Van Horn Township

Van Horn Township

Van Horn township embraces thirty-six full sections of 640 acres each, and is mostly rolling prairie. It lies directly north of Carrollton, and contains some of the finest farms in Carroll county. It takes its name from Col. R. T. Van Horn, of Kansas City, editor of the 'Journal.

John, familiarly called Jack Phillips was its first settler, locating on section 28, in the summer of 1834. In 1836, Jas. Phillips, a brother of old Jack, came in and improved the place known as Morris Miller's^ Geo. Nance, Sr., came in 1837, locating on section 16. Jas. Sandusky also came in 1837, and squatted in the western part of the township. B. J. Godsey came in 1840. Maj, Chas. Sterne located in 1839. Thos. Phillips also came in 1840, and settled im the northern part of the township. Burley Godsey arrived in 1854, having lived in Leslie township for ten years prior to coming to Van Horn. In 1842, Abbott Hancock located on section 34. In 1848 came Wm. Sterne, locating on section thirty. John Zimmerman was one of the early settlers, locating on section 24 or 25. Asa McLain of Cooper county, Ky., came in 1848 and improved in section one. Jas. R. Boley from Kentucky is also one of the old settlers. Foster Masters with others whose names we failed to get settled later.

lack Phillips was known as a celebrated bee hunter, and many stories are yet told of the unerring certainty' of his trail, and of the immense amounts of honey he discovered in out of the way places. Thomas Thurman was one of the old comers, and is said to have been the first to marry in this section. He married a Miss Phillips in 1850. William and Elizabeth Godsey, in 1846 had born to them a son named John H., and in the following year a daughter named Nancy C., was born to Abner and Sarah L. Godsey. ,

In Van Horn, as well as in several other townships. Dr. G. W. Folger was the practising physician. Dr. Taylor, however, was the first physician who permanently located. What became of him is not known.

Asa Me Lain, now living, taught the first school on section one, having 20 pupils and receiving $20 per month for his services, and the 6rst school house was built by Burley Godsey, Asa McLain, and the Phillips boys, on section one. The house was the work of the nei^^hbors, and of course its cost was but nominal.

The township has filled up rapidly since the wjir, with a vigorous pushing population, and is as far advanced in improvement as any. Much has been said and a good deal of fun made of the way justice was administered in the earlier settlement of the different townships in the cpunty, and no doubt great errors and laughable incidents can be remembered. But we doubt if the earliest trials in the county can afford a case where so much fun and ignorance characterized it, as is contained in the incident we are about to relate.

Happening in recent years, when a knowledge of common and statute law is almost part of the ordinary education of our children, it seems almost incredible that a jack-leg lawyer could carry the point before the court, as was the case in .this trial. . But to the incident. The case involved was where a constable was liable on his official bond for a debt, and the justice of the peace for the township was to try the case. The prosecution was represented by a lawyer from , Carrollton, and the defense called in a granger lawyer of the neighborhood. When the case was called, the first question that was raised was by the defence claiming that the justice had no jurisdiction in the case. The question was discussed , at length, both parties gettnig somewhat animated and excited. At length the Carrollton lawyer produced a decision from the supreme court of the state, as laid down in the 10th Missouri reports, covering every feature of the case then on trial, introducing no other evidence, the decision he referred to being all sufficient, as he supposed, and ending the reading of the deceision with a little eloquent speech. The opposing lawyer was equal to the occasion. Rising from his seat with a sense of the duty he had to perform, and in his sleeve laughing at the ruse he intended practicing on the court and opposing counsel, he argued his side of the case. He said that "fine haired lawyers were in the habit of coming among us grangers, your honor, bringing their books and reading from them stuff that the court nor the lawyer who read could not understand. That it was time the people of the country would ignore the advice and suggestions of those who were trying to, play on the credulity and good sense of your honor, and this community. The decision the gentleman read is not from the supreme court of the state your honor, but is law that is obsolete and was - in use when Caesar governed Rome. If the gentleman wanted to introduce law, we have the session acts and the statute laws of the state, and we tell your honor that it is wrong to be governed by the shallow device of the prosecution in this case."

This closed the case, and both sides awaited the decision of the justice patiently. They had not long to wait, the decision was that the tenth Mis-

To say that the " fine haired " disciple of Blackstone was discomfitted, would be a poor word to express his chagrin and disappointment he felt, and up to this time he relates it to his friends, emphasizing with more force than elegance, his disgust at the justice's decision.

