Prairie Township (part 3 of 4)

Church at Big Springs was organized by John O. White, in 18G0, with the following persons: Judge David Pipes and wife. Porter Jackman and familv, John Aritold, James Pipes,' George Pipes, Charles Pipes, and their wives, Talton Johnson and wife, George Drake and wife, and Lyre JIartin and wife. Talton Johnson, N. Hockensmith, M. ^I. Davis and G. M. Perkins have each administered to tlie spiritual wants of this church. Present nieml)ership, sixtv ; own a nice house of worship.

Richland Church - This is the oldest church of this denomination in the county, having been established in 1816 ; Elder Thomas ]McBride officiating. Sion Bradley and wife, John Thomas and wife,

Mount Pleasant Union Christian church, situated in Bonne Femme township, Howard county, was organized by Elders "William White and John McCnne in September, 18.i4. The organization num-

The local elders were Minter II. r>ailey and Edward S. Davis; the deacons, Thomas Ancell and Anderson Johnson. The church was organized at the Baldridge school-house ; a house of worship was begun the same fall, which cost $700. Elder John McCune preached abont nine oi- ten years - until the war troubles became so bad that he moved to the state of Illinois. The members have been greatlv reduced by the organization of Locust Grove congregation, and also Newhope congregation, and by a number moving away. Thev now number only about thirty-tivc members. Elders at present: Geoj-ge W. Potter, Thomas Ancell, Elijah Ancell, Minter H. Bailey ; deacons : Dr. Dougherty, Eli^ha Ancell and Ed. St. Clair.

Locust Grove church - The Ciinrch of Christ was organized on the Saturday before second Lord's day in November, 1870, at Locust Grove school-house, in Howard county, Missouri. Elders Talton Johnson and Stephen A. Bush were present and assisted in the organization. Abner Holtzclaw and Silas B. Naylor were the elders of the congregtition, and Berrv "Williams and Tliomas Jackson, deacons. The organization numbered twenty - ten males and ten females, to wit:

Elder Talton Johnson preached two years. On tlie second Lord's day in September, 1871, SilasB. Xa^ior was ordained as teacher, elder and bishop, with the privilege of solemnizing marriages, etc., Elder Talton Johnson olticiating. Elder Silas B. Naylor began preaching in 1873 and continued until 1880. The congregation at one time numbered between eighty and ninety members, but a number died and moved away ; it now numbers about sixty members. Elders in the congregation now are, Abner Holtzelaw and Silas B. Xaylor ; deacons acting now. Berry "Williams and James Holtzelaw ; clerk, George Craig.

The Christian church at Newhojie, near Bunker Hill, in Howard county, was organized by Elder William Anderson, of Randolph county, on Saturday before the fourth Lord's day in October, 187-1., with about thirty-three members. The local elders selected at the organization were, Dr. Boyd, Augustus G. Atkins and Y. L. Atkins ; the*deacons were Robert Dougherty and James T. Reynolds. Elder William Anderson preached about five 3'ears. Since that time Elder Silas B. Xaylor has been, and is yet, preaching fortius church. The otHcers at this time are. Elders A. G. Atkins, Dr. Boyd, Judge George I. Winn and John W. Lynch ; deacons, James T. Revnolds, Robert Dougherty and Jesse Kirby. Present membership is. about fifty.

Mount Pleasant church - The Church of Christ at Mount Pleasant, near Xew Franklin, was oYganized about 1830. The exact date and original members are not known as the books were consumed by fire. The following were among the original members : Wm. Scott and wife, Charles Swope and wife, James Hughes and wife, Thomas H. Hickman and wife, Owen Rowlings and wife, Richard Brannen and wife. They were organized l)y either Joel Prewitt or Joel H. Harden. These were the pastors of the church up to 1840. Elder Wm. Burton was pastor, preaching from 1840 to 1840 ; 1848-45, Elder T. ^L Allen, was their preacher; 1849, Ehk-r Samuel S. Church; Thos. M. Allen, 1850, 1851.' John W. McGarvey, now of Bil)ie college, Lexington, Kentucky, author of " Cummentar}- on Acts of

Apostles," and" Luiul of the Bihle," was thoir prcachei- - the iirstAcar of bis work as a pi-cacher of the gospel. From 1854 to 18ii0, Thomas H. Gaines ; LSiiO.Jonah Atkinson ; 1803, Elder Wilmot ; 18»i5, T. N. Giveus; l8tio-70, V. B. Peeler; AVm. H. Blanks, 1872 ; 1873-78, Jai. liandall ; 1878-71), Jus. 'SI. Tennyson ; 1880-84, James Eandall. Wm. Scott was elder of the church from organization to his deatli, 1849; James R. Estill, elder from 1846 to the jn-esent, Jas. Randall from 1873 to 1878. Wm. Tiittand Matthew Mullins, deacons from an eariv day in the history of the church. Robert E. McGooeh was deacon until his death, 1875.

Presrvterian Church

Church at Old Franklin (O. S.) - The tirst church established in the cimnt}' by the Old School Presbyterians, or Presbyterians of any name, was organized at Old Franklin on the 28th day of April, 1821, by Rev. Edward Ilollister, and known as the Franklin Clairch. There were twenty-three constituent members ; the names of these we could not get, as uo record of the church has been retained and none of the original members are now living.

This church was moved to Boonvillc a few years afterwards, and called the Boonville church. Among the early ministers were Edward Hollister, Augustus Pomeroy, ^^. 1'. Cochran and Hiram Cha'mberlain.

Church at Glasgow - The Old School Presln'terians organized a church March P, 1845, at Glasgow, Howard county. The constituent members were George Humphreys, ilrs. ]\Iary Burke, Martha X. E. Feazel, Pauline Strattou, iliss Evalina Dyer, Mrs. Nanev Turner, Mrs. Minerva Tillet, Daniel ^IcSwain. This church was organized bv Rev. C. D. Simpson, who came from St. Louis, the church beinsr under the charge of the Lexington presbytery.

George Humphreys was the elder. In 18G6 this church reorganized, purchasing the Baptist church edifice at a cost of $5,000, to which were added repairs to the amount of $3,000.

The church edifice is a large and substantial brick building with a basement. At this time (1883) they have no regularly employed minister. The last pastor was Rev. Lyinau Marshall. The present olScers are C. Dantel and T. G. Diggs, deacons. J. W. Marshall, J. yi. Feazel and Samuel W. Steinmetz, elders. Present members, forty-eight.

Church ;it Fayette - In 184S, Eev. Charles Simpson, who had already organized a Presbyterian church at Glasgow, visited Fayette and reorganized the Presbyterian church, it having already been instituted as early as 18 - , by Eev. Augustus Pomero}'. The members were : Mr. and Mrs. ilcXair, IMiss M. Anderson, Dr. AV. Snelson and wife, Mrs. Prior Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hanna, Miss Jane Hughes, Mr. H. Lynch, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Todd with their daughters Laura and Maggie, Miss M. Lynch, I\Ir. and Mrs. Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. Gatende, Dr. and Mrs William Everett, William T. Davis and Dr. Diinwiddie, who were made ciders, and Mr. James Allen, deacon. Mr. Simpson held services regularly once a month (meeting in the Baptist church) until he was called to St. Louis. The church, though few in number, were a faithful and energetic little V)and, working faitlifully for the cause of Cliristianity until they became scattered by the great civil war and other caubcs. Of the resident members ^vho were present at the reorganization in 1848, Jlrs. Prior Jackson is the only one left in Fayette.

In 1850, Dr. Gallaher held a meeting in Fayette in the chapel of Central college ; at that time quite a numljer of adults were added to the church and several infants baptized. He administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper at the close of the meeting, the communicants all being seated at a long table, which had been placed upon the platform for that purpose.

After Mr. Simpson left Glasgow for St. Louis, Rev. Lee Byer preached once a mouth in the iSIethodist cinircli editice. Like Mr. Simpson he was highly esteemed by the members, but was soon culled to another field of labor. Rev. James Quarles was the last pastor that otEciated for this church, who remained until the breaking oui of the civil war.

Church at Roanoke (C. P.) was organized in 1S51 by Rev. James Dysart with thirteen members. We were unsuccessful in our efforts to get the names of all the constituent members, lint have the names of Arrarah Wayland, ]Martha Wayland, William Fei-guson, Rufc Lockridge, Kate Lockridgo and James Wallace. The first ministers were James Dysart, J. AV. Morrow and J. B. Mitchell, D. D. The church is in a prosperous condition and now numbers 1.35 members.

