Sni-A-Bar Township

Sni-A-Bar Township

Sni-a-bar or ' ' Shnee-a-bar " township, as it occurs in some old records, was first organized May 5, 1834, but has undergone many changes since that date. Sni-a-bar township is bounded north by Fort Osage, east by Lafayette county, south by Van Buren and Prairie, and west by Prairie and Blue townships. It is the central eastern township, and enjoys as great a variety of surface and soil as any in Jackson county. The population is between 4,350 and 5,000, and the agricultural resources are very superior especially in the western portion. The township contains 600 farms under cultivation, averaging 100 acres each, and these farms are valued at from $20 to $35 per acre, depending on location and improvements. The Chicago & Alton Railroad runs through the township in an easterly and westerly direction, and upon this line Blue Springs, Grain Valley and Oak Grove, three little villages within its borders are located. Pink Hill, another little post village, is situated about four miles north of the Chicago & Alton Railroad.

The township is somewhat broader from east to west than from north to south, being thirteen miles in the former direction and nine in the latter direction.

The Name

In an early day, when a Frenchman by the name of Abar was ascending the Missouri River in a Canadian boat, called a Mackinaw boat, he conceived that Sni-a-bar creek was a slough which would conduct him out a little distance and then back into the river, but after going up the little creek the distance of a mile he found it was not a slough or sni, as he had supposed, but a creek flowing into the Missouri River. From this circumstance the creek was called Sni-Abar, from the name of the above named Frenchman; the township was afterward called Sni-a-bar from the name of its principal stream. The boat in which this Frenchman navigated the river was a curiously constructed craft. It was propelled by oars, setting poles or cordelles. The oars were manned by about ten persons, five on a side, being long, with a wide blade, and used almost exclusively in descending the stream and in crossing from one side of the river to the other. The poles were used in propelling the boat up stream ; also the cordelles were brought into use while ascending One man stood upon the boat and with a pole kept the boat from the shore, while several men with a rope or cordelle attached to the bow would haul it along. The poles for propelling the boat could not be used when the water was deep.

Any person who visits Sni-a-bar township in the spring or summer would be struck with the peculiar beauty and attractiveness of the undulating surface, adorned with fine oak timber, well cultivated fields and running streams of living water. For miles around, as far as the eye can reach, these gently undulating lands, reminding one of the succession of waves to be seen upon the ocean when subsiding from the effects of a storm, meet the view of the beholder on every hand. One of the admirers of this section says that ' 'after God had created the world and pronounced all that he had made 'good', he certainly must have gazed upon this section with supreme satisfaction that he had fashioned it more especially for agriculture, fruit growing and stock raising than any other section of his moral vineyard." He proceeds to say that "notwithstanding this section of Jackson county has been overlooked by the eastern and western immigrant in his haste to reach Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado to secure cheap lands and a cheap home, the far-seeing Kentuckian and the sober calculating Virginian concluded to stop and look at Sni-a-bar township, where, after a careful examination of the rich lands to be seen upon every side, concluded here was the spot where the raising of stock, grain, grasses and fruits could be done more successfully and profitably than in his native State ; and lands here 'were cheap enough for him.' Hence a large per cent of this township has been settled by the most intelligent and enterprising class of farmers for which Kentucky, the home of Clay, and Virginia, the land of Presidents, has commanded such high respect and consideration ever since the organization of the Government."

Physical Features

The principal streams are Little Blue and Sni-a-bar, the former flows north along the western border, and the latter rising in Van Buren and Prairie townships flows in a northeasterly course through the township. The banks of Little Blue are somewhat precipitous, though not seriously broken, it has a deep channel and generally fringed with timber ; in many places the timber extends out into the prairie the distance of a mile or more. As a general rule the bed of the stream is of a clay sub-soil, but near their sources some rock is found. The stream was called " Blue" because of the color of water. In the fall of the year before the islands were much cultivated, the water assumed a bluish hue .probably from having filtered through the green herbage as it left the prairie to mingle in the channel of the stream. The pioneers first called it "Blue,"' then all who succeeded used this most appropriate name, till now it is known in records and in history as Little Blue.

