Saline Township

Saline Township

settled in the upper part of what has ever since been known as "Jolly's Bottom," and which received its name from him. He remained in this township until 1826, when he removed to the "Stephen's" neighborhood, in Palestine township. He there set out the first apple orchard in that part of the country, and erected a horse mill which would grind a bushel of corn an hour, and this was considered by the people of that day as a great achievement. He peddled apples, cider and ginger-cakes at all the musters and elections.

William Jolly was a gunsmith, a wheelwright, a blacksmith, a cooper, a miller, a distiller, a preacher, a doctor and a farmer. John Jolly kept a ferry across the Lamine river, on the lower ferry road, which is still known as "Jolly's Ferry." The next settlers of this township were William Lamm, James and John Turner, Joseph Pursley, Levin Cropper, Henry Levens, B. W. Levens, (the grandfather and father of Henry C. Levens, of Boonville,) Josiah Dickson, Charles Force, John Farris, Thomas Farris, Jesse Wood, David Fine, Joshua and Lacy McClanahan, George Dickson, Frederick and James F. Conner, John Calvert, Adam and Absalom McClanahan, Elverton Caldwell, Noding Caldwell, Joseph Westbrook, Alexander Woods, Robert Givens, Leonard Calvert, August McFall, Alexander R. Dickson, William Calvert, Jr., James Farris and Robert Dickson.

At what time these men settled here is not known to the present generation, but the\^ certainly arrived between 1816 and 1820, for they all voted at Boonville at the August election in the latter year.

William Lamm settled in the bottom in 1816, and Henry and B. W. Levens and Levin Cropper came here in 181 7 or 1818, as they voted in 1819, and the law required that a person should reside in the county one year before he could vote.

Henry Levens was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1774, married at Hagerstown, Maryland, and emigrated to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where all his children were born. He afterwards emigrated to Randolph count3S 111., and lived there about fifteen years. His wife being dead, and all his children of age, he emigrated with his son, to Cooper county. He died at his old home in Illinois, in 1838. He was a soldier during the whole of the Revolution, and received a pension for same till his death.

Big Lick church, belonging to the Baptist denomination, was built at a very early time, and is now, and has been for many years, in a flourishing condition. John B. Longdon was the first pastor of this church.

The first school recollected by one of the writers, he being one of the pupils, and in his 3^outh having lived in this township, w^as taught by a man named Rogers. He was a very fair scholar, for the times, and pleased his patrons with the advancement which was made by his scholars.

Just before Christmas in the year 1818, the boys of this school had determined to "turn the teacher out," and force him to treat the scholars, by taking him to the creek and ducking him. This proceeding, though showing little respect for the dignity of the teacher, generally had the desired effect. The fear of it. in this case, had the desired effect, for the teacher, hearing of the plans of the scholars, voluntarily gave them a week's holiday, and on New Year's day treated them to a Iccg of zvhishy. This, no doubt, will sound strange to most of our citizens at this day, but it is nevertheless true.

contrary, one of the most refined in the county. It was customary, at that time, to find whisky in every house, and a man who did not take his dram, was the exception and not the rule. But drunkenness was then considered very disgraceful, and on that account was rarely heard of. People then could drink without taking too much.

It is not to be understood, that even considering the customs of the settlers, at that time, the teacher was justified in treating his pupils to whisky, and the people for suffering it to be done. It was wrong then, and at the present day would not be tolerated in any communit}'.

To the credit of the patrons and teachers of the schools of the past, it may here be said, that there is only one other instance known of a proceeding of this kind being allowed. It was considered at that dav that it was not so much the use as, the abuse, which made whisky so objectionable and demoralizing. If at that day, a young gentleman, the least bit intoxicated attempted to wait upon a respectable young lady, he was told that his company was not absolutely required at that house, and that the sooner he left the better it would be for all concerned. How is it now P Our readers live in the present, and are capable of passing judgment upon present customs.

There was a town called *'Washincrton," laid off bv B. W. Levens, about one mile below Overton, near the Missouri river, on the farm lately occupied by Timothy Chandler. Several lots were sold, houses built, and for a while considerable business done. But the site o( the town has long since disappeared, and the spot on which it Was located cannot be designated by any persons living. Indeed, but few in that locality are aware of the fact that such a town was ever located and inhabited.