The first service in Fayette, according to prayer book, was hcM by Bishop Kemper in the fall of 1835. No further services were attempted until November, 1836, when the Ecv. Frederick F. Pcake ^^sited Faj-ette and held service on tlie Hth day of that month. At that time and for two years afterguards ]Mr. Peake was onh" in deacon's orders. He found six members of tlic church. At liis lirst service a dozen persons joined in the I'cspon.-es. In January, 1837. ho fra^e half his time to Fayette, and in June following he came to reside in the town to take charge of the female academ}-. Bishop Kemper confirmed five persons in 1837. In May, 1838, Mr. Pcake returned to Boonvillc, where he remained until October, 1839, when he entered upon duty in Christ church, St. Louis. In May, 1846 or 1847, Mr. Peake moved to Pensacola, Florida, whither he in search of his health, and where he died July 21, 1849. The mission at FaA-- ette remained vacant until September, 1840, when Rev. James D. Meed held a service every alternate Sunday. There were seven or eight communicants and thirteen families attached to the church at that time. Mr. Meed renniined about eight montiis, when he resigned and went to the Sandwicli Islands in search of health. He now resides in WoodVjridge, Ontario. Bisho)) Hawks, on ^lay 9, 184-^, officiated in t!ie Baptist church. He reported an earnest desire for a resumption of church services. The long vacancy was ended (ui tl)e 10th of May, 184r>, when Rev. Enoch Rcid took charge of the church. He was formerly a ^lethodist minister, and was the lirst person ordained by Bisliop Hawks. It was during ilr. Eeid's incumbency, in 1847, that the parish of St. Mary's was organized and admitted into union vv-ith tlie convention. The congregation was at tiiat time worshipping in an upper room of the old court-house, but the sum of ^I'OQ had lieen I'aised for a church buildin.g. 'Mr. Reid resigned in June, 1847, and died August 6. 1876. in Viroinia. In July, 1847. the Rev. John W. Dunn entered upon his woi'k in the parish. In the sjiring of 1848, the erection of the church edifice was begun ; it was finished November 23, 1^50. In tlie spring of 1851, the trees whii'ii now stand in front of the church were planted by Mr. Dunn. In May, 1853, Mr. Dunn reported that in addition to his duties in Faj^ettc he was ccmtinuing a monthly service in Glasgow. which he had commenced several years previously, and tliat a gentleman of that place had donated a lot for the church, and that a snffi-

In November, 185G, Kev. William li. Pickman took charge ot the parish. In Maj', 1857, he reported twenty communicants. He i-esigned December 1, 1858, and went to St. Joseph, ^lo. IJev. C. F. Scoss entered upon duty in September, 1859. In May, 18G0, he reported twenty-three communicants ; he resigned in 1800, and went to California.

During the four years, when the dark cloud of war hung over the land, the iKirisli remained vacant. Eev. John Portmcss, an Englishman, entered upon duty as a missionary, June 12, 18iU, and remained till Januaiy 1, 18(35. He could find only thirteen communicants. He is still living in Texas. After another vacancy of fourteen mouths, Kev. Thomas Greene, entered upon the pastorate of the church. During his ministry, the church lot was enclosed, lamps were purchased and an organ bought. Mr. Greene resigned March 31, 1867, and now lives in Wisconsin.

In the summer of 18(')8, Kev. Granville C. Walker took charge of the church, but retained it only until the close of the year. He is now in Kentucky. In tlie sunmier of 1870, the parish was served hy two young lay readers, nsmely, ]Mr. Abiel Leonard and Mr. Ethelbort Talbot. In 1871, Rev. C. J. Hendley, assumed the rectorshi|i, and in Mav following, he reported twenty-four communicants, and als(j reported that ?klrs. Abiel Leonard (wife of Judge Leonard, now deceased) had donated an acre fif land on which to build a rector}', for which §1,350, ]i;.d been subscribed. In 1872, the rectory was finished and paid for. He resigned in March, 1873, and moved to Maryland. After another vacancy of sixteen months. Rev. J. F. Hamilton took charge of the parish in 1874, and relinquished the same in the spring of 1878.

On February 1, 187y, Rev. J. L. Gay assumed t!ie pastoral care of the parish, and reported twenty-eight communicants. Mr. Gay still has charge and lias held it longer than any of his predecessors, except Mr. Dunn.

Collector

18oS. County divided into t'oui- assessment districts. John W. Morris, assessor first district ; Jas. H. Fehuid, second ; Wni. E. Hackly, third ; Stephen Steinons, fourth.

Commissioxer Of Schools Probate Jl'Dges

1824. Eobert ^^"ilson, appointed hy the governor, and served until 1827, when the duties of that ofBce were transferred to the county court, whicli tribunal continued to have jurisdiction of prohate matters until 1878, when the probate otfice was again created.

Couxty Attorneys

The ofEce of county attorney was created in 1872. Prior to that time the business of that office was done bv the circuit attorneys. 1873. James H. Robertson. 1881. Robert C. Clark.

The following; in refereuce to the history of Boousboro, Booue's Lick townr^hip should have been placetl on page ISiJ; but owing to the fact that it was handed us too late for insertion in its proper place, we insert it here.

^'Hamed, also, in honor of Daniel Boone, was laid out in 1840 by Col. N. G. Elliott, Joseph Cooper, Achilles Callaway and Lindsay P. Marshall, on section four, township forty-nine, range seventeen, and twelve miles southeast of Fayette, the county seat.

Tlic first housu in the [)Uice was erected by AehiUos Callaway, so.ui after the hning f)ut of the town. It was built of logs, and in it Callaway opened a .--inall stock of goods, coasistiiig prinei|Killy of tobacco and whiskey. He was a native of Howard county, but his parents wei'e from Kentucky. lie died in Ijoone's Lick township, since the late war. lie left a widow and sevci-al children.

'J'lie first dry goods and general stock of merchandise was kept 1)>- l\. li. Turner ; Turner was also the first mail contractoi'. The first mail facilities enjo\-ed by the town was during the year 18.").'i, when the peoj)le sui)plied their own mail by i\\o way of New l-'ranklin. The first post-otlice was established there in 185(j, John A. Fisher postmaster. The first church edifice was erected about the ycur 1850, but was not completed until 1853. This was built as a union chapel by the ]Methodists, the Christians, the Cumberland Presbyterians and was the I'reshytcrian, James Penn the Methodist, and '\\'m. 'SL Burton was among the early Christian ministi'rs. About the year 1868, the building was taken down a\id a new one erectetl in its place bv the Ciiristian denomination principally, but with tlie understanding that it was to be free t^) all religious i)odie>. This is all the church building in the town.

Htunp. Carson was the first blacksmith. W. J. ami F. ]\l. Baugh were two of the fir>t merchants. Stephen Bynum sold goods there .so(jn after the war of ISUl. The town contains a population of one hundred and fifty souls. It contains, beside the house of worship above tuentioned, a school house, two general stores, two drugstores, one blacksmith shoii, one wagon and carriage sho[), two s;il,)ons and a post-office. The postma-iter at present is Henry A. Deistelhorst.

Many years ago - before the late war - a young married mun by the name of Cassius Xelson, was riding along very fast, horseback, into Boonsboro, ami after reaching the town his horse in making a short turn in the road threw liim against a stump, killing him almost instantly.

Addendum

It lias 1)0011 iu':irl\' inipos-iblc to olilaiu :i history of the chiiri.-hes of the M. E. denomination in this county, inconsequence of the early records havinij been lost. "What we here present was hniideJ us too late to place in its proper order in the ecclesiastical history of Howard county. For this reason, wc insert it here.

M. E. Chckch South, Fayette, Mo

M. E. CHCKCH SOUTH, FAYETTE, MO. [Prepared by Rev. J. H. Ledbetter] " The world is my parish," has ever been the motto of Methoisra. Since 1770, Methodist circuit riders have been pushing on westward with the sure rolling tide of emigration. The Methodist itinerant is everj-where. During the year 1806, one of these modern apostles on horseback, v.ith saddle-bags containing his Bible and hvniii book, crossed the ^lississippi river at or near New Madrid. This was John Travis. :i member of what was then called the western conference. The whole territory of Missouri was his circuit. In the year 1815, a nev.- circuit wa^ formed north of the Missouri river, embracing the counties of Boone, Howard ami Chariton. It was c;dled Boone's Lick circuit, and was the seventh circuit organized in Missouri. Rev. Joseph Piggott was tlie first regularly appointed pastor of the Methodist church in Howard county. Others may have made preaching tours to tiie several snuill settlements in the county [)rior - to this; but Piggott came as the regular preacher, and organized the church. Rev. Samuel Th.ompson was presiding elder of the Missouri district. The next year Rev. Jesse Walker was pi'esiding elder, and Joseph Piggott circuit preacher. From 1817 to the fall of 18-4, the following Methodist preachers were at times employed in Howard county : Jesse ^\'alker, John Scri[)ps, Alexander ilcAlister, Jeste Haile, James Keyte, David Sharp, Win. R. Redman, Uriel Ham. and Shadrack Castecl. iliss(niri had, in the \'ear 1824, been ciuistituted an annual conference, with three districts. About this time, or probably a little latter, a church was organizeil in or near tiie [)iesent town of Fayette. The preaching, and the cu^tomal-v class ineeiings, were held in the house of William Reynolds, commonly called '- Billie (3.58)

Kevnolds." His house was situated alioiit a half mile east of Fayette, on the spot where General J. B. Clark, Jr., lived when elected to Congress, in 1872. It is not known certainly who organized this church, or who composed the membership.

During the great civil war, the church records were taken out of the store of Mr. Jolm ICwcn hy a body of United Stales soldiers and burned. It was done, no doubt, l)ecause ihe word " south " \vas on them, it being a \r.\vt of the name of the Methodist church at Fayette. P)V this act, vuvv important histtnical matter was destroyed, with no possii)iiity of ever having it re]iroduced, so the meagre statements contained jjerein ha\e been gathered after much trouble and delay.

It appears from all that can be gathered from the memories ot the " oldest inhabitants," that the Methodist church was organized sonictime between 1824 and 1827. Mr. Stephen Garner, tiow living in Prairie township, Howard county, came to the county in 1820, and he says that he attended class meeting Jind preaching at the residence of" Billie Kevnolds,'' in 1827, and that a few years before tlmt. he knows the class had been organized. It is not certainly known uiio the minister was under whom the organization wasetl'ected. AVe know this, in the year 1824, Kev. Wm. AV. Kedman was preacher in charge of Boone's Ivick cii'cuit, which included all of the county, and more. It is verv probaVile that he jireached at Fa_\-ctie, for ^vc find his name associated in the minds of the old people, with the earliest meetings held b_v the Methodists in this part of the county. In the year 1825, Rev. Uriel Ham, and Rev. Shadrack Casteel were the preachers. In 182G, Ham and Redman were the preachers. Now, we think that it was during this period that Fayette became a regular preaching place, and other new points were evidently added, as the cii-cnit had two regular preachers. In the years 182t> and 1827, Rev. Andrew ^Ionroe was ]iresidin!Z elder, and ,Iames B;iiikson was the circuit preacher. He was a vouns: man of fnie natural gifts, but of limited education, vet, bv application, he l)ecaine an able minister. The house of " Billie ReyuohU " was still the preaching place for the Fayette church, and in the country, the house of Mr. Bennett Clark was another preaching place.