Sni-a-bar Creek after leaving this township flows into Lafayette county, thence continuing northeast discharges its waters into the Missouri near Wellington. The channel is more shallow than that of the Little Blue as a general thing, banks more sloping, and timber sometimes growing near the water's edge, also the water is more muddy and has fewer good fords than Little Blue. Stock can go down and drink without danger of miring, nearly all along its course, though in places when wet, teams would not undertake to cross. On this stream there is much timber - oak, hickory, walnut, elm, hackberry, ash, persimmon, sycamore, Cottonwood, maple, buckeye, box elder, linden, and other species abound. The undergrowth consists of papaw sumach, hazel and willow. There are . numerous small tributaries watering a large section of country commonly called " Sni Hills." The " Sni Hills" are now densely covered with different species of oak with some hickory ; but in early days before the country was fully settled, these hills were nearly destitute of trees except, perhaps, one years growth of shrubbery, and here and there a large tree, the fire usually sweeping over once a year and killing, the small growth, till by the cultivation of the prairies and using other means to prevent the fire, a growth of timber was allowed to come up. There was, however, a section of about four miles north and south along the county line, by two miles east and west called "^Vhite Oak Woods," which seemed to escape the destructive influence of fire. In this section stock men find an excellent place to breed and fatten stock, being well watered and protected from the weather in winter. The central portion of the township has the most prairie land, and is gently undulating, all susceptible of high cultivation ; the eastern and western being more broken though equally susceptible to cultivation.

Early Settlers

When in 1836 Mr. Jacob Gregg took the Missouri State Census he found settlers along the course of Little Blue and Sni-a-bar Creeks, but on the prairies there were no settlements. At that date there were within the bounds of what is now Sni-a-bar township, not exceeding one hundred and fifty souls. Not one of the setttlers living here at that date is living here now, and scarcely one alive. Mr. John Gilum, now living in Texas, was living here at that time, and the enumerator, Mr. Jacob Gregg, staid at his house over night. Mr. Gilum then lived on the farm now occupied by Robert Wood, about one mile east of Pink Hill, his house being about 100 yards from Sui-a-bar Creek.

James Welch, a typical pioneer, came from Tennessee about the year 1820, first settling in Lafayette county, then taking a claim near the southern line of the township, about one half mile east of Sni-a-bar Creek. He d ed at this residence about the year 1848 and was buried in the burying ground in the neighborhood. He was a hunter, and whenever he visited a neighbor he bore his rifle on his shoulder and was very cautious about letting others handle it, for fear of putting a spell upon it. He professed to have the power of removing that spell by conjuration. The spell was supposed to prevent the gun from carrying the ball straight. He never wore a coat, but his hunting shirt and pants constituted his outer garments, he carried in his belt a hunting knife and sometimes a tomahawk. He hunted deer and bear and was considered a good marksman.

William Cox who came from Tennessee about the year 1820, nearly the same time with Welch, lived near the eastern boundary of the township on a stream called the Horseshoe Branch of the Sni-a-bar. He went to Texas many years ago where it is supposed he long since died. He sold his premises to John McKinney, a Methodist minister, who obtained the estabhshment of a post-office at that place and called it Oak Grove. This was the first post-office in Sni-a-bar townsfiip. Mr. McKinney went to Oregon and William Philpot was appointed postmaster, and removed the ofifice one mile west. William Philpot then went to Oregon and Alexander Joyce was appointed postmaster and removed the postoffice one half mile north of Philpot's. A. Joyce kept the office here several years, then Dr. Frick obtained the office and removed it one mile east, to a little settlement called Lickskillet, but afterward Oak Grove. This, then, was the origin of the town named Oak Grove.

