863, when he enlisted in the confederate army. He was engaged in the battles of Cedar Run and others; was taken prisoner in 1865, and while escaping was shot in the left arm. After his return from the army to Virginia, he was engaged in teaching until 1867, when he went to the oil regions of West Virginia. He was married January 17, 1867, to Olga Handley of West Virginia. To this union were born two children. In the spring of 1868 he moved with his family to Wapello county, Iowa, where he followed farming until 1870, when he returned to West Virginia and again commenced teaching school. His wife died January 17, 1873. Mr. Buckner removed to Carroll, Missouri, in the fall of 1873, and was subsequently married to Mrs. Eliza Dunkle. He went to West Virginia and remained until 1875, when he returned to Carroll born October T, 1852, in Rockingham county, Virginia; son of John and Ruhama Byrd, natives of Virginia. His father was a millwright by trade and soldier in the union army under Sherman for three years. Arthur moved with his parents in 1856 to Indiana for a short time, and then to Illinois where they lived until 1862, when they removed to Ohio, and subsequently to Missouri; while in Missouri he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed his trade in Livingston county, until 1873, at which time he went west and spent a year in Colorado, He came to Carroll county in 1877 and took charge of the stock-farm, of Joseph Rea. He feeds about seven hundred cattle in winter and keeps five hundred head on grass through summer. Have on hand generally about one thousand head of hogs; he ships every three or four weeks. Mr. Byrd is a member of the Wakanda Lodge, No. 52, in Carrollton, and belongs to the Christian church.

Dr. Richard H. Corren

born October 4, 1815, in England, and was raised and educated there. He obtained his knowledge of medicine at the Edinburgh Medical College. He was married in England November 28, 1844, to Miss Martha Donaldson. They are the parents of three children living: Martha, now Mrs. J. W. Willis, Charlotte, now Mrs. Dr. E. M. Clark, and Richard Henry. Dr. Corren came to America in 1850, and settled in Carroll county, Missouri, locating one hundred and sixty acres in section 28 of Moss Creek township, to which tract he has since added until he has four hundred htres. Dr. Corren practiced medicine in the Missouri river bottom from 1850 until 1863. In April 1863 he removed to Waverly, Lafayette county, Missouri, and was engaged in the drug business for five years. He then moved to Malta Bend in Saline county, and engaged in the general merchandising business until the fall of 1873, when he returned to his farm in Carroll county and has resided upon it ever since.

Elijah C. Hayden

born October 24, 1844, in Macon county, Missouri; son of James W. and Emma Hayden, natives of Missouri. Elijah C. was raised and educated in Marion county, and remained at home with his father until he was 25 years old. He was married January 28, 1868 to Miss Emma P. Grove, native of Missouri. He afterward farmed in Marion and Lewis counties. In 1876 he removed to Carroll county and settled on the bluff the first year and then removed to the Missouri River bottom where he has since resi- was born September 22d, 1843, in Jefferson county, Ky.; son of William and Mary A. Johnson, natives of Kentucky; his father was a cooper by trade. Leonidas received his education and was raised in Kentucky on a farm; he was married February 9th, 1871, to Miss Anna M. Leatherman, of Kentucky, a daughter of Joseph Leatherman. They are the parents of four children: Joseph W., George, John T. and Lula M. Mr. Johnson begun preaching in Kentucky in 1877; he moved to Carroll county in 1880, and purchased a farm in Sugar Tree township, on which he now resides; he has organized a church which is called the Moss Creek Christian Church; the building will be erected on Mr. Lampton's farm. The church was organized with eighteen members and Mr. Johnson will be its pastor.

