POSITION AND DESCRIPTION.

     This, the southeastern township of Linn county, is twelve miles in length by five miles in breadth and contains sixty square miles or 38,400 acres.  Its boundaries are a line from the northwest corner of section five, township fifty-=eight, range eighteen due east to the Macon county line; thence south along the Macon line to the Chariton county line; thence west along the Chariton line to the southwest corner of section thirty-two, township fifty-seven, range eighteen; thence due north to the beginning.
     Description - The northern part of the township is composed for the most part of rolling prairie, interspersed with tracts of timber along the streams.  The soil is excellent and is well adapted to the cultivation of tobacco, of which product large quantities have been and are raised.  The southern, southwestern, and western portions of the township are made up of fine prairie and an exceeding fertile soil.  The eastern portion, especially near the Macon county line, is poor, the soil being thin and the land very broken.  The famous Elk Knobs are in this vicinity.  These knobs for a chain like a miniature mountain range, and are really a succession of abrupt elevations irregular in form, but for the most part of a conical or sugar-loaf shape, extending north and south through this county - in Blake and Bucklin townships - a distance of perhaps twenty miles.  The knobs are from fifty to three hundred feet high.  Formerly the prairie fires, which annually swept over the country, kept them free from bushes and trees, but in late yeas, comparatively, pin-oaks, jack-oaks and other small timber have crept up the sides and over the tops of most of them.  The soil on the knobs is of course poor in quality, furnishing only grass suitable for pasturage.  The land is very cheap and can be bought for less than $1 per acre.
     The knobs run at an average of about three-fourths of a mile from the Macon line, and there are some small valleys among them very fertile.  How they were named can only be conjectured.  It is supposed that at an early day the pioneers saw them covered with elk grazing upon their summits.  Their geological formation is of the drift character, according to representations.
     Timber - The best timber in Linn county is to be found on the west side of Bucklin township, in a belt about six miles long and three miles wide, extending north and south, parallel with East Yellow Creek, and among its branches.  It is mostly white oak, and has an excellent reputation.  It is suitable for almost any purpose, being sought after for railroad ties, fence-rails, posts, and for boards, wagon and plow timber as well.  Along the other streams of the township is to be found a sufficiency of timber for all practical purposes.  Numerous portable saw-mills have converted, and are now converting, much of the timber into lumber.
     Economic geology - Underlying the entire area of Bucklin township is a large and valuable bed of coal, comparatively easy of access but not much developed.  This is a portion of the same bed so extensively worked at Bevier, Macon county, at St. Catharine, and at other points.  There is an abundance of the best quality of stone in the township, and there are numerous exposures, some of which have been used as quarries.  There are both limestone and freestone ledges readily accessable.  At Coulson's bridge, across East Yellow Creek, a little outside of the limits of the township, there is a fine quarry of excellent stone lying in regular strata and easily approached, and each stratum is broken into blocks of different sizes, from two and three feet square to parallelograms large enough to cover an area of six by ten feet.  All that the people have to do when they want one of these stones is to go to the quarry, select one that suits them, remove it from its bed, and haul it away.  No drilling or blasting is necessary.  On section seventeen, township fifty-eight, range eighteen, there is a fine exposure of valuable limestone and a quarry.  On Light's Branch there are exposures of stone every few rods.  The greater number of quarries and stone openings are in the northern and western portions of the township.  Good brick clay is to be found on nearly every section in the township.
     Streams - Bucklin township is well supplied with water and water-courses.  East Yellow Creek and Mussel Creek are the streams which drain the township by means of their branches.  Commencing in the northeast, Long Branch, Light's Branch, and Spring Branch, flow in a general direction from northeast to southwest and empty into East Yellow Creek.  In the southern part of the township the following streams flow in a general direction from north to south and fall into Mussel Fork; namely, Van Deusen Creek, Clark's Branch, and Locust Branch.  In the southeastern part Mussel Fork itself enters the townships, and flows for about three miles.
     Springs - There is a great abundance of springs of excellent water throughout the township, many of which flow in the dryest seasons. about one mile and a half north of Bucklin township, in section twenty-five, is a spring said to possess many powerful medicinal qualities.  Many persons have been - or have imagined themselves to be - cured of divers ailments and complaints by drinking the waters of this Linn county Bethesda.  In summer time it has been quite a resort for the novelty seekers on days of leisure.  Some enthusiasts declare the virtues of the spring to be as many and powerful as those of the famed Eureka Springs of Arkansas.  And they may be, and yet ____.   The reader may supply the ellipsis.
     No archaeological specimens or pre-historic relics of any consequence have ever been found in this township to any important extent.  No mounds exist other than natural.
     Some ideal of the character of the soil in the northern half of the township may be gained from the statement of Lawrence Switzer, who lives in the neighborhood of the Warren school-house, and who states that he has never failed to raise good wheat, and an average crop, for sixteen years.
     There is a great deal of unimproved land yet in the southern part of the township, although the major portion of the territory is in a high state of cultivation, as is evidenced by the assessed valuation of the township in 1881, which was $314,430.

EARLY HISTORY - FIRST SETTLEMENTS, ETC.