Alexander Joyce, Caleb Darby, Adison Philpot, David George, and John Hudson, all lived in the vicinity of Oak Grove, but are now dead, their descendants still live in the vicinity. They were all good citizens and men of prominence. Caleb Darby came from Virginia originally, as also Alexander Joyce, John Hudson and Adison Philpot, but David George was from Tennessee.

Caleb Darby was a man of fine sensibilities, but strong prejudices. He became a neighborhood doctor and often assisting in sickness, using the Thompsonian remedies. He died during the war. David George was a peculiar man in his manner and conversation, possessing a jocular turn of mind. He, it was, who gave the little settlement above mentioned the name of Lickskillet. He went south and was supposed to have been killed. John Hudson was a man of good natural ability as well as of acquired wealth. He died at his home in the year 1848, having been Justice of the Peace several years. Alexander Joyce was postmaster and Justice of the Peace for many years, a man of good mind and moral habits. He died in about the year 1867 at his home. Adison Philpot had a peculiar faculty of making money. He lived on the premises which he first settled till his death, having accumulated a good fortune.

Frankhn Smith settled near the village of Blue Springs about the year 1838. He established the first post-office at this point, and named it Blue Springs, from which the village afterward derived its name. He came from Virginia. He represented the county in the General Assembly of the State, and held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, for which he was considered particularly well qualified.

The first settler at Blue Springs was Dr. Smith. The property is now occupied by Major J. M. Burris. Dr. Smith sold out and left, probably, for the Piatt Purchase. He was succeeded at this settlement by Jeremiah Wood, who lived there about five years. While Mr. Wood lived here Jacob Gregg, the County Surveyor, run off a tract of land forty acres in extent on the east side of Wood's farm, in the open prairie. The owner of the land offered it to Wood for $75, and he refused to give it for the reason that "it was unfit for anything except to let cows graze on, and his cows would get as much of the grass as any one's." Now, this tract of forty acres, with the improvements, could be sold for at least $450 per acre. Mr. Wood died about the year 1855, and was buried in the cemetery at Blue Springs. He was a manufacturer of tobacco, and made many a sharp bargain.

The first settlers of Blue Springs were nearly all Virginians. Among them we mention : Joel Clark, Franklin Smith, William Harris, Jeremiah Wood, Isam Hall, Richard Stanley.

Joel Clark lived about one-half mile south of Blue Springs, having settled there about the year 1838. He died therle an old man about the year 1850. He was a common farmer. Many of his descendants now live in this vicinity.

William Harris had a fondness for hunting, and in those early pioneer days killed many a deer. He settled there about the year 1832, and died there about the year 1840.

Isam Hall was also a common farmer, having come into the neighborhood about the year 1838, and died of a cancer in the year i86o. He was economical, and left a small estate.

one mile west of Blue Springs. He reared a family, some of whom still survive. He was a prominent man, though not liberally educated. He had a very retentive memory, and could recall facts with great exactness. He was Judge of the County Court for many years, and was very popular as a judge, and his decisions were of great weight on the bench among his associate justices. He was able to recall decisions of other courts, as well as his own, bearing upon the questions in controversy. He was a great poHtician, and discoursed with much precision upon the history of parties and the doings of their respective candidates from Washington down to that day. He was a warm adherent to the Democratic principles. He was judge when the civil war broke out. He became deranged in the year 1862, and in a year or two thereafter died while in Carroll county, Missouri, whither he had fled before the terrors of General Order Number Eleven.

Rev. Joab Powell, the pioneer Baptist preacher, lived southeast of Blue Springs about three miles, this being his second settlement. His first settlement was about three miles east of Independence. He was illiterate, though could read and' write in a clumsy manner. His deportment as a minister was much different from that of many others ; he did not assume uncommon goodness, nor did he go about with a downcast look, but he would make himself sociable with all classes of moral and respectable people, sometimes engaging in the sports of young people and the discussion of political and religious subjects. At one time in the year 1846, he engaged with Jacob Gregg in the discussion of the subject of "Which has the greater cause of complaint, the negro or Indian?" at a school house about four miles southeast of the present village of Blue Springs. Mr. Gregg gained the decision and Bro. Powell after the meeting still clung to his belief. He believed that men should show their religious faith by their works. Accordingly, with very little assistance either in labor or money, he built a church which he afterward used as his own church. He could draw the largest congregations of any minister in the vicinity. He removed to Oregon and there died about five years ago. Jacob Gregg came into this township and settled in the south part, at the place which he named Stony Point, about two miles and a half south of his present home.