Early Members of Fayette Church. - AVe are very sorry that we cannot give a full list of the original members of the Fayette Methodist church : Imt so it is. We give lielow the names that we have been able to obtain, as belonging prior to 1840. Thetirstsi.x or seven were doubtless charter members. Billie Reynolds and wit'e, Mrs.

Mr. Bennett Clark ^\:;s a Viiginiaii, and came to Howard county in 1818. He was a true man and an earnest Christian of the Methodist type of that day. His house was a preaching place, a home for the saddle-hag circuit rider. Tlie old tri'iitlemun was verv larire. Ho was as tall as his son, General J. B. Ciark, Jr , and weighed aliout 400 pounds. He was faithtul in liolding family prayers, but could not kneel down, so he sat up and reail his Bible and praved.

Joseph Sfears was a farmer, and for several years justice of the peace. While in this office he officiated at the marriage of Abiel Leonard. He was a devoted Methodist, and as a man and Christian was much lieloved by all classes of society.

Mrs. Mary Green, the wife of Doctor J. Green, was one of tlie elect ladies. What would the church do without its holy women? She was one of the charter members of the Methodist church in Fayette. She was the mother of the noble Christian wite of Colonel Joseph Davis. The old Boone's Lick circuit was noted for its holy, devout women.

Of the members wlio were conspicuous alter ly4-4 we may meutiori Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hendrix, ?'.!r. and Mrs. 'William Nipper, Doctor and Mrs. J. J. Watts, Mr. and Mrs. A. Mitchell, Mr. Henderson, I\Irs. Colonel Davis, Mrs. Kringe, Mr. John Ewen, Mr. John Marmaduke, etc. From these families there arc three Methodist preachers uow at work in Missouri : Doctor E. R. Hendrix, president of Central College : Kev. Charles W. Watts, preacher in charge at Weston, and Rev. James J. Watts, of St. Louis.

Of the early preachers mention should be made of Jesse Green, who took charge of the Fayette church in October, 1827. He was a preacher of mark in his day. His fort was doctrinal preaching, and he distinguished himself in the doctrinal debates of those earlv times. He gave special attention to the Calvinists and to the Disciples. He was a regular sledge hammer, the doctrinal preacher of bis conference.

In the fall of 1828 Rev. William Shores took charge of the church. He was afterward a citizen of Howard. He was a man of deep piety. He has several worth}' children still living in the connty, and one son. Rev. J. W. Shores, is a member of the Missouri conference at this time. In the fall of 1821) Joseph Edmondson became the preacher. He was a strong man, and was afterward stationed in St. Louis. In

September, 1800, Rev. R')l)ert Jordan, who had jii.>t been ordained a deacon by Bishop Roberts, beeaine preaciior in cliarge. He was as good a in;ui as ever was sent nut - a true apostolic preacher. Then for ten ye:irs. up to 1840, the following i>reachcr.s had charge at various times: Vi'illiam Kretmi, John K. Lacy, A. W. Arningtoii, 11. II. Jc>rdari, Tiiomas Wallace, G. W. Bewlcy and David Fisher. Not having a copy of tlie general minutes at hand, 1 am unable to say who were the preachers from 1<S40 to 18')7. During that time, however, Rev. T3'soa I)ines, one of Missouri's greatest [)reachers, was in charge of the church. From 1858 to 18(55 the followiu'r were the pastors: S. W. Cope, B. F. Jfihnson, Andrew Monroe, W. M. Sutton and E. Robinson.

Heretofore the Fayette church had formed part of tlic circuit ; l)ut ill 18tj9 it was made a station. Professors Forster and Jliller supplied the pulpit after the death of Dr. William A. Smith. Professor ^^'. G. Miller acted as pastor from September, 1870, until the fall of 1871. At that time Rev. J. H. Ledlx'tter was ai)pointed to the station. In Sejiteml^er, 1872, Rev. William M. Xewland became jia^ior. In September, 1873, Rev. William Penn ; September, 1874, Rev. 11. P. Bond: October, 1875, Rev. £. il. Mann ; September, 187('), Rev. W. W. Jones, and the c-hurch was again connected with the circuit. In September, 1877, Rev. J. R. A. Vaughn became pastor, and remahied four years ; in September, 18Sl, Rev. A\'illiam Penn ; in Septemljer, 1882, Rev. J. H. Ledbctter, who is still pastor.

On the 12th of October, 1828, the tl\irteenth session of the ^Missouri annual conference convened with the Fayette church. In order to accommodate the preachers and people, and get the greater amount of religi<ius good out of the occasion, thev held the con.t'erence in corineetion with the camp meeting, on the old Fayette camp ground, two and a half miles north of town. IVishop Joshua Soule presided. Some of the old people siill retnember the bishop. They were then children, and weie struck by his dress. His coat was made with a stiti' upright collar; it was straight breasted, and shad-belU'. His pants came just below the knees, and his high top boots buttoned over them.

In October, 1839, the Missouri conference once again met with the Fayette church ; but this time iu the town. Bishop Morris presided ; William W. Redman, secrotarv. In September, 1881, for the third time, the conference convened in Fayette. Bisiiop Capers presided ; W. M. Rush, secretary.

erected, iiiid tlie Methiidists secured the iiri\ ilfi,'e dt' preueliiiiir in it. wliicii they continued to do until tliey succeeded in building n church. Tliis lirsl Methodist church ever huilt in Fayette was completed and occupied ill LS.'iS. It was only used by the Methodists about two years; it tlica jfassed into the possession ot'the Retbrniers, or Disciples, as i\icy were then called - "Christian church" now. They still use it. It is a small frame building on Second Main street. It seems thai tliis church was nc\cr deeded to the ^Methodists. Mr. Hampton Boone, a well-to-do merchant, at that time a member and a local preacher of the Metiiodist church, advanced most of the money used in erecting the ituilding. He found it difiicult to get his [lay, at least it came in slowly. In 1840 he asked and obtained of the quarterly conference authority to sell the property and get his money out of it. ^Mien he had obtained this permission he withdrew from the Methodist church, and shortly afterward united with the Discijjles and turned the church over to them. This, I have no doubt, is a true history in brief of a matter that occasioned much t:dk at the time and siui'c After the Methodists had tlius lost their church they worshi[)iied m a small brick school house that stood within the present campus of Central College ; Imt on great occasions they used the chapel of the liigh school i)uilding. 'J'his they continued to do until the year 1855, when they succeeded in building a frame church, at a cost of $2,500. It is still standing, and is riow the property of the colored Methodists. I'his church was dedicated bv Bishop G. F, Pierce, in 1851). I'his building was used until 1870, when, under the direction of Doctor William A. Smith, president of Central NoUege, the congregation moved into the college chapel, where they stdl hold all of their services. They are soon to have more elegant quarters than ever, as the magnificent new chajiel, " Centenary," is being erected at a cost of .$24,000. God grant that their wanderings may be over I "When the ?kIethodist church was divided in the United States into two brancln's, in 1844, on acc<nint of the great trial of Bishop Andrews, growing out of the agitation of the slavery question, there was a division in Howard lounty. .Vll of the Methodist churches in the county adhered to the southern branch of the church. There has always been unity and harmony in the Fayette church. Even the great civil war did not disrupt them, though there were people of both sides in the church. For nearly si.xty years Methodist preachei-s have been hdjoring in F.ayette. The church has had a variety of experiences. It has passed through many (Jark ,ind stormy days. It has been houseless and alnio>t friendless at times, but better times have come to her. The handfid has become a strontr conu'rciration.

51, range lii, was organized about the year IS-'iO. Among its original members were: Wm. Shores, wife and family, D. K. Spotts and wife, iveulien and Levy Alverson, dchn Green, Martin Green and wife, Martin A. Finnell, Wesley (irccu, and otheis. William Shores was the founder of the church. The building, a frame structure, was erected in 18Gi;, at a co-t ol" .ubout $1,000, and during that year was dedicated by Dr. W. G. ililler. Tiie present pastor in charge is William Wassen. Its membcrsliip numbers 100. After tiie organization wa.^ first etlected a church wa- built upon the site of the present one, but was burned at the lieginning of the v;ar.

52, range Iti, and was organized May :?!', l85(j. Its original members were: ]Mrs. Permelia Mr. and Mr>. dames Dodd, Mrs. Naicissa Snoddy, Stei)hen T. Garner an<l wife, Mrs. Elizabetli Yancv, (wife of Eobert Yancy ). ^li^s Emeline Dodd, Mrs. Ann ]\[cC'Ullv, Robert Yancy, Miss ]\Iary A. Snoddy, Mary Switzer, and three colored people, slaves. Tiie liuilding was constructed in 1.S74, and is of frame, having cost $1,(500. It was dedicated in June, 1.^75, bv Dr. E. K. Millet. Among the pastors svho have served the church, as such, are: James Penn, F. \V. Cope, Andrew Monroe (J. Smith, assistant), William F. Bell, Dr. Johnson, D. H. iiout. William M. Rust, George Penn, Geo. W. Rich, Rev. Rooker, William Warren, and others, at intervals. The [iresent meml>ersliip is twentv-four. Rev. James Penn organized the church at the Old Liberty church site, one mile .--outli of the present locution, and services were held there until the winter of IBfil, when the building was burned. Then services were conducted during the war at the house of Ste^jhen T. Garner, and from 18<"J until the new church was erected they occupied a school-house on the old Snoddy fai'm.

Lebanon church was i)uilt in 18>S0 liy members of Wasliin:.'ton, and other churche.-. It is of t'ranie and cost about $^00, and was dedicated (in 1S80) by Dr. W. G. .Miller. Tiiere is no regular i.a>tor.