    Wyett's Settlement - Probably the first settler within what are now the confines of Bucklin township was Mr. Sampson Wyett, who is still living.  Mr. Wyett states that he came originally from the State of Tennessee to Chariton county, and on the twenty-fourth of March, 1835, came to and settled upon the southeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township fifty-seven, range eighteen.  His nearest neighbor then lived on Mussel Fork, six miles east; on the south the nearest was ten miles away, in Chariton county.  His only other neighbors were the Bowyers, Yount, and the other settlers in the neighborhood of Linneus.  Shortly after Mr. Wyett came, there arrived the following pioneer settlers:  Samuel Mapes, from Illinois, in 1836; John Guyer, from Kentucky, in 1837; William Kennedy, from Kentucky, in 1837; Mordecai Lane, from Kentucky, in 1838; Josiah Watson, from Kentucky, in 1836.
     The first marriage in the neighborhood was that of Alfred McDaniel and Nancy M. Lane, at the house of the bride's father, in 1838 or 1839.  The ceremony was performed by Rev. Joshua Lawson, and there was a general attendance of all the settlers for miles around.
     The first child born in the township - at least, in this neighborhood - was Eliza J. Wyett, daughter of Sampson and Emily Wyett, the date of whose birth is set down as February 18, 1837.  The first death was that of the wife of John Beeler, who died in 1839.  She was buried on section thirty-two.
     The first practicing physician was Dr. John F. Powers, who came from Ohio in 1841.  Reverend Thatcher, a Methodist, was the first minister; and the first religious services were held at Mr. Wyett's residence.  Jacob Coulson was the first school-teacher, and taught the first school in 1839, in a little log school-house built by the settlers on section twenty-nine.  He had about fifteen scholars of both sexes and all ages, and received one dollar per month per scholar for his services.
     The first cloth woven in the settlement was by Mrs. Emily Wyett.  The settlers did their first trading and milling at Keytesville.  It being so far from mill, and such an undertaking to make a trip thereto, Mr. Wyett determined to make a mill of his own.  Accordingly, he burned a hole in a stump, rigged a sweep and attached to it a pestle, and beat his corn into meal in this mortar, using the coarser particles for hominy.
     In early days the settlers' hogs ran in the woods and fattened on the mast, which was very abundant.  The wolves were very troublesome in carrying off the young pigs and shoats. Game was plentiful - deer, turkeys, prairie-chickens, etc., besides wolves, foxes, and other "varmints," as the settlers called them.  Scarcely a family in the settlement was without venison at any time.
     The Indians, of course, had abandoned the country as a permanent abiding place many years before Mr. Wyett and his neighbors settled here; but thereafter they frequently came down from Iowa on hunting expeditions, and passed through the settlement.  They were uniformly friendly and sociable towards the whites.  For the most part, these Indians belonged to the Sac and Pottawattamie tribes.
     On the northwest quarter of section twenty-nine, township fifty-eight, range nineteen, is a cemetery laid out by James Ainsworth and Sampson Wyett in 1844.  The first burial therein was that of a daughter of James Ainsworth.  Mr. Ainsworth deeded two acres of land to Sampson Wyett and Harrison Veal, as trustees, to be used as a public burying-ground, and for a church to be used for religious worship by all denominations.
     Watson's Settlement  - James H. Watson states that his father, Josiah Watson, came from Chariton county (originally from Kentucky) to this county and township in 1836, and settled on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section sixteen, township fifty-eight, range eighteen.  In the same year came John Guyer, from Cooper county, (also a Kentuckian), and settled on section nineteen, and William Skelton to section eighteen.  Wyett was considered a neighbor, though he lived away from them, in another part of the township.  In deed everybody was a neighbor that lived within ten miles.
     The first death was Mrs. Beller; and the first physician, Dr. Powers, as stated by Mr. Wyett; but Mr. Watson thinks the first religious services were by Rev. Martin Morgan, an Old School Baptist, at Wyett's.  The first male child born in Watson's settlement was John L. Watson,, ,son of Josiah and Rhoda Watson, who was born July 18 1838.
     Lane's Settlement - According to Judge J. M. Cash, Mordecai Lane settled on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section twenty-one, township fifty-seven, range eighteen, in the year 1837.  Mrs. Ruth Slaughter, a daughter of Lane, says her father settled on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section six; but probably this settlement was a re-location.  Lane was originally from Kentucky, but came directly from Chariton county here.  Sometime after Lane had settled Amos Ladd came in from Illinois, in 1846; Alfred McDaniel from Virginia, in 1846 or 1847; Loyd Cash, J. M. Cash, and Thomas Wiley came to section fifteen in 1849.
     The first death in the neighborhood was that of Jacob Ladd, who was buried on section twenty-two.  Dr. J. F. Powers was the first regular physician.  He came from Ohio in 1841, and settled on section fifteen.  Dr. Powers died at Jefferson City in 1865.
     The first public school was taught in a school-house that stood on section ten, in 1855, by Lloyd Cash.  He received twenty dollars per month.  The school began July 30, 1855, and continued thirty-four days, when it closed by reason of the illness of the teacher.  Mr. Cash had on his roll the names of nineteen scholars.  The first public school-house in the neighborhood was built on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section fifteen, township fifty-seven, range eighteen.  It was a frame, eighteen by twenty-two feet in size, and cost about four hundred and fifty dollars.
     In the fall of 1853 Thomas Wiley, William Witt, and Mr. Cash met at the house of Mr. Wiley and organized the first school district.  The whole of township fifty-seven, range eighteen, was organized into one school district.  Some time afterwards the township was re-districted, and two school districts were formed by a line running north and south through the center of the township.
     Upon the first settlement the pioneers in the Cash settlement got their supplies mostly from Brunswick.  Milling was done at Williams' mill, near Keytesville, at Bowyer's near Linneus, and at other points.  Judge Cash says that when he came to the township, in 1849, there were in cultivation between Yellow Creek and Mussel Fork east and west, and to the Chariton line on the south, but sixty acres of land.
     Mrs. Ruth Slaughter, the daughter of Mordecai Lane referred to, is still living, and from her it is learned that her father was the first settler on Yellow Creek in this county.  The exact location of Mr. Lane was then, and is yet, in Yellow Creek township, but so near the Bucklin line that it may, with propriety, be referred to in this chapter, as the majority of his neighbors lived in what is now this township.
     Mr. Slaughter never saw any matches until a long time after her family settled on Yellow Creek, and there were none in the settlement.  If a family allowed the fire to go out, and there were no flint and "punk" handy, some member, usually a boy, was sent to the nearest neighbor, often two miles away, to "borrow some fire."  Sometimes breakfast could not be prepared until a journey of four miles had been completed after the fervid element.  Many a pioneer boy, now an old man, remembers that his first steps in the acquisition of the profane language were taken when he was returning from a long trip "after fire."  Usually he would obtain a "chunk," or burning brand, and as he ran with this toward home, it would be fanned into a flame, which, together with the sparks, would blow back upon his hand and cause him much pain of body and a great deal of irritation of mind.
     Indians were plenty when Mordecai Lane first came to the county, and some funny things were wont to happen.  On one occasion Mr. Lane sent a slave boy; a mulatto name John, to a store, some five mile away, to get some tobacco.  When John was returning, and was about half way home, he was overtaken by some half a dozen Indians.  Poor John was badly frightened, and started for home as fast as his legs could carry him.  The Indians, for pure mischief, pursued him all the way home, yelling savagely, while John, frightened almost out of his wits, screamed loudly at every jump, for "Mars' Mort.! Mars' Mort.!"
     The first physician called into the settlement was Dr. Pettigrew (or "Petticrew") from Keytesville, and his first patient was Sampson Wyett.
     Settlement of the southeast portion of the township - Mr. W. G. Hardin, living on section thirty-five, township fifty-seven, range nineteen, in the southeastern portion of the township and county, says that the first settlers in his neighborhood were Lemuel Henry, who came from Tennessee at an early date - the exact time is not known but it was probably as early as 1850; he settled on section twenty-five.  An Irishman, named Murtor came in 1856, and settled on section twenty-five.  Mr. Hardin himself came in 1857, from Chariton county, and settled where he now lives on section thirty five.
     The first marriage remembered in this community was that of Joseph Vanetine and Maria Lambert, which occurred in the fall of 1864.  The first child born, according to Mr. Hardin's memory, was one of this own, Ephraim Hardin; and the first death was that of his daughter Rebecca.  The first practicing physician in the neighborhood was Dr. West of Chariton Rev. Joseph Roberts of the Christian Church held the first religious services, using the dwelling-houses of the people.  The first school-house was built by "the neighbors" at an small cost.  It was of logs, and stood on section thirty-five.  Charles Clifton taught the first school therein.  He had fifteen or twenty pupils and received thirty-five dollars per month.  Mr. Clifton now resides in Chariton county.
     The settlers did their trading at first at Keytesville, and their milling at the Brush mill on Mussel Fork, and also at Hammock's mill on the Chariton river.
     Settlement in the Dr. Powers neighborhood - Dr. John F. Powers came to section ten, township fifty-eight, range eighteen on the first of April, 1841.  He was from Youngstown, Ohio.  When the doctor came there was then living in the community: Pulliam, on section fourteen; John Lewellen, on section twenty-one; the Watsons, on twenty-one.  Prior to this in 1840, Bruce Brownlee had come to the county from Ohio, and bought five hundred acres of land in section twenty-two, township fifty-eight, range eighteen.  He built a cabin on his land, where he lived for about a year, when he returned to Ohio.
     While Brownlee was here John Lewellen was acting justice of the peace.  Lewellen was a man of but medium scholastic attainments, but had few superiors as a woodman.  He was famed for his skill in making rails, splitting clapboards, and work of that sort.  Brownlee, on the contrary, knew little of railmaking, or any sort of carpentry, but was something of a scholar and a skillful penman.  On one occasion Lewellen had an important case before him.  A man was up for trial, charged with hog-stealing.  The case necessitated a great deal of writing, which the backwoods' magistrate was not competent to do.  He was somewhat embarrassed, and in his perplexity went to Brownlee and accosted him:
     "Bruce, I want to swap work with you.  I've got that ornery cuss of a hog-thief to try, and there's a big lot o' papers to get out, an' lots o' writin' all mixed with it, an' I'm no hand to write, an' never wuz.  Now, you've been foolin' round tryin' to build that cabin, but you don't know how to make a clapboard.  Now jist suppose you take my place as 'squire, an' I'll take your place and make all the clapboards an' puncheons you need."
     Brownlee had a little trouble to convince Lewellen that a magistrate could not delegate his judicial powers to a common citizen, but at last agreed to act as clerk, and "do all the writin'," provided old John would agree to split enough clapboards and puncheons for his cabin, to which the "squire" readily assented.  And thus the records of the hog-thief's case were properly kept, and Brownlee's cabin properly roofed and floored, and the beauties of a system of reciprocity of labor fully demonstrated.
     The first school-house in Dr. Power's neighborhood stood in the center of section fifteen, township fifty-eight, range eighteen, and was built in the year 1847.  It was of logs, and nearly all of one end was taken by a huge fire place.  Josiah Watson, Jr., taught the first school in this building, soon after its erection.  It was afterward moved a short distance and used as a shop.  It was still standing at the latest advices.
     The first religious services held in township fifty-eight, range eighteen were conducted by the Rev. William Elston, an Old School Baptist, at the residence of Dr. John F. Powers, in the year 1843.  The whole community turned out - Jew and Gentile, Baptists and Anabaptists - and listened with great interest to a very powerful sermon, and then many of them shouldered their rifles, and meandered off into the forest to meditate on what they had heard, and kill a squirrel or two or a turkey for a Sunday pot pie.
     Other early settlers - In November, 1837, Isaac Lights removed to section five, township fifty-seven, range eighteen.  A German named Simon  Epperly lived farther north, in the neighborhood of where is now New Boston, Baker township.  John Lambert was an early settler, and like Lewellen was a justice of the peace without much experience in legal matters, or knowledge of his duties.  The first case he had before him greatly confused him.  The parties to the suit, attorneys, the witnesses, ,the spectators had all been present for some time, and wondering why court did not open and the legal mill begin to grind.  At last some one asked Lambert why he did not open court.  The magistrate replied, "Why, darn it, nobody hain't ordered  me to."  It required considerable explanation to convince him that he required no orders to open court and begin the trial of the cause.

