Washington Township

Washington Township

The Marmaton river runs through the western portion of the township from south to north, and Foland's branch and Old Town branch flow in the same direction through the eastern part. Along these streams there is considerable timber. As to the origin of the names of these water courses it may be here stated that the word "Marmaton" is absolutely meaningless. It has a French sound, however, and is doubtless a corruption of the French word Marmite, signifying a pot or cooking kettle. From the circumstances of finding a kettle, or losing a kettle, or some incident connected with a kettle in some way, it is quite proba¬ ble that the first French voyagers called the stream "Marmite," pronounced Marmita, or Marmeta, and by the old settlers "Marmetaw," or "Mommetaw," accent on the first syllable al¬ ways. Wetmore's Gazette of Missouri for 1837 spells it "Marmeta." The word Marmiton, as it is sometimes written, means a kitchen scullion or pot-scourer. Doubtless the true English name of the stream is Kettle creek; but if the French term is employed it should be written Marmite, and pronounced as indicated above. Old Town branch is so named because near its mouth, in Osage township, the old town of the Osage Indians was located at one time. Foland's branch is named for Jacob Foland.

The surface of the country is somewhat diversified. Asylum No. 3 is located in the extreme southern part of the township on a beautiful site, and there are other fine expanses of coun¬ try; but much of the country is broken. There are many ex¬ posures of sandstone in the southern part. There is a good quarry in the northeastern part and there is some limestone along the Marmaton, in the south'ern part. Coal has been dug in some places.

Early Settlers

It is claimed that Augustine DeVille made a temporary set¬ tlement on the east side of the Marmaton, in section 9, in about 1835, but this may be doubted, as his settlement was nearer Timbered Hill. Abraham McKnight was probably the first set¬ tler. In the employ of M. Letiembre, it is said he opened a farm in the northern part of the township, a little east of the Marrnaton (sw. sec. 4) in about 1838. McKnight came to own the land and sold it to Jesse Lowe, who did not live on it, but in turn sold to Lawson Carter, who lived here until his death, in

Joseph Douglas came to the country with his brother, Col. George Douglas, in 1834. In about 1837 he made a settlement .in the northwestern part of this township (se. 14 sec. 7), north of the Marmaton, and near the branch which still bears his name. Here he opened a fine farm, which became eventually one of the best in the country. He owned a number of slaves and em¬ ployed other help in the management of his plantation, and be¬ came in time quite wealthy.

Mr. Douglas was a most excellent citizen and an honorable gentleman. Hospitable, generous, and charitable, he was a whit peculiar. Ilis uniform price for corn was 35 cents per bushel - never a cent more, under any circumstances, and when the mar¬ ket price was half that amount, or less than his standard, he gave his corn away, rather than abate his rule. He had a reason¬ able price for everything he had to sell, and no amount of .jew¬ ing would induce him to abate it.

In religious belief, Mr. Douglas was a Universalist ; he said he believed in God and therefore did not fear him. His life was one of inoralitv and strict rectitude and when he died, in the summer of 1860, his death was universally deplored.

Noah Caton came in 1839 to section 20, in the southwestern quarter of the township. It was at his house where the first term of the Vernon county court was held. Mr. Caton died in March, 1862. Samuel Son settled on section 29, near the site of the Union school house, in 1840. James B. Logan settled near the sulphur springs, four miles north of Nevada, in February, 1842.

A man named Swearingen settled on the Asylum grounds in 1840, but in a year or more sold his claim to Henry and John Heriford, and removed to Big Drywood.

After 1850 and before the war some of the first settlers were P. A. Logan, Hugh Logan, William Groom, William Ellis, Willis Ellis, J. I. Moore, Elias Deane, Thomas Deane, and Murray.

Dr. White, who lived in the southwest part of the township, was an early settler. Alfred and Willis Clinton located in sec¬ tions 10 and 11 in 1856, coining from Camden county. Elias Deane located in the southwestern portion of the township. Dr. Callaway was an early settler in this township. It is claimed that William AValdo's trading post or store was on the Marmaton, in this township, at the crossing of the Nevada and Balltown road (nw. *4 sec. 17), hut the weight of testimony is to the effect that it was at the Cephas ford, in Osage.

The first school house in the township was built on section 9. It was a frame, and the lumber used in its construction was brought from Pleasant Hill. The first teacher was Phil Henson.

Washington township experienced a few foraging raids dur¬ ing the war, but did not suffer materially or especially. It did not settle up as rapidly after 1865 as some other portions of the county, but in time it has become well occupied and developed, and now contains a thrifty and prosperous community.

The Pleasant Hill, Nevada and Joplin branch of the Mis¬ souri Pacific railroad runs across the township north and south, with a shipping point at Wales.