The Methodist Ei)iscopal church was organized at Glasgow, December 28, 1844. The [ireaching places were Glasgow and Soul's chapel. Thomas Johnson was the iii'st preacher in charge, and William Patton \vas the presiding elder. The ti'ustees t'oj' the chnreli at Glasgow were "William D. Swinney, John Bull, "William N. ."^mith, William F. Dunnica, K. L. Barton, Benjamin AV. Lewis ami Jesse ArmU. Of these, three are now living. K. L. Barton and William F. Dunnica are living in Glasguw, and Je^se Arnot in St. Louis. James S. Thomson was elected I5rst Sabljatli school superintendent. x\.t a ipiarterly meeting held April 5, 184."), tlie question of the division of the ciuirch was brought up, and it was unanimously decided to concur with the amuial eonfereuce in the division of the church, and from this time the cluireh was called the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The names of the first members were as follows; B. W. Lewis, James Y.AVilliam.~, J. S. Thom.-on, John F. Nicholas-, J. M. Sexton, George Humphieys. W. G. Brown, Elias K. Barton, II. P. Hauenkamp, Mrs. Carter, L. Wilson, Thomas Mead, T.N. Cockerill, Mrs. Elizabeth Barton, Mrs. Lacy, Jesse Arnot, Noah Swacher, G. B. Dameron, W. F. Dunnica, Charles Gilliam, James B. Lewis. Mrs. William Barton, T. Emmerson. Present pastor is Rev. A. Mizell.

M. Y.. Church (North), at Glasgow, was organized in the t'all of 1S(55, with the following members: B. W. Lewis, James "W. Lewis, Jennie Lewis and Noah Swacher and wife. The name of the first pastor was D. A. MeCr.ady. Its membership n(.w ninnbers fortv-fonr. This church is now the (jnly organization of that branch of the M. E. Church (North) in the countv'. Another organization was started at Gillie's chapel, below Glasgow, but it has not now any existence.

Chapter

Introduction - Importauce of Early Besinmngs - First Settlements - Earliest Permanent Settler - Where the Settlements Were Made - Thomas Stanley - General Duff Green and Colonel Cooper - Indians Frightened at a Steamboat - The First Mill - What Major Daniel Ashby Says About It - The First Steam Mill.

Introduction

Sixty-three years have passed since Chariton, one of the oldest and fairest daughters of Howard County came into existence. .Most wonderful have been the chanjres, and niiirhty liave been tlie events and revob.itions, the discoveries and inventions tiiat have occurred within this time.

Perhaps since " God formed the earth and the world," and tossed them from tlic hollow of his hand into space, so many great things ha\ e not Vieen acc(juiplisi!ed in any sixty-three years. Reflection cannot fail to arouse wonder, and awaken thankfulness that God lias appoint^ us the place we occupy in the etcrntil chain of events. Tennyson and Browning, Bryant and Whittier, Lowell and Longfellow have sung. The matchless Webster, tlie (nnate Sumner, the eloquent Clay, the metaphysical Calhoun and Seward, have since reached the culmination of their powers, and passed into the grave. Macauley, Thiers, Gizot and Froude have written in noble strains the history of their lands ; and Bancroft and Prescott and Hildreth and Motley have won high rank among the historians of the earth ; Spurgeon and Punshon, and Beecher and Moody have enforced with most persuasive eloquence the duties of morality and religion.

results of tlicir si)eciil:ition> iu hiirli pliilosupli}' to the world. ^Icxico has been eoiujuered ; Alaska lias been purchased ; the centre of popnlation has travelled more than t'.vo hundred and tifty miles along the thirtyninth paridlel, and a majority of the States cotnposing the American Union have been added to the glorious constellation on the Vjlue field of our tlag. Great cities have been founded and po[iulous countries developed ; and the stream of emigration is still tending westward. Gold has been discovered in the fir AVest, and the great civil war - the bloodiest in all the annals of time - has been fought. The telegraph, the telephone and railroad have been added to the list of the most important inventions. In fact, during this time, our country has increased in popuhition from a few millions of people to fifty millions.- From a weak, obscure nation it has become strong iu all the elements of power and influence, and is to-day the most marvellous country for its age that ever existed.

Importanck Of Early Bkginxixgs

Every nation does not possess an authentic account of its origin. Neither do all communities have the correct data whereby it is possible to accurately predicate the condition of their tirst beginnings. Nevertheless, to be intensely interested in ,sueh things is characteristic of the race, and it is particularly thi; province of the historian to deal with tir>t causes. Should these fai;ts be lost in the mythical tradition of tlie past, as is often tlie case, tiie chronicler invades the realm of the ideal and compels his imagination to paint the missing picture. The patriotic Roman was not content until he had found the " first settlers," and tiien he was satisfied, although they were found in the very undesirable company of a wolf, and located on a drift, which the receding waters of tlie Tiber had permitted them to jire-empt.

One of the tidvantages pei'taining to a residence iu a new country, and one seldom ap[ireciated, is the fact that we can go back to the first beginning. We are thus enabled to uot only trace results to their causes, but also to grasj) the facts wiiich have contributed to form and mould these causes. We observe that a State or county has attained a certain position, and we at once try to trace out the reasons for this position in its settlements and surroundings, in the class of men by whom it was peopled, and in the many chances and chamjes which have wrought out results in all the recorded deeds of iiKHikind. Til tlie hi>toi-y of Chaiitdii county we iii:ty triico its (-.-irly settlers to tlieir Ikmiics in tii'^ Easteiii Slates and in the countries ot' the OhI AVorhJ. We may t'oUow the course of the hardy backwoodsmaii. from tlie '"Buckeye" or '- Iloosic-r " State, ai:d from Kentucky and "\'irginia on iiis way "West, '- to liTow up with tlie countrv," trusting o'.dv to his strong arm and williiii;- heart to work out his ainhition for a home for himself and wife, and a competence for his childreii. Again, we will see tiiat other.^ ha\e lieen aiiimateil with the imjjulse to move on, after making themselves a part of the community and have sought the newer portions of the extreuu' AVest, where civilization had not [jenetrateJ or returned to their native heath.

We shall find something of that distinctive New England character, which has contril)nted so many men and women to other [)ui-- tious of the West. We shall also find many an industrious n:iti\e of Germany, as well as a numiier of the sons of the Emerald Isle, :di of whom have cc)ntributed to modify types of men already e.^isting here. Those who have noted the career of the descendants of these hrave, strong men, in suhduing the wilds and overcoming the olistacles and. hardshijJS of earlv times, can hut admit thev are worthy sons of illustrious sires. They who in the early dawn of Western civilij-.ation first " bearded the lion in his den," oi)ened a path through the wilderness, drove out the wild beast and tamed the s;n'age Indian, are entitled to one of the brightest pages in all the records of the pa.st.

The old pioneers ol' Chariton county - the advance guard of Western civilization - have iiearlv all passed awav ; those remaining maybe counted on the fingers of one hand. A few more vears of waiting and watching, and thev, too, will iiave joined -

Fresh hillocks in the cemeteiy will soon he all the marks that will be left of a race of giants, who grappled nature in her fastnesses and made a triumphant conquest in the face of the greatest privations, disease and ditficulty. The shadows that fall upon their tombs as time recedes, are like the smokv haze that enveloped the prairies in the early days, saddening the memory and giving to dim distance only a faint and phantom outliye, to which the future will often look back an<l wonder at the gre;it iiearts that lie hidden under the peaceful canopy.

To i)re^ci-ve tbo iiieniory of tJiese bravt' men froiu oblivion, and to record their deeds of ciieriry and noble daring, toirether with their early ex[)eriences as taken tVoin their own lips, wliile preparing the wilderness to " l)nd and blossom as the rose," and to tell the story of tlie wonderlul changes whieh have lieon wronght l>y the han<l of progress in *' Old Chariton," will lie the chief object of this book.

The first white men to press the soil of Chariton county were supjiosedto be French fur traders who located at or near the mouth of the Chariton river. When they made this settlement is not known ; it is (certain, howe\'er, that they wore upon the ground prior to the year 1804, because during that year, Lewis and Clark while passing up the river by this point, Siiy iu their report; "The next morning, the 10th, wi- passed Deer Creek, and at the distance of tive miles the two rivers called bv the French the Charitons, a corruption of lliieraton, the first of which is thirty and the second seventy-five yards wide."

The oldest settlers now living in the county say they have always understood that the mouth of the Charitou river was settled by French fur traders. It nuiy be that the fur traders were the first settlers in the county and that the Chariton ri\ er or rivers were named by the early French cx[)l(jrers. However this may be, the Chariton rivers had been seen and riamed (so say Lewis and Clark) as early as 18t)4 by the Freni>h ; whethei' they were fur traders or explorers we cannot now determine. The Chariton river, wliich now has but one outlet to the Miss'ouri, had two in 1804.

The earliest perhianent settler iu the county, of which we liave any account, was one George Jackson, who came before the; war of 1812, and afterwards represented the county in the General Assembly, lie located in the southern portion of the Cfuintv, not far from the ^lissouri river. The next settlement was made about twenty miles from the jiresent town of Brunswick, on Yellow Creek, by John Hutchinson and two or three others, with their families. These parties came fnun Howard county, in 181»i ; Hutchinson continued to reside there until his death, wliich took place in 18 '>7. The first land sales took [)lace in the fall of 1818, at Old Franklin, in How.ti-d county. During that year the tide of immigration turned hitherward and the lands, in what is now known as Chariton township, were rapidly settled, a tew cabins heiiii!; erected on the old town site of Charitor., even us carl}' as tlie sninnicr ot" 1817. In the former vear (181S) the ^Missouri ri\'er bottom, west of the Grand Chariton river, was settled liy James Earickson, afterward Senator tmd State 'J'reasurer: his son-in-hiw, Galton Turner, Archibald Ili.v, Samnel Williams, Colonel John ^I. Bell, John I\Iorse, Henry Lewis, Richard "Woodson, John Doxey and others who occui)ied the country tiy, far north as Bowling Green [irairie.

