THE LAY OF THE LAND, ETC.

SETTLING JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

     There is no earlier settlement of record in this township than the winter of 1837-38.  Somebody was informed that Dunbar, who was killed and robbed by the Heatherly gang, and whose body was thrown into Medicine Creek, in Grundy county, or make it their headquarters until the winter of 1834-35, for they simply squatted and robbed until the location got to hot for them, and then they made tracks for other quarters.  Dunbar was killed in 1835, and another man with him, and the gang that was in this murder were two of the Heatherly gang, Hawkins and a negro man.  The two men were on a prospecting tour.  But in 1836 it is probable there might have been a cabin or two over the Grundy and Livingston county line, but if so they were not known to those who really settled Jackson township.

THE BRAGG SETTLEMENT.

     Jesse Goins, from Chariton county, perhaps was one of the best and most favorably known citizens of Linn county, who settled in Benton township in 1838, and erected his cabin, for all the settlers had cabins, on the west half of section eighteen, township sixty, range twenty.  He says that the northeast section of Jackson township was settled in 1838.  William N. Bragg came from Alabama in 1839, and settled on the southeast quarter of section seventeen, township sixty, range twenty-one, right on the banks of East Parsons Creek.  This man was subsequently hung by the militia, and though not killed, died afterward from the effect.  And William Calhoun, who was murdered and robbed by so-called loyal militia, but really thieves and cut-throats, came to Jackson township from Indiana, in 1840, and proved for nearly twenty-five years one of its most enterprising and honorable citizens.  He settled on the south half of section eight, township sixty, range twenty-one.  Daniel and Nathan Keithley came from St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1845.  These were the principle settlers in that neighborhood, and they were some of the best farmers in the county, for nearly all their efforts were successful.
     Among the earliest of those who settled in Jackson township, and who wielded the most influence in a family point of view were the Flournoys.  John G., William, and the mother of these gentlemen, all settled on section twenty-seven, township sixty, range twenty-one, in the year 1838.

GOOCH SETTLEMENT.

     This might in truth be called a part of the other mentioned settlement, for a portion was on the same section.  Asa Kirby settled on section seventeen, township sixty, range twenty-one.  On section five, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one, Oliver Phillips settled, who came originally from Kentucky, but direct fro Howard county, and Thomas Morris from teh State and from Howard county, also.  Lewis Wright, from Virginia, settled on section eight; Manoah Swigleton, from Kentucky, on section nine, Daniel layman, Howard county, section five, all in section fifty-nine, township twenty-one, and all came in 1840; and Roland, from Kentucky, originally, came the same year, settling on section six.  These were the principal ones in that section of the county, that is south of the congressional township line dividing fifty-nine and sixty.  Right north of this line and on section twelve, township sixty, range twenty-one, Mark Arnold settled, one of the most prominent characters of the township, a representative man who cane in the early days, having settled as above mentioned in March, 1839, still hale and hearty, with a clear memory of many important past events.  Just before Arnold, that is in February, Esau Hannan came and settled on section twenty-nine just north of Arnolds, and Jacob Hill settled in December, 1838, and two months before Hannan on section thirty-one, right west of Arnold.  This might be called the

ARNOLD SETTLEMENT,

and Arnold's house afterward became headquarters for the Confederates in the civil war, which left its mark of desolation all over the county for some twenty-three years after.  Harvey Bragg, a brother of William before spoken of, also settled in December, 1838, and staked his claim on section sixteen, township sixty, range twenty-one, something like three miles north of the Arnold settlement.  Harvey Bragg and Jacob Hill were brothers-in-law.  There were quite a number of regugee Mormons came into the township, as the war at that time was making it unpleasant for their tribe, but they left when it was decided that the Mormons must go, by the surrender of Far West, and Adam-on-Di-a-mon.  Jeremiah Hooker, quite a prominent man in Linn county affairs, settled on Locust Creek and there was quite a settlement around him.
     The first child born in the Arnold settlement was a daughter of Jacob and Eliza Hill in May, 1839.  She grew to womanhood, married, and removed to California.  Among the first deaths in that settlement was Frederick Phillips in 1842, buried in Philips' graveyard.  
     In the Gooch neighborhood the first marriage was about 1841, Mr. Silas Norval and Miss Ellen Ward being the parties to the contract, but a little previous to this, or about the same time, Mr. Ross and Miss Patty Pence were united in marriage in the Moore neighborhood.
     Over on section twenty-seven, in the Flournoy's settlement, near Locust Creek, a colored child was born, the mother being owned by Mrs. S. P. Flournoy.  A negro child belonging to Wm. S. Flournoy died in 1840, and was buried on section three.  These were the first births and deaths in that neighborhood.  Margaret Phillips, daughter of Oliver and Eliza Phillips, who were in the Gooch settlement, was the first child born there, and Gideon Gooch, the child of Roland and Silaby Gooch, was born in March, 1843.  Rebecca Belshe died in the summer of 1842 and was buried in Ward's cemetery, the first buried there.
     The first child born in Jackson township, as near as dates can be ascertained, was Presley Thomas.  He was born in 1839.

ON LICK BRANCH.

PROGRESS.

PHYSICIANS, WEAVING AND SCHOOLS.

CHURCHES.