San Francisco

This contemplated city was laid out in April, 1858, by J. C. Darcy, and contained nine blocks of nine lots each. It was laid out on section six in the extreme northwest corner of the township and just one mile south of Coloma. Its location adjacent to Coloma looks to the unbiased eye as though it was intended to stop the growth of the former place, Coloma being esteemed a rival. Two or three improvements were made within its boundaries, and its growth stopped, whether from natural causes, or from the more vigorous efforts of its rival to outstrip its growth, is not known. At all events, from some cause its building up was retarded, and within the last few years it has reverted back to its natural adaptation as a first-rate farm.

Big Creek M. E. Churchy South. - This church dates its organization from 1851, and is located on Section 2. The original members were Chas. L. and Elizabeth Sullivan, J. W., Margaret B., and Mary McLain, B. W., Catharine, J. W., Ely G., and Mary A. Stone, G. G. and Sarah Brown, and Mary E. Sullivan. Their first and present building is a neat and tasty frame, ^erected in 1876, at a cost of $1,500, and was dedicated by Rev. J. P. Nolan on the 4th Sunday of August, 1877. W. M. Sutton, M. G. Gregory, and H. H. Craig have been in charge of the flock. It has prospered under their labors and they have now a membership of fifty-nine.

Sugar-Tree Township is fractional, and embraces that part of 51 23 and 51 24 in Carroll county. Its southern and eastern boundary being the Missouri river. The character of the country is low bottom, very rich and productive, and with an abundance of timber skirting the river.

Nehemiah and Noah Woolsey were amonpf the first settlers, and although no date is known as to the exact time of their locating, it could not have been later than 1823, and possibly a few years earlier than this. Abraham and Alexander Hill, Jas. Lawson, John HaU and Sam'l H. Williams, located from 1820 to 1824; Bartley Pitts came in 1835, Wm. Haddart and a man by the name of Lothian located in 1834, and Mike McGuire settled in 1836. Jonathan Troberin 1837, Wyatt Arnold, D. J. Thompson and Martin Preble came in 1838.

Most of the settlements were made in the timber near the river, the impression being held by the earlier settlers that the prairie bottom lands were unproductive an d of little account except for grass. Late years have taught them differently however, and the prairie bottom lands have proven the richer of the two.

John Monroe located in 1836 or 1837, and remained till 1841, when he left for New Orleans to clerk in a commission house in that city. He became a prominent factor in the improvement of the city, and in 1860 was elected Mayor, making an efficient and able executive officer.

From 1841 to the opening of the war but few settlements were made, at least few as compared with certain other parts of the county. This seemed somewhat strange when it was known that it was one of the most fertile regions of the county, but the low and wet condition of the soil, and the tall, rank nature of the grass, made settlers fear that ague and malarial fevers were prevalent to an extent to make it wholly unhealthy. This fallacy has also been removed, and the fact stands proven that Sugar Tree is as healthy as the townships on the uplands.

The first death was that of Mahala Pitts in the month of March, 1835, the body being interred close to the Missouri river, the treacherous waters of which are constantly washing inward, and, no doubt, long since have encroached on the narrow house that contained the remains, and washed them into its ceasless current.

Drs. Folger and Walling for a number of years, were the regular practicing ph3'sicians of the township, neither of whom were residents here, however, and not until several years later did a permanent physician locate in the township.

These early settlers were by nature primative in many of their ways, and they were primative to a great extent because they could not be otherwise. They all lived in log cabins because they had nothing better to to live in, lumber being unknown among them, markets being distant,

The following named persons have served as magistrates, in Sugar Tree township, since the organization of the county: 1852, S. W. Mobley; 1854, Thomas J. Dunkle; 1866, Joseph Allen; 1872, Henry Neal, R. A. Black; 1873, Henry Neal, R. A. Black; 1875, James Pninty, Thomas J. Dunkle; 1876, Thomas J. Dunkle, Henry Neal, J. M. Calloway; 1881,0. L. Dunkle, John Moore.

Moscow

The project of building a city to be called after the famous city of Russia, burned during Napoleon's campaign, was conceived in somebody's brain, and the site was selected on the southeast quarter of section 7, and in that part of the township known as 51 , 23.

What its dimensions were to be is not recorded, but it is evident that it was not to be of any great extent, as no improvement was ever made on the site, and is therefore classed as still another of the "lost cities " of Carroll county.

The site. of the city of Elderton was the south half of the southeast of the northwest of section 16, and in that part of the towmship known as 51, 24. J. T. Kelly and Paul Alden were to have been its founders and builders, and its dimensions were to embrace eight blocks of eight lots each. No improvement was made on the site of the expectant city, and well it was so, as the city would have shared the fate of the ground on which it was to have been builded. Its fine buildings, lofty churches palatial residences and splended mansions would have been covered by the treacherous encroachments of the " big muddy." This also is numbered as one of the " lost cities " of the county.