MISCELLANEOUS EARLY HISTORICAL ITEMS.

     Among the incidents of early days to be remembered, is the death of Mrs. Rebecca Lane, who died very suddenly April 8, 1853.  A Mrs. Thomas, a sister of Mordecai Lane, was burned to death in the house of Alfred McDaniel in the year 1851.
     The first Methodist preacher in the township, it is said, was Rev. Joseph Develin, who came in from Michigan in 1840.  He remained in the township but a short time, when he moved down into the edge of Chariton, and came up into the settlement and preached once a month for some time.  His first sermon was preached in the house of Isaac Lights.  When Mr. Develin first made his appearance in the township, he drove an ox team attached to a wagon in which were all his earthly possessions.  The weather had been rainy and the roads were muddy.  The wagon stuck in the mud and the oxen were unable to draw it out.  Two of Isaac Light's boys went to the luckless emigrant's assistance, and, after much difficulty, involving a splicing of teams, extricated him.  When the wagon reached firm earth the boys addressed Mr. Develin:
     "Say, Mister, ain't you a preacher?"
     "Well, I presumed I am; at least 1 try to preach, occasionally," modestly returned Mr. Develin.
     "We knowed it," replied the boys.
     "How did you know it?  What made you think so?" queried the minister.
     "Well, any man that can go through what you did with them cattle, and that wagon, and all hat mud, without ever swearin' once, has jist got to be a preacher, and a bully good one at that!"
     Mr. Lights's family were very friendly disposed toward ministers, and took in and cared for Mr. Develin sending out word that a minister was their guest and would preach for them at a certain time.

A SPECIMEN DEER-HUNT.

     David Ramsey vouches for the truth of the following deer story:  On one occasion, in early days, Stephen McCollum came by and invited Ramsey to go deer-hunting with him.  Ramsey replied that he could not go that day, but banteringly added that he would go down to the camp next morning with his team and wagon and haul McCollum's deer home for him.  The next morning he did go down with his wagon, and when he got to the camp McCollum really had killed as many deer as they could get on the wagon, and they were actually compelled to throw off part of their load in order to ascend a hill near Yellow Creek.  On their way home McCollum killed four more fine fat deer!
     Sampson Wyett and David Ramsey were called, by their neighbors "deer-slayers" and "path finders."  Ramsey says he took the first load of produce to Brunswick that was ever sold at that point - so the merchants informed him at the time.

