Sni-A-Bar Township

Sni-A-Bar Township

The name Sinabar has a peculiar history. If any one will look at a map of Lafayette county, they will discover a large bay protruding into Clay township, making the eastern boundary of a peninsula about four miles deep. Tradition says: A trader or hunter named Herbert, in going up the river followed this bay clear to its head, supposing it to be the main body of the Missouri river, and he was greatly bewildered for awhile, and delayed in his trip by this misadventure. The incident becoming known, the early navigators and trappers had many a laugh at Herbert's expense; they called this bay Reviere cT Herbert, or "Herbert's river, " as a standing joke, and it became a waymark in designating places and distances on the great stream. But afterward a Pennsylvania Dutch word Schuyte, (English Shute, German Schnitt from Schneiden, to cut) was introduced here by keelboatmen from the region of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They mixed the Dutch and French words, and made Schuyte d7 Herbert, then Shuyte 'Eber, then Schuyte 7Aber, and finally Snyabar - each successive change or corruption being to shorten the name and make it easier to pronounce - in a word, to westernize it, and this culminates in the one easy syllable, Sni. The above is the etymological evolution of the name Sniabar, or Sni, as it stands to-day applied to the township of that name, and the two main creeks within the township. But historically, those streams have had other names.

The old French maps prior to the year 1800, mark the great bend or bay which protrudes into Clay township as Reviere d7 Herbert - Herbert's river .

In 1823, Dr. Beck's Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri calls it Chenal Ebert - Ebert's channel, a mere variation of Herbert's river as above.

In 1823, also, Lieut. Long, the explorer after whom Long's Peak in Colorado is named, calls our two streams little Cheny an Barre and great Cheny an Barre. This is manifestly only his attempt to spell the name as then pronounced - Sche-nye-an-Bair, the "Pennsylvania Dutch" leaven being then well at work in the long cooking of this name. In this same year (1823), the official records of Lillard - now Lafayette county, spell it Sny E. Bairre.

In 1835, Mitchell's geography map of Missouri marks it Chenal aux Herberts - the channel of Herbert, another mere variation of the original French name.

In 1872, Prof. Pumpelly's geological survey report spells it Sniabar \ so also Campbell's Gazetteer of Missouri, 1872; indeed, that is now the settled Anglicized orthography of the name, without any hyphens, apostrophes, periods, spaces or intermediate capital letters to give it an "awfully foreign" look. They are all mere affectation, without a spark of meaning that any body can swear by.

Two considerable creeks empty into the Schenye or false river, and so they were called Big Sni and Little Sni creeks; one of the earliest settlements in the original Cooper county, was on these creeks, and widely known as the Sniabar settlement, then Sniabar township, first in Cooper county, next in Lillard county, and lastly in Lafayette county.

May 4, 1824, Fort Osage township was set off from Sniabar township, which had prior to this extended to the west line of the state. The line then established between the new and the old township was the Big Sniabar. creek from its mouth to its source, near where Chapel Hill now stands, thence south in a straight line to the Osage river.

The first mention of Sinabar township in the old county records occurs under date of April 24, 1821, the county being still called Lillard. The record says: " It is ordered by the court that Markham Fristoe be appointed constable in and for the township ot Sinabar for the term of two years." He was placed under bonds "in the penal sum of $1,200, " and bondsmen were Benjamin Gooch and James Bounds, Jr. But prior to this, to-wit: November 22, 1820, the Governor had commissioned Henry Renick, St\, David McClellan and Abel Owen, as justices of the peace for Sniabar township then in Cooper county. January 21, 1821, 'Squire Renick swore in Abel Owen as a justice of the peace for Sniabar township, Lillard county; but just how he himself got bridged over from Cooper to Lillard county the record does not show. However, the next day he swore into office the justices of the first county court, which was held at Mount Vernon, near the mouth of Tabo creek.

July 24th, 1821, Abel Owen and Henry Renick were appointed to lay off the roads in Sinabar township into districts convenient for their proper care. And at the February term, 1822, of the county court, the following road district overseers were appointed for this township: 1st road district, Richard Fristoe, overseer. 2d road district, Jonathan Hicklin, overseer. 3d road district, Abner Graham, overseer.

The first mention of an election in Sinabar township is July 9, 1S22, when Julius Emmons, David Ward and Thos Swift were appointed by the county court to be judges of an election to be held at the place of preaching near Henry Renick's. This election took place in August, and Jesse Hitchcock was elected constable.

February 3, 1823, the name of Sniabar is spelled thus - Sny E. Bairre; and the following record occurs: "We this day allot the within named hands to cut out and keep in repair a road leading from Lexington to intersect the road leading from Jack's Ferry to the salt works, near Jacob Catron's.

John Nelson was appointed -overseer for this road and the above list of men who were required to work on it. The list seems to give some idea of the extent of the settlement at that time, and4to show who they were. Many of their descendants still live in the county.

Lexington township was organized May 4, 1824, and west of that was Sniabar township. On the 7th of November, 1825 Clay township was organized and its boundaries as then defined embraced all there was left of Sniabar township, so this name dropped out from the list of municipal townships of Lafayette county, and ,vas not heard of again until February 5, 1838 - a long sleep of thirteen years. But at that time it was ordered by the county court that a new township to be called Sniabar should be bounded thus: -'Beginning at the northwest corner of Washington township [This is a mistake*] thence west with the township line between townships 48 and 49 to the Jackson county line; thence south with said line to

is a mistake in the description of this new township's boundary line, and we could not find any record to show that it had ever been formally corrected. The township line between congressional townships 49 and 50 had been fixed as the boundary between Lexington and Washington townships - and therefore the "northwest corner of Washington township" would be on this line, and would leave for Clay township only the ragged edges of two fractional congressional townships; but the description should read thus: "Beginning at the west line of Washington township where it intersects the township line between townships Nos. 48 and 49: thence west," etc. This would give the true boundary of Sniabar township as it has been in practice ever since that township was recreated notwithstanding the verbal error in the record as above noted.

the northwest corner of Johnson county, thence east with the county line to the southwest corner of Washington township; thence north to the place of beginning.

Local Names. - A good many of the local names of things in Sniabar township were given by an old pioneer hunter, named Thomas Hopper. He killed an extra big buck elk on top of a high knob, and called it Buck Knob, which name it bears to this day. The name of Wagon Knob occurred in this way: Mr. Hopper and one or two others had obtained a wagon load of wild honey near the stream called Honey creek, in Washington township, which he named therefor, and on the road home the wagon broke down while they were crossing a knob; they packed as much of the honey on their horses as they could, and left the wagon there till it rotted away; and that place is called Wagon Knob to this day. The same man named "Texas Prairie," but just why is not known. He also named Peavine creek, in Freedom township it is said.

War Children. - Sergt. J. L. Leadbeater, of Capt. Simpson's company, in Gen. Jo. Shelby's command, says Sniabar township furnished 125 confederate soldiers; 38 were killed and 10 died of disease. All were married men except two, and in 1876 there were, in Sniabar township, 125 children of those confederate soldiers. Sergt. Leadbeater is blind and lives in the vicinity of Mt. Hope.

Chapel Hill

The school founded by A. W. Ridings, in the year 1843, was the beginning of Chapel Hill. He began with three scholars, but soon grew to a large boarding school, occupying a stone building, 40x60 feet, and two stories high. At the beginning of the war the school was nourishing, with 150 scholars. During the war, in 1862, it was burned by an unknown incendiary. In the fail of 1863 the village of Chapel Hill, consisting of about thirty houses, was burned by Quantrell's men, except two buildings, which were afterwards burned by accident. Up to that time there was no church organization except the Cumberland Presbyterian, who used the college building. The village has since been rebuilt, and consists of about thirteen residences, three stores, one blacksmith shop, three physicians, one church, one masonic lodge and a grange lodge. The village is situated on the Sni hills, which extend for a considerable distance to the north and northwest. The place was named by Mr. A. W. Riding after Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at which college he was educated. The first post office was kept by Mr. Shores in section 35, on the farm now owned by Mr. A. Wilkinson.

1870, and is situated in section 31, township 18, range 28. The names of the original members were: Wm. Rasdell, John Phillips, John Cobb, N. Wood, John Barnett, Wm. Barnett, Nat. Barnett, F. E. Barnett and B. R. Harmon. The church building is used by them in common with the Baptist and Methodist. The name of the pastor is the Rev. J. B. Dalton. At present it contains thirty-five members.

Chapel Hill Masonic Lodge, No. jjo, is in Sniabar township, and the date of its dispensation is 1870. The names of the charter members were: John McClure, John W. Wilkinson, Dr. F. M. Shore, R. Edmondson, D. G. Doty, F. E. McCormack, A. J. Lyon, B. E. Phillips and John W. Bledsoe. Names of the first officers: J. H. McClure, W. M.; F. M. Shore, S. W.; J. W. Wilkinson, J. W.; D. G. Doty, treasurer; J. W. Bledsoe, secretary; F. E. McCormack, S. D.; A. J. Lyon, J. D.; R. Edmondson, tyler. The present membership of the lodge is 18. The hall is a frame and was built in 1S69, at a cost of $500. There was a lodge at this point before the war, but during the war it was robbed of its charter and jewels by federal troops. The present lodge has been chartered since the war.

Chapel Hill Grange, was instituted on the 16th of August, 1873. The following are the names of the charter members: J. T. Leawell, J. C Cobb, F. E. Barnett, Isaac Wood, J. T. Dade, E. S. Garm, Wm. Harris, W. S. Leawell, J. F. Wood, J. H. Truell, A.J. McCauley, A. C. Green, T. B. Murray, J. H. Wood, Matt. Wood, R. H. Leawell, Bettie Leawell, L. J. Headrick, Adam Smith, and Lucretia A. Meadow.