He came into the township in March, 1839. Tennessee is his native state, where he lived till seven years of age, then came to the Territory of Illinois in the year i8og. In 1812 he came to Boone's Lick, in the Territory of Missouri, since Howard county. During his father's residence at Boone's Lick, after attaining his majority, he spent one year in Arkansas, then went on a trading expedition to New Mexico in the first wagon train across the plains, a distance of 800 miles. A short time after returning from Santa Fe, he removed with his father to what was then known as the Blue River country, about four miles a little north of east from Independence. This was the fall of 1825, and only a few settlers then lived in what is now Jackson county, Jacob Gregg lived there with his father for about three years and then after living near the old homestead for about two years, removed to Independence, where he remained about two years. Then lived on two different farms east of Independence for several years, then came to Sni-a-bar township in which he now lives. In the year 1826, he was appointed constable of Blue township by the authority of the county court of Lafayette county. In 1827, J. R. Walker was sheriff' and Gregg his deputy, in which position he served for three years. During this time he was appointed county surveyor and was surveyor till elected sheriff in the year 1832. He was sheriff till 1836, and in 1850 was elected to the General Assembly of Missouri, on the Whig ticket, and served one term. While at Stony Point he was postmaster. Mr. Gregg now lives at Grain Valley, on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, fifteen miles south east of Independence, He has five sons now living, two of whom live in the vicinity of Grain Valley. Nine children, all of whom have grown to matu-

Jacob Gibson, Silas Gibson and Joseph Gibson came and settled about four miles northeast of Blue Springs in the year 1838. They were originally from Kentucky. Jacob died in the year 1849, '"'''^ 'he cholera, On his own farm. He owned one of the finest farms in Jackson county, consisting of six hundred and thirty acres.

Joseph Gibson also owned a fine farm. The old homestead is now occupied by his son-in-law, Judge Albert G. Williams. He died.many years ago - probably before his brother Jacob. Silas Gibson also owned and occupied a good farm, now owned by Dr. J. H. Daniels. He died about the year i860. These three men were considered good and substantial citizens.

Nathan Russell came and settled in the Six Mile district in 1823, coming from Tennessee originally. He then removed to this township in about the year 1836, and settled about five miles north of Blue Springs, on what was called "Burr Oak Branch," near the Little Blue. He remained there as a prominent farmer, using the primitive appliance of farm culture, such as a truck wagon with wheels, constructed of solid blocks of wood sawn from a large log, with a large round hole cut in the center of each, for the spindle and axletree of the truck. He hauled many rails and other wood on the above described truck, for a considerable distance. At one time, when he went after a load of rails, some two miles, to what was known as " Fire Prairie Hill," after he had loaded the rails and started back, the wheels of the truck made a noise something like the yelping of a pack of hounds. It so happened that Colonel James Chiles and others were out for a deer chase at this time. After the hounds were put out, the men took their respective stands, expecting the deer to pass by them ; and about this time Nathan Russell started his truck loaded with rails. Colonel Chiles heard the hounds, as he thought, coming in his direction, and as they were heard to bear off in another direction, he moved his position, and there watched for the approach of the deer, but behold, to his surprise, he found that it was Nathan Russell's old truck wagon squeaking upon its bearing, which he had taken for the barking of the pack of hounds.

John Robinson came from Kentucky about 1836, and settled about three miles north of Blue Springs. He Hved there and made considerable money for this country, and died about the year 1858 or '9. Judge Chas. Strode now lives on these premises. John Robinson, although possessed of coBsiderable wealth, would ride a small, cheap horse, with rope stirrup and rope bridle, and the tree of a saddle, barefoot, and in this manner would frequently ride to Independence, and attend public meetings.