AN EARLY SUICIDE.

     In the year 1843 or 1844 a Mr. Cornett committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree that stood in the woods near the forks of Yellow Creek.  Mr. Cornett's home was on Locust Creek, but he wandered away and had been missing for two weeks.  When found his body had been very much mutilated by wolves.

THE FIRST STEAM WHISTLE.

     When the steam mill was just put up near St. Catharine, it was the first steam mill in Linn County.  It is stated that when it first blew the whistle, one evening, about dusk, the settlers on upper Yellow Creek concluded that the noise was the scream of a panther.  They gathered together and many of them hunted for the monster all the next day.  One of the settlers declared that it must be a panther, as it had killed several of his hogs the previous night.  There was great alarm in the community, especially when the "animal" could not be found.  The people concluded that if it was not a panther, it was at least a "varmint" with "powerful" lungs!  When the truth came out, it was a standing joke for many years.  The mill was first built about three miles north of St. Catharine, and in a few years it was removed. 
     The last elk seen in the eastern part of Linn county was killed by Stephen McCollum, on the Elk Horn prairie, at the head of Locust Branch.  As late as the winter of 1881-82, Thomas Hardin and James Purse assert that they saw two large gray wolves in this township, as large as any they ever saw.

BUILDING OF THE HANNIBAL & ST. JOSEPH RAILROAD.

     For many years after the first settlement of the township the country developed slowly and without any very important events until in 1858, when the building of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad was begun.  In July of this year three large gangs of graders were at work in what is now Bucklin township.

A "RUMPUS"

     At the August election, 1858, there was a riot at the polls at the Wyandotte precinct in this portion of what was then Yellow Creek township.  The trouble was between two rival and hostile gangs of railroaders.  The men are Irishmen, divided into two factions, the "Corkonians" and the "Far Downs."  Murphy's force was composed of the former, and Tooey's and Mulholland's were "Far Downs."  At Wyandotte, on election day, whisky was a plenty - fighting whisky, at that.  Murphy's men were present and so were some of Tooey's.  A battle resulted, and Mr. Pat Tooey had his skull fractured by the belligerent "Corkonians."  Victory for a time, purchased on the banners of Murphy's men, as it were.  The next day, near two hundred strong, marched up to the track to Murphy's camp, bent on vengeance.  The Corkonian tickets gave the alarm, and the men from "swate ould Cork; took to the woods.  On came the "Far Downers" and took undisputed possession of the camps, which they immediately proceeded to destroy.  The shanties, the carts, and everything inflammable were given to the flames.  In one of the houses were some kegs of blasting powder and in the configuration these were ignited and terrific explosions followed, heard miles away.  The roar of the flames, the thunder of the bursting powder-made a fearful din.  After the destruction of the Murphy Camp, the Mulholland men marched on up to Tooey's main camp, where there was general fraternization, much congratulation, and a wild time together.  Some of the Corkonians made their way to Linens and the authorities were informed.  The sheriff, together with Hon. Jacob Smith and other prominent citizens, came down and after much negotiation, stratagem, and planning, and some adroit diplomacy, peace and restored, and other again resigned in Weaver.  Several of the rioters were arrested, tried, and fined for "breach of the peace!"  Occasionally after this there were affrays among the railroad men.  In one of these a man was pushed into "Jack's Cut,"  east of Bucklin, several feet deep, and his leg was broken by the fall.  Nobody was ever killed, however, or at least no particular information concerning such an even has been obtained.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

     At the breaking out of the civil war a large number, if not a majority, of the citizens of this township were sympathizers with the Confederate cause, and not a few took service under the flag of the stars and bars.   Probably the latter numbered in all twenty-five, and of these five or six went with Captain Mart Hamilton, about Sept. 1, 1861.  Others started out and enlisted in various Confederate Missouri organizations from time to time.  Very many of the people, however, were for the Union - believed in it, and were willing to fight for it.  Some enlisted in the first company of Union men raised in north Missouri - Crandall's.  Others went into McFerran's First Missouri State Militia; a few into the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry Volunteers; a few enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, and even two or three in Peabody's Twenty-fifth Missouri Infantry.  Captain Lacy Sipple commanded a Company "G" in the Sixty second Regiment of Enrolled Militia.
     The first Federal troops were those of a company of the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, stationed at Bucklin in June 1861.  On the fourth of July a large United States flag was raised at Bucklin, and a large crowd of citizens and soldiers turned out and indulged in a grand celebration.
     The bushwhackers made two or three raids into the township during the war.  Captain Clifton Holtzclaw had a company of bushwhackers whose rendezvous was on Mussel Fork, near Westville, in Chariton county.  This company raided Bucklin and plundered the stores and robbed many of the citizens.  One of these incursions was made in November, 1864.  Holtzclaw never killed anyone in Bucklin township.  These people were indisposed to provoke him and he robbed their stables and pocketbooks and generously spared their lives.

OFFICIAL HISTORY

     For many years the territory now included within the limits of Bucklin township comprised a part of Yellow Creek.  At the June session of the County Court, 1866, Yellow Creek township, the voting place being removed from Wyandotte.
     Bucklin township was first organized as a municipal township at the term of the Linn County held in October, 1870.  It was named for the township Bucklin.  It was duly organized under the township organization law in 1872, and continued under that form for about five years, as the other townships of the county.  Its last organization was in April, 1881, pursuant to the expressed wish of the people at the fall election of 1880. 
     The first board under the present system was composed of S. F. Perry, b. F. Lights and B. F. Lights.
     The present officers are:  J. A. Howe, clerk and assessor; S. F. Perry and V. B. Bowers, justices of the peace; Daniel Blodgett, constable.

SWITZER CHAPEL - METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.

     The original congregation of this church organization was formed at Golden Chapel; from there it was transformed to Hackler's school-house; in 1868 Switzer Chapel was built, and then the organization, numbering about forty members, was removed thither.  Switzer Chapel is situated on the northwest quarter of section five, township fifty-eight, range eighteen.  The work of its erection was begun in 1868 and finished in 1869.  The house is a frame twenty-eight by thirty-six feet in size, and cost about $1,800.  It was dedicated in the summer of 1869 by Rev. D. C. Blackwell.  The pastors who have preached regularly for the Methodist Episcopal Church South congregation are:  Joseph Metcalf, D. C. Blackwell, Manoah Richardson, J. J. Givens, A. J. Worley, H. C. Bolin, William Warren, S. H. Milan, C. W. Herley, S. B. Tabor, and the present minister, Rev. A. S. Doak.  The number of members is about one hundred and twenty-five.

ALEXANDER CHAPEL - METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.

     This church is located just across the line in Yellow Creek township, but many of its members live in this township.  This was the first church organized in what was known as "the Yellow Creek country."

