Grand River Township is bounded as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of section 13, township 29, range 42; thence west six miles to the northwest corner of section 7, or rather half section, township 30, range 42; thence south about four and a half miles to the southwest corner of section 31, township 30, range 42; thence east six miles to the southeast corner of section 36, township 29, range 42; thence north about four miles to the place of beginning.

The surface of the township is gently rolling, excepting the small area of what is called "bottom land." The soil is rich and well adapted to farming and grazing purposes. The timber on the banks of the streams is considerable, and consists of the usual varieties found in the county. The streams of water have been nicely arranged by nature. The entire northern boundary of the township is watered by Grand River, the sinuosities of whose course reminds one when looking at the map of alternating loops and horseshoes. The main feeders of Grand River which flow through the township are Elk Fork, which flows through sections 35, 25 and 14; Mingo Creek, which passes through sections 32, 28, 24, 22 and 15, and Little Deer Creek, which winds its way through sections 31, 30, 19, 16 and 17.

Grand River, being one of the northern tier of townships and lying immediately south of Cass County, received a few pioneers about as early as the adjacent townships in that county, who, true to the history of all the first settlers of that day, located near or on some running stream of water, and in or near the edge of the timber. Among this adventurous class of men were Louis C. Haggard, Joseph Hiley, George Sears, Richard De Jarnatte, John Sigler, Jake Lefler, Kimsey Coats, William Crawford, William Edwards, John and Joseph Pardee, Hiram and D. C. Edwards, Martin Owens, Martin Owens Jr., Crayton Owens, Sarah White, M. M. Tucker, James Williams, Hardway Harrison, James and S. E. Harrison and William France.

The village of Altona was laid out in January 1860, by William Crawford, who was the proprietor of the town site. It occupies the northeast quarter and the northwest quarter of sections 33 and 34. A man by the name of Scoggin erected the first business house in the town. About the year 1868 Harrison & Shoube erected a grist and saw mill in the town. After being operated some time the mill was taken down and moved to Cass County. In 1878 the Missionary Baptists built a church edifice in the town, a frame building, which is still used by that denomination as a house of worship. J. D. Wright and wife, George Moles and wife, Austin Warford and Mitchell Warford and family constituted some of its early members.

Goslin & Wright, drugs and groceries.
Tucker & France, dry goods, etc.
Haynes &. Hudson, drugs and groceries.
John Gotchel, dry goods and groceries.
Wilson Allen, hotel.
J. A. Goslin, postmaster and physician.
S. B. Hudson, physician.

Bates County Missouri MOGenWeb