Morgan Walker came from Kentucky in about the year 1838, and settled two miles north of Blue Springs, on a place which was afterward known as the "Walker farm." He died in the year 1867, and was buried in the vicinity in what is known as the Lobb graveyard. He was fond of accumulating real estate, and accordingly acquired a large tract of land of the first quality.

Aquilla Lobb came from Kentucky about the year 1840, and settled north of Blue Springs about four miles. He lived there till i860, then removed to Nebraska, and in 1867 returned to his farm, where he lived a few years, then moved to his present home near Independence.

Britton M. Capell came from Kentucky in the year 1840, and settled a farm near what is now the village of Grain Valley, and still hyes where he first settled and reared a family. He is a man of strong individual will and set purpose.

this vicinity in Jackson county. He settled at first near Oak Grove ; after marrying his second wife, lived northwest of Pink Hill about three miles.

Blue Springs

The town of Blue Springs is located on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section number thirty-six, township forty-nine, north of range thirtyone, west of the fifth principal meridian, and also fifteen acres of land off the south end of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of said section thirtysix, township and range aforesaid. The magnetic variation at this point being 7° 7' on all lines north of Walnut street.

C. W. Mock built the first business house in Blue Springs. This occurred in July, 1878. J. K. Parr was the first party to move his family to Blue Springs, and claims the title of "the first settler" in the new town of Blue Springs.

The three former are situated on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and Pink Hill about three miles north of the railroad, exactly on the range line between ranges twenty-nine and thirty.

The name Blue Springs was first given to a spring of water flowing from the side of a hill and falling into a tributary of Little Blue River. It was then given to the post-office, which was established in the year 1845, about three-fourths of a mile northwest of the spring of water. After the post-office was established there sprung up a little settlement, in which Esquire Franklin Smith kept a store ; then Riley Slaughter commenced a mercantile business there. The little village of Blue Springs remained northwest of the present site of Blue Springs till the year 1879, when it was removed to the railroad.

John Murry succeeded Riley Slaughter in the mercantile trade ; then Thomas Ricordkept store at Blue Springs, then James Walker, and Walker sold to a man who removed to the new site.

As early as 1825 this spring of water attracted campers and traders, and many of those starting on the Santa Fe expeditions rendezvoused here preparatory to crossing the plains. The spring was named Blue Springs by freighters freighting provisions to the Harmony Mission, on the Marias de Cygnes River, in Bates county, from Lexington in Lafayette county. At the same time these freighters named many prominent points on their route, such as : Double Branches, Twin Mounds, Eight Mile, Two Mile, Camp Branch, Big Creek, Rocky Branch, etc. . Mr. Shannon Knox, in the early part of 1879, laid out the present site of the town of Blue Springs. He had purchased the land of Malory Smith for that purpose, at about twenty dollars per acre. The lots were offered for sale, but at first did not find a quick market, subsequently, however, many persons have bought lots and built thereon.

There are ten stores and business houses in the town, two of which would be regarded as carrying good stocks in much larger towns. The business is increasing from year to year, and the now rapid settling up of the lands that are tributary to it will offer inducements to others who may be seeking favorable locations for merchandising. There are also two hotels, the Chicago & Alton House, owned by Mr. J. K. Parr, and the Denver House by Mrs. M. R. Alexander, which was opened nearly two years ago, at which we are how domiciled. Mrs. Alexander conducts the Denver in a style that must secure for her most favorable comments from those who stop at the Denver. We learn the Chicago & Alton is well kept.

Here is located the widely celebrated " Blue Springs Flouring Mill," owned by Messrs. Hoover, Jones & Co., built in 1879, at a cost of $18,000, having four run of burs, with a capacity to manufacture eighty barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. The machinery is propelled by a sixty-horse power engine, and run day and night in order to supply the constantly increasing demand made upon them for their elegant brand of flour, now recognized as being superior to any that reaches the Kansas City market,, and commanding higher prices.