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH CLASS - CASH SCHOOL-HOUSE.

     A class of the Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized at the Cash school-house in the spring of 1874.  The members were:  J. H. Wyett and Vienna Wyett, his wife; J. M. Cash and Elizabeth Cash, his wife; Jacob and Susan Cook, William and Elizabeth Stith, E. J. Cloud and wife, W. K., R. T., Fannie P., and Elizabeth Stith, and Abner Cloud.  The present membership is twenty-three.  The class has received since its organization more than fifty accessions.  It has had for pastors Revs. A. J. Worley, H. C. Bolin, William Warren, C. W. Hurley, -- Tabor, and A. S. Doak.  The congregation meets in the Cash school-house, having no house of worship.  J. M. Cash is the steward.

LOCUST RIDGE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

     This church was organized in 1869.  Among the first members were A. P. Swan and wife, T. B. L. Hardin and wife, and Cephas Kathan.  The church has received since its organization about thirty members, and its present membership is now fifteen.  There have preached for the congregation Revs. Hamilton, Van Evrie, Pate, Butler, McCann, and the present pastor, Kelsoe.  E. Taylor is the class leader, and D. B. Burch and A. P. Swan are stewards.  The church uses as a house of worship the Locust Ridge school house..

WEST UNION CHURCH - O. S. BAPTIST.

     This church was organized Dec. 19, 1844.  Some of the original members were Sampson Wyett, William Elston, L. B. Witt, George Tooley, Rhoda Watson, Rhoda Elston, Evelina Elston, and Eliza Tooley.  The first organization was effected in Macon county, a portion of the members residing in Linn county.  In 1860 many of its members removed to other locations, and the distracting circumstances attending the civil war, which soon followed, made it impossible to keep up regular church meetings, and for a considerable period they were abandoned.  In 1868, the members who lived in the vicinity of Bucklin began again to hold regular meetings, having the services of a former pastor, Rev. C. M. Colyer.  Elder Martin Morgan was the first pastor.  He was succeeded by Elder William Elston, who was ordained in August, 1845, and continued in charge until 1852.  Elders C. M. Colyer and William R. Mitchell were the pastors from 1852 to 1872.  Elder Wilson Thompson was pastor from 1872 to 1880.  Elder Walter Cash is present pastor.  The present membership is thirty-four.

WARREN SCHOOL-HOUSE CONGREGATION - CHRISTIAN.

     The Warren School-house Congregation of the Christian Church was organized in 1869, by Elder Joseph Lineberry, with eighteen members.  The congregation now numbers one hundred and forty.  The pastors have been Joseph Lineberry, William R. Jones and Thomas Wood, the latter the present pastor.  The congregation now numbers one hundred and forty.  The pastors have been Joseph Lineberry, William R. Jones and Thomas Wood, the latter the present pastor.  The congregation has no church building proper, but worship in the Warren school-house.

LUTHERAN CHURCH.

     The Evangelical Lutherans have a neat house of worship, in which they hold services, which is situated on the northwest quarter of section one, township fifty-eight, range eighteen.  The house was built in 1879, and cost about $600.  It is intended and is free for the use of all other religious denominations.

SCHOOL-HOUSES IN BUCKLIN TOWNSHIP.

     There are parts of two congressional townships - fifty-seven and fifty-eight - in Bucklin.  In township fifty-seven, range eighteen, there are six school-houses, as follows:  No. 1 is the Bucklin school-building, a two-story brick with four rooms, costing near $7,000.  Three teachers are employed.  There is also a colored school in Bucklin, but no school-house, a rented building being used.
     District No. 2, Carpenter's school-house, is situated on the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section eight.
     No. 3, Cash's school-house, is on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section fifteen.
     No. 4, Hardin's school-house, is on eh northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section thirty-five.  This house was burned down in the fall of 1881.
     No. 5, Hayden's school-house, is on the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section thirteen.  All of these houses are frame except the one in Bucklin.
     In township fifty-eight, range eighteen, thee are five school-houses; viz., No. 1, Nagle's, is a log school-house and stands on the northeast of the southeast of section twenty-six.
     No. 2, "Prairie Nook," is a frame and on the southwest corner of the the northwest quarter of northwest quarter of section eleven.
     No. 3, the warren school-house, is on the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section eight.
     No. 4, "Tick Ridge," is on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section twenty.  Since destroyed by fire.
     No. 5, the Sights school-house, is on the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section thirty-two.
     All of the houses except that in No. 1, are of frame and very well built structures.

CEMETERIES.

  The following cemeteries are in the township:  The Brownlee cemetery, on the northwest quarter of section twenty-two, township fifty-eight, range eighteen.  The Coulson cemetery, on the south half of the northwest quarter of section fifteen, township fifty-eight, range eighteen.  There are two cemeteries in section thirty-five, one of which is known as the Masonic graveyard.  The cemetery on section five, township fifty-eight, range eighteen, belongs to Switzer chapel.  The Wyandotte burying-ground is situated on the former town site, on section twenty-nine, township fifty-eight, range eighteen.  The Catholic cemetery is in section five, township fifty-seven, range eighteen.
     On the old McCollum homestead, (southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, section seven, township fifty-eight, range eighteen,) is a family burying-ground laid out by Stephen McCollum about 1840.  The first interment therein was that of the body of Sarah Jane McCollum, Nov. 17, 1840.  It is still used by the family as a burying ground.

MURDER OF HARRISON KEADY.

     In the month of July, 1866, Harrison Keady, was shot and killed by Charles Adkins on the road to St. Catherine, about one mile and a half from Bucklin.  Keady was a farmer, who had not lived long in the township, and Charles Adkins had been in his employ.  Adkins was a mere boy, only sixteen years of age.  At the time of the murder Keady was driving an ox wagon, from which he was shot and instantly killed.  No one witnessed the affair, but he following account was given by Adkins:  
     I had been working for Mr. Keady, and he discharged me for a very small fault.  That day I got a bottle of whisky and went hunting.  I was coming home drunk, when I met Mr. Keady, and I saw he was drunk, too.  He said, "hello, Charley!  what are you doing now?"  I told him I was doing better than when I worked for him.  He said, "Well, you had better come back and take your place again."  I told him I would not work for him again to save his life, and at that we got to quarreling, and he threatened to whip me, and I up and shot him.
     As some money, part of which was in gold, had been taken from Keady's body, there were those who did not believe Adkin's story, but that murder was committed for a two-fold purpose, revenge and robbery.  Young Adkins was tried at the October term of the Circuit Court, 1866, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.  July 4, 1877, he was pardoned out by Lieutenant-Governor Brockmeyer, acting governor at the time, "for extreme good conduct while in prison, and that, under all the circumstances, he has already been sufficiently punished."  The people of the township, as a rule, did not approve Governor Brockmeyer's action.