At the same period Joseph Vance, Colonel Ilirani Craig, Al)rahani Lock, Nathaniel Butler, Thomas Watson, Peterson Tarks, Robert Hays, Samuel Burch, Samuel Dinsmore, James ITer\-ford, James Ryan and Abncr Finnell settled in the forks of the Chariton rivers. In Cliariton townsjiip John Tooley, Samuel Forrest, Jo,se[ili ISIaddox and Thomas Anderson settled. During the same ye;ir Major Daniel Ashb}', Abram Sportsman, Alexander Trent, John Harri.s, John Sportsman and Edward B. Cabell made a settlement on the bluH's. A small settlement was made on Salt creek and Clark's branch a little later, by William ifnd John Bcatty and Henry Clark and others. Clark's Itranch and Clark township were named after the above mentioned Henry Clark, and still per|ietuate his name.

The original pioneer who located near the banks of the Grand river was Thomas Stanley. He was a great hunter, and spent, much of liis time in the woods or on the streams, ^vhere he indulged Ids propensities for sylvan s[iorts and diversions to his heart's content. During the winter he lived in the hollow [)art of a hutre svcamore log, keeping his tire outside. Tliis hal)itatiou proved higldy convenient, as it was large enough for him to move around out of the smoke when the wind was in the wrong direction. With such books as the settlement atiorcied he spent his long winter evenings ; a sycamore S|)linter dipped in raccoon oil su[)plied him with light ; wild game furnished his table, and here he livetl as happy, if not as comfortable, as a prince.

General Duff Green, who was one of the iiioneers, was upon one occasion a candidate for major of the militia, the ojiposiug caiulidate being the celebrated Indian fighter. Colonel Cooper. Some misundei^ianding existed Ijetween them. Green was to address the voters ou election day, and Cooper declared if he dared to do so he would take him down and chastise him. Green knew this, but commenced his S])eech at the appointed time. He saw Cooper making his wav through the crowd, evidently intent on putting his threat into execu- tioii. lie Cdutimied his .-r[iecih until Co();>oi- was quile ucav, wlieii, tuniiiiL;- his c.ii;'!e eyes ujion iiim aiid laying hi.s luiud upon his sword, he mildly said ; '-Old gtMitleiiian, I respeci your gray hairs." No further inteiruption occurred. Cooper, known to be a brave tiian, on being asked why he stopped, answered: "1 .saw something in Green's eyes to warn uic to keep hands otV." Green was elected. Aliout this tune. Green was ap[)ointed by Governor Claike to distribute a quantity of goods to the Indians in these regions. One of the few steandjoats then navigating the Missouri, was slowly making its way to the shore with the Indian goods on l)oard. The copper pipe by which the steam escajjcd was made in the form of a snake, head erect anil jaws ^vide apart, and was placed in the water in front of the boat, and the sleam gushed out at intervals with a loud snort. The Indians crowding tlie bank, watched the boat (the first thev had ever seen), with intense interest ; us it came near enough for them to see the terrible snake in the water drawing it ahnig, as they thought, the officer on board tired a small cannon. This was too much for the red ninn ;ind away they went, flying in consternation thi'ough the woods in all directions, ami it was not until the next day that they could be jnevailed u[)on to return.

Nearly all the pioneers were men of intelligence, substance and energy, and well qualified to build up a new country. They rapidly opened farms and began early to erect mills and manufacturing establishmeuts for their own couvenieuce. The first mill erected by fheiii was hic:>ted in what is no\v called Missouri township, and was known as IIooser"s mill.

JMajor Daniel Ashiiy in speaking of this mill says : - Not long after this we sent a delegate from the bluff's to a meeting down on the Missoui i riv(>r, at tlu' house of one Hooser, where a meeting from all the surrounding settlements was called to consider the ]iroposilion to build a mill, which shouldlie portable and be pulled arouud l>y horses. There was a man named Ben Cross, who was a good worklijan in wood, that submitted a plan for such a mill as follows: A main sliaft with a hole in the lower part when set upright. A lieam passing through the shaft with it arranged so the horses could be hitched to each end of the beam, thus giving bearing power on the main shaft. Near tlie u|)[)er eml of the main sliaft, pedes called arms were inserted, into which pins about a foot in length were placed. Around these was put a band some forty feet long. At one side there was an arranixer.ient we called a trundle head, around which the iiaud p:i>.sod, twisted on the upper p;irt of the trundle head. The iron culled a driver was fastened and bedded into the upper stone or runner. The band was made of rawhide, soaked soft, cut iiud then twisted, and would hist for a }ear.

The band would turn thi^ trundle head and it would turn the stone M'bich would grind the corn or wiieat. This when completed was regarded with more curiosity than a locomotive in years after.

In a short time there was a combination formed to run tlie mill exclusively for the beueiit of a i'ew. Nowadays we would call it a ring or corner. A man named Ilooser. and some of liis brothers-inlaw named Clark, living close to the mill, would grind a large quantity of meal for themselves, and when done would tal-:e out tlie balance iron and hide it, so no one else could use ihe mill. Those livino- ill the Ijluff settleiuimts had to go about twelve miles to get to this mill to have their grinding done, so if they could not grind when there, they would be sorely disappointed and make great complaint. The "ring" would tell tiieni that the iron was ])roken ami at the blacksmith's shop for repair. This company to whom the null l)elonged had a constitution, signed by all interested, that provided amonir other things, tiiat equal justice should be done in the us<.' ami repair of the mill : when new bands were to be nrade tliat all shruild contribute their equal portion of the funds necessary to purchase the hides, all of which was to be determined by the numlier of each family capable of eating bread. This clique or "ring" would always provide a good snjiplv of meal for themselves about the time the old Ijand was prettv well worn, then hide the iron in a liollow lf)g, which they called Clark's shop, as there was a blacksmith of that name living in Old Chariton.

However, we learned of the deception that had been practised on us and were naturally considerably wrathy. At one of these times when they were practising their frauds, I had been down in Howard county, and was passing by the mill. I found them all collected at the mill and saw they had just placed the l)a!ance iron in its place to grind ui* a su[iply of meal for themselves. As soon as I saw this, it made me angrv and I rode up to where they were collected and said. " I see v(m have got tlie iron from Clark's shop." I was ariswcred by Reuben Clark, who was the loader of the gang and bully amongst them, who replied in a make game manner, " Yes, we have got it from Clark's shop."" His reply and his manner made n\e mad enough to fight. " Well," said 1, "there have been more iufenuU lies told about thi^ niill tliau it is wortii, und if I Icid ;i knife I woiil.l cut lluit old baud to pieces." Koulieii Clark said, >' Here is a knife, sir," handiii!.' me a lare-r> ulasp knife, willi which Ik; was whittling. I took the knife, jumped over the fence, went to the band and cut it in two. I then walked around the mill and about the middle of the band I cut it again. I took one half of the baud and wound it up in the shape of a collar and put it around my horse's neck. Handing the kuife back to Clark-, 1 again motmtcd aixi was in the act of riding otT, when Hooser spoke to me and said. " If there was any law for it. I would make }'0U pay for cutting that band." I rciilicd, "No doubt of it, for I never doubted your meainiess, and 1 will further say I consic^Mthe whole set of you a pack of unprinci[)led scoundrels who <]are not resent any iusult a gentleman may think proper to pass iii)on vou." After this I rode otf with a single comrade by the name of ^Nlorse, who was travelling with me. I returned home and constructed a .similar mill on a smaller scale out of the material I had from mv old mill. After this we had no trouble on the bluffs about milling.

The tii'st steam mill was erected near the town of Old Chariton in 1820. by a man rianio Findly. This was di-stroyed by tire in the winter of 1823-24, and was a great misfortune to the people who lived in this region of couuli'v.

Physical Features - Cliraatf - Health - First Sottluincnts made iu the Timber- Tbe Seasons since 18U - Mineral Resources - Coal - Sandstone - Cavern - Cement - Fauna and Flora of Howard and Chariton Counties.

Cli:iriton (.-ouiity is watered by tlu' foUowinu' streams : Grand Cliariton rivor, Little Chariton, East, Middle uud ^Inscle Forks oK same, Salt, Lake, Palmer, Yellow and Cottonwood creeks, and Bee Branch and its tributaries. These streams How generally south and are. well distributed in almost every part of the county.

The surface of the county is an undulating plane, there being, however, several marked elevations and depressions in the vicinity of the Missouri river and the creeks. The surface in most places is far from being flat, and there is a perfect system of natural drainage. From some of the highest points the eye commtuids views of exquisite loveliness, embracing the silvery course of river and creek, the v,-aving foliage of trees, the undulating surface of tlie prair-ie, with cultivated farms, iarm houses - from the log luit of the lirst settler, to the brick or painted houses and Ijarns of the more advanced cultivators of the soil, and the palatial mansions of the wealthy capitalist.