Rocheport, and some lots were sold, but not much improved. The site of the town has long since disappeared under the encroaching waters of the Missouri river.

Another town, the name of which is now unknown, was located at the "cross roads," north of Conner's mill, near the late residence of Judge Jesse Ogden, but was soon abandoned.

Mr. Lamm was born in Roan county, North Carolina, twelve miles from Saulsberr\', and is 8i years of age. His parents removed with him to Tennessee, in" 1796, taking him with them. He came to and settled in Saline township in the fall of 1816, and has remained there ever since.

Mr. James F. Conner was a small boy when he, with his parents, settled in Saline township. He is the proprietor of the Conner's mill, situated on the Petite Saline Creek, about nine miles east of Boonville, which w^as erected by Charles Force, and until it was purchased by Mr. Conner, who changed it into a steam mill, it was run entirely by water power. This mill was built at a very early day, and has proved of great benefit to the inhabitants of this township, as it gave them a market at home for their surplus products.

This township is one of the best wheat districts in the county, probably not finer wheat being raised in the State. It also produces, with little cultivation, all other kinds of grain, fruits and garden vegetables.

This township, as well as the rest of the county, had its troubles in the late civil war. There were nine Union and three southern men killed within its borders. The southern men who were killed were, Benjamin Hill, William Henshaw and Radford Bass. These men were murdered at or near their homes, about the last of September, 1864, by a scouting party of Union soldiers, being a part of the com-

The Union soldiers who were killed, were slain b}' "bushwhackers*' from Howard and Boone counties, seven of them on the 7th day of October, 1864, and two of them on the 27th day of May, 1865. The follow^ing is a list of them: Henry Weber, Franz Haffenburg, Jacob Eder, David Huth, Bernhard Deitrick, Gerhardt Blank, Peter Diehl, Jacob Good, Sr., Jerry Good, Jr. There was also a "bushwhacker," whose name is unknown, killed on the 27th day of May, 1865.

settled in the upper part of what has ever since been known as "Jolly's Bottom," and which received its name from him. He remained in this township until 1826, when he removed to the "Stephen's" neighborhood, in Palestine township. He there set out the first apple orchard in that part of the countrjs and erected a horse mill which would grind a bushel of corn an hour, and this was considered by the people of that day as a great achievement. He peddled apples, cider and ginger-cakes at all the musters and elections.

William Jolly was a gunsmith, a wheelwright, a blacksmith, a cooper, a miller, a distiller, a preacher, a doctor and a farmer. John Jolly kept a ferry across the Lamine river, on the lower ferry road, which is still known as "Jolly's Ferry." The next settlers of this township were William Lamm, James and John Turner, Joseph Pursley, Levin Cropper, Henry Levens, B. W. Levens, (the grandfather and father of Henry C. Levens, of Boonville,) Josiah Dickson, Charles Force. John Farris, Thomas Farris, Jesse Wood, David Fine, Joshua and Lacy McClanahan, George Dickson, Frederick and James F. Conner, John Calvert, Adam and Absalom McClanahan, Elverton Caldwell, Noding Caldwell, Joseph Westbrook, Alexander Woods, Robert Givens, Leonard Calvert, August McFall, Alexander R. Dickson, William Calvert, Jr., James Farris and Robert Dickson.

At what time these men settled here is not known to the present generation, but they certainly arrived between 1816 and 1820, for the3^ all voted at Boonville at the August election in the latter year.

William Lamm settled in the bottom in 1816, and Henry and B. W. Levens and Levin Cropper came here in 1817 or 1818, as they voted in 1S19, and the law required that a person should reside in the county one year before he could vote.

Henry Levens was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1774, married at Hagerstown, Maryland, and emigrated to Washington county, Penns3dvania, where all his children were born. He afterwards emigrated to Randolph count3% 111., and lived there about fifteen years. His wife being dead, and all his children of age, he emigrated with his son, to Cooper county. He died at his old home in Illinois, in 1838. He was a soldier during the whole of the Revolution, and received a pension for same till his death.