THE CAHOON MURDER.

     On the morning of the second of June, 1879, Mr. Stephen Cahoon, an old man of probably sixty-five years, and his son William, aged about thirty-five, were on their way to Linneus to attend court, having left their homes in the northern part of the township, on section two, township fifty-eight, range eighteen, early for that purpose.  They were riding in a common farm wagon.  When about a mile from home they were both fired upon by some parties in ambuscade and both instantly killed.  they fell backwards off the seat-board into the bottom of the wagon, and were so lying when found.  The weapons used seem to have been double-barreled shot guns loaded with buckshot and slugs.  The place where, apparently, the shooting was done, was on the public road which runs east and west along the township line, dividing this and Baker township, and east of the residence of J. G. Brown, Esq.  The team containing the bodies went on to Mr. Brown's and stopped, and the crime was soon discovered.  The time of the murder was about eight o'clock.
     There had been trouble between the Cahoons and certain other parties, and it was believed by the authorities that the perpetrators could be discovered.  The murdered men, when alive, were not regarded as very peacable citizens.  Indeed they were considered dangerous by many, when their passions were aroused.  There were others who had been heard to declare that they wished the Cahoons dead, and there were a few circumstances deemed suspicious, which, under ordinary circumstances would not have been so regarded.
     On very unsubstantial evidence Joe Golden, William McCandless, Cass White, and Orlando Mormon (the latter a step-son of Stephen Cahoon, he having married Mormon's mother) were arrested, charged with the murder.  A coroner's inquest had been held, but the verdict implicated nobody.  All the parties arrested were neighbors, but not friends of  the Cahoons.  At the first session of the grand jury, Golden and Mormon were indicted and McCandless and White were released.  The case against Golden Mormon was continued past one term of court, and at a second a nolle prosequi was entered and they were discharged.
     So the case ended as it began - in mystery,  Who committed the cowardly and atrocious deed - for it possessed all the elements of cowardice and atrocity - will doubtless never be known.  All efforts on the part of the authorities to discover the perpetrators have been abandoned, and will doubtless never be renewed.  Mr. Cahoon left a widow and three children to bewail his fate, and nearly everybody regretted "the deep damnation of this taking off: in the horrible manner by which it was effected.

POISONING OF THE BELL FAMILY.

     In the months of August and September, 1873, attempts were made to posion the family of Harrison Bell, an old citizen of the township, living six miles north of Bucklin.  The first attempt was made by putting belladonna in some milk which hung in the well to keep cool.  One of the children drank the milk and was made very sick, but recovered.  Soon thereafter poison was put into the well.  Mr. and Mrs. Bell and their daughter drank of the water, and were made very sick.  Medical aid was summoned, and it was with difficulty that he lives of the parties were saved.
     There lived near Mr. Bell's a man and wife named George and Elizabeth Griffin, who were suspected to be the poisoners.  They had been observed near the well when the Bell family were absent from home; had bought belladonna at Bucklin, after which Griffin shaved off his whiskers, as it seemed, to avoid identification; and they were known to be very violent in their dislike of Mr. and Mrs. Bell.  The Griffins were arrested on information, and afterwards indicted.  After their preliminary examination, and before their indictment, they were waited upon one night by a mob composed of the citizens of the community, who ordered them to leave the country forthwith, and made sundry hostile demonstrations toward them.  After a time the indictment against Mrs. Griffin was nolled, and Mr. Griffin was released on bail, which he forfeited by leaving the country.  Afterwards Mrs. Griffin sued certain members of the mob for their action toward her.  The case was tried at Macon City, and Mrs. Griffin was defeated.

KILLED IN A SAW-MILL.

     About the first of January, 1875, Mr. J. Peterson, who was employed in a saw-mill owned by a Mr. Rees, and in operation on Mussel Fork, one and a half miles east of Bucklin, was caught in a fly-wheel and instantly killed.

VOUDOOISM.

     In April, 1877, an old colored man named Dave Farmer was shot and killed one night, while in his cabin, near the Macon county line.  Farmer had removed to this township from Brunswick, and was held in great terror by many of the other negroes because of their belief that he was a voudoo or fetiche priest, and by his infernal incantations and diabolical powers had wrought great evil among them, and was capable of inflicting a great deal more.  He was accused of having caused the death of Frank Hayes and of Benjamin Hughs and son.  Somebody went to the reputed sorcerer's cabin one night after dark, removed a piece of the chinking, put a rifle through and shot him dead.

DRAGGED TO DEATH.

     July 19, 1877, a twelve-year-old daughter of G. W. Dorrill, living in the southeastern part of the township, was the victim of a fatal accident.  The little girl had ridden a harnessed horse to water.  Returning to the house, she attempted to get off when her feet became entangled in the harness.  The horse became frightened and ran for some distance through bars and brush, dragging and beating the child to death.

WOLF HUNTING.

     In  the winter of 1879 wolves were very numerous and troublesome in various parts of the township.  The farmers procured dogs and chased them.  Not many were caught, but the entire pack were thoroughly frightened, and left for other and more peaceful haunts.

ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.

     Near the residence of Father Gardner, about the first of January, 1878, a son of Matthew Gardner, in attempting to shoot some quails, allowed his gun to be prematurely fired, and the discharged struck and killed a son of Rev. A. C. Field.

THE TORNADO OF 1876.

      On the fifth of September, 1876, a most terrible and destructive tornado swept over the southern part of Linn county, and was especially violent in Bucklin township.  The storm came from the west and passed toward the east and southeast.  At Bucklin it was very severe.  Bowers's cabinet-shop and furniture store was blown down and demolished, and a great many other buildings were seriously injured.  The principal losers by the storm were R. J. Wheeler, V. B. Bowers, D. C. Sheldon, Merritt Sheldon, O. M. Towner, J. H. Wyett, and Gilbert Kemp.  The aggregate loss in the town was variously computed and estimated at from $5,000 to $7,000.
     South of Bucklin, Joseph Schergle had his head crushed so badly by falling timbers that he died three days later.  Other casualties were:
     Reuben Grady, house blown down, and Mr. Grady badly hurt.
     Terrill Grady, barn blown down and crop destroyed.
     John Forrest, house blown down.
     Silas Wright, house, barn, out-buildings, fences and crops, all a total wreck.
     Gilbert Kemp, one tenant-house blown down and a young lady, Miss Josie Dingle, severely injured.  Mr. Kemp's own residence, a substantial brick structure, was considerably injured.
     Many other farmers lost tobacco houses, barns, hay, crops, etc.  There were very many narrow escapes from violent deaths and serious injuries, and many persons were severely hurt.
     In attempting to cross Union Branch, a day or two after the storm, Mr. C. M. Rhodes, of Chariton county, was drowned.  The stream was high, caused mainly by the backwater from Yellow Creek.  The body was recovered the next day.
     Mr. O'Neal, Samuel Spooner, and George Geuker all lost houses.