Chariton county is well watered, as before stated, by many streams, the principal being the Missouri river. All the streams are timbered. The surface of the earth in some portions is quite broken and uneven, but as these portions are generally covered with timber, they are none the less valuable. In other parts of the county, the land near th-e streams is rather level in some places, but the very superior system of drainage renders it unsurpassed for agricultural purposes. The high table lands away from the streams are unsurpassed for fertility. The "divides," as they are called, em')race three belts of land, and e.xtend nearly the whole length of the county north and south. The soil is chiefly a rich loam of vegetable deposit with a porous subsoil. The depth of the vegetable deposit, which has l)eca 26 (373) ancuniwlatiiig for nL'es, varies from two to six feet, and is inexhaustible in feitilit}'. The ease witli wiiich the soil is cultivated is an important item to the farmer. One man with a team can tend from forty to sixty acres of corn. There is comparatively little waste land in the county. Such portions as are not well adapted to the cultivation and growth of wheat, com and other cereals are tlie best for grazing lands. The county presented to the first settlers an easy task in subduins the wild land. Its Inoad prairies in the soutli were fields almost ready i'ov the planting of the crop, and its rich, black soil seemed to be awaiting impatiently' the opportunity of paying rewards in the shape of abundant crops, as a tribute to the labors of the husbandman. The farms of Chariton county are generally large, unbroken by sloughs, but have some obstriu-tions such as stumps and bouldei's, but they are excellently well cultivated. Corn planters, reapin"' machines, mowers and all kinds of labor-saving machiner\ can be used, however, with great ease. The prairie of the county is gentlv rolling throughout its whole extent. The timber is of a good qualitv,. but the original growth has, to a considerable extent, disappeaix'd in some parts.

The tirst settlements of the county were in\ariably nuide in the timber or contiguous thereto. The early setth.'rs so chose both as a matter of necessity and con\enience. The presence of tindier aided materially in bringing aiiout an early settlement, and it aided in two ways : tirst, the county had to depend on emigration from the older settled States of the East for its population, and especially Kcntuekv and Tennessee. These States originally were almost covered with dense forests, and farms were made by clearing otf certain portions of the timber. Almost every farm there, after it became thoroughly improved, still retained a certain tract of timber commonly known as " the woods." The woods was generally regarded as the in()>t imjiortant part of the farm, and the average farmer regardetl it as indispensable, ^^'hen he emigrated West, one objection was the scarcity of timber, and he diil not su[)i)ose that it would be possible to open up a farm ou the bleak prairie. To live in a region devoid of the familiar sight of timber seemed unendurable, and the average Kentuckian could not entertain the idea of founding a home away from the familiar tbrest trees. Then again the idea entertained bvthe early immigrants to Missouri, th:it timber was a necessity, was not sitnply tiicoretical. Tiie early settler must liavc a house to live in, fuel for cooking and heating pur[)()scs, and fences to inclose his claim-. At that time there were no railroads by which lumber could be transported from the pineries. No coal mine hud yet been opened, and few if any liad been discovered. Timber was an absolute necessity, without which material improvement was an impossibility.

Ko wonder that a gentleman from the East, wdio in early times came to the prairie region of Missouri on a prospecting tour with a view of permanent location, returned home in disgust and embodied his views of the country in the following rhyme : -

The most important resource in the development of this Western country, was the belts of timber which skirted the streams ; and the settlers who first hewed out homes in the timber, while at present, not the most enterprising and progressive, were, nevertheless, an essential f;ictor in the solution of the [)roblem.

Along either side of the various streams wiiich flow across the country, were originally lielts of timber ; at certain places, generally near the mouths of the smaller tri!)utarics, the belt of timber widened out, thus forming a gi'o%i}, or what was frequently called a point, and at these points or groves were the first settlements made ; here were the first beginnings of civilization ; here " began to operate those forces which have made the wilderness a fruitful place and caused the desert to bud and blossom as the rose."

Much of the primeval forest has been removed for the building of houses and the construction of fences ; other portions and probably the largest part, have been ruthlessly and improvidently destroyed. This destruction of timber has i)een somewhat compensated by the planting of artificial groves. Among the most abundant of the trees originally found is the walnut, so highly prized in all countries for manufacturing purposes. Oaks, of several varieties, are still very plentiful, although for many 3'ears this wood has been used for fuel.

Tlie liest timber in tlu.' State is to he tbund in tlii» county. Ui.'taclied groves, botii natural and artilioial, are tbnnd at many places tliroughout the county, wliicli are not onh' ornamental, in that they vary t!ic monotony, hut are very useful in that they have a very important hearing on the climate. It is a (act fully demonstrated Ijy tlie he-^t authority that climate varies wiUi the physiognomy of acoiintiv.

It is quite important for selth'rs and immigrants to know what seclions of the count}' are most healthful. Some have asked if this is a healthv county. The answer without any hesitation will he given in the atiirmative, that it is as much so as any county in the State. In all the counties tliere are some things, however, that are calculated to produce disease - some localities are more healthful than others, and to enable strangers coming into the county to select the one and avoid the other is our object. Chariton county, in its general aspect, is an elevated, undulating plain, intersected hv numerous small streams, running generally from the north to the south, and crnpt3'ing into the Missouri river, which forms the southern l)Oundary of the county. The principal of these streams is the Grand Chariton, with its tributaries. j\.djacent to all these streams ai'e bottom lands, more or less e.vtensive, nearly along their whole course on one side, and blutl's or hills on the other. Tliese bottoms are to some extent subject to overilow for the reason that their hcxN are crooked.

The bottoms above mentioned extend up the several branches to near the summit of the dividing lidge, and many springs rise within fifty yards of the summit, hi the larger bottoms arc a numlier of small ponds or lakes, and s[)ots of marshy ground which are tilled with water the greater part of the year, and in rainy seasons become quite extensive, which evaporate and dry up in the hot, dry seasons usually following in the months of July, August and September, and thus generate the poisonous exhalation about which so little is known, and called by [ihysicians " miasm " or " malaria," whieii prod-jces fever of various ty[)es and grades. This exhalation follows along the different ravines, even to the summit of the highlands, and is carried a greater or less distance in pro^iortion to the current of air or wind.

But they do not seem to extend very far up the sides of the ravines unless carried hy a strong breeze ; care should, therefore, be taken to avoid locating residences near the heads of ravines, and more particularly where they termin.ite on the ridges, which is a frequent error. A man finding a good spring near the summit of a hill, builds his house so as to be near the water, on the hill or ridge, and immediately in tlie course of the ravine, und as a couifijuciu'c receives tlie concentrated "miasm'" arising from it. Now at a distance of fifty or at least a hundred yards a point may generally be selected very nearly if not entirely free from it. The existent' of this malarious air in the ravines is very clearly proven to any man of ol)servation ; in walking or riding across them in the night, in descending a hill, as he approaches the base, he will bo sensible of cold, damp atmosphere which will disajjpear at tlie same clevati(»n in ascending the opi^osite slope. This fact is often observed in Missouri and Illinois. It is generally Ijclievcd that the bottoms arc much more sickly than tli,> hills, or uplands, whicli is to some e.\"tent true. The cases of fever are perhaps more frequent in the bottom lands, but less malignant, and all experience goes to show ihat peisons living on the bare slope.-, or summits of hills near the bottoms sutler most, and those living near the banks of rivers, or creeks of running water in the bottoms, are more healthful. The reason is that the exhalations rise and are carried by the winds over the dwellings in the lowlands and are wafted to the tops of the bigiiest hills. Several precautions are necessary ill selecting sites for dwellings on hills near bottoms. First, build, if possible, on the opposite side of the hill from the bottom, so that the " miasm," after reaching the summit, may pass above you ; second, avoid the heads of ravines ; third. Irave a grove of timber between you and the bottom- - this will have the cU'ect of protecting you from the " miasm," and moreover, the trees absorb a large portion of it. Again, liilN ha\ing bottoms to windward of them ^\ill be more sii'kly than those that the wind blows from them to the bottom. The prevailing winds here in the months of June, July and August are from tiie south and sou* Invest, but in the latter part of August they begin to blow from the north and continue mostly during September and October in that direction. Thus it will be seen that persons living north and south of the bottoms will, in a sickly season, suffer first, say in J11I3' and August, but the fevers would be milder than later in the season, when the "miasm" lias become more concentrated and virulent; when the winds are from the north, that is during the latter part of August and the wlnde of September and October, then tliose livinii south of the bottoms \vill sufler mo-t, and, for the reasons given above, the fevers will be of nioi-e malignant type. Hills east and west of the Ijottoms are most healthful, because the winds in the hot months seldom blow in these directions.

oliserved that in tlie vicinity of all tlie :<tie;inis are strips of woodhiud more or less extensivo, antl that along the Missouri river the tinilier huul extends from throe to ten miles in width from tiie river, and in hinny places the timber is large and of excellent quality, and in others the growth is smaller, forming dense thickets in many places, showing clearly that the timber has encroached on the prairie, and it is interesting to note the gradual change whidi takes place from almost impenetrable thickets to open woods. As the trees grow and overshadow the undergrowth, such as hazel, sumach, etc., this dies out and the more thrifty and larger trees continue to grow, while the more feeble and delicate die out one after another and give place to their more stately neighbors ; and thus in a few years thickets become open woodlands, and as this process goes on the sun has freer access to the earth and it is consequently drier and more healthful. Many thickets in this county during the period of thirty years have undergone these changes, and are now beautiful open woodlands of trees of considerable size and hcigiit. Another very interesting fact going to show that the country is becoming more healthful, is that the wet lands in the bottoms are being tilled up by the alluvial deposits brought down to them from the roads and cultivated fields, and being covered l)y a thick sward of blue grass as fast as they become dry enough, and at the same time the channels of the branches which run through them are deepened and compressed into narrow space. There are <|uite a number of bottoms along the Chariton river which thirtv vcars ago were quite wet and swampy, which have become drv, lillable'land. and which will, in all probaltility, continue in the future to improve more rapidly than in the past. This holds good with tlie broader raviued and valleys in the upland prairies, many of which are quite wet and in many places marshy. Now as these slopes of the hill are cultivated, these marshy spots are filled up and the land rendered more compact by the trampling of stock, the blue grass takes hold readily and a firm sward covers them r,o that they are less likely to generate "miasm," and cousequently the country around will become healthier. Those settling in the prairies should be advised to observe the same rules in building homes as in the timber, that is, to avoid heads of ravines, as mentioned heretofore, and even more carefullv on account of the want of protection by trees. It mav seem strange, but I believe the statement is fully attested by experience, that in very rainy and consequently sickly seasons, persons livinsr on the prairies sutler more than those in the timber. The cause of this may,

T think, be found to bo tlie protection allbnlcd by the timber in absorbing auc! warding oft' " miasm." Such persons, as soon as possible, should make for themselves a protection by planting groves of timber and orchards near their dwellings, which will be a source of safety from disease, and at the same time of pecuniary profit, to say nothing of the agreeable shades in the summer and the protection from cold in the winter - both important objects for the jireservation of health, and particularly in a climate as varial)le as this.