The Town Of Odessa

(Named by T. B. Blackstone, president of the C. & A. R. R.) This city is located on the west side of the C. & A. R.R., IS miles west from Lexington, and 11 miles from Higginsville, surrounded by a good farming country. It was founded by A. R. Patterson, and John Kirkpatrick, July 15, 1878, and was incorporated February 3, 1880. The first mayor was H. B. Tunstall. The first postoffice was established July, 1879, with M. V. Powell as postmaster. The first house was built by Reid and Taylor. The first store was owned by Wm. F. McKinnev. The first school house was a frame building erected in September, 1880, at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by Miss Annie Anderson, in 1879, with 25 pupils; at the rate of $1.25 per capita, per month. The first male child was born September 19, 1878, Odessa L., son of George and Mary Cregger. First female born April 11, 1879, Mary M., daughter, of Wm. T. and Matilda J. Worley. The first death was that of David Lay, February 9, 1879, was killed while passing between cars and was buried in Greenton cemetery. The first regular physician was Dr. L. C. Nichols, of Mount Hope, formerly of Kentucky. The first religious service was held in Gibb's Hall, by the Christian denomination, and the first minister was Alex. Barton, of the Baptist church. The present officers of the city are: E. D. Rawlings, mayor; L. R. Smith, H. B. Tunstall,D. C. Baggerly, A. W. Stevens, councilmen ; Norborne Walton, marshal; Robert Broughton, treasurer; James Broughton, assessor; and D. C. McConnell, clerk. The official report of the census in 1880, gives the city 100 inhabitants, but now it is held as having about 800. The city contains the following business places:

Dry goods, 3; dry goods and groceries, 2; groceries, 4; hardware, 2; Hotels, 2; restaurants, 2; furniture stores, 2; milliner stores, 2; sewing machine dealer, 1 ; banks, 1 ; drug stores, 4; clothing store, 1 ; livery stables, 2; jewelry store, 1; shoe shops, 2; saddle shops, 2; barber shops, 2; elevator, 1 ; physicians, 6 ; newspaper, 1 ; lumber yard, 1 ; butcher shop, 1 ; blacksmith shop, 2; dentist, 1; saloons, 2; mills, 1; carding machine, 1.

Mr. E. H. Chapman, of Kansas City, has recently erected and placed in operation, a steam saw mill in the timber, about three and a half miles northeast of town, in the vicinity of Judge Prather's farm. Mr. I. N. Stanfield, formerly of Glasgow, Mo., does the sawing by contract. During the past month has cut over 4,000 feet per day; employs 15 men and 7 teams, and is making a pay roll of over $250 per week, most of which adds to the business of the town.

Bank of Odessa. - The Bank of Odessa was incorporated June 8, 1880, chartered July 19, and began business July 28th of same year. The following is a list of

The Hopewell O. S. Presbyterian Church, at Odessa, was organized September 14, 1850. The original members were: John H. Allison, Eliza Bledsoe, Sarah Bullard, C. D. Copp, S. S. Cornwell, Nancy Davidson, John Jackson, Clarinda Jackson, James M. Keith, Thomas Lee, Mary Lee, Elizabeth Lee, Ann Mary Lee, Elizabeth Keith, Nathaniel C. and Rebecca Maxwell, Mary M. Chesney,Jane Patterson, John B. and Adaline Taylor, H. and Lena Young.

The first church building was erected in 1854 at the village of Mt- Hope. During the late war it was burned, and was rebuilt in 1867. In 1880 the building was taken down and removed to Odessa.

The pastors who have been in charge are the Reverends Thomas A. Brachen, David Coulter, William A. Bagley, Joseph W. Wallace, James Morton, J. E. Latham, B. N. Hobson, and Samuel T. Kuffner, who occupies the pulpit at present. The present membership is fifty-one.

Odessa Baptist Church, originally Mt. Hope church, changed August, 1879. It was organized August 25, 1874. Original members: Ann Bird, Hannah Barker, J. B., Nancy, M. E., Thomas W., and Rev. James L. Carmichael; Winifred Burns, Virgil, Samantha, r.nd Mattie E. Halsell, Viola Hatch, Richard Y. Nichelsen, Milton, Mary, Ida B., and Dora M. Smith; Mary J. Starr, Lucinda McClure, Geo. W., and Elizabeth Wheeler. The chnrch is frame and was built in 1878, at a cost of $1,450. The church was dedicated August 29, 1880, by the late Rev. Isaac N. Newman. Their pastors have been: Geo. W. Smith, 1874; D. C. Bolton, 1875; J. B. Jackson, 1876; I. N. Newman, 1877; Henry Barton, a short time in 1878; J as. L. Carmichael, 1878; L. Ellege, 1879; Alex. Barton, 1879; W. T. Russell, 1881, the present pastor. Present members number eigty-seven. Revs. Newman and Barton were supplies only for a short timt each. The regular Baptists own a one-fourth interest in the building. Milton Smith, T, W. Carmichael, Thos. W. Gott, trustees, Thomas W. Carmichael, clerk. They have an interesting Sunday-school, organized in April, 1880; Thomas W. Carmichael, superintendant.

Christian Church, of Odessa, was organized in 1879. [Names of original membership not given.] The church was built in the spring of 1880, of brick, at a cost of $2,000. The church was never dedicated. Their pastor is now Elder W. R. Cunningham, the only pastor they have had. The membership is about 100. The Odessa congregation was organized by the union of a portion of the Mt. Hope and Greenton congregations; about 100 members went into the organization.

The Odessa Class, M. E. Church South, was organized in February, 1880. The original members were: Mr. J. McDonald, J. W. Wood, N. W. Todd, E. D. Rawlings and wife, Mrs. Hillock, Mrs. Cynthia Reid, Rob't. T. Russell, and Mrs. Rebecca J. Russell.

The Rev. John D. Wood was the first pastor, and the Rev. John B. H. Woolridge is in charge at present. The class numbers thirteen members It has no house of worship as yet, but being in a prosperous condition, expects to build one soon.

The present officers are W. B. Couchman, W. M.; J. W. Holman, S. W.; Wm. Thomas, J. W.; L. R. Smith, Treasurer; W. T. Anderson, Secretary; J. W.McBurney, S. D.;T. W. Carmichael, J. D.; L.F.Clemens, Chaplain; W. B. Roberts and S. W. Creasy, Stewards; J. F. Wood, Tyler. The present membership of this lodge is 47. It was originally located at Mt. Hope, but by permission of the G. M. it was removed to Odessa, still retaining its original name.

the names of the original members: Morris Cobb, Rebecca Cobb, Ephraim Waggoner, Sr., Sarah Wood, Isaac Wood, Isham Reese, Malinda Reese, Elizabeth Reese, Nancy Reese, I. M. Cobb, Sarah Cobb, Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Gatterfield, Sarah Sparks and others. The first church building, a frame, was erected in 1857 - the present, also frame, in 1858 at a cost of $1,100. It was dedicated by the Rev. William Hulks. The

Colborn. The present pastor in charge is Rev. J. B. Woodridge. The number of its present membership is ninety-four, and it's Sunday school was .fifty members. The church owns one acre and a half of ground - one acre of which is occupied by the grave-yard, in which James Waggoner, son of Rev. Ephraim Waggoner, was the first person buried.

The following items of early history were furnished by Mr. Stephen S. White. The first settlers in Sniabar township, were Chas. Hopper, William Helm, Allen Helm and Joseph Cox. The first marriage was that of William White to Nancy Bowers, by Elder Joseph White, about the year 1834. The first male child was James B. White, son of William and Nancy White; and the first female child was Frances White, daughter of John White, who married Miss Cox, in Tennessee, about the year 1832 and came to this county the same year. The first death was that of John White, in 1835, and was burried in the grave yard of Joseph White. Doctors Flournoy and Barren were thefirs>t regular physicians in the township. Rev's. John Warder of Kentucky, and Joseph White, of Tennessee, both Baptists, were the first ministers; preaching first in private houses, and then in the school houses. The first school was taught by David White, who taught for years at $200 per year, and died in 1842. Hopper, the Helms, Coxes, and all the early settlers wove cloth for their own use, or wore buckskin.

Old Concord Church, was built of logs, in the year 1842, on the north end of northeast quarter of southwest quarter of section 24. It was built as a church free for all denominations; has 10 acres appropriated for the use of the church, including a grave yard of one acre and a half. The first person buried there was Spencer Adams. The first preachers were Henry Palmer and Jacob Powell, missionary Baptist; John Warder, O. S. Baptist; the Methodist circuit riders; and J. Gillespie, Cumberland Presbyterian.

Dr. D. M. Reed states that on the old Helm farm in the northeast corner of section 11, a party of Anderson's men were surprised in the spring of 1863, by a portion of Col. Crittenden's command, 7th regiment, M. S. M., and four of the former were killed, and two of the latter wounded.

The Tobacco Factory, of Johnson Williamson, manufactures about 4,000 lbs. of tobacco annually, and is the principal tobacco market for Lafayette county.

Point Lookout, a point on one of the Sni Hills, gives a commanding view of the surrounding country. From it the city of Lexington can be seen to the northeast, and the church steeples of Odessa, also to the northeast. It obtained its name from the bushwhackers, having been used by them as a post of observation. It is located in section 13, township 48, range 29.