Blue Springs has also become a shipping point of much importance. During the year 1880, there was shipped 150 head of horses, 558 of cattle, 4,020 hogs, 150 sheep, twenty-seven cars of wheat, 28 of corn, 17,500 barrels of flour, 1,080 cords of wood, and sixty car loads of other products.

The society of Blue Springs commands the very highest consideration for their educational enterprise, religious culture and inteUigence. There cannot be found a more genial and hospitable people in any community in this or any other -county.

Business Directory

There are twelve churches in Sni-a-bar township, representing the Methodist, Baptist (old and new school), Presbyterian and Christian denominations. The Missionary Baptists are the leading denomination in the township, then comes the 'Christian denomination, then the Methodist, then the Old School Baptists and

The Blue Spring Baptist church was organized in November, 1842, with fourteen members, only two of whom are now' living, namely : Levi S. Montgomery and Elizabeth Wood, all the rest have passed away. They met for some time in private houses in winter and in the grove in summer. They had no regular pastor for several years, but were supplied by Revs. Joab Powell and Lewis Franklin alternately. The Rev. William White was the first regular pastor who served one year, he was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Farnor, who served for ten years, then Rev. Edward Wood who served for two years. Then the civil war broke out and consequently stopped all public service, during which time the church house was burned. The members who returned to their homes met at a private house and were re-organized by the Rev. W. A. Durfey. The church then called the Rev. Samuel Shepherd, as pastor, who served three years. Then the church called the Rev. E. H. Foster, of Leavenworth, Kansas, who is now in his eleventh year of pastoral service.

During the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Shepherd the church built a frame house at a cost of about fifteen hundred dollars, which has been used till the present winter, when the society took it down and moved it to town and enlarged it, and will soon have it completed. The church, like all others, has had some gracious revivals. After dismissing sixty-five at one time to organize another church, it has grown from fourteen to the present number, two hundred and nine.

A fine growth of timber covers about one-eighth of the surface of the township, including nut trees and the hackberry, black and white oak, walnut and other trees found upon rich alluvial bottoms. Some of these trees have attained a large size. There is a black walnut near Blue Springs, planted thirty years ago, that measures one foot in diameter and fifty feet in height; this is only a representative tree of others found in this vicinity, showing what the soils of this section may produce. Near the eastern boundary of the township, within a mile and a half of Oak Grove, a vein of surface coal is found cropping out from six to twelve inches in thickness, extending along the ridge for six miles. The entire township has a black, rich soil, which is peculiarly adapted for raising wheat successfully.

In 1867 G. M. Smith raised upon a ten-acre lot, upon which a part of the town of Blue Springs now stands, forty -two bushels, for which he reahzed eighty dollars per acre, or eight hundred dollars for the ten acres. The same season there was raised upon a twenty-acre field, on the farm of Judge Williams, four miles east of the town, a crop of wheat which the judge sold for twelve hundred dollars. Jacob Gregg, residing at Grain Valley, says he distinctly recollects of his father reaping forty bushels to the acre forty years ago, when the present improved implements for farming were unknown. John King, upon a farm near Oak Grove last year, raised on a lot forty bushels to the acre.

Notwithstanding these evidences of the capacity of these soils to produce a large yield of wheat, the average yield is estimated by the farmers in the township to be from 20 to 35 bushels per acre. The estimated average yield of corn is from 40 to 80 bushels per acre, although first-class farmers, in a favorable season, have produced 100 bushels to the acre.

Blue grass, clover and timothy grow here to great perfection and the farmers are turning their attention,, to a considerable extent, to stock raising. Until quite recently - the past three or four years - the raising of mules received more attention than that of horses. At the present time a good span of mules would readily bring from $250 to $350. The introduction of high bred horses only a few years ago is working a radical change here, and the day is not far distant when Sni-a-bar Township will contain as good horses and as many of them as any section of its size in this part of the State. This township has been giving

Oak Grove

The town of Oak Grove is situated on the southeast quarter of southeast quarter of Sec. 32, Tp. 49, R. 29. The outside limits of the town correspond with the boundary of the forty acres above described. It was laid out by Wm. E. Frick and attested August 21, 1878.