Tn considering the causes tending to intliience the health of any locality, we should take into account the eflect of temperature and the particular season in which we have the greatest amount of rain and highest temperature. As a rule, our rainy season commences about the 20th of May and extends to the 10th of July ; when we say season, we do not mean that it is only in that season that we have rains, but that rains are more abundant then than at other times. Yet, there occur seasons that are exceptions to the rule, as we shall see hereafter. The months of June and July, and the early part of August, are marked by the highest range of tei^ii)eratiire.

We will now endeavor to give a brief account of many of the seasons since 1844. The year A. D. 1844 is known in ^Missouri as the year of the great Hood. In the month of May there was considerably more rain than in any other year.

About the 15th of Jtnie the rains abated, and the rivers receded from the bottoms, but in a short time recommenced exceedingly copious rains of almost daily occurrence, continuing to about the 10th of July, and the Missouri river and its tributaries overflowed their banks to the depth of twenty feet, and in many places to the depth of thirty feet - the temperature at this time being high. The latter part of July and the month of August were very dry and hot, and sickness was general throughout the State, the diseases being mostly of a mild character, and yielding readily to the influence of medicines. The winter of 1844 and 1845 was very mild, little snow or rain fell durins; the winter or spring, so that the rivers were quite low to the latter part of May, when the rains commenced and continued to the beginning of July. Some of the heaviest rains ever known in the State were witnessed this season, but west and north in the valleys of the Kaw and Platte rivers there was but little rain, and the Missouri overflowed its banks but little at the mouths^of the Osage and North Grand rivers. This season was also very warm, and about the flrst of xVugust sickness commenced and was more general, and of amore mali<^- naiit. type, tliaa in tlio preceding- year, but still quite manageable. The succeeding winter was cold, with considerable snow, and the spring jileasant.

The bcuson of 184(j had no excess of rains, and had not a great uKiny cases of fever, but some of those were more violent and difficult to manage. During the early part of the summer there was an epidemic of scarlet fever, and in the fall a great many cases of jaundice.

The winter following was mild, and the spring and summer not remarkable for rain and but little sickness. The following year, 1847, partook very much of the same character, and was also a tolerably healthful year.

The winter of 1847 and 1848 was very mild, so much so that very little ice formed sufficiently thick to kcc}). The s^tring and summer of 1848 was dry and healthful.

The winter of 1848 and 1849 was remarkably cold, with a great, deal of snow, which melted partially in the month of January and Iroze suddenly, leaving the ground covered with a firm coat of ice from three to live inches in thickness, wiiich remained the greater part of Februarv, and then melted otf, accompanied by rain, and broke up the ice in the rivers, which had formed to a thickness of fifteen to eighteen inches. The spring of 1849 was wet and cold till son^etime in April, when commenced a succession of hot weather witli Irequent rains, alternated sudden changes of cold, which continued through May, June and most of July. .Such was the peculiar condition of the atmosjjhere that a feeling of debility and exhaustion was verv generally experienced, and those who have been exposed to its intluonce will thereafter recognize it as a cholera atmosphere ; the wind duriuir the greater part of this time, and especially during the damp tiavs, v/as from the east and southeast. In the month of April there <iccurred a number of cases of diarrh(ea, and otlier diseases of the digestive organs were of frequent occurrence.

The year of 1850 was not remarkable for heavy rains or anv ^reat vicissitudes of temperature, and was comi)aratively healthful ; but the following year, 1851, this region was again visited Ity hot and rainv weather and eastern winds, and cholera nuule its appearance and was excessively malignant, continuing from the latter part of May to almost the first of August, which was again followed by fever; during this year a greater number of citizens fell victims to cholera than in 1849. The year 18o:i was again a very equal)le season : there was not a great amount of sickness until late in the fall and beginning of win- ter, when tho vii'issitudes of toinpcraUirc ^vc^c grout :u\d sudden, and there occurred u largo number of cases of pneumonia of a t_y[)hoid character and a genei-al prevalence of typhoid diseases. About the middle of December epidemic erysipelas - also assuming a typhoid character - made its appearance, and continued to prevail in some neighliorhonds uritil the following April.

The year 18.'>o was a mild and pleasant season, unmarked bv great rains or changes of temperature, and although there were occasional eases of cholera, it was, in the main, :i, healthful season. The .spi-ini; of )85i was pleasant, and vegetation came forward very early. About the last of ilay it beg:in to rain very tVefiuenlh- and heavily, and continued till the ]9\.h of June, from which time scarcely any rain fell until the IStli of November. 'I'he crops of small grain were heavv, but in consequence of the long continued drouth after heavy rains the crop of corn was very small, not being more than one-tliird the usual yield. We had considerable fever in August antl September; eari\- in October it iieeame ipiite healthful, and eontinue<.l so during the f.ill and winter.

The spring and beginning of the year 18.5.5 were pleasant until the latter part of July, when there set in a succession of heavy rains which lasted until about the 20th (jf August, Crops of all kinds were good. wheat and oats were far better than usual, both as to rpialitv and quantity ; but the farmers having adopted the use of tlireshei's, and being Inisy with tb.e corn and hay crops, failed to house or stack them in season, and at lea^t three-fourths of the crop of small grains wa - spoiled, and rotted in the fields. This year was quite healtht'ul, except a short time in September and Octoiier. The year 1S55 was not remarkable as to health, there being no unusual sickness until late in the fall, when typhoid fever prevailed to a con.siderable extent for some three months. The winter of 185f> and 1857 was unusuallv cold, with but little snow, and we had an unusual number of cases of rheumatism, and in the spring considerable pneumonia and other inflammatory all'ections. The season during most of the year 1857 was not unusual. The following winter was not marked by any unusual extremes, and the spring of 1858 was rather dry and pleasant, until the month of June, when we had again excessive and long continued rains, extending to the early part of July: during this month and August the weather was hot and dry. Early in August fever commenced, and we had more sickness than in any year since 1845.

tiii'C and ruins, iind wc again liad a considerable amount of sickness through the fall and winter months. The winter and spring of 18G0 were unusually dry and windy, there heing no rain sutlicient to wet the ground until the 25th of May, at wiiicli time and also some time in June, there was a good shower in tlie northeast part of the county. This drouth continued tlirougli the suniiricr, and consefpiently tiie crops were exceedingly sliort ; and west of us, in the State of Kansas. almost an entire failure. About the 10th of July we had for two or three days a south wind, as hot as if coming from a furnace, wiiich was very oppressive to man and beast, and wilted the vegetation considerably. In this year, as well as 1854, we had incontestible evidence of the superiority of the bottom lands along the Missouri river, v/hich are bedded on sand as subsoil, in dry seasons, for reason that the water from the river percolates this sand, and a sufficient quantity of moisture arises to sustain the growth of grain. This is also true to some extent in uplands, in which there is a considerable amount of sand mixed with the sub-soil. The year 1861, which will be long remembered for the inauguration of the civil war, which cursed our country and desolated the finest portions of our land, among which Chariton county is one of the most beautiful and fertile, was a season of unusual health :ind jiroductiveness ^ full cro[is and fruits of all kinds, rewarded the labors of the husbandman ; and had we been blessed with peace, would have been one of abundance and comfort. There was but little sickness during this and the two following years.

The winter of 1863 and 1864 was exceedingly cold, with considerable snow, the spring was pleasant but too cold to bring forward vegetation. This dry weather extending through the greater part of summer there was great drouth, and vegetation became scarce. The crops of all kinds were light. During the latter part of summer and beginning of fall there was a severe form of dysentery, followed later in the season by typhoid fever. The year 1865 may be properly called a rainy season, for frequent and exceedingly heavy rains set in early in June and continued till the latter part of August. Dysentery again made its appearance in July and prevailed during that month and August. In September, October and the fore part of November there were many cases of fever which were very violent, being mostly of a congestive type, and complicated with diseases of the bowels. Later in the season we had some cases of typhoid fever, also attended with disease of the bowels and in some cases of the lungs. During the year 186G - 67 all the diseases were of a mild character and easily man-

'JMiere were no cases of epidemic diseases. In the year 18C>.H tiiere were more cases of sickness, and some ".veie typhoid fever, but not of !i verv malignant type. Since the war, even to the present time, there have been no severe cases of cholera. In 1869 the cases of sickness were less freqnent than in 18(58, all diseases easily managed. There have been no cases of small-pox since the year 18G J, and it might be remarked that as tiie country grows older it Ijecomes more healthful. The summers, which are wet and excessively warm, arc followed in the fall mouths by more or less fevers. In 1870 there were several eases of " Eothlene," a form of scarlet fever, in the spring, some cases of intermittent fevers in the fall, and taken altogether it was more sickly than 18il9. During the year 1871 and 1872 there was some pneumonia in the spring, with mild cases of fever in the fall of 1871. There were very few deaths. The year 1873 was healthy and all the cases requiring the attention of a physician were easily managed. The summer of 1874 was very dry and hot, several persons requiring treatment for sunstroke, the mercury ranging for considerable time from 95 to 100' in the shade. There were some cases of diphtherietic cnuip, several of which were fatal. There was also epidemic whooping cough. The spring of 1875 was very wet, and there were cases of capillary bronchitis among children and sore throat and catarrh among adults. There were some fatal cases of consumption. The summer of 1S7G was healthful and also the year 1877. In 1877 there were some cases of scarlet fever, but of mild type and easily managed. The year 1878 was quite healthful. The year 1879 chronicled some scarlet fever in the spring.