Washington was struck off from Lexington township August 2, 1836, and erected into a new township, with the following boundaries: "Beginning at the east line of Clay municipal township, on the township line between the congressional townships 19 and 50, thence south with the said Clay township line to Jackson county; thence east with the county line between Jackson and Lafayette counties to the Freedom township line; thence north with the west line of Freedom township to Davis township, thence with the west line of Davis township to the line between the congressional townships 19 and 50; thence west with said line to the beginning." Wm. Robinett's was appointed as the place of holding an election, October 29th, for two justices of the peace.

The above boundaries are just as they stand to this day; but the south part of what was then Clay township has since been reorganized into Sniabar township. Washington township contains 102 full sections, and is the largest township in the county.

First Settlements

As near as can be ascertained Richard Powell appears to be the earliest' settler in Washington township, having located there as early as 1820. His sons, David and Thomas J. and a son-in-law, named Eli Adams, occupied the farm - upon which he settled- -after his death.

Among the other more prominent citizens who early located in the limits of this township, mention is also made of John Jennings, Bently Barton, Nimrod Scott, Norman Pool, James S. Whitsett, Ephraim Pool, John McNeal, James Barker, Thos. Hutchison, Levi Whitsett, Henry James, Morgan Cockrell, John Ingram, Charles Smith, Judge Julius Emmons and Rev. John R. Whitsett, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. These settled principally in the eastern, southern and northern portions of the township.

John Whitsett, the father of William Whitsett (who came to this township in 1834,) settled near Dover in 1819, and three years later moved to the Slaughter farm. Chatham S. Ewing settled where his son now resides, in 1836.

The following items of early history were furnished by Mr. William Whitsett, whose father, John Whitsett settled near Dover, in this county, as early as 1819. The first settlers in the region of Mt. Hebron Church, were John Ingram, of Tennessee, Charles Smith, of Tennessee, William Whitsett, of Kentucky, Richard Powell and John R. Whitsett, of Kentucky, and Chatham Ewing, of Kentucky. The children of John R. Whitsett were the first born there, both male and female. The first death were Mary, daughter of Chatham Ewing, and was buried at the old brick church south of Lexington. Dr. M. W. Flournoy, of Kentucky, and Dr. J. M. Kieth were the first physicians. Rev. Robert Renick was the first Christian minister, and preached in the old Lebanon log school house. He was a Cumberland Presbyterian. The first school house was built in section 29, township 49, range 27, of logs by the neighbors. The first cloth was weaved by Mrs. Chas. Smith. In February, 1835, a negro woman belonging to Nimrod Scott, lost her way, and was frozen to death. She was buried on the roadside by the neighbors.

Mr. Eli Adams furnishes the following items of the early history of Washington township: The first settlers were Richard Powell, Charles Smith, Stephen Barker, Sr., James Barker, Elias Barker, John Barker, 'Wm. Barker, John Ingram, Juliu s Emmons, Wm. M. Whitsett, C. S. Ewing and Eli Adams. The first death was that of Mrs. Julius Emmons, which occurred in the spring of 1837. The first preachers were Revs. Finis

This village has a commanding location, on Heth's Mound* situated on section 18, township 49, range 26, and section 13, same township, and range 27, and was laid out in 1866, by John P. Herr, George Houx, Stephen G. Wentworth, and William Morrison. The name of "Mayview" was suggested to Mr. Herr, and subsequently adopted, by the excellent view which could be obtained from its cite, of the surrounding country, which presented a beautiful appearance during the month of May.

*Uncle George Houx related at the " Old Men's Club" meeting, how Heth's Mound got its name. In 1812 the british brought to bear every influence they could, to have the Indians engage in hostilities against the Americans, and bands of the Osage and Kaw took the war path. Capt. Helh an old settler of Cooper countjr, was out with a scouting party from Boonville, or old Franklin, and encountered a body of these hostile Indians a few miles west of this mound, but then fell back to it and there made a determined stand. A sharp and bloody battle then took place, and " the Injins got licked " This place was thereafter known as Heth's Mound. We have the above from Gen. Graham, an old intimate friend of Mr. Houx. R

A postoffice was established in 1868, with Mr. John P. Herr postmaster, Mr. Herr built the first house, and also owned and operated the first store. Mr. George Houx built a dwelling house about the same time. The first school house was a frame building, built in 1866, at a cost of $600. The first school was taught by the Rev. William Gordon, and numbered fifty pupils, each of whom paid a tuition of $2.00 per month. The first marriage reported was that of John McAllister and Jennie West, who were united in the bonds of wedlock, by the Rev. M. Roth, in 1868, at the house of the bride's parents. The first male child born was Oscar, son of Thos. T. and S. Belle Puckett, born July 6, 1870. Agnes Lee, daughter of Dr. David H. and Katie Bradley, was the first female child born in the village. (Date of birth not reported). The first death to occur was that of Young Ewing, who died in 1869, and was buried at Mount Hebron Cemetery.

Dr. Bouton is asserted to have been the first regular physician, formerly of Kentucky, and who recently went to Colorado. The first religious services were held in a schoolhouse, by the Christian denomination, with Elder G. R. Hand, pastor.

In 1878, Messrs. Waterhouse and Ridings made an addition to the original town, on the west side. May view is a flourishing village of about 250 inhabitants, located on the Chicago & Alton railroad, and also on the main thoroughfare between Lexington and Warrensburg. The following is a partial list of the business houses:

General merchandise, 3; grocery, 1; drugs, 1; blacksmiths, 2; physi-' cians, 2; mill, 1; hardware, 1 ; grain dealer, 1 ; hotels, 2; justice of peace, 1; lumber yard, 1; drug and grocer, 1; livery, 2; furniture, 1.

The Christian Church, of Mayview, was organized December 2, 1852. The first members were: W. H. Stone, E. J. Stone, M. E. Stone, Jane Conn, F. M. Small, E. E. Small, J. M. Small, W. Small, Thomas Proctor, S. Proctor, M. A. Proctor, Easter, (colored woman). The church building is a frame, and was erected in October, 1875, at a cost of about $3,000. It was dedicated as soon as completed by Elder D. M. Grandfield. Their pastors have been: D. M. Grandfield, W. R. Cunningham, W. P. Dorsey, Geo. Plattenburg, J. A. Lord, H. W. Williams, the present pastor. The church has 87 active members. The original name of this church was the Union, and was located three miles south of Mayview. Their church building was burnt down during the war, and the church was then moved to Mayview in 1875, and the name changed to Christian Church of Mayview.

Mayview Lodge, No. 318. I. O. G. T., was organized by O. Hutchison in November, 1879. The charter members were J. B. Jones, Thos. T. Puckett, Reuben Puckett, E. S. Butt, Jas. Waterhouse, John C.

The Mound Prairie Baptist Church, situated on the northeast qr. of northeast qr. of section 30, township 49, range 26, was organized Oct. 26, 1842. Its first members were Milton and Isabella Perry, Wm. Lankford, and Julius Burton, of the Lexington congregation, and fifty others, the result of a meeting in the neighborhood. The first building was log, 18x24 feet, and was erected in 1844. The present building is a frame one, 36x58, and was erected in 1858, at a cost of about $2,000. The church was never dedicated. Their pastors have been Elders A. P. Williams, Joseph White, Wm. C. Ligon, I. T. Williams, W. P. C. Caldwell, Amos Horn, Edward Roth, E. S. Dulin, J. A. Hollis, J. Farmer, C. Whiting, G. W. Smith, D. C. Bolton, S. Whiting, A. Barton and Wm. Russell, present pastor. The present membership numbers about 175. The church since its organization has received about 500 members. Trustees and deacons, Wm. Lankford and Elijah Gladdish; clerk, Robt. Lankford; moderator, Wm. Lankford; treasurer, B. F. Vicars.

The Mt. Hebron, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, situated on two acres of northwest qr. of northwest qr., section 22, township 49, range 27, was organized July 11, 1852, by Rev. C. A. Davis. The original members were Geo. Houx, Eliza A. Houx, Mary A. Houx, Young Ewing, Sam'l T. Whitsett, Absolom Marshall, L. A. Renick, Pruda Ingram, Eveline Woods, Ann Renick, Nancy Powell, Martha Whitsett, Mary Ingram, Mahala Whitsett, Elizabeth Whitsett, Nancy Marshall, Mary E. Marshall, Hezekiah Waterhouse, Lucinda Waterhouse, Chas. L. Ewing, W. A. Ewing, Jas. Wood, Oliver Houx, Pamela M. Lytton, Verlinder Small, Jane S. Renick, John T. Renick, David Ewing, (col.) The first church building was of brick, and was erected in 1851. *This building was burnt down, and another brick one built in 1873. Their pastors have been Rev's. C. A. Davis, W. W. Sudath, J. A. Prather, D.

Houx, Col. Thompson Ewing, Chatham Ewing and William Whitsett, of Lexington congregation, originated and carried out the plan of building this church. Mr. Houx was the superintendent and principal aider in the enterprise. The building cost $2,385.14, and the name " Mt. Hebron " was adopted by the congregation.

M. K. Barnett, Jas. H. Drennan, S. Finis King, L. F. Clemens, present pastor. The present membership is 98. The first house was burned on the 16th of March, 1873, and was rebuilt the same year at a cost of about $1,000. The walls of the first building were not destroyed. Ruling Elders, Wm. M. Whitsett, E. M. Harrelson, Hezekiah Waterhouse, Hi C. Ewing, Wm. Houx, Joseph A. Pather, Sam'l Smith; clerk, deacon Jas. Waterhouse; trustees, Sam'l Smith, H. C. Ewing. Since its organization this congregation has received 267 members, including the original ones, and has lost by death 24.

