Washington Township

Washington Township

Washington township is bounded on the north bv Jefferson township, on the east by Gentry county, on the south by Andrew county, and on the west by White Cloud township. This is the southeastern township in Nod¬ away county and contains about forty-seven square miles. It is about six miles and one-fourth from north to south and seven and one-half from east to west. This township was first organized in 1845, by order of the court and was one of the original subdivisions of the county. It was a large territory at first and was defined and bounded as follows :

"Beginning on One Hundred and Two creek, on the line dividing Nod¬ away and Andrew counties ; thence north up said stream till it intersects White Cloud township; thence east and north with said township line to the line dividing townships 63 and 64; thence east with said boundary to the eastern boundary of Nodaway county; thence south with said county line to Andrew county ; thence west to place of beginning."

On June 14, 1866, among other changes in townships, Washington was cut down to a smaller territory and still later, March. 1871, Jefferson and Grant townships were formed out of a part of Washington township, leaving it in the shape and size as it is today.

Natural Features

Through the extreme western part of the township flows the Platte river, in a southerly direction. It runs across the southwest part of the town¬ ship. Turkey creek and Island branch water the eastern portion of its terri¬ tory, uniting the county line and flows into Grand river. The western part of the township consists of high upland prairie land, more broken and rolling as one approaches the river, the valley being about one mile in width and of a very rich alluvial soil. Originally the streams were fringed with good tim¬ ber and large groves, amounting in all to one-tenth of the entire township. Springs gushed forth to greet the pioneer and attract him to its situation. The soil is very well suited for horticulture and general agriculture. Grasses grow in luxuriance and stock raising has been for years very profitable in this portion of the county.

Past And Present Early Settlers

It seems quite probable that the earliest settlement in this township was made in 1840 and was effected by Thomas Gray, who took a claim in the southeast part of White Oak Grove, two miles north of the present town of Guilford.

Next came Silas Groves, from Indiana, and located two miles north¬ west of Guilford, between the river and White Oak Grove. The farm was, in after years, owned by Hugh Todd. Then came Jesse Jones, who emigrated from Pennsylvania, settling a mile to the south of present Guilford. Thomas Blakely came from Cooper county, Missouri, locating near the others men¬ tioned. James Irwin was among the next to come into the township. He took a claim a half-mile southwest of Guilford. Silas Best settled three miles north, on the east side of White Oak Grove. John S. Aldridge emi¬ grated from Indiana and settled on the east side of the grove. Guilford Richards came from Virginia and took a claim on the south side of the Grove.

John Groves came in 1842, when St. Joseph was only a collection of less than a half-dozen houses. His team hauled the first logs that went towards building the first log house in Savannah. Upon his arrival there were not to exceed a dozen families within Washington township. Very soon there¬ after, however, came in Christopher Weatherman, Allen Gentry and Wiley Brittain. The nearest trading point was Savannah and Whitesville was the nearest postoffice. The first crops raised were wheat, corn and hemp; the settlers all dressed in home-spun and were very seldom ill, except in cases- of ague, which frequently troubled them. *4

The first store in the township was owned by Mr. Elliott and his faith¬ ful clerk, William Weatherman, carried the first mail bags that ever came into the settlement. Jesse Stingley settled one mile and a half southeast of present Guilford; he came from Indiana. In 1847 came C. Weatherman, who emigrated from North Carolina. In 1848 came W. J. Brittain from the same state, locating on section 14, township 62, range 34.

John Pulley, son-in-law of Thomas Blackley, emigrated from Cooper county, Missouri, took a claim three-quarters of a mile southwest of present Guilford; James T. Estes, another son-in-law, came from the same county, locating a mile and a fourth from Guilford.

In the early spring of 1850 Anthony Groves emigrated from Tennessee and located near Guilford, a fourth of a mile to the west. The same year came B. S. Cook from North Carolina and took land a mile and one-half northwest of Guilford. I. Wilson came in from Buchanan county in 1851, settling on C lear creek. He was a resident of the Platte purchase for a half century, coming here in 1837.

i he first school house in Washington township was erected in 1845 on the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 22, township 62, range 34. A Miss Stockton taught the pioneer school and she was followed by B. L. Cook, who taught three terms in succession.

The population of the township in 1900 was one thousand three hundred and thirty-four. The number of school houses at present is adequate to all demands; the school history will be included in the general chapter on Edu¬ cation.

This village is located one mile east of the west line of the township, and about ' fourteen miles southeast of Maryville. It lies on the east bluff of the Platte river, in a very charming natural building site for a town. At an early day there was established a postoffice named Carterville, and also a small store, a little to the north of the present site of Guilford. It is believed the town w as named for Guilford Court House in North Carolina, from whence emigrated some of the early settlers. It wTas at that point that a battle of the Revolutionary war was fought.

.William I rwin entered the land on which the place is situated, in 1852 About 1856 he sold to O. H. P. Craig, a merchant of Savannah, Missouri, town was platted in 1856, Mr. Rowdey being the surveyor. O. H. P. Craig erected the first building and put in a stock of general merchandise. The next building was a drug store owned by B. L. Cook; William Irwin also Added a general store soon. In 1858 Craig sold his interest in the town to John Chandler. A steam sawr mill was put in operation and Willis Summers sawed lumber that was used in the erection of numerous dwellings, shops and stores which were soon erected in the newr hamlet. In 1859 Hugh Groves built a large general store, which had a large Masonic hall over it.

m In 1873 the Methodist Episcopal church South built, and a little later an edifice wras built by the Methodist Episcopal church. Of schools, it may be said that there wTas a good public school in Guilford from its very founda¬ tion. At first it was kept in a log building, which later was superseded by a good frame house.

The first marriage in Guilford was Charles Craig to Mrs. Mary Ann Landers, in 1858. A son of Dr. J. S. McAdom died in 1857, this being the first death in Guilford. In 1880 it was reported by the census books that Guilford had one hundred population, which was less than it contained at one time. With the building of the railroad and the platting of New Guilford, this town was checked in its further growth.

New Guilford

New Guilford was the result of the building of the Chicago Great Western railroad line through the township. The platting was made Septem¬ ber 23, 1887, by Quintin Wilson, on section 21, township 62, range 34. Tne present directory of this town consists of the following social and business factors: .

The present mayor of Guilford is William Watson. The postmaster who have served since the office was first established at this point are as follows : T. Hawk. William Wilson. C. H. Sidle, Thomas Ivie, William Ross.J^. Tacob Nelson, S. E. Collins, and the present incumbent, Attss Ida CollinsV ' appointed March 16, T909. upon the death of her father, who was postmaster' -V