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Marion & Union Townships

MARION TOWNSHIP

Marion township contains about seventy square miles, and with Union township forms the western boundary of the county bordering upon Randolph. Its surface is veined by the Middle and Elk forks of Salt river, and by Mud creek. About one-sixth of the township is prairie. Much of the northern portion of the township is hilly and broken, but a large portion of the land is good for wheat, corn and tobacco, the latter crop being probably more largely cultivated in this township than in any other. The township was named in honor of Gen. Francis Marion.

OLD SETTLERS.

The old settlers in this township were William Farrell, Joel Farrell, John Farrell, James Farrell, Solomon Hays, Samuel M. Quirey, James Swindell, Joel Swindell, Berry Overfelt, David Overfelt, William Gooch, William Smith, Nicholas Plummer, Henry Harris, John W. Dawson, Larken Bell, John Stephens, Marcus Embree, Jacob Satterlee, James Davis, -Todd, John Glenn, Evan Davis, William Davis, Thomas Davis, Joseph Bryan, Joseph Stephens, William Swindell, Aaron Yager, James Yager, Arphaxed Key, John Waller, Stephen Callaway.

MADISON.

The town of Madison was named by James R. Abernathy, Esq., who came to Monroe county, Mo., in 1817. Mr. Abernathy thought a great deal of James Madison, President of the United States, and called the new town Madison, in honor of him. He entered 40 acres of land where the town was located and laid out half of the tract in 1837, dividing it into about 90 lots, which he disposed of in a sllort time, receiving therefor the sum of $1,100. The first house in the place was put up by Henry Harris, who came from Madison county, Ky., and used as a tavern in 1837. James Eubanks, from Tennessee, opened the first store in 1838. George Cunningham was the pioneer blacksmith. The first sign-board was put up by L. B. Wade. It read: "P Private entertainment by L. B. Wade." Nicholas Ray was one of the first physicians of the town, and was a Kentuckian, as was also Dr. Venaugh; both came about the year 1838. The Christian denomination built. the first house of worship about 1851. Mrs. Morris, a widow lady now residing in Madison, was the first person born in the town. Among the first settlers in this part of the township were Joel Terrill, Evan Davis, Joel Noel, James Owenby, William and Thomas Davis, all from Oldham county, Kentucky. Joseph Brown, Joseph Bryan, Joseph Stephens, James M. Yager, Martin Groves, Isaac Baker, Ezra Fox, William Swindell and Reuben Burton were also early settlers, and from Kentucky.

The town contains a public school, Christian and Methodist churches, one flour and a saw mill, telegraph (W. U.), express, United States mail daily, and has a population of about 500. It has also two general stores, one harness shop, three drug and grocery store and meat market, one grocery store, one furniture store, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, one livery stable, two hotels, one barber shop, one photographer, two physicians. The town is situated on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas R. R., five miles from Holliday, 13 from Paris, the county seat, and contains a population of about 600, and is in the midst of a very good agricultural country, with good timber and coal lands in close proximity, which add greatly to its prominence as a business point ; and the coal mines in this region are destined in the near future (when fully developed) to be a source of extraordinary benefit to the citizens of Madison and vicinity. This is one of the oldest towns in the county and its citizens are mostly natives of the county. They are an energetic and enterprising people and take great interest in the prosperity of the county in which they live. They give employment to all worthy mechanics that come among them, and assist by their aid and influence in every laudable enterprise. Such is the character of its business men, its citizens and the community in general.

MADISON LODGE, NO. 91, A. F. AND A. M.

This lodge now meets at Holliday. It was organized in October, 1847. The first officers of the lodge were Henderson Davis, W. M.; Samuel McQuery, S. W. ; W. H. Nowell, J. . . Pesent officers are William Hord, W. M. ; G. Waller, S. W.; W. Davis, J. W.; T. W. McCormick, secretary; R. Wright, treasurer; John Helen, S. D.; T. Hayden, J. D. ; G. L. Harper, tyler.

HOLLIDAY.

This thriving village is situated in Marion township on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad; eight miles from Paris, five miles from Madison, and was first laid out by W. H. Holliday & Bro. in 1876. These enterprising men were engaged for some time in selling dry goods and provisions, and did a prosperous business, so much so that others were attracted to the place and engaged in different enterprises. House after house has been erected, and being located in a beautiful farming country and splendid timber in close proximity, it could not be otherwise than prominent as a business point. All the lots laid off in the original plat have been disposed of, and to supply the wants for more room for buildings, Mr. Henry Glasscock, who owns a valuable farm adjacent, laid off a tract of land into town lots. The people of Holliday are noted for liberality, hospitality and general business enterprise.