Deeds Of Violence

The following is given by Mr. Eli Adams: In the spring of 1841, Mrs. Mary Scott and her son, King B. Scott, were murdered in this township. Mrs. Scott's body was found in the fire in the house. In the spring of 1843, two years afterward, the body of King B. Scott was found in a branch of the Sni. Suspicion rested upon John C. Lester, a son-in-law of Mrs. Scott, and John Horton. Horton was arrested on a charge of passing counterfeit money, was sent to the penitentiary for a term of two years. While there he declared that Lester had committed the murder of the Scotts - mother and son. The governor was petitioned for a reprieve. Horton returned and Lester was arrested and indicted for the murders, but owing to a technicality, the indictment was dismissed. He was again indicted, took a change of venue, to Henry county; was there tried, found guilty, and hung at Clinton, in 1844.

Some two or three years before the war, a murder occurred on the farm of Mr. Early, on the line between Lexington and Washington townships. Two negroes secreted themselves behind a gate post, and as Mr. Nance, Mr. Early's overseer, was passing through the gate, the negroes struck him with a club, killing him instantly. This happened about daybreak. The negroes were taken to Lexington, tried regularly, and hung.

The War Time

About June 20, 1864, " Bill " Anderson, with twenty-two or twentythree men, met a detachment of Captain Burroughs' company of militia, on the farm of Mr. Wm. Whitsett, near Mt. Hebron church; said detachment consisting of thirty-seven men and three wagons, of five mules each, being on its way from Lexington to its camp in Washington township with provisions. A short and bloody conflict ensued, in which nine of Burroughs' men were killed outright and four or five mortally wounded, the remainder succeeding in making their escape. The attack was sudden and the militia were taken at a disadvantage. Only one of Anderson's men was injured. The bushwhackers shot the mules and burned the wagons.

In 1862 Capt. LeffenwelPs company of militia surrounded a Mr. Sutherlin and his son, Samuel McMahan and Zenith Redd, on Mr. Sutherlin's place, and a short skirmish took place, in which McMahan, Redd and three or four militia men were killed. Mr. Sutherlin and his son succeeded in making their escape. The latter two had served in the confederate army for six months, then engaged in bushwhacking for some time, and finally returned to the confederate service.

In September of 1862, " Bill " Anderson, with thirteen men, met four of Col. Henry Neill's men, named: Evan Phillips, Wm. Iddings, Wm. King and Meyers, on the Lexington road east of Big Sni. The bushwhackers took them into Washington township, in the Vicinity of Mayview and there shot them. Their remains were found about four weeks after.

James F. Wood

physician and surgeon, P. O. Odessa. The doctor was born and bred in this state and county. Was educated in St. Louis; graduating from the St. Louis medical college in 1878. He began the practice of medicine at Pink Hill, Jackson county, and in 1879 came to Odessa, where he has since resided, engaged in a lucrative practice. The doctor is genial in disposition, affable in manners and skilled in his profession, qualities which are sure to win for him an exalted place in the medical fraternity. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., and also of the M. E. Church, South.

Ayres C. M. Bird

sewing machine dealer, Odessa. Our subject was born in this state and county in 1845; lived on a farm until 1873 when he commenced handling sewing machines. In 1864, October, he enlisted in the confederate service, Col. Gordon's regiment. He participated in the battle of Westport and other skirmishes. Was paroled at Alexandria, in June, 1865. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Maryland. They moved to this county in 1835. October 9, 1870, he was married to Miss Linda E. Baxter, of this county, by whom he has three children: Covington M., Leslie H., Katie A. In 1879 he came to Odessa, where he has since resided, engaged in handling machines, and doing a good business.

livery, sale and feed stable, P. O. Odessa; son of John F. and Gabriella Ryland, was born in this state and county, in 1847. The greater part of his life was spent in farming. During the past six years he has been engaged in the grain business, in connection with his other occupation. In 1867 he married Miss Virginia Beall, of Lafayette county. They have three children: Elizabeth, Bell, and John Samuel. In 1878 Mr. Ryland came to Odessa and embarked in the livery business, which has occupied his attention the greater part of the time since. In 1879 he was elected city assessor, which office he filled acceptably to all concerned. Mr. R.

has been identified with the interests of the county from his birth and has watched the development of her abundant resources with a great deal of pleasure, contributing largely to the same.

Henry Brown

butcher, P. O. Odessa; is an Englishman by birth, a native of Bedfordshire. His earl)' life was passed in England, engaged in the grain business. In 1871 he came to the U. S. and settled in Mississippi, where he remained for two years. He then came to Missouri and located in Johnson county, where he lived until 1879, when he moved to this county and engaged in butchering at Odessa. He has a good trade. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Ellis, of Uxbridge, England. They have three children: Bessie, Florence, and Henry.

druggist, Odessa post office. The doctor is a native of Virginia. At an early age he went with his parents to New York, where he was reared and educated, graduating with honor from the medical college at Geneva, New York. Having complete faith in the then unexpressed injunction of that veteran journalist, Horace Greeley, of " Go west, young man, " in 1847 he turned his face towards the setting sun. For several years he turned his attention principally to railroading. In 1878 he moved to Odessa and engaged in the drug business. By industry and close attention to the wants of his customers he has succeeded in establishing himself in a good business. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel R. Beard, daughter of Samuel Beard, of this county. Mr. Beardslee is a member in good standing of the A. F. & A. M.

retired druggist, Odessa. Was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, September 19, 1833. In the spring of 1849 he came with his parents to Andrew county, of this state, where he remained until October, 1857, when he went to Bolivar, Polk county, and engaged in the drug business. In June, of 1861, he enlisted in the 19th Louisiana infantry, of which he was shortly afterward appointed druggist, and in which capacity he served until the close of the war. In the fall of 1866, he settled in Clay county, where he engaged in the drug business and in teaching. In October, 1878, he moved to Odessa, resumed the sale of drugs and in the following year sold out his entire stock and retired from business. On the 13th of December, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss S. E. Rupe, by whom he has two children: Mary A. and Phoebe. Mr. McKinney is a member in good standing of the A. F. & A. M., and also an active and consistent member of the Christian church. Although his citizenship of this county blaeksmith, Odessa. The subject of this sketch was born in Lafayette county, Mo., April 19, 1856. He is the son of John F. and Gabrielle Ryland. At the age of sixteen he learned the blacksmith trade at Lexington, this county, which occupation he has since followed with but slight intermissions. He was married in October 1876 to Miss Rebecca Beall, a native of this county, by whom he has two children, Samuel C. and Mary Bell. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Ryland moved to Odessa and engaged in his trade. In March, 1881, he entered into partnership with Mr. Bumgarner, the firm being styled Bumgarner & Ryland. Mr. R. is a man of energy and enterprise, skilled in his occupation, and not only possesses the confidence of his neighbors, but their patronage as well.

George L. Townsend

furniture-dealer, Odessa, is a native of New York, born in Washington county, June 11, 1848. Was raised and educated in his native state, and at the age of eighteen learned the carpennter's trade, which he followed until 1868 when he went to Kansas and engaged in railoading. He followed this occupation for eight years in Kansas and fwo years in Sedalia, this state. December 24, 1874, he was married to Miss Lizzie Cryderman, of Solomon City, Kansas. They have two children: Bertha and Roy. March 4, 1879, he moved to Odessa, where he has since resided engaged in the furniture business, in the pursuit of which he has a full share of patronage. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

Robert T. Russell

farmer, Odessa. The subject of the following is a Kentuckian, born in Bourbon county, in 1830. In 1836 the family moved to Callaway county, this state, where his father died in 1840. What was left of the family then returned to Kentucky. At the age of twenty-three he went to California, where he married in May, 1856, Mrs. Rebecca Cox. In 1859 he returned to Davis county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming. In 1865 he moved to Covington, Kentucky, where he remained for a short time engaged in merchandising. In the same year he came to this county and purchased land, upon a portion of which Odessa now stands. Mr. Russell is a public spirited, influential citizen and has contributed largely in various ways, towards the growth and welfare of Odessa. He is a member of A. F. & A. M. Has served for a number of years as master of the lodge at Odessa. He and his wife are members of the M. E. south, of which he is steward.

furniture and undertaking, P. O. Odessa. Was born October 18, 1848, in Wood county, West Virginia. Came to Missouri in 1871, settled in Lafayette county, and engaged in the occupation of contractor and builder, in the vicinity of Mt. Hope. October 19, 1876, he was married to Miss Cena McBurney, of this county. They have one child, Mary Myrtle. In the spring of 1879 he moved to Odessa, where he contracted for and built the first hotel in the place. Mr. Corbitt is a worthy member of the Presbyterian church, and a ruling elder of the same. He is a man of genius and enterprise; whole souled and wide awake. Has an excellent trade since engaging in his present " undertaking."

Edward D. Rawlings

mayor of Odessa; postoffice, Odessa; son of Jonathan and Nancy Rowlings; born April 6, 1823, in Mason county, Ky. In March of 1843, he came to this state and settled in Johnson county, where he was engaged in farming, with the exception of the time spent in the army, until April, 1879, when he moved to Odessa. In the fall of the same year he was elected Mayor of Odessa, and in April of 1881, was re-elected, which fact is, of itself, a sufficient testimony of his ability to administer the affairs of the corporation. In 1844, he was married to Miss L. A. Bateman, of Fleming county, Ky., by whom he had seven children, all of whom are living. His wife died, January 2, 1880. In 1861, he enlisted in the confederate service, Col. CockrelPs regiment. Participated in the battles of Lexington, Wilson's Creek, Lone Jack, and several other skirmishes. He entered the service with the commission of 1st lieutenant; was shortly afterwards elected captain of the company. He was taken prisoner at Lexington and parolled, after being held in durance for five months. Mr. R. in his religious views, conforms to the creed of the M. E. church, south, of which he is an honored member. Is a genial, large hearted man, to whom a worthy appeal for charity is never made in vain.