Rolla Lamson

born September, 1845, in Orange county, Vermont; son of Ira and Loreana Lamson, natives of Vermont. Rolla learned the tinner's trade in Randolph. In 1863 he enlisted in the Union army in Massachussetts; was engaged in battles of Mine Run and Locust Groves, Wilderness, Spottsylvania and others. He received his discharge July 14th, 1865, and returned home; he afterwards moved to Salisbury, Chariton county. Mo., and remained until 1868, when he removed to Iowa, where he was married September 10th, 1868, to Miss Phebe Judd, a native of Vermont; after working at his trade a short while in Kansas, he moved to Carroll county. Mo., and bought his present farm in section 33, of Moss Creek Township. Mr. and Mrs. Lamson have had three children born to them: Lillie Belle, Maud L. and Ira W.

James F. Lawton

born in 1833, in Columbia county, N. Y. Son of Jason Lawton, a miller by trade and a native of New York. James F., has been milling ever since he was old enough ; he has milled in nearly all of the states east of the Rocky Mountains; he came to Carroll county. Mo., in 1865, and purchased the Moss Creek mill, which he soon remodeled. Mr. Lawton owns 160 acres of fine land, all in cultivation; he was married in 1862 to Miss Sarah McCullough, of Tennessee; he has been a very active member of the Millers' National Association for a number of years.

Zachary T. Mastin

was born September 9th, 1849, in Bourbon county, K.y ; son of Thomas and Amanda Mastin, natives of Kentucky. In 1864, he, in company with his parents moved to Marion county. Mo.; he returned to Kentucky in 1867, and remained until 1870, when he removed to Hannibal, Mo., and .engaged in the lumber business; he began farming again in Marion county in 1871, and remained there until 1877, when he came to Carroll county, where he has been dealing extensively in live stock, and farming, in partnership with J. V. Roger.<?, on section 27. Mr. Mastin's mother died in 1872 and his father in 1875; his brother and sister are living with him at present.

Archer Rogers

born Jan. 31st, 1847, in Caldwell county, Mo. Son of Hardin and Sarah Ann Rodgers, natives of Kentucky, who moved to Carroll county at an early day. Hardin Rodgers was once a representative of this county in the state legislature. Archer's parents died when he was but five years old, at which age he went to live with his grandmother, Mrs. Martha Thomas. He completed his education in 1865, at Clark's High School in St. Louis. He began farming in 1870 on a farm of 100 acres that he had previously purchased, a part of section 29. , His grandmother died in 1871 and he quit farming. During the next seven years he was engaged in carpentering, teaching, etc. Having sold his farm in 1875, he purchased in 1878 a farm of 120 acres of bottom land, and in good state of cultivation, except 20 acres of fine timbered land. Mr. Rodgers is a member of the Wakanda lodge, of Carrollton, No. 52.

born April 17, 1858, in Lafayette county, Mo., son of Willis C. and Marie F. Turpin, natives of Virginia. His father was born February 13th, 1828 and his mother, Dec. 1st, 1829. They were married Dec. 2, 1849, and are the parents of four children living: Emma V., now Mrs. W. I. Eckle, William M., the subject of this sketch, Lida Clayton and Charles Willis. Mr. Willis C. Turpin moved from Virginia to Lafayette county. Mo., in 1855, and farmed in the counties of Lafayette, Carroll and Ray until 1867, when he began acting as captain of a ferry-boat, and kept that office for six years. 'In 1873, he removed to Carroll county and bought 160 acres of land in section 27, where he made his home .until the time of his death, which occured November 17, 1873. William M., the subject of our sketch was raised principally in Carroll county, and completed his education in Lexington. After his father's death, he removed to Lexington and was engaged in the boot and shoe business for two years. In 1876 he returned to Carroll county and purchased the old Moorman place.

James Lewis Wilson

bom August 10th, 1855, in Logan county. West Virginia. Son of John and Julian Wilson. James moved to Carroll county, with his father in 1868, rented farms for ten years and by economy and industry saved enough money to purchase an improved farm of his own. He is regarded as one of the leading stock dealers of Carroll county. He fed in one year 195 head of cattle, 180 head of hogs, and cleared $2,700 on them. He has out this year (1881) 190 acres of corn.