Considerable sickness of a typho-malarial character existed during the spring of 1880, but the remainder of the year it was exceedingly healthful. Tiiere were sufficient rains to produce the growth of abundant crops, and probabh' never in the history of the country had there been a better average yield to the labors of the husbandman. Great quantities of fruit and cereals matured and were gathered for the market. General prosperity and abundance crowned the year. Men who were in debt paid up the mortgages on their farms and houses and now, in this year (1883), are becoming independent.

We have now given a condensed history of the seasons for the past thirty-seven years, and by it a tolerably correct idea may be formed of the healthfulness of this county.

sickness, and this is al.^o true witli oilier portions of tlie countr^-. It will also be reniarkfd, that in our seasons rains are later and more imniediatelv loUowed by dry and hot weather than in the Eastern States, and as a neeersary resnlt we \vonld expect in those seasons a consideral)le amount offerer, l)ut the conipar;itive frequency of sueii seasons are not greater than in otlier localities. As to the pre'\'alence of Scarlet fe\er, measles, erysipelas and other diseases of similar character, it may be asserted that our county has not suffered more than in many other parts of the AA'estcrn, and perhaps less than many of the Eastern States. Of typhoid fever it may be said that the disease is milder and less frequent than in nniny of the Xorihern or Eastern States. In the course of thirty-seven years there have been live, or less than one-seventh, in which there were heavy and lonu continue<l rains in early summer and ireneral prevalence of fevers, the remainder beini; comparatively lieallhful. There has been no year when there has been an entire loss of crops, and nearly everv vear great abundance has been produced.

The greater portion of the county - leaving out the bottom of the Missouri river and larger streams - is jxised upon a l)cd of limestonr at various depths; yet such is the lornnition of the country that the stone very little, if at -all, interferes with the cultivation of the soil, for the reason that it does not cro[) out, except in the immediate vicinity of streams, on the slope of hills, or at their base. Those .sections in which the limestone is wanted are based on sand of very considerable depth. Tiiere is also in the greater part of the county a large admi.xture tif sand both with the soil and the sulisoil, and consequently, as may be inferred, the land is light and easily cultivated, much mcu'e so than in many fertile regions el-^ewhere, as, f )r instance, the rich lilue grass lands of Kentucky. No amount of tramping can make it so hard that, if i)roken up in large clods, it will not shake and fall to pieces, like lime, in the first considerable shower; and moreover, it has the additional advantage of becoming sufBciently dry in a short time after rains for plowing, and does not break and become hard so easily if worked a little wet. This enables the farmer to cultivate his crops in wet seasons to better advantage than if the sand was wanting. In addition to this, as mentioned in the last article, drouth does not so greatl}' affect the crops, because a considerable amount of moisture arises from below, which goes to support veget:ition. Indeed, our I'armers say that crops will grow here with less rain than in almost anv other countv. We have in this ooiintv l)ut little poor l;iiid ; 3 el the qiiLilily of the soil ami the growth of" the limber iii<lieatiiig tliose qualities vary a great deal, and the changes are frequently ahriqit. 'Wo ha\e, for example, strips of land covered by walnut, hiel<ory, elm, box elder, honey locust, coti'ee beiiu, lima, etc., of some miles in extent, and changing in many instances abruptly, to oak land, of inferior quality. Again, we have SLri[)S on ^vhich the growth is white hiekor\', dill'erent S[)ecies ol' ouk, wild ciierry, slippery elm, etc., and the undorgrowths are in oak lands, hazel, sumach, and a sjKcies of dogwood. The pawpaw abounds iu the walnut and hackbcrry lands, and on the river bottoms ami hills contiguous to them. There are also some spots of rather spouty lands, with stitt' clay subsoil, the growth on which is almost exclusively a species of pine-oak, of a dwarfish character, with the limbs extending almost to the ground. There is some diversity of o[)iniou in regard to the fertility of the dill'erent cliaracters of soil, but the statement is fully borne out by experience that the walnut and hackberry lands are strongest, and in favorable seasons will [uoduce the largest crops of hemp. and corn, and are better adapted to the domestic grasses, especially the blue grass, while the bru>h lands, in which the white hickor\" abounds, with the undergrowth of hazel and sumach, will on an average of all seasons, and all kinds of crops, surpass them, and are greatly superior for wheat ami other small u:r;iins. This county is well adapted to the production of. various kinds of fruits, as the apple, pear, apricot and peach, all of which grow rapiiUy and yield abundantly, fruits of excellent qualit} . The common niorello cherry also yields well, but the finer qualities of cherries and damson plums do not seem to do as well. The gooseberry, black raspberry, de^vberry, blackberry and strawberry are iiuligenous to the soil, growin" iu large quantities iu the \voodland and prairies. Grasses have not yet been extensively cultivated, but so far as their cultivation has been tried the results has been very satisfactory.

The climate of Missouri is very changeable, the changes of temperature being frequent and sudden, varying often fifty or sixty deirrees iu a. few hours. Great precaution is, therefore, necessary to adapt the apparel so as to be little aflected as possible by these sudden vicissitudes, and we would advise those whose business requires them to be at such a distance from the dwellings as to be unable to chancre their clothes readily, to sutler the inconvenience of being uncomfortably warm for a time rather than run the risks of exposure to these sudden

Dwelling liouses should bo so constructed as to have free ventilation in every part from cellar to garret, and especial care should be taken that houses without cellars should be somewhat elevated from the ground with opening sufficient to admit the free circulation of air under them and these should l)c open in summer. In dan)p, rainy weatlier tires should l)e made occasionally to dispel the dampness and dry the rooms. They also serve to purify the air by producing a draught or cui'rcnt of air which carries off tlie impure atmosphere which is generated, especially in sleeping rooms, and for tliese reasons small fires night and morning will i)e found beneficial. It is improper to close sleeping apartments at night so as entirely to exclude the air, especially when the atmosphere is dry. Yet we should avoid sleeping with a current of air blowing over us. It is better to open the upper sash of windows which will generally admit sufficient external air and carry off that which has become heated and impure. Exposure to cold and damp air, especially in the latter [nut of the night and early morning sluuild be avoided, and if this kind of exposure is necessary it is better to fortify tlie body b}' taking a ipiaMtity of food, sa}- a cup of coH'ee and a little bre:id before going out, ami this is more especially necessary during the prevalence of epidemic. Indeed it is better, especially with farmers and others engaged in outdoor labor to have breakfast before commencing the labors of the day. In the latter part of summer there are very heavy dews and care should be taken to avoid having the feet and legs wet with them, as is frequeiith' the case, and as a rule it is better not to go out before sunrise in the morniPig. Long continued exposure to midtlaysun and heat should be avoideil. Meals should be regular and all unripe fruits and substances difficult of digestion should be avoided. Cleanliness is also an important item, both in person and in hai)itation. The accumulation of water in cellars and low places, as well as all kinds of garbage, decaying animals and vegetable substances should be carefully guarded against. A free use of lime, both by whitewashing houses and cellars and spreading in damp places, will also tend to purity the air and promote health. Cess|)ools and drains can be purified and deodorized by lime and a sti'ong solution of sulphate of iron thrown into them. Shades about dwellings are very pleasant and promotive of health, but the trees should not be so close together that

The yet sciu'cely developed uiiiieral resources of Ch;u-itou arc destiued at no remote day to constitute an important element of the wealth of this section of the State. The entire countiy, with the exception of the low alluvial districts, is underlaid with veins of bitutuinous coal.

This mineral as yet has been but imperfectly prospected, and the conclusion of its vast abundance is due in a great measure to the presence of numerous outcropping strata of surface veins. Experimental investigations in certain locations, however, have revealed the presence of sut)-strata, said to be of sufficient thickness to be profitably worked. OutcroppinL''s of this coal have been observed on the sides of hill slopes at a perpendicular distance or depth of from 100 to 200 feet below the upland sniface level. Some of these deposits are being worked at points east of Salisbury by Joel Koliskons, P. D. Vaudeventer, and others. Another is vrorked near Keytesville ; another by Daniel Havs on the Chariton river, east of Salisbury, and oue westof Brunswick, and seem to promise paying results. At the latter place a vein of considerable thickness was found underlaying a stratum of tire clay about a foot in thickness, and pronounced by competent judges, of excellent quality for the manufacture of pottery. In view of this discovery, the development of an enterprise of this character is, of course, only a matter of time. It is believed from the cursory investigations of experienced parties that there is in the vicinity of Salisbury a vein or pocket of cannel coal, but as yet the positive existence of this valuable deposit has not been defiuitely confirmed. At a point known as Williams Mill, about tliree miles southeast of Keytesville, is a remarkable formation, consisting of a solid mass of sandstone, extending a consideral:)le distance along the edge of the Chariton, and rising 100 feet above low-water mark, suggesting the idea of a vast wall without crack or seam, and smooth and even as though cut by the hand of art. This is pronounced of admirable (juality for Imilding puiposes.

Ill the lower or southern extremity of this blutf is a cavern of considerable extent, known as Robbers' Cave, and recognized as a point of no small interest, from the fact of its having been the lurking pitice of a notorious robber liy the name of John Carey, who flourished in this locality about thirty years ago.

Ill the snutlieast part of tlie ooiuity, iio.u- Forest Green, is an inexhaustible mine of tire elay or ceiueiit, whieli lias not yet l)een fully developed. Thi« chiy is used by many for plastering, being prefei-red for this purpose to ordinary lime and &aud nuuLai'. For the manufacture* of pottery it is generally conceded to be superior to the ordinary fire clay found elsewhere, as above mentioned.