W. T. Anderson

livery and sale stable, postoffice, Odessa; son of J. E. and Elizabeth Anderson, was born in Campbell county, Va., July 28, 1831. Came to Missouri with his father in 1837, his mother having died at the home place. The greater part of his early life was passed on a farm. . In 1853, April 28th, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lee, of this county. Their union is blessed with five children: Mrs. P. M. Armstrong, Anna, Katie, Nellie and Jennie. In 1874, he was elected justice of the peace of Sniabar township, and re-elected in 1878, showing conclusively the estimation of his fellow-citizens, with reference to his ability to administer justice. In 1879 he moved to Odessa, where he has since resided, engaged in the livery business. He has established a reputation of square and honorable dealing, and enjoys his full share of public patronage. Mr. Anderson is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and also of the Presbyterian church.

harness and saddlery; postoffice, Odessa. Was born in North Carolina, and moved to Tennessee, w ith his parents, when a child. He has been engaged in the saddlery business since 1845. In 1854, he was married to Miss O. C. Keene, of Tenn., who died May 3, 1867, leaving him with one child: Samuel T., to mourn her loss. Mr. R. enlisted in the confederate service August, 1861, in the 28th Tennessee regiment. Was engaged in the following battles: Fishers Creek, Shiloh, first seige of Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, Murfreesborough, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Peach Tree; where he was severely wounded. Was mustered out in Macon, Georgia, May 5, 1865. In 1869, he came to Missouri, and spent one year in Laclede county and two years in Johnson county. In 1872, he came to this county, and began business in Mt. Hope, where he remained until the spring of 1S79, when he moved to Odessa, where he now resides in the operation of quite a lucrative business in his line. Owns the only business house, of the kind, in the place. Is a member of the A. F. & A. M.; also of the Missionary Baptist church.

Mr. McChesney is a native of Washington county, Virginia; born in 1837, where he was reared and educated. Came to Missouri in 1859, and settled atMt. Hope, in Lafayette county, where he was engaged in merchandising and dealing in live stock, grain, etc. In 1878 he went to Odessa and opened a hotel, which he is operating at the present time, enjoying a liberal share of the public patronage. In 1859 he was married to Miss Fannie Latham, of Virginia. This union is blessed with seven children. During the war Mr. McChesney served for three months in the Missouri State Guards. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, O. S. Deals quite largely in real estate. Postoffice is Odessa.

David M. Reed

P. O. Odessa, Missouri; son of Charles and Margaret Reed; was born June 24, 1816, in Grainger county, Tennessee, and moved to Missouri with his parents in the spring of 1839. They first settled near Blue Mills, in Jackson county, and from there moved to Cass county, and then to this county in 1843. In the fall of 1843 he married Miss Eliza Summers, by whom he had seven children, and raised six: A. V. C. H., Mary M., Sidney E., Daniel C, Caleb S. Mr. Reed married again to M. Cynthia

Oliver E. Gann

P. O. Odessa, Missouri, son of Issac and Anna Gann, nee Clark, of Washington county, Tennessee, was born in 1806, and moved to this county in 1834. In 1836 he married Miss Susannah Green, also a native of Washington county, Tennessee. He has had eleven children, of whom seven are now living: Mary J., Elbert S., Amanda, Caroline, Oliver, Sally and Harriet.

John W. Bledsoe

P. O. Bates City, Missouri; son of George and Martha Ann Bledsoe, nee Lauderdale, both natives of Tennessee, was born in 1838, and came with his parents to this county in 1839. He married Miss Susan Ann Kelley, daughter of John Kelley of Cooper county, who came to this state from Alabama. He has five children: George W., Jane J., Corah H., Katie I., and John Early. He served under Shelby during the war, and participated in most of the battles in which Shelby was engaged.

P. O. Chapel Hill, Missouri. Was born in Berkley county, Virginia in 1839. In 1869 was married to Miss Vandiver, of Hampshire, now Mineral county, Virginia, and in the spring of 1879 moved to this county, purchasing the farm of Joyner. He has always been a farmer and a stock raiser. He has five children: Ella May, George B., Fanny P., Annie S., and Charles A. Mr. Tabb was educated in Huntsville, Virginia, and in Romney, Virginia. He served during the war in McNeill's battalion of Partizan Rangers.

P. O. Odessa, Missouri. Was born in 1825 in Sumner county, Tennessee. In 1838 he moved with his parents to this county. His father was James Satterfield, and his mother's name was Frances Day - both of them were natives of North Carolina. In February, 1857, he married Nancy Joyce, of Patrick county, Virginia, by whom he has five children: Sarah, Virginia F., J. Alexander, Mollie, and Jessie. Mr. Satterfield is a surveyor and farmer, and was educated at Chapel Hill, in this county.

T. G. Wilkinson

P. O. Ohapel Hill. Son of James and Mary Wilkinson, of Carroll county, Va., was born February 16, 1836. In March, 1854, he came to Missouri, and Aug. 5, 1857, he was married to Miss Lulu C. Parish, by whom he has had thirteen children, eleven of whom are now living: James T., Benjamin M., Charles A., Earnest, Anna P., Arthur T., Henry F., Frank H., Rosa C, Clarence O., and Lydia A. In December, 1861, he joined the Missouri state guards, company I, First regiment, Slack's division. In December, 1861, he was captured at the Blackwater capture, confined in Lexington a short time, and then released. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the confederate service, and was at Lone Jack and Columbus. In September, First regiment Missouri cavalry was organized, and S. Bullard was commissioned captain of his company and Wilkinson first lieutenant. In 1863 Capt. Bullard joined the guerrillas, and he was promoted to the captaincy. As private and officer he was in many battles, as Carthage, Drywood, Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Newtonia, Cane Hill, Springfield, Hartsville, Helena, and numberless skirmishes. He, with Capt. Thornton, assisted in capturing Liberty Arsenal. He was with his regiment in the last raid through Missouri, and was in the battles and skirmishes of the raid, as Sedalia, Jefferson City, Lexington, Blues, and Westport. At the surrender at Shreveport, June, 1S65, Capt. Wilkinson's command surrendered to the Ninth Illinois, the same regiment that he had assisted in capturing the year before on Red river, and being old acquaintances, they had a grand jollification at the surrender.

P. O. Odessa. Was born in the state of Kentucky in 1836, and came to this state in 1849 with his parents, and has lived in this county ever since. Has never married. In 1862 he enlisted in the confederate army, and was discharged in 1865. He fought in a number of battles and was captured at Vicksburg and exchanged and rejoined his command, and served to the end. The city of Odessa is located partly on his land, and he has 100 acres adjoining.

James P. Proctor

P. O. Odessa. Son of Thomas and Polly Proctor. Was born in Kentucky, and came with his parents to this state in 1838. In 1867 he married Mrs. Rachel Helm, widow of James Helm and daughter of Charles Glover. In 1861 he enlisted under Gen Shelby in the confederate army, and fought in several battles. Was captured near Lexington, and confind until the end of the war.

Stephens. White

P. O. Odessa. Son of Joseph and Susan White, who moved to this county from Tennessee in 1832, was born in Green county, East Tennessee, April 5, 1817, and now lives within one mile and a half from where his parents first settled. He married Miss Mary C. Ferguson, of Pettis county, and has three sons, who now live with their father or near him. He owns a very fertile farm of 220 acres at the head of the Greenton valley, one mile from the town of Odessa; His father, Joseph White, and Mr. Fristoe, one a new and the other an old school Baptist, were among the first preachers in that region.

Noah P. Adams

P. O. Odessa. Was born in this county in 1844, and was married to Miss Mary E. Muir, December 1, 1870. In 1861 he enlisted in the Missouri state guard, then in the confederate army and served to the end of the war. Was in the battles of Lexington, Lone Jack, Westport, and Drywood, where he was captured and confined at Rock Island to the close of war. He now resides on the Muir farm, and is an industrious and successful farmer.

Washington Bardsley

postoffice Odessa. Son of Daniel B. Bardsley, of Connecticut, who moved to Missouri about the year 1833, and was married in 1838, to Miss Lydia Seagraves, a native of Kentucky. Washington was born July 7, 1840, and was married in September, 1866, to Miss Catherine Cox, daughter of Joseph Cox. In 1861 he enlisted in the confederate army, and was in a number of battles, as Springfield, Oak Hill, Pt. Gibson, and Vicksburg, where he was captured, held a prisoner until January 1864, then released. He returned to the service, and served to the end of the war. He owns 106 acres of fine land bordering Odessa on the south.

William H. Edwards

P. O. Odessa, Missouri, son of Feilding and Jane Edwards. Was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, in 1838. In 1868 he was married to Miss Rebecca Henry, of this county. In 1861 he enlisted in company A, 5th Kentucky cavalry. Afterwards was in Gen. Morgan's command. Was in numerous battles. Was taken prisoner and confined in Fort Delaware, from which place he managed to escape, by " falling in " with the carpenters, and marching out with them.