Cornelius B. Vaughn

born June 11, 1822, in Culpepper county, Virginia. He moved to Warren county, Tennessee, in company with his parents, when but four years of age. Here he grew to manhood. In 1844 he started west, walking from Nashville to Alton, Illinois. He remained in Alton until 1849, when he went to California in searh of gold. He returned to Alton in 1863, and was engaged there in saw-milling for -several years, when he removed to

Carroll county, Missouri, settling'^on section nine, in Van Horn township, where he now resides. He was married, October 9, 1853, to Miss Mary F. Smith. They are the parents of seven children, living: Leonard O., Clara M., George S., Robert B., Rosamond, Bertha J., and Lulu C. Mrs. Vaughn is a member of the Baptist Church.

William W. Riley

born October 19, 1818, in Clark county, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Riley, natives of Virginia. William W. came to Carroll county in 1838; he remained here one year and then went to Clinton county. In 1865 he returned to Carroll county, and has since remained here on section 12 in Van Horn township. Mr. Riley has had considerable experience in surveying and helped to lay out the city of St. Joseph. He was married in 1839 to Miss Mary Ann Sharp, of Scott county,JKentucky. They are the parents of eight children - E valine, Jonathan, William, John Franklin, GeorgeW., Amelia E., Richard H. and Mar}^ C. Mr. Riley is a member of the masonic fraternity of Maysville lodge. No. 62 in DeKalb county. Mo.

Burley Godsey

born September 25, 1817, in Cox county, Tennessee; he is a son of Burton and Patience Godsey. When two years old his parents moved to St. Charles county Mo., where they lived ten years and then moved to Saline county, where Burley was raised on a farm. He came to Carroll county in i»44and settled near Bogart's mound; three years after he moved into Van Horne township. Mr. Godsey was married in September, 1835 to Miss Nancy Millsap, of Saline county, whose parents are natives of Virginia. They are the parents of eight children Hving - Elizabeth F., Cynthia Jane, Mary C., James M., William, M^ytha A., Thomas G., and Susan Ellen. Mr. Godsey at one time owned a large body of land, but has given his children each a farm. Mr. Godsey and wife are members of the Baptist church. He was a democrat but did not like the doctrine and became a republican.

Thomas L. Charles

born in Orange county, Ind., April 22, 1840;. he is the son of William Charles. He moved to Martin county when a boy and was raised there. He enlisted in the Federal army in August, 1862, in Company A, of the Seventeenth Indiana mounted infantry, Capt. Henley, in Gen. Thomas' command. He participated in the battles of Mumfordsville, Chickamauga. Missionary Ridge, Selina, Atlanta, Shelbyville, Columbus and others. He received a slight wound in the knee at the battle of Shelbyville, at the battle of Mumfordsville he was taken prisoner but was soon paroled and exchanged. He was married in 1868 to Miss Ann J. Sides, of Martin county, Ind. They have three children living - Ettie F., Daniel L. and Benjamin E. Mr. Charles is a member of the masonic fraternity and belongs to the White River lodge. No. 332 at Shoals, Martin county, Ind. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., at Shoals, No. 344. Mr. Charles has made himself a fine' home out of his farm. He owns 340 acres of land with all the improvents. On his place is an orchard of 250 trees of all kinds of fimif. He takes delight in raising fine horses.

Henry R. Stevenson

born September 15, 1840, in Franklin county, Ohio. He came to Missouri, with his parents when but a few weeks old. He was educated at the Fairville Academy, in Saline county, Missouri. Mr. Stevenson was married in 1869 to Miss Amanda A. Lloyd, of Springfield, Illinois. They are the parents of five children: Carrie Alice, Harry H., Lloyd A., Walton Leroy, and George W. Mr. Stevenson is a member of the M. E. Church and of the I. O. O. F. He has represented his lodge twice in the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He is at present president of the Barclay Coal Mining Company in Sangamon county, Illinois. He ow'ns 251 acres of fine improved land in Carroll county, Missouri. His home is in section 16, of Van Horn township. He pays particular attentign to raising fine live stock and improving his farm generally.

Elias Reber

son of Joseph and Elizabeth Reber, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of February, 1827. Until the age of 24 5'ears, the subject of this sketch worked with his father in a saw and flouring mill, .finally becoming a partner in the mill. He then bought a small tract of land in his native county, .gave up milling and went to burning lime, burning about 100,000 bushels annually, being engaged at that business seven years. Selling out his lime business he bought his father's mill for $16,- OUO, run it six years, sold out and came to this state in 1870, locating In Livingston county, and went to farming. Three years after, he moved to this county, where he still remains. On the 18th of September, 1849, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of John D. and Sarah Hain, by whom there are six children living: Ludwig, Wilson H., Louisa, John, George and Alvah.