We are indebted to Mr. W. H. Holliday for information in regard to this place. His business tact and energy has been to him a financial success. He has now retired from active business pursuits, and transferred them to younger men, who will see that "business" is the watchword, and that it loses none of its laurels. All well regulated communities, cities and towns should have good schools and churches. Holliday has both. One church, Cumberland Presbyterian (newly painted and papered), has a membership of 140. This church was built about 40 years ago, before there was any town at this point. Rev. James Sharp is the present minister. Holliday can also boast of a larfge and commodious depot, presided over by Mr. H. McCown. There was shipped from this point during the year 1881 the following car loads : Mules, 11; hogs, 66; sheep, 15; cattle, 41; logs, 4; ties, 89; old iron, 38; oak lumber, 26; cord wood, 19; piling, 36; hoop poles, 6. Total carloads, 351.

These shipments have slowly but constantly increased since that period, until now (1884) Holliday has become one of the most important shipping points in the country. The first house in the town was erected by W. H. Holliday, and was used by him and his brother, Thompson Holliday, as a general store. The first dwelling-house was also built by W. H. Holliday.

The first school-house was built about thirty years ago. It was taken down about five years ago, and a larger and more substantial building put up, which will comfortably seat 125 pupils. Among the early settlers was William Singleton, from Macon county, Mo.; he opened the first hotel in the town. Thomas Mappin built the first saw and grist-mill in the vicinity. Among others who located in this section of the township were Austin Moore, William Moore, Philip Moore, Samuel Harper, Samuel Belmer, Frank McCord, Rev. J. B. Mitchell, James Parish, Gustavus Parish, Andrew Thomas, Runsey Saling, Frank Weatherford, James Greening, Joseph Holliday, Robert Gwynn and Harvey Arnold. Near the present town site, and in Henry Glascock's field, Thomas Terrill opened a race track. Rumsey Saling was a great hunter and was so fond of this pastime that when game became scarce around his home he moved to Texas, where he could pursue with better results his favorite recreation.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

This township lies in the south-eastern part of the county and borders upon Randolph. It has about 80 square miles. Its watercourses are Long branch, Elk fork of Salt river, Hardin's, Oldham, and Milligan creeks. One-half of the township is prairie, and taken as a whole the soil is well adapted to the growth of the cereals, and in fact, all kinds of crops raised by the farmers of this section are successfully grown in Union township. Some of the earliest settlers in the county located in this township, where they lived and died, and many of their descendants still linger around their old homes. Herndon Burton, who now resides in Union township on the Elk fork of Salt river, is said to be the first white child born in Monroe county. The most noted hunter in this region of country is George H. Bassett, who followed hunting for 35 years. He came from Virginia to Randolph county, Missouri, where he resided five years and then moved to Monroe county and located within one mile of Middle Grove, where he lived for a quarter of a century. He now lives in Middle Grove. The first mill in the township was built and operated by C. B. Dawson in 1851, in the town limits. It was, when first built, a saw-mill and carding machine, and afterwards machinery was added for a grist-mill.

OLD SETTLERS.

The old settlers to this township were Kentuckians and Virginians: John G. C. Milligan, Jacob Whittenburg, Daniel Whittenburg, John Gee, Ezra Fox, J. C. Fox, John Burton, Reuben Burton, Michael Kugh, James Martin, James Wells, Austin Swinney, Valentine Swinney, Ashley Snell, James Ownby, George H. Bassett, Joseph Swinney, Bluford Davis, Van Davis, Willis Snell, Fountain Chandler, John Boulware, Hardin Yates, Vincent Yates, James Noel, Leroy Noel, Vincent Jackson, Thomas Embree, Henry Martin, Edward Tucker, Edward Tydings, John Wright, John Myers, Charles Allen, Col. Ed. Tydings, Richard Branham, William Smith, Larkin Bell, C. Collins, Jack Stevens.

PRIMITIVE JUSTICE.

In 1827 or 1828, in what is now known as Union township, Monroe county, there lived John Burton, a justice of the peace. Reuben Burton, his brother, had lost a hog, and finding it in the possession of one, Rious, a free negro, brought suit before his brother John for the possession of it. The day of trial came. The plaintiff was present with his lawyer, J. C. Fox; the defendent was also present but had no lawyer. The trial was about over, and the witnesses, as it was thought, had all been sworn and examined, when the justice, a large, tall man, rose from his seat and requested Pleasant Ford, who was a constable, to swear him. Ford administered the oath to the justice, as was requested by that official, when the justice gave his testimony. He said that he was in possession of some facts in reference to the hog that were not presented to the court by the other witnesses, and after giving his testimony, he decided the case in favor of the free neoro. He had often hunted with the negro and knew the hog to be his, and hence decided in his favor, and against the claim of his own brother. The justice, however, was known to be a just and truthful man, and his evidence was so clear and convincing, that the decision was regarded by the bystanders as being right.