"i*rO. Odessa. Was born February 17, 1816, in Washington county, Va. His father, also Thomas McChesney, served in the war of 1812, and both of his grandfathers served in the revolutionary war under Gen. Campbell. Mr. McChesney came to this state in 1837 and entered land, and then returned to Virgina. August 13, 1840, he was married to Miss Mary E. King, daughter of Maj. Wm. King. He then, in 1842, moved to this county, and the next year, 1843, settled upon his present home- stead, and is one of the large land owners of the County. He has seven children ; his oldest son died while in the confederate army. His grandmother was Susan Berry and his mother's name was Susan Sharpe, daughter of John Sharpe, a revolutionary soldier.

Dr. John Perrie

P. O. Odessa. Is the son of John Perrie, who moved to this county in 1845, and settled at Lexington. Dr. Perrie was born in Maryland, in 1840, and came to Lexington with his parents. He first taught in the Masonic college in Lexington, then studied medicine with Dr. John Bull, of Lexington, and graduated at the St. Louis medical college in 1868, since which time he has been practicing in this county. In 1866 he was married to Miss Mollie Keith, daughter of Dr. Jas. M. Keith, of this county. He is now settled at Mt. Hope, in Sniabar township, and is doing a good practice. Previous to studying medicine he graduated at Jones' commercial college in St. Louis. He has three children living: Eddie, Claud and Bettie Bell. During the war Dr. Perrie served as hospital steward, in Price's army. He served until the close of the war and surrendered in Louisiana.

Sterling Powers

STERLING POWERS, P. O. Odessa. Was born July 5, 1832, in Kenton county, Ky., and moved to Missouri in 1852. He is the son of Richard C. and Judah Powers. His father came to Kentucky from Richmond, Virginia, and his mother was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky. On the 20th of June, 1858, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Cox, daughter of Joseph Cox, of this county. Mr. Powers owns 232 acres of prairie land, and by his energy and sagacity has made himself a comfortable home. He has two sons living: Thomas and Charles.

Alfred Ferguson

ALFRED FERGUSON, P. O. Bates City. Was born in 1806 in Culpepper county, Virginia. In 1827 he moved to Ohio, and in 1867 to this county. He married Miss Peterson, who came from Virginia to Ohio, in 1818. He has six children living: Jonas T., Frank, Henry, Jacob, Alpheus and Elizabeth.

Jacob A. Lyons

JACOB A. LYONS, P. O. Bates City. Was born in 1835, in Carroll county, Virginia. In 1866 he moved to this county, and in 1868 was married to Miss Martha A. Adams, step-daughter of Wm. Harris. They have six children living: Andrew J., Mary C, Noah B., Lulu M., Wm. O. and Ora E. Mr. Lyons has twelve stands of Italian bees. They have done but little during the present year (1881), but in ordinary seasons yield from 100 to 125 pounds of honey per hive.

P. O. Bates City. Was born in the state of Ohio, Green county, in the year 1827. In March, 1852, he was married to Miss Nancy E. Keiter, by whom he had four children : John W ., Mary A., Susan M. and Frederick K. His wife dying, he was again married, in September, 1864, to Miss Hannah L. Stephens, by whom he had eight children: Annie J., Chas. T. Alfred S., Olivia T., Louisa M., Thomas P., James W. and Frank. Mr. Middleton's wheat crop last year (1880), averaged 33£ bushels per acre.

Alexander Wilkinson

P. O. Bates City. Was born in Carroll county, Virginia, and is the son of James and Mary B. Wilkinson. His mother's maiden name was Lyon. In 1854 he came to Missquri and married Miss Elizabeth F. Wolsenbarger. They have six children: Mary B., John C, Wm. F., Dianna L., Joseph M. and James M. His business is farming and stock raising, in partnersnip with his brother, John W. Wilkinson.

P. O. Bates City, Mo.; born in the state of New York in 1850; he emigrated to the state of California, and from thence came to this county in 1873. In 1874 he was married to Miss Smales, of this county, and has one child living, a daughter, Estelle.

F. L. Ramsey

P. O. Odessa, Mo.; son of Samuel B. Ramsey; was born in Johnson county, Mo., in 1836, and has now resided in this county for the last twelve years. In 1868 he was married to Miss Mary E. McChesney,and has four children: Walter M., Arthur Eugene, Thomas Bracken and Lyle G. In 1861 he joined the confederate army, and served to the close, in 1865. He was captured at Vicksburg but was afterwards exchanged, and rejoined the army. Mr. Ramsey is a successful farmer, and stands fair in this county as an honest, industrious man.

P. O. Odessa, Mo.; was born in the year 1828, in Lafayette county, and is the son of J. S. Whitsett, who came to this state from Kentucky at a very early day. In 1864 he married Miss Mary C. Powell, of Jackson county, Mo., and has one child, James A. Whitsett. Mr. Whitsett is a large and successful farmer, which vocation he has pursued all his life. He is a good citizen, and a reliable, upright man.

William Harris

P. O. Chapel Hill, Mo.; was born April 12th, 1827, in Sumner county, Tennessee. In November, 1828, he came with his parents to Missouri, and settled in this county, one mile west of Chapel Hill, where he was raised and educated, and has passed most of his life. Soon after he was grown he married Miss Mary E. Joyner, and settled upon the farm on which he now lives. They have five children: Amanda Jane, Josiah Franklin, Wm. Isaac, Judah Cathrine, and Sarah, all educated at Chapel Hill. Mr. Harris has farmed all his life, and is a steady, honest and respected citizen.

P. O. Bates City, Mo.; was born in Charlotte county, Virginia, and came to Benton county, in this state in 1842. From there he moved to Pettis county, and from thence to this county in 1866. In 1851 he married Miss Mary S. Parsons, by whom he has ten children living: Sarah, Emma, Susan, Ada, Alice, Nancy, Naomi, Joseph, James and William. Sarah is now Mrs. Bates, and Emma is now Mrs. Campbell. Mr. Cheatham has devoted his whole attention to farming, to which he was raised. He has succeeded well, and has now a first-class farm. He is an honest, sterling and upright citizen.

Dr. H. H. Dean

P. O. Chapel Hill, Mo.; was born in 1827 in Carroll county, Virginia, and came to this state in 1866, settling at Chapel Hill, in this county, where he has lived ever since. In 1858 he was married to Miss Susan Wilkinson, by whom he has had six children: Nannie B., J. Henry, John E., Elkanah B. and Tilden T.; Abner E. died in 1876. His wife dying, he re-married in 1877, to Miss Lena A. South, and by this union has two children: Moses S. and Joseph A. He belongs to the Botanic School of Medicine, and has a large and successful practice. In partnership with his nephews, H. H. & Taylor Dean, he has a store of genera merchandise, at Chapel Hill, and they have a large business.

Source changes here: from Young's History of Lafayette County, Missouri, by Young, William, published 1910; 4,766 words in this source stream.

Sni-A-Bar Township

The first history of Sniabar township with its present boundaries, all the territory west of Lexington and Washington townships, was called Sniabar, extending west to Jackson county, on the south to Johnson county. November J, 1825, Clay township was organized and its boundaries as then defined embraced all there was left of Sniabar township. The name "Sniabar" dropped out of record until February 5, 1838. The county court ordered that a new township be made and called Sniabar and that it should be bounded thus : "Beginning at the northwest corner of Washington township, thence west with the township line between townships 48 and 49, to the Jackson county line ; thence south with said line to the northwest corner of Johnson county ; thence east with the county line to the southwest corner of Washington township, thence north to the place of beginning."

It appears from the records, that Sniabar settlement was first mentioned as being in Cooper county. Cooper at that date included all the territory to the Kansas line. We next find Sniabar township in 1821 as being in Lillard county. The record says, "It is ordered by the court that Markham Fristoe be appointed constable in and for the township of Sniabar for the term of two years." A little later and in 1825, when Lafayette visited the United States, Lillard county was changed to Lafayette in honor of his sacrifices for our country. Tradition says that the name "Sny" was given by some French explorers, headed by DuBois. The Missouri river was high and backed up the main stream a mile or two, and they thought it was the mouth of the river, but found it was but back-water and then gave it the name of "Sny," which in the French language means "slough."

[There have been so many and such fanciful accounts of the origin and meaning of the word Sni-a-bar that the editor feels constrained to give the true account. Just below the town of Wellington in Lafayette county, is Wolf's island which is made by an arm of the river circling out through the bottom on the south side of the river. This arm is called in the neighborhood the "Slough," but it has none of the characteristics of a slough. It is thirty or forty yards wide and the water flows through it from one end to the other swift and deep. This is the "Sni," so named by the French voyageurs in

The present population of Sniabar township is estimated at about three thousand and fifty on account of the presidential vote, which last gave the township six hundred and ten.