Oak Grove, one of the oldest post villages in the township, is located on the Chicago and Alton Railroad near the Lafayette county line and contains about 280 inhabitants. It has eleven stores and business houses, a school house, church, post-office, hotel, livery stable, and a very elegant mill building, which will be ready for occupancy this year.

Dear Sir : - Inclosed is a petition for incorporation which please present to the honorable County Court for action in Kansas City, with the following names recommended by quite a number of the petitioners as a board of trustees, to-wit: J. Darby, W. H. Perkins, I. H. Woolery, J. J. Fulkerson, and T. M. Vermilhon. By attention to this matter you will confer a great favor and oblige

We, the undersigned citizens of said county and State of aforesaid, pray that our village (Oak Grove) and commons be incorporated with the following metes and bounds, to-wit : Beginning at the northeast corner of southwest quarter of southwest quarter in Sec, 33, Tp. 49 of R. 29, and running west to the northwest corner of southwest quarter of southwest quarter in Sec.32,Tp.49,of R.29, thence south to the southwest corner of same Sec, Tp., and R. , thence south 30 rods in Sec. 5, Tp. 48, R. 29, thence east 80 rods in Sec. 5, Tp. 48, of R. 29, thence east 80 rods in Sec. 4, Tp. 48, of R. 29, thence north to the place of beginning and a police be established for our local government, and for the preservation and regulation of any commons appertaining to such town or village.

We will give below a statement as received from R. P. Price, the accommodating agent at this place, from January ist, 1880, to December 31, 1880:

Porter. Blacksmith - M. Clemens. Depot - E. H. Price, Agent. Hotel - Andy Shrock. Barber - C. B. Biggert. Livery Stable - J. R. Youree. Post-office - John Darby, P. M. Justice of the Peace and Notary - T.

Grain Valley

This town was laid off by Joseph Peters, September 5, 1878. It is described as follows : Commencing 58 feet south of the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Sec. 35, Tp. 49, R. 30, thence north seven hundred and fifteen feet, thence east four hundred and forty feet, thence south to the railroad, thence following the railroad west 120 feet, thence south to the southern limits of the town, thence west to the place of beginning; making an inclosure of four acres.

This httle village is situated on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, in the central southern portion of Sni-a-bar township. It was laid out in the fall of 1878, by James Lucas, three-quarters of a mile from Sni-a-bar Creek and five miles from Blue Springs. It being in the heart of the valley, its future promises most encouraging results. Surrounded by a farming country of unsurpassed fertility, it will soon become a place of considerable commercial importance. '

Physician, James H. Daniels. G. U. Keener. " J. W. Starnes. Minister, G. U. Keener. Justice of the Peace, J. H. Cannon. Notary Public, J. A. Porter. General store, John Graves.

The business of this little place is said to be at least $75,000 annually. Their shipment of products of all kinds was last year 235 car loads.

Pink Hill

The little village of Pink Hill is situated in Sni-a-bar township, on the line dividing ranges 19 and 20, in township 49. Its' plat bears date of November 5, 1854, and is signed by George W. Love and D. A. Neer. Some years ago there was a little post town called Stony Point, situated in the southern part of the township.

" When the territory, now Jackson county, was first settled, she was under the jurisdiction of Lafayette County. The county court of Lafayette county laid off the townships of Fort Osage, Blue and Kaw, and appointed the Justices of the expired, he changed his place of residence into another part of the county, but he still bore the title Esquire. It so happened that he had a near neighbor, and he had a full grown daughter, and she had a beau. They concluded to make themselves one, and, looking around for a suitable person to join them together for life, their neighbor Esquire was proposed and accepted. So Esquire was sent for, and he performed the marriage ceremony with full confidence that he had the right to do so.