     There was now and then a preaching at the cabins of the settlers by those ministers who traversed the circuit, but the first service held at a school-house was by the Rev. Jesse Goins, of the Missionary Baptist, who preached at the old Mt. Olive log school-house in November, 1848.  This old school-house was about half a mile from the site of the present Mount Olive school-house.

MT. OLIVE CHURCH.

MAGNOLIA CHURCH.

MORRIS CHAPEL.

CEMETERIES.

     There are no less than eleven public or church cemeteries and graveyards in Jackson township, and their names and locations are as follows: 
Pleasant Shade, northwest corner of section three, township fifty-nine, range nine, range twenty-one;
Mount Olive, northeast quarter section six, township fifty-nine, range twenty-one;
Phillips's, southwest quarter of section thirty-two, township sixty, range twenty-one;
Hays's, northwest quarter section thirty-one, township sixty, range twenty-one;
Hulett's, northeast quarter of the northwest quarter section thirteen, township sixty, range twenty-two;
Keithley's southwest quarter section nine, township sixty, range twenty-one;
Bragg's, southeast quarter section seventeen, township sixty, range twenty-one;
Smith's, southeast quarter of the southwest quarter section twenty-three, township sixty, range twenty-two;
Hooker's, northeast quarter section sixteen, township sixty, range twenty-one; and
Calhoun's, southwest quarter section eight, township sixty, range twenty-one.

WAR ITEMS.

INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS.

     A sad and fatal accident occurred in this township in 1871.  Several ladies who were on a visit to the family of O. C. Stalps, concluded to go in bathing in Locust Creek, some three quarters of a mile below Myles's mill.  They were Miss Jennie C. Campbell of Macon City; Miss Sallie Wilcox, Miss Eva Stalps, and Mrs. W. P. Myles.  By some mishap the first named, Miss Campbell, got into water beyond her death, and before help could be secured, was drowned.  Becoming frightened, she was not able to help herself, and the others could not reach her.  Her body was soon recovered and sent to Macon for burial.  It cast a deep shadow over her friends, and the very thought of bathing almost became a terror ever afterwards to those friends who saw her dying struggles.
     Another of those tragedies resulting from bullying happened at Sebago, January 1, 1872, a Mr. Patil shooting and killing a man by the name of Helm.  The latter was a hard case and went a little too far with rather a quiet man, however, didn't lack for courage when the test came.  Patil was acquitted on his trial.
     It was in 1873 and 1874 that the chinch-bugs were so numerous in the township that they destroyed the wheat crop and other small grain, which caused the farmers to drop wheat-raising except for bread, and turned their attention to corn, tobacco, hay and stock-raising, and since then the latter and tobacco have been in the lead.
     Perhaps the most remarkable characters that inhabited Linn county were the Klinenipper brothers, who lived in Jackson township.  They were bachelors, and lived alone in squalid poverty, or without any of the comforts of life.  They made but few acquaintances, and lived for twenty years nearly unknown and little cared for.  John fell loff of a load of corn-stalks which fell on him, from the effects of which he died the next day.  This was Jan. 2, 1877, and on the twenty-fifth off the following March, George, the brother, died from heart desease, brought on by exposure.  Money to the amount of $7,087.25 was found in their cabin, in crocks and barrels - $650 sewed up in a buckskin glove, $580 in an old coffee-pot, and so on.  There was also 1,600 acres of land belonging to them, 1,200 of which was in Linn county, and 400 in Livingston.  The neighbors tore down the house and searched the grounds, and while it is believed that several thousand dollars was found, the $7,087.25 above mentioned was all that was recovered.  A brother in Germany became the heir, and he ordered the land sold, and the proceeds sent to him.  Carlos Boardman had the estate in charge.     
     Hazeville, Orlando, and Sebago were post-offices in this township; the former is closed up.
     At Sebago, Jan. 15, 1881, a cutting affray occurred which resulted in the death of a Mr. Carpenter, who lived near Alpha, in Grundy county.  Carpenter attended a party and became drunk, and was ordered to leave the house of Mr. Dennis.  He went out but called Dennis out, saying he could whip him.  Dennis went out and Carpenter struck at him with his fist, when Dennis drew a knife and cut him twice.  Carpenter managed to walk home, a distance of nearly five miles, but died in a few days.  He was unconscious soon after getting home, having been cut one time in the head.  Dennis fled the country.
     Mrs. John Norvell accidentally shot herself about the third of June, 1881.  She lived near Orlinda.  She suffered for a few days terribly, and then died.  Several doctors were in attendance, and tried to find the ball, but could not.  She was an estimable woman, and a good wife and neighbor.

TOWN ORGANIZATION.

     On the passage of the new township organization law, by the General Assembly, in the winter of 1880 and 1881, the several townships of Linn county organized under its provisions, and the first election for township officers came off in April, 1881.  Jackson township elected the following officers:  Trustee, L. B. Phillips; justices of the peace, Alexander Gooch and G. H. Norvell; and S. A. Crookshanks, clerk and assessor.  These gentlemen constituted the town board, with G. H. Norvell as chairman.  The first meeting was held at the residence of R. D. Crookshanks, but afterward at Hannan, or at the Jackson school house.  The present officers are the same, with the addition of H. B. Chandler, as constable.

BIOGRAPHIES
 

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