Local Names

A good many of the places named around here came from incidents that occurred. Thomas Hopper, one of the first settlers of the township, shot and killed a very large bunch of elk on the knob now owned by Joseph Barnette - hence the name of Buck's Knob. Wagon Knob took its name from the following incident : Dr. Robert Rankin and some of his friends who lived close to Lexington went on a bee hunt on Big creek, in Cass county. They succeeded in securing a large amount of honey and loaded it onto an old wagon they had along and started for home. When they got upon the top of the knob the old vehicle broke beneath its great load and some of the party had to go for another wagon, while the others remained and stood guard over their sweet treasure. When they got back with another wagon they loaded the honey on and went off and left the old wagon to rot down there on the knob - hence the name "Wagon Knob." This special place is a natural watch-tower, standing guard over the beautiful Alt. Hope Prairie. From its summit I have seen the wild flowers bending to the breezes, the prairie grass like billows seemed to roll in the sunlight ; looking to the west into Jackson county hills and to the north over Greenton valley, across the Missouri river into Clay county, and to the east into Saline county and south to Warrensburg. On the south end of this knoll is the graveyard known as the^Bullard graveyard^ The early settlers buried their dead on their own farms, as a rule. The first cemetery I have any account of was at Old Concord church, established in 1842. The next was at Mt. Hope, by the Hopewell Presbyterian church, consisting of an acre and a half. This was in 1854. The next was established their early explorations of the river. There is another one in Illinois in the Missisippi bottom opposite Hannibal, Missouri, about thirty miles long, and it is known by no other name than "The Sni." The upper end of the "Sni" in question is peculiarly situated so as to catch the driftwood. In earlier times during the spring freshets great quantities of driftwood were brought down the Missouri river and thrown into the upper end of the "Sni," effectually stopping all egress or ingress to or from it by water. I have seen piles of logs and brush therein hundreds of yards long and twenty feet high making an effectual bar to all navigation. This bar remained the year round, and so the voyageurs found it and named it the "Barred Sni," or "Sni-a-bar." Into this "Sni" two creeks empty, one much larger than the other. These are called Big Sni-a-bar creek and Little Sni-a-bar creek. Big Sni-a-bar creek has its source in the southwest corner of Lafayette and the southeast corner of Jackson counties. The adjoining townships in these two counties have both been named Sni-a-bar township for the stream which heads therein. - Editor.]

in 1857 at McKendry Chapel, by the Methodist Episcopal church South. The first to be buried there was James Wagoner, son of Edward Wagoner. To the southwest of this is what is known as the Cobb graveyard.

The price of land in Sniabar township, as far back as I can remember in the beginning of the fifties, ranged from a dollar and a quarter to fifteen dollars per acre, according to the improvements and location. My father bought three hundred and twenty acres for eleven dollars an acre, from Archibald Scott, in 1855. The early settlers located their homes near timber and creeks, thinking the timber lands would be the most valuable in the future, but after the flight of sixty years the timber lands have become the cheapest lands in the township. Wire took the place of fencing of timber. The present price of the farm lands of this township ranges from forty dollars to two hundred dollars per acre.

Milling

The first mills that were erected in Sniabar, as far as I can learn, were built in the southwest corner of the township by a Mr. Shores, and another by Joseph Cox in the northeast part, southwest of Odessa. Both were merely tread-mills. It took a heavy yoke of oxen or three horses on the wheel to do the grinding. The usual custom was to hitch a yoke of oxen to the fore wheels of a wagon and then put the sack or sacks on the tongue and call the dogs and then start for the mill. The grinding was by a slow process ; while waiting for our turn, we boys would parch corn in the ashes, play fox and geese and occasionally have a fight or two to while away our time. Lexington was our nearest mill where wheat could be ground or exchanged for flour. With all of the inconveniences the people were happy and contented, adapting themselves to their surroundings. The present merchant mill in the town of Odessa, now owned by D. C. Beggarly, was built in 1884. It has a capacity of one hundred and twenty barrels a day.

Early Settlers

The first settlers of this part of the county were : Charles Hopper, William Helm, Allen Helm, Joseph Cox, James Harris, James Wood, Isaac H. Wood, James Cobb, Albert Cobb, Washington P. Martin, Bert Monion, Alexander Cheatham, Thomas S. McChesney, Oliver C. Gann, Rev. Edward Wagoner and sons, Thomas Riddings ; the Shores, Bledsoes, Saterfields, and later, the Campbells. These old pioneers were from Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Old Virginia. I do not believe the present generation appreci- ates fully as they should the toil and sacrifice made by these our forefathers in driving the Indians and buffaloes from the beautiful prairies and in building their homes on this the outpost of civilization, that their children might have greater opportunities in the great battle of life, making it possible for them to build their homes in the land of plenty.

Social Affairs

Indeed, I feel that I would go amiss did I not speak of the social features of life in those earlier days, before the money devil had polluted himself at the forks of the road. Then men were measured by their moral worth, not by their dollars and possessions. The injury of one of their number was the concern of all. The ladies were not too proud to wear their home-made linsey, the work of their own hands, and could dance as gracefully as queens in their royal dresses. The boys did not part their hair in the middle, nor did they smoke vile cigarettes. In all the social commingling of the young folks honor ruled, not fashion. The young men and women did not develop the type of fashionable butterflies and worthless dudes that think labor is degrading, and which are really parasites on society and a detriment instead of a benefit.

Of the famous educational institution, Chapel Hill College, of this township, I will not discourse, for the reason that I am informed that the author of this history has prepared an excellent article on this institution, so it will be omitted here. It may be added, however, that the school and Chapel Hill village was burned by Quantrell's band. The place has only been partly rebuilt since the war.

A Gray Haired Veteran

How many people are aware that there lives at Chapel Hill an old gray haired veteran, who in his younger days was as brave a knight as ever leaped into the saddle at the call of the bugle in defense of our fair Southland? This knight was none other than Capt. Tilden Wilkerson, the unassuming blacksmith of Chapel Hill. In 1863, the night before the evacuation of Little Rock, General Shelby ordered him to pick eleven brave men from his company, with good horses and well armed, to report at his headquarters. Some of their names I can now recall - Joe Christy, Bert Spencer, John Gillerland. Ben Pemberton, Sr., Ben Pemberton, Jr., George Boon, Dick Wolfenbarger and

Asa Tracy. When they reported General Shelby ordered the captain "to cross over Byometer and avoid all public roads, get all information possible and not to return until you have seen General Steele's camp."

How well the General knew that this order would be faithfully carried out can be inferred. They started on their dangerous errand, crossed over the Byometer, winding their way through swamps, briars and tangled underbrush, until they crossed a public road and stopped to listen ; while listening, a scout of Federals passed on the road ; while standing there, a chicken crowed to the east of them. Knowing there must be a house, they started towards it through an old field grown up with sassafras bushes ; when they emerged from the bushes in front of the house, the moon was throwing her silvery light over the tents of the host of sleeping enemies that lay dreaming of conquest and plunder. Undaunted, the Captain dismounted, handing his bridle reins to Joe Christy, with pistol in his hand, walked to the door and knocked. A typical Southern lady struck a match as she opened the door. As the light flashed on his gray uniform, she beckoned him to go back, that there were six or seven Federal officers sleeping in the house. He told her he was after information as to their movements. "Go away or you will be captured; I heard them say they were going to move on Little Rock tomorrow."

Returning to his men, they held a council whether to capture the sleeping officers or return to General Shelby's headquarters with their report. The latter prevailed, however, so they returned, avoiding Federal pickets and scouts and made their report to Shelby.

At another engagement, not far from Clarksville, in a charge on the Federal infantry, they were in close quarters. His brother Elee was a few paces ahead of him, when a brave Federal, secreted behind a large tree, emerged from behind the tree and fired, being so close that the horse threw his head up and the bullet pierced his head, killing him. The brother's leg was caught under his horse, as he fell ; the Federal sprang at Elee to pin him to the ground with his bayonet, when the sharp crack of Captain Wilkerson's pistol sent a bullet into his brain. The soldier fell within two feet of his prostrate brother.

In the fall of 1864 when General Price and his army passed west through Lexington, we were permitted to visit our homes, mingling with the dear ones for two days. We met at my father's house. Upon leaving the place we were overcome with sadness. I stopped my horse as we ascended the hill (Chapel Hill) and turned him around on the rocky ledge, as I then thought it might be my last look at home. I could see the dear old homestead in the dim distance and I lowered my head and wept like a child. Patriotism is a flower that has its roots in the love of home. If not, why is it that tears come to the eyes of

Americans in distant lands, when "Home, Sweet Home," is sung? Or whycheers spring to the lips of every lover of the sunny southland when the band plays "Dixie" ? If it is not the love of home that inspires the soldier, the poet and statesman, the historian, then patriotism is dead. And we as a nation will travel the downward road that leads to destruction.

Chapel Hill is located on a range of hills about three miles east of the Jackson county line, and from the top of the hill looking to the east, over the Blackwater valley, where the earlier settlers chased the elk and deer, now stand happy homes and one of the largest orchards in Sniabar township - sixty acres of apple trees yielding abundant fruitage each year. This is owned by Rev. Bronham.

The first building that was erected at Mt. Hope was the Presbyterian church, in 1854; this was a brick structure, about forty by sixty feet. It was at first known as the Hopewell church and Rev. Thomas Bracken was its first pastor. The first postoffice was established at Mt. Hope in 1857. The first regular physician was Dr. A. B. Heariford. At the beginning of the Civil war there were two stores, one kept by W. K. McChesney and one by Mr. Kirkwood ; also a blacksmith shop. In the petition for the postoffice, the name Hopewell was suggested, but later finding another of the same name in Missouri, it was changed to Mt. Hope. After the war this became quite a business center and continued to grow until the building of the Alton railroad in 1879, when the Presbyterian church and most of the buildings were removed to Odessa and the postoffice was also moved ; thus nothing remains but the mere memory of old Mt. Hope.

How many tender memories cluster around old Mt. Hope and Mt. Hope Prairie. There are few regions more gloriously picturesque and beautiful than that which lies between Odessa and Blackwater; here, where my boyhood was lived - my schooldays and my sweetheart I thought I loved; the place we spent so many happy hours with those who sleep beneath the sod. Memory lingers around the early haunts of childhood like the young bird around the old nest, when left by its mother. In all my wanderings I have felt that my feet would bring me back to Mt. Hope Prairie, where my home is now a part of it. And as much as I have been ostracized on account of my political views, much as I have suffered here, much as I have been misunderstood here, Mt. Hope Prairie is the dearest old place in all the world to me. The songs of the birds seem to be sweeter as they pour forth their melodies from the boughs of the maple trees in front of our house, because we planted them with our own hands, and our children played under their branches. If the earthly ties are so dear to us, when we pass through the shady side of life to the banks of the Jordan and cross over on the other side, what must be the joy of meeting those we have loved and parted with whose earthly lives were lived in happy homes on the lovely and beautiful Mt. Hope Prairie?