In about four weeks the marriage certificate was presented to tlie clerk to be recorded. The clerk refused to record it, knowing it was not a legal marriage. The parties were then informed of their condition. They then sent for a legal parson and were married over. The groom is still living in this county, raised a respectable family, but lost the first wife some years ago, and has been married three times since, but never made any more mistakes about getting the legal parson."

" I came to Missouri and settled in the neighborhood of Oak Grove in 1837 . James Welch, Red Head Cox, and a Mr. Cummins, Caleb Darby, John H. Hudson, Phillip Cantrell, Addison Philpot, were among the .first settlers in this part of the county. There were no churches in the county for several years after that time. Gotril Fithew, Henry Bowers, William Housley and John- Warden were the only ministers that preached through this part of the country for a number of years. They preached at people's houses, and in summer time not unfrequently in the shady groves. The first church built in Oak Grove neighborhood was in 1850. It was built as a Union church, cost $500, and was a frame. For a number of years the nearest physician to be had was at Independence. Drs. Flournoy, Troost and Wilkinson did the practice in this part of the county, all of whom lived in Independence."

The first post-office in Sni-a-bar township was Oak Grove. Jonn McKinney was post-master. The office changed hands several times, and moved each time it changed hands, until it finally got into the village of Oak Grove, about three years before the war. The town of Oak Grove is situated on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and derived its name from the post-office. I am not able to tell the exact date when Sni-a-bar township was organized. John H. Hudson was the first Justice of the Peace in the eastern part of Sni-a-bar township, and Joseph Crawford was the first constable.

The heads of some of our Justices in those days were not any too well stored with legal lore. There was a certain Justice in Van Buren township, who sold his property and moved to Cass county, and consequently had to resign his office. He accordingly took his books and papers to the Clerk's office at Independence, delivered them up to Mr. Lucas (who was then County Clerk), and told him he was going to move to Cass county and wished him to swear him out of office.

On another occasion there were two men who swapped horses, one was by a certain time to deliver the other a cow as boot in the trade. The time passed and the cow was not delivered according to agreement. The man that was to receive the cow brought suit for the worth of the cow in money. The Justice after hearing the evidence decided that a cow he was to have and a cow he should have, that a judgment in that case without a cow in it would be a violation of both law and contract.

During the Civil War of 1861-5 bands of bush-whackers and lawless desperadoes infested this township. They were called " Sni Hill Rangers." Many of these outlaws had relatives in Sni-a-bar and often secreted themselves here when pursued by the county civil authorities or United States soldiers.

Most of those who had been engaged in guerrilla warfare took advantage of the amnesty granted them by the statute of the State, and have since become worthy and law abiding citizens.

Occasionally, however, there have been outbreaks since the war and fights and personal encounters have occurred, probably on account of some old feud engendered during the war, but as a general thing all those feelings are dying out and will soon be forgotten. There was a shooting affair at the Pink Hill M. E. church during service one night in the fall of 187 1, men having indulged in carrying deadly weapons till a general protest was circulated in the township, a copy of which herewith speaks for itself. It bears the date of October, 187 1.

Against Carrying Fire

We, the undersigned, citizens of Sni-a-bar township, Jackson county. Mo., deeply regret the homicides lately committed in our township, by which Elijah Gardner, Robert St. Clair and Grandville Love lost their lives ; and believing that no justifiable cause existed for any of the said homicides, and feeling it our duty, as peaceable and law-abiding citizens, to do all in our power to prevent any future occurrences of the same sad and disgraceful character.

We hereby enter our solemn protest against the practice of carrying pistols and other deadly weapons in a''^eaceable community - believing as we do, that no necessity exists for any man to so arm himself, we regard the practice as destructive to the good morals of the young men and boys of our township, and productive only of evil, by setting bad examples as well as killing men.

We, therefore, respectfully ask all persons to desist from^such debasing practices, and abandon habits that only produce evil and immorality, and we hereby pledge ourselves to use all means in our power to put a stop to said practice and all other like evils :