SUICIDES.

      April 26, 1876, Mr. George Brownlee, a farmer of the township, committed suicide in a new, novel, but effectual manner.  He tied a heavy blacksmith's anvil about his neck and jumped into his well.  The suicide was caused by despondency occasioned by a long condition of ill-health.
     About the middle of September, Mrs. Susan Austin found life a burden to grievous to be borne.  Accordingly, she took her life by hanging herself in the smoke-house.

THE TOWN OF BUCKLIN.

     The town of Bucklin was laid out on the east half of lot two, in the northwest quarter of section two, township fifty-seven, range eighteen, in October, 1854.  The town was surveyed on the eighth, ninth tenth, eleventh, and twelfth days of the month, by William S. McClanahan, the then county surveyor.  The land was owned by James H. Watson, and he and Dr. John F. Powers were the chief projectors and founders of the town.
     The name originated in this way: The town was known to be on the line of the projected Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, and its founders, of course, wished it to become a place of some importance.  To effect this, Dr. Powers wished to secure the cooperation of the railroad authorities, and made a bid for the favor of the chief engineer of the road at that time, a Major Bucklin, by naming it for him!  He failed, however, in making it a division point, as Brookfield will testify.
     The original town was laid out half a mile or more north of the railroad track.  The railroad people seemed to consider the name of the place to be Bucklinville, for, Aug. 1, 1859, Josiah Hunt, land commissioner, etc., of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, laid out the first addition to the place, which he caused to be platted and recorded as the "first addition to the town of Bucklinville, for, Aug. 1, 1859, Josiah Hunt, land commissioner, etc., of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad company, laid out the first addition to the place, which he caused to be platted and recorded as the "first addition to the town of Bucklinville."  This addition is on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section two, and is called "Bucklinville,"  While the old town, or the original plat, is called Bucklin.  When Towner and Stuenkel's addition was made, in February, 1877, it was designated as an addition to "Bucklinville."
     The new town, or "Bucklinville," contains a large majority of the business houses, and large amounts of merchandise are sold each year.  According to the census report, the population of Bucklin in 1880 was four hundred and thirty.

THE "FIRSTS."

     The first houses in the place were some railroad shanties.  The first store was owned by Noah Caton  F. A. Davenport, son of Martin and Minerva Davenport, was born in December, 1855, and was the first child born in the place.  The first female child was Sarah Austin, daughter of Russell and Oscia Austin - date of birth not ascertained; and hers (Sarah's) is believed to have been the first death in the place; she was buried in the old cemetery, north of town.
     The first marriage was that of William Poole and Rachel Minnick, at the residence of Samuel Minick, in February, 1858.  Charles C. Clifton, Esq., performed the marriage ceremony.
     The first school house was built in 1858; it was a frame, and cost about three hundred and fifty dollars. Esquire Shannon taught the first school.  Reverend Mitchell, an Old School Baptist minister, held the first religious services in the place, at the house of John L. Watson.  Dr. Rider is believed to have been the first practicing physician.
     In 1858 the first cemetery was laid out, about half a mile north of town.  Recently a new one has been located nearer town.  The post-office was established in 1859, and John Walker was the first postmaster.
     During the civil war the prosperity of the place, like that of every other Missouri town, was retarded very materially.  In 1865, however, the town took a new growth, and improved for a time very considerably.  In 1867 the Bucklin mills were built by Messrs. Pounds & Stevenson, at a cost of $5,000 or $6000, and attracted much attention and business to the town.  The machinery of these mills is driven by a thirty-horse power engine; the flouring-mill has three sets of stone or "run of burs," and its flour has an excellent reputation far and near.   A saw-mill and a wool-carding machine are run in connection with the flouring-mill.

INCORPORATION.

     In the spring of 1866, the town was of sufficient population and character to justify its incorporation.  Therefore, a petition was prepared and presented to the County Court at the May term of that year, asking the incorporation of the place.  The court, after taking the matter under consideration, made the following year:
     "It is ordered by the court that, the petition of James H. Wyett and others praying the court to incorporate the town of Bucklin, the prayers of the petitioners be granted and ordered filed.  The metes and bounds to be as follows:  Commencing at the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section two, township fifty-seen, of range eighteen, west, and running south to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of the same section; thence west to the southwest corner of the same section; thence north to the northwest corner of the same section; thence east to the place of beginning, is hereby incorporated into a body of politic, by the name and style of the inhabitants of the town of Bucklin.  And it is further asked that police be established for the local government thereof, and for the preservation and regulations of the commons in said metes and bounds above described, and all appertaining, into said town  And it is further ordered that Robert Wheeler, J. H. Wyett, E. L. Carlton, Thomas Burke and George Sweeny, be and are hereby appointed a board of trustees for said incorporation to take effect from and after this date."
     James H. Wyett was the first chairman of the board of trustees, or Lord Mayor of the city.   The present officers are: trustees, V. B. Bowers, J. M. Roberts, R. J. Wheeler, J. B. Shook, and S. F. Perry, the last named being the chairman.  Marshal, David Blodgett.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH, BUCKLIN.

     This church was organized in 1860, by Rev. N. P. Halsey.  Some of the original members were Mrs. Vienna Wyett, Nancy Bryan, Lucy J. Williams, N. B. Runion and wife, J. H. Wyett, and C. G. Fields and wife.  The church building, a frame, was built in 1872, at a cost of about $1,550.  It was dedicated June 30, 1872, by Rev. W. W. Jones, presiding elder.  The pastors have been Revs. N. P. Halsey, Samuel Alexander, W. F. Bell, B. F. Zumwalt, John A. Mumpower, Joseph Metcalf, D. C. Blackwell, M. Richardson, -- Pyle, M. G. Gregory, J. G. Gibbons, A. J. Worley, H. C. Bolen, William Warren, S. H. Milam, C. W. Herley, S. B. Tabor, and A. S. Doak, the present pastor.  The number of members is forty-four.  There is a well-conducted sabbath school in connection with the church, J. H. Bowers, superintendent.  This school was organized in 1869.  The financial condition of the church is excellent, and the general influence of the church is for great good.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

     There are but two churches in Bucklin, the Methodist Episcopal Church South and the Catholic.  No report has been received from the latter church.

MASONIC LODGE.