South of Mt. Hope was the home of the noted Hill family. Four of the boys belonged to Quantrell's command. They were rough-riders of the most daring type. Each one of them was a moving arsenal. They carried four navy pistols and a Sharp's rifle. They were noted for their daring and for their marksmanship with the revolver. They rode the fleetest horses that the country afforded. In the summer of 1863, the two oldest, Wood and Tuck, were on top of the "Wagon Knob" when a scout of Federal troops were coming south. When they reached the Hammond place, in full view of them, they rode out east in front of them, knowing that the Federals would give them a chase. Holding their horses in check until the advance of the Federals was in pistol range, then quickly checking their horses and fronting them, they opened fire with pistols, killing one of the advance. Then they turned and made good their escape. The Federal was buried at Mt. Hope cemetery.

The noted men who were elected to office from Sniabar township include Isaac H. Wood, who was elected to the state Senate in the latter part of the fifties; Judge F. E. Barnette, who sat on the county court bench in 1874; Judge Henry Green, who served two terms as a member of the county court; the Hon. J. T. Ferguson, who represented this county in the Legislature two terms; Justice of the Peace James Harris, William Harris, Newton Bledsoe, Gross Kesterson and J. N. Campbell ; also Green D. Satterfield, Price McCormic, John Philipp and Dick Taylor, present justice.

The leaders in the political battles at an early day were Thomas S. Mc- Chesney, Major Bratton, Esquire Bledsoe, Isaac H. Woods, Washington P. Martin, William Harris, Archibald and Thomas Riddings, A. I. McChesney, Joseph Cox, R. T. Russell and Dr. A. B. Hereford, all men of sterling worth.

Sniabar claims to have the oldest person living in the county, Mrs. Esculania Barnette, wife of the late Judge F. E. Barnette, born December 8. 1822.

Incidents Of The Civil War

Just before the war there were two negro men arrested for stealing by Joseph Johnson, the constable of the township. The negroes were tried before Squire James Harris. The court sentenced the negroes to be whipped.

Constable Johnson executed the sentence. When the Civil war broke out the negroes ran off and joined the Kansas Red-Legs. In 1863 the Red- Legs were stationed at Chapel Hill. They arrested Joseph Johnson, took him one mile east of Chapel Hill to the barn of William Harris and hung him, leaving him hanging in the barn. In their scouting and robbing the helpless citizens they came to the home of one among the best men I ever knew, Uncle Peter Goot, who lived on the farm now owned by Conley Harmon. They demanded his horses. He told them he had none, when they put a rope around his neck and pulled him up to a limb and kept him there until he was nearly dead. When he became conscious he told them it was pretty tough to hang a man because he had no horses.

On another occasion there was a company of Federal scouts passing through a skirt of timber and was fired upon from the brush and put to rout. The bushwhackers followed in hot pursuit. Among the fleeing men was a big fat Dutchman, riding on an old farm horse that was falling behind. When one of the bushwhackers was rapidly gaining on him, the Dutchman began crying, "Oh, Lordy, Oh, Lordy." The bushwhacker yelled at him that it was no use to call upon the Lord when the devil was after him.

I could narrate incidents like this to fill pages, showing the cruelties that occurred during the Civil war. I stood in my father's yard January 6, 1862, and counted twenty-seven houses on fire at one time. The Kansas Jayhawkers burned a strip from one to six miles wide, from Harrisonville to Columbus, in Jackson county. It was very cold weather and snow mantled the earth a foot deep. Women and children were turned out of home, half clothed, to face the cold and pitiless north winds, homeless and disheartened wanderers. I have lived to see these once beautiful prairies transformed from their wild virgin state into well cultivated farms, whose deep and fertile soil is unsurpassed by the valley of the Nile. I have seen the steady march of improvement in farming, from the wooden moldboard plow, drawn by oxen, to the four-horse riding sulky plow, turning two furrows of twelve inches each. I have seen all of our grain harvested with the old-fashioned fingered cradles, laying the grain in swaths, followed by men and boys picking it up with naked hands, and binding it with straw. But now we have the self-binder, like some fabled monster, sweeping down the golden grain, tying and delivering it in piles for the shockers. I have seen the telephone system expand from a small beginning until it now reaches to every well equipped home in the township. I have lived to see the rural delivery mail box tacked up in front of every farmer's gate, putting them in close touch with all the news of the world. And when the author of the bill, Thomas E. Watson, after fighting it through until it became a law and in 1908 when Mr. Watson was a candidate for the presidency, most of the farmers had the base ingratitude to knife him at the ballot box and vote for their oppressors.

Town Of Odessa

Odessa is a beautiful town nestling in the foothills of the township on the line of the Chicago & Alton railroad, thirty-nine miles east of Kansas City. Its population is between one thousand seven hundred and two thousand. It was first platted on lands owned by A. R. Patterson and Judge Kirkpatrick in 1878. It was named Odessa by the thoughtful man, Mr. Blackstone, one of the officials of the railroad company. The name was given in honor of the great wheat exporting city of Odessa in Russia. When platted this town of Lafayette county was surrounded with wheat fields. The limits of our city have been extended from time to time - first Russell's addition; Smith and Patterson's addition; McBurney's addition; Ramsey's addition, etc.

Odessa, backed by the high moral sentiment of her citizens, has banished the saloons to the moles and bats, where they can no longer hand out deathdealing lotions of poison to the rising young, and with her splendid mayor and marshal and board of aldermen, instead of dreaming of the paradise of the future, have gone to work to make it a paradise on earth, where we now live. With our backs turned on the past and face set toward the future, she is marching on to a higher plane of better ideals. Already she has reached the position of being one of the best towns in western Missouri. The people in the surrounding country also proclaim, with one accord, that other places are good, but Odessa is to them the best of all!

Present Business Interests

Odessa has three flourishing banking houses, with deposits aggregating from four to six hundred thousand dollars. (See Banking chapter for history of these banks.)

In the dry goods line there are three live, up-to-date stores second to none in Lafayette county, Heariford Brothers, Wagoner & Conner's and Pearson, all doing a thriving business. There are two large clothing stores ; real estate dealers galore. The place has a notion and music store run by Alonzo Dyre. In the grocery line, Odessa has six stores, all running in a prosperous manner. In the hardware line, she has three large establishments, with first-class stocks of everything carried in a modern hardware store. In the lumber business there are two large yards, one operated by I. E. Wagoner and one by Lee Benning, both enterprising and trustworthy gentlemen. There are four drug stores in Odessa, Goodwin & Sons, Lightner, Shulls & Sons, and George Bryant, all men of high standing. The traveling public are accommodated by two first-class hotels and one boarding house. There are four excellent livery barns and four mule market barns, doing an excellent business in Missouri mule stock. Odessa also has the following: Dentists - Dr. Snyder, Osborn Bros, and Downing; attorney, Walter Bacon; millinery store, Baird & Cornwall; feed mill, Ferguson & Thomas.

Incorporation

Odessa was incorporated in 1880 and the following have been its mayors : Horace Rawlings, Doctor Johnson, Ed. Blake, John Phillips, Ed. Blake, John Prince, F. L. McBurney, R. W. Carson, J. F. Blackwell.

The city has street cisterns and a hand-engine brigade. About 1900 the place provided itself with a good electric lighting plant at a cost of twentyfive thousand dollars.

Postoffice History

The office was established in July, 1879, with M. V. Powell as postmaster. The following have succeeded him in office : A. W. Stevens, Green Gaston, J. Mclntyre, Charles Frost and John T. Wagoner. There are now five rural free deliveries running out from Odessa, the first being established in 1902.

As the loyalty and patriotism of our people, it may be stated that in the Civil war days the Southern army had thirty-eight men from Sniabar township who were killed and ten died of disease, while many more went into the Union army.

The amount of freight shipments from Odessa is large. The last year's reports show : 153 cars of cattle, 233 cars of hogs, 16 cars of horses, 18 cars of sheep, 23 cars of hay, 16 cars of flour, 9 cars of corn, 10 cars of live poultry, 78 cars of dressed poultry, 4,286 cases of eggs, 18,195 pounds of

This showing, together with the near approach of the construction of the Kansas City & St. Louis electric railroad through Odessa, and the fertility of the soil surrounding the place, insures our greatness in rank among the sister towns of Lafayette county.

The public school buildings of Odessa are monuments of credit to the intelligent populace. The schools are under the control of Prof. Fred Mc- Chesney. The township has nine school buildings, all having from six to ten months school each year.

Of the churches of Odessa let it be stated that it is a "church town." There are two Presbyterian churches - one North and one South ; two Methodist Episcopal - one North and one South; two Christian churches - one known as the anti-organist ; one Baptist church ; one Catholic church, and lastly three negro churches, all striving for the uplift of poor humanity, lifting the people to a higher moral plane of citizenship, pointing out to them their duties to God and their fellow men. For be it remembered that when any people forget the Man of Galilee, who spake as man never spoke before, they start on the downward march that leads them to the dungeon where all who enter must abandon hope.

Odessa has two weekly newspapers, the Democrat, edited by Mr. Adair, and the Ledger, edited by Mr. Ewing. Both are Democratic in politics and work for the best interests of the community. (See Press chapter.)

The Western Bible Literary College is an educational institution located at Odessa, and its history is given in the Educational chapter of this volume.