MIDDLE GROVE.

Middle Grove is a substantial and business little town of about 200 inhabitants, and is situated in the south-west corner of the county, and 20 miles from the county seat, and four and a half miles from Evansville, the nearest railroad point. The town is built upon a long sloping hillside, at the foot of which runs Milligan creek, a small tributary of the Elk fork of Salt river, and is surrounded by one of the best farming communities in the State. The town site is a part of the old Ezra Fox settlement, which was made in 1820, and was the first permanent settlement in Monroe county, and the name was derived from its being a midway station between the Father of Waters and Big Muddy, and also the most central station on the first mall route established between New London and Fayette; and from being located in an arm or belt of timber reaching into the Grand Prairie, became the halting place of the earliest pioneers, and was called Middle Grove. These facts, in connection with others, give this little town and neighborhood a history and a civilization reaching farther back than any other portion of the county, and almost to the beginning of the present century, when the first daring frontiersman crossed the Mississippi in search of new homes, or new fields of fortune and adventure; and some of the fields adjacent to the town, which now annually yield their bountiful crops of golden grain, were the first lands ever located in the county. The first virgin soil disturbed by the ploughshare of civilization, still preserves many lingering marks  of the husbandry and decayed habitations of the pioneer fathers - the Foxes, Whittenburgs, Burtons, Davis, Swinneys, Ownbys, Noels, Milligans, Fords, Stephens and others of the early settlers, who first sowed in the tracks of barbarism the seeds of civilization, of which four of the youngest only remain to witness the glory crowning the efforts of their parents and of their young manhood, and that four are Blufar Davis, Herndon Burton, Fountain Swinney and ex-Sheriff James Ownby.

Thus originated Middle Grove, around which settlers gradually located, and in which John C. Milligan started the first store about the year 1830 or 1831; afterwards, in 1840, the town was properly laid off into lots, by John G. C. Milligan, and from that time rapidly grew into a thriving village, and one of the best trading points in Northeast Missouri, and in its inhabitants could be found some of the best blood of Virginia and Kentucky, with its attendant qualities of patriotism, hospitality and neighborly kindness; and many of these distinguishing features yet remain to mark the character of its people, and nowhere are people more united and patriotically resolved for the common weal and welfare of the community and country, or the culture and advancement of the rising generation. The town is pleasantly and healthily located, and the mortality of the neighborhood will compare favorably with any in the State, and none can boast of longer lived and more aged citizens. The oldest citizen of the town is Dr. John McNutt, who settled in the Grove in 1848, and practiced his profession until recent years, when he retired, and now survives the hardships and reverses of fortune that would have killed any ordinary man, at the good old age of 74 years. John G. C. Milligan, a Virginian by birth, built the first house that was put up in the Grove, and in fact, in this section of country in 1825. He was also the first postmaster and the first hotel-keeper. The mail route was between New London in Rails county, to Old Franklin in Howard county, on the Missouri river. John Myers was the first mail carrier on this route. John Hedger was one of the early blacksmiths of the town. Henry Lutz was the pioneer carpenter and wood workman. Edward T. Tucker was the first tailor. The first school-house was built in the township about the year 1830, and William Maupin taught the first school. He was from Howard county, Missouri. The first church was erected by the Christian denomination about 1825, on section 33, township 54, range 12, two miles north-east of Middle Grove. William Reid was the officiating minister. The first church in Middle Grove was erected about the year 1840, by the Christian denomination. A Presbyterian Church was built in 1852, first presided over by Rev. J. B. Mitchell; this organization was discontinued in 1862 and the building was sold and moved away in 1872. Middle Grove claims the honor of being the point where the first store was opened in Monroe county.l The house as already stated, was built by John G. C. Milligan and Glenn and Parsons sold the first goods in it. An old colored man- Jesse Burton - who now lives at Holliday, cleared away the brush for the town site.

SECRET ORDERS.

Lodge No. 326, I. O. O. F. -Was organized in August 1874 with the following charter members: George D. Ownby, James Mitchell, John Mitchell, John T. Haley, Henry Bell, J. B. Swinney, John McAdams, Samuel Truby, Thomas Garrett, Edward C. Brooks, S. T. Hull, John McDonald, Thomas Hocker, Joel H. Noel. The present officers are S. T. Hull, N. G.; J. F. Ownby, V. G.; W. G. Webb, secretary and T. B. Stephens, treasurer.