     Bucklin Lodge No. 233, A. F. & A. M., was chartered May 26, 1864.  The charter members and first officers were J. K. Stevenson, W. M.; V. B. Bowers, S. W.; W. H. Callison, J. W.; John Dougher, treasurer; B. R. Lowry, secretary; A. Hansman, S. D.; William Smith, J. D.; A Adams, tyler.  The present officers are B. B. Putnam, W. M.; L. S. Arbuckle, S. W.; John P. Slaughter, J. W.; V. B. Bowers, secretary.  The present membership of Bucklin Lodge is forty-three.  The hall is a frame, built in 1871, at a cost of $1,400.  The lodge is in a prosperous condition; it has an efficient corps of officers and its members are zealous and capable workers.   Meetings are held on Saturday evening before each full moon.

ODD FELLOWS.

     Bucklin Lodge No. 384, I. O. O. F., was instituted by D. A. Shepherd, D. D. G. M., May 1, 1878.  The charter bears date May 23, 1878.  The charter bears date May 23, 1878.  The charter members where Charles Youngman, L. Linburg, J. H. Wyett, W. S. Valentine, William Rosswell, Samuel Hayden, and John Nutter.  The principal officers were Samuel Hayden, N. G.; William Rosswell, V. G.; George Maneval, secretary; L. Stuenkle, treasurer.  The following are the present officers: Henry Murphy, N. G.; Fred Hainds, V. G.; W. E. Shook, secretary; and V. B. Bowers, treasurer.  The present membership numbers twenty-eight.  Meetings are held in the Masonic Hall every Thursday night.  The lodge is in good working condition and prospering generally.

GOOD TEMPLARS

     Enterprise Lodge No. 959, I. O. G. T., was chartered Nov. 29, 1880, with 130 members.  The present officers are J. B. Shook, worthy chief templar; Mrs. S. A. Patterson, worthy vice templar; Eugene Kemp, secretary.  The lodge has a large membership, which is constantly increasing.  Its meetings are held every Friday night in the Masonic Hall.

ROWS AND "RUMPUSES."

     In the winter of 1874, in the month of December, Peter Fuller, of Chariton county, came to town and indulged in a "big drunk."  While on his spree he was robbed of about three hundred and seventy-five dollars.  When Fuller became sober he went home, collected about a dozen of his neighbors, and the party, all well armed, returned to Bucklin.  Here they proceeded to take the execution of the law into their own hands.  they seized a number of young men who they believed had taken Fullers money and threatened them with the severest punishment if the cash was not restored.  Two of the young men, James Lawson and Joseph Harlow were frightened very badly and gave up one hundred and ten dollars of the money.

FIRES.

     About the fourth of July, 1871, an attempt was made to burn down the two-story building of August Hansman & Brother.  The building was first burglarized and then set on fire to conceal the evidences of the crime. A small boy gave the alarm and the building was saved.  Three days afterward a negro was arrested at Scottsville, Sullivan county, who was wearing some of the goods taken from the store.  He was taken to Bucklin and examined.  He confessed his guilt and implicated two other men, John Brown and William O'Neil.  The negro afterward escaped from Chillicothe jail and left the country.
     April 1, 1880, the hardware store and tin shop of W. E. Story, and the drug store of Dr. G. M. Roberts were burned.  Story's building also contained the post-office.
     At about three P.M., Nov. 14, 1880, a disastrous fire broke out in the main business part of town, and before it could be subdued it had destroyed nearly all of the buildings on the front row facing the depot.  The loss was estimated at $19,000.

THE TOWN OF WYANDOTTE.

     Prior to the establishment of Bucklin, the only town or semblance of a town in this township was Wyandotte, a hamlet that stood on the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township fifty-eight, range eighteen.  The location was at a cross roads.  About 1850 Allen & Wyett opened a store.  Then came another merchant named Sharp; then some mechanics and other people until there were half a dozen or more houses.  The first post-office in the township was at Coulson's Mill, on Yellow Creek, but in 1853 the office and its name was changed from Coulson's Mill to Wyandotte.  C. G. Fields was the first postmaster.  Wyandotte was named by Dr. Rooker.  Elections were held here for some years, when this portion of the county was in Yellow Creek township.  The first place of holding elections was at "Wyett's Well," so called from a famous well of living water on the premises of Mr. Sampson Wyett.   Wyandotte was vacated September, 1, 1862.  The site is now a good farm.

THE TOWN OF THAYER.

     Upon the laying out of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railway there was projected a magnificent town in this township, which, it was declared by its projectors, would become the metropolis of northern Missouri.  This place was called Thayer, in honor of some railway magnate of the East, probably Eli Thayer, of Boston.  The town was laid out in September, 1857, by Everett Peabody, on land owned by him and Patrick and Bridget Tooey.  It comprised all of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, part of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, part  of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter, and part of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter, all of section five, township fifty-seven, range eighteen.  When the railroad was completed to the place Thayer was made a temporary division, which was expected and promised should become permanent.  The round-house was established and some temporary shops, and for a time Thayer promised to realize the fondest anticipations of its projectors.  A good many stores were built and a great deal of business was done for some time.  But alas for Thayer!  The railroad authorities decided to locate the division at Brookfield, and thither all the offices were removed.  So the town which was begun with such great expectations ended with but few realizations.  It dwindled away, and in March, 1861, it was vacated by a special act of the legislature.  Like Wyandotte, the site is now occupied as a far.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LINNEUS AND TOWN & TOWNSHIP OF BUCKLIN.

JOHN E. ATKINSON - 878
DAVID PRESTON BEEBE - 656
L. D. BINFORD - 657
ALEXANDER B. CARTER - 659
JAMES CARTER - 659
WILLIAM H. CARTER - 659
JOSHUA M. CASH - 657
LOYD CASH - 657
ANDREW JEFFERSON DAVIS - 659
ERVIN FORREST - 660
WILLIAM A. GREER - 660
FREDRICK HAINDS - 661
JONATHAN J. HENDRICKS - 661
J. A. HOWE - 661
GILBERT KEMP - 662
HIRAM LONG - 662
SAMUEL J. MADDOX - 663
GEORGE MANEWAL, JUNIOR - 663
ALLEN NICKERSON - 663
S. F. PERRY - 664
G. M. ROBERTS - 665
J. A. ROSE - 664
HENRY SHOOK - 665
JORDAN SIGHTS - 665
LOUIS STEUNKLE - 666
WILLIAM E. STORY - 666
Z. M. TITUS - 666
JAMES M. WALTER - 667
JOHN L. WATSON - 669
F. J. WHEELER - 668
THOMAS WHITAKER - 882
WILLIAM L. WHITE - 667

END OF CHAPTER XXIV -

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