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DESCRIPTION
Page 782 -
IN
SETTLING
the new comers seemed to
have had no particular choice, outside,
perhaps, of getting upon the banks of a
stream. Its first settlement,
therefore, was along the banks of Parsons
Creek, and a few would be found on Locust
Creek. John Neal came from
Howard county in 1836, nd he, at that time,
was the most northern settler in the county,
west of Locust Creek. Seth Botts
came in 1835, but whether he should not be
credited to Parsons Creek is a matter of
choice, as that was his first home.
The Ogans were about the earliest
settlers in Clay township. Irvin
came from Boone county, in 1835, and settled
on section twenty-five, of township
fifty-eight, range twenty-two, which is in
Parsons Creek township, but moved soon after
to section thirteen, township fifty-eight,
range twenty-two, settling on the northeast
quarter in the spring of 1836.
Willis Parks also came in 1835, but,
like Ogan, got on the Parsons Creek
side of the line. Elijah Harvey
came a few years later; he was from
Kentucky. All these were in the south
part of the township, except Neal,
who was on its northern border, in fact,
settled the place or farm now occupied by
one of the Bowyer family. Quite
a number of settlers came in, mostly from
Kentucky and Tennessee, or from Howard and
Boone counties, though originally mostly
from the above named States. They were
a primitive people, simple in their habits,
but had great energy and endurance.
They enjoyed good health, for the climate
was and is all man can wish for, and
temperance in all things was a cardinal
principle. They had come to the wild
West to make a home for themselves, their
children, and their children's children, and
although they wer e deprived of most of the
pleasures of social life, for they lived far
apart, no schools nor churches, yet there
was no complaining. When neighbors
could see neighbors it was done, but their
domestic lives were of peace and love, and
the old settlers and their families lived
for each other. And with this hardy
crew of pioneers, Clay township grew and
thrived, and she stands in wealth as in
population, the seventh in the list of
townships.
As the whole north country to the Iowa State line was
at that day a wilderness, game was in
abundance, and teh crack of the pioneer's
rifle spoke of a venison steak or a roast
turkey. While hunting was followed as
a
Page 783 -
pastime, the corn had to be planted, the
lots fenced in, and a general clearing of
the underbrush, for active work. After
awhile, the Bowyer or Botts'
mill was started, and, although a
horse-mill, it ground their corn, and was a
great saving of time in going to Keytesville,
or of labor in trying to crush it with a
hand-mill, or a pestle with a burnt hole in
a log for a mortar. Mr. Neal
married a Miss Browning, in the year
1839, and his cabin was often the
headquarters for hunting parties, who would
take a few day's tramp in the northern wilds
for their winter supply of meat.
It is said that the first prairie broken in Clay
township was by Jesse Bowyer in 1838,
about twelve acres, and said also to have
been the first between Grand River and the
Iowa line, but this is probably a mistake.
The field was on section twenty, township
fifty-nine, range twenty-one, not far from
Parsons Creek, main branch. The plow
was one of those old-fashioned mould board
plows, with an iron point, and some six yoke
of cattle were hitched to it. Bob
Crews was at the helm or handles, and
Bowyer put on the ox gad, and some
vigorous talking, well understood by the
cattle, between blows. The job was
accomplished in good style, and so far as
brawn and nerve were concerned, and vigorous
English, the job has not had a superior in
later days, but the plow has been
wonderfully improved.
SUNDRIES.
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SCHOOLS
INTERESTING ITEMS.
Page 785 -
Page 786 -
CASUALTIES, ETC.
Page 787 -
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
EVERSONVILLE.
Page 788 -
Page 789 -
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - CLAY TOWNSHIP -
GEORGE
W. ALEXANDER - 789
JOHN BRANSON - 789
JOSEPH O. DAIL - 790
JOSEPH T. DICK - 790
CHARLES JAMES FORE - 791
JOSEPH T. HARRIS - 792
JOHN ALLEN HUDSON - 792
LEVI LAKE - 793
ALLEN G. MURRAY - 793
GEORGE W. PHILLIPS - 794
JUDGE JOHN M. PRATT - 795
JOHN HENDERSON THORP - 796
JOHN WARREN TRIMBLE - 796
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