Big Lick church, belonging to the Baptist denomination, was built at a ver}^ early time, and is now, and has been for many years, in a flourishing condition. John B. Longdon was the first pastor of this church.

The first school recollected by one of the writers, he being one of the pupils, and in his youth having lived in this township, was taught by a man named Rogers. He was a very fair scholar, for the times, and pleased his patrons with the advancement which was made by his scholars.

Just before Christmas in the year 1818, the boys of this school had determined to "turn the teacher out," and force him to treat the scholars, by taking him to the creek and ducking him. This proceeding, though showing little respect for the dignity of the teacher, generally had the desired effect. The fear of it, in this case, had the desired effect, for the teacher, hearing of the plans of the scholars, voluntarily gave them a week's holiday, and on New Year's day treated them to a ieg- of zvhisky. This, no doubt, will sound strange to most of our citizens at this day, but it is nevertheless true.

contran', one of the most refined in the county. It was customary, at that time, to find whisky in every house, and a man who did not take his dram, was the exception and not the rule. But drunkenness was then considered very disgraceful, and on that account was rarely heard of. People then could drink without taking too much.

It is not to be understood, that even considering the customs of the settlers, at that time, the teacher was justified in treating his pupils to whisky, and the people for suffering it to be done. It vyas wrong then, and at the present day would not be tolerated in any community.

To the credit of the patrons and teachers of the schools of the past, it may here be said, that there is only one other instance known of a proceeding of this kind being allowed. It was considered at that day that it was not so much the use as the abuse ^ which made whisky so objectionable and demoralizing. If at that da}^ a young gentleman, the least bit intoxicated attempted to wait upon a respectable young lady, he was told that his company was not absohitely required at that house, and that the sooner he left the better it would be for all concerned. Hozv is it now? Our readers live in the present, and are capable of passing judgm.ent upon present customs.

There was a town called "Washington," laid off by B. W. Levens, about one mile below Overton, near the Missouri river, on the farm lately occupied by Timoth^^ Chandler. Several lots were sold, houses built, and for a while considerable business done. But the site of the town has long since disappeared, and the spot on which it was located cannot be designated by any persons living. Indeed, but few in that locality are aware of the fact that such a town was ever located and inhabited.

Rocheport, and some lots were sold, but not much improved. The site of the town has long since disappeared under the encroaching waters of the Missouri river.

Another town, the name of which is now unknown, was located at the "cross roads," north of Conner's mill, near the late residence of Judge Jesse Ogden, but was soon abandoned.

Mr. Lamm was born in Roan county, North Carolina, twelve miles from Saulsberr}-, and is 8i years of age. His parents removed with him to Tennessee, in 1796, taking him with them. He came to and settled in Saline township in the fall of 1816, and has remained there ever since.

Mr. James F-. Conner was a small boy when he, with his parents, settled in Saline township. He is the proprietor of the Conner's mill, situated on the Petite Saline Creek, about nine miles east of Boonville, which was erected by Charles Force, and until it was purchased by Mr. Conner, who changed it into a steam mill, it was run entirely by water power. This mill was built at a very early day, and has proved of great benefit to the inhabitants of this township, as it gave them a market at home for their surplus products.

This township is one of the best wheat districts in the county, probably not finer wheat being raised in the State. It also p^duces, wdth little cultivation, all other kinds of grain, fruits and garden vegetables.

This township, as well as the rest of the county, had its troubles in the late civil war. There were nine Union and three southern men killed within its borders. The southern men who were killed were, Benjamin Htill, William Henshaw and Radford Bass. These men were murdered at or near their homes, about the last of September, 1864, by a scouting part}^ of Union soldiers, being a part of the com-

The Union soldiers w^ho were killed, were slain by "bushwhackers" from Howard and Boone counties, seven of them on ihe 7th day of October, 1864, and two of them on the 27th day of May, 1865. The following is a list of them : Henry Weber, Franz Haftenburg, Jacob Eder, David Huth, Bernhard Deitrick, Gerhardt Blank, Peter Diehl, Jacob Good, Sr., Jerry Good, Jr. There was also a "bushwhacker," whose name is unknown, killed on the 27th day of May, 1865.