Beginning at the northwest corner of section 6, township 41, range 30; thence east six miles to the northeast corner of section 1, township 41, range 30; thence south six miles to the southeast corner of section 36, township 40, range 30; thence west six miles to the southwest corner of section 31, township 40, range 30; thence north six miles to the place of beginning.

Summit Township is comparatively well watered, especially in the western part of the same. Root Creek, Mound Creek and Willow Branch all rise in this part of the township. Deepwater, with its different branches, rises in the eastern part. The land is rolling, but good for farming. There is timber on the water courses.

Reuben Herrell and his wife (whose maiden name was Rachel Wolfe) emigrated from Kentucky to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1833, and moved to what is now Summit Township, in Bates County, in 1842. John McClain and Major Glass, who came in 1840, were the only settlers of the township that preceded them. Their experience did not differ from that of other pioneers. Athel Herrell says their family moved in with McClain's till they could build their cabin. That when it was completed there were sixteen of them who lived in it, and often kept travelers. All their cooking was done by the fireplace. To mention this might seem to some to be superfluous, but old people must remember that there are many young people nowadays who read the newspapers that might read a long series of pioneer sketches without that ever occurring to their minds. There are a great many young people unaware of the fact that cooking stoves are of very recent introduction.

To old people how many fond recollections and pleasant memories cling around the old family hearthstone! There the mother prepared, with a few simple utensils, all the provisions for the family with a long iron "crane" hinged in the side of the chimney, which, by hooks of different lengths the kettles were suspended, a "baking kettle" with an iron cover, so that after it had been placed upon the coals it could be covered with them also, and frying pan with its long handle, what substantial and delicious meals our foremothers could prepare! And when all these articles enumerated were lacking, they could roast the venison by piercing it with a sharp stick and holding it before the fire, bake the johnny cake on a board and roast vegetables in the ashes. And the healthy appetite that is always present under such circumstances makes a meal more enjoyable than when prepared with all the numerous paraphernalia and ingredients to be found in a modern kitchen. Then, when the day's work was done, the open fire was a great attraction around which the family gathered to enjoy the evenings. How cheerful and attractive the bright blaze, and what a pleasure to the children to punch the logs and send forth myriads of sparks! By its light also would often be read such few newspapers and books as were to be had by the pioneers of the Western wilderness.

And when Jim or John went courting, and Mary's father and mother had retired to bed behind blankets suspended across the room, and the little ones packed away in the loft, and the bashful youth was in distress for something to do to break the monotonous silence, what a relief to rise, punch the fire, do some very necessary readjusting among the sticks, stir up a shower of sparks and then take a seat nearer Mary than before, and make some remark which the diversion of his mind from its palsying embarrassment has enabled him to frame. How many young folks have ever thought that the word "sparking" in its signification of courting had its origin in this way.

But leaving the fireplace we will return to the statement of Mr. Herrell. He said his mother used often to burn a kettle full of cobs and save the ashes to use for saleratus in making biscuit. Reuben Herrell died in 1848. Mrs. H. in 1876. Of ten children only three are now living. William lives at the old homestead. James lives in Summit Township.

Nathan Horn came from Illinois and settled in Summit Township, in the western part of the same, at an early day. He is living.

Arthur Canaday, Madison Canaday and their father located in the township before the war of 1861. The old gentleman died after 1866.

John Walker, from Cooper County, Missouri, opened a farm among the earliest. He now resides in St. Louis. He was at one time one of the prominent citizens of Bates County and represented her people m the general assembly of the state some ten years ago.

Abram P. Wilson, from Iowa, was another one of the pioneers, and took claims in sections 21 and 22. He lives on the old farm.

A. Brixner located in the southwest part of the township in section 32 before the War, and resides at the place settled by him.

G. W. Cassity, an early settler, settled on the northwest quarter of section 34.

Allen Day, from Montgomery County, Kentucky, settled in Summit Township in the fall of 1870, remained about six years and then moved to Butler, where he now resides.

James L. Kirtley settled on the northeast forty of section 20. He now lives in Washington Territory, whither he went in the fall of 1882.

C. T. Hokanson took a claim on sections 27 and 28. He was from Europe, and now lives in the township at the same place he settled.

A. Black located on section 19.

There is no church building in the township used exclusively as such. The different religious denominations hold their meetings in the school houses, with which the township is well supplied. Among the religious orders there is a Dunkard organization, which holds services at the Fry School House, in the eastern part of the township. About the year 1873 Andrew Gibson came to the township from California and organized the Dunkard Church, which has been in existence ever since. Gibson is a farmer, preacher and blacksmith.

Bates County Missouri MOGenWeb