The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-07-13

tho many pugillistic encounters had in
early times on this thoroughfare.
The County Court convened for the
! first time in Savannah in November.
1871, the first business Of which was to
award five dollars for plans and speci-
fications for new Jail, of which John
Eisiminger was builder and Jeremiah
Clarke Superintendent.
Soon after Samuels & Elliott, license
as merchants was issued to Nave Il
Howard, who did business IN small
shanty that is now in dilapidated con-
dtion, on Shinbone alley. In the rear OF
Shedrick's confectionery. About the
same time, Rogers & Wclch. Frame &,
Richardson, James Wooney. Smith &
| Tootle, G. w. Samuels and others were
licensed, and dram shop license gran-
ted Julius G. ,Robidoux II .Cs. izmlorc
1Iarada opened the FIRST kotol In Slyan-
nah in a frame building (aiterwnrl
burned DOWN. on the corner where now
stands the st. Charles Hotel Higgins
& Farnes opened on Shinbone alley.
Just west of Nave & Howard's store.
Daniel Toole, Andrew Luckey, John
Ellington aud Amos Holsey established
ferries over the Missouri and Nodaway
|
known as "China," was then. no. a
merchant, but acting constable Of Nod
away township, and aftcryard Sheriff
of the county.
John Tyrcll, known rs "Old Sixty"
was acting Justice Of the Peace, and
L. 5. Castle and Jerry Burues were
Justices for Jefferson township.
Milton X. Singleton was the first
| Public Administrator. Theodore D..
Wheaton, Representative in the Lcgis-
laturc, and Neal Gillian, State Senator.
John Lincoln built the first mill on
Lincoln creek Abraham Dillon the first
on Dillon creek; Wilson & Kibby the
first on Platte river; one Stansberry
the first on the HunIred-aud-two.
OF the old settlers the following are
among those who are yet living ia the
county: Joseph Walker, Robert Elliott,
E. A. Carson, Benjamin X. Holt, Will
liam A. Price, James r. Watts. Joseph
Broc Elijah Martin, John higgins,
Jeremiah Clarke, Lewis Stiles (then a
small boy). {. Z. Miller. A. +. Owens.
Walter Wells, John Terrell, +. w. Gee,
! William Patterson, Daniel Van Bus
kirk, Charles Caples. John Lincoln,
Edward Brock, John IL and Robert A.
Watts. Nide Pet,ijohn, Samuel Monroe,
Fred Wyatt. John White. james Nee
ley, Ezra, John and Nathaniel Kellogg,
James Davidson, Ephraim Myers.
Crowleys, Earlcs, Stantons, Smiths, ana
others.
In August. 1919. C. F. Holly was
elected the first Probate Judge, and was
succeeded by Daniel VanLuskirk in
1853.
William B Allen, now residing in
Savannah, located six miles north of
Savannah, east of the Hundred and-two
river, in September, 1S43. At that time
there was no settlers except few in
and skirting tho timber. The open
prairie extended into Iowa. and per.
haps into Minnesota. The prairie land
was covered with luxuriant growth
of grass aud flowers. Stock of all kinds
were lat and healthy, and there was an
abundance of game, such as deer, tur-
keys and prairie chickens, with plenty
of fish in the streams. The summer of
| 1874 was very wet. The water-courses
were very high, with no bridges or boats
and but four canoes with which to cross
But one mill existed above what is now
Birds Mill, and that at one time did
not turn wheel for six weeks. The
universal diet at that period consisted
! Of meat, hominy, potatoes, and pound
cake. The latter was made by pound
ing corn in hominy mortar and slit
ing out the finest for bread, the coarscr
Tor hominy. In consequence of the ex-
cessive rain and rank growth of vege-
tation, great deal OF sickness occurred
. t1,,.N la1l Ia ,,l
bottom lands were then thought to be
worthless, as it was so wet that horse
could not be ridden through without
danger Of miring. At that time Mr..
Allen felt secure of a range for stock
for generation TO come. But alter
the close of the civil war. the growth of
the country took fresh start, until now
there is scarcely any land in that vicin-
ity not enclosed, with tho native grass
and rank wild vegetation about gone.
AS the county improved, the health be-
came better, until we have now as
healthy county rs can be found in the
West. Deer are no more found in the
county, and turkeys, prairie chickens,
fish, &c, do not repay the sportman's
exertions with anything like the pro-
fusion of thirty to thirty-five years ago
The faee OF The county is generally
gently rolling, and nearly equally divi-
ded between timber aud prairie. The
soil on the uplands is composed of sill
cious mari, aud is unsurpassed for fer
tility by any uplands. The bottoms are
entirely alluvisl, composed generally
of Eight. sandy, calcarious soil, fertile
in the highest degree. blackberry
Ridge" as 1t is called on account of the
vast quantity of timber of that name
through the western part of the county, |
is the richest large body Of land in the |
Platte Purchase. Andrew county is the
premium county of the State OF Missou-
ri-scarcely rod Of land in the whole
county but can be easily cultivated; and
in addition to this fact, the county is re-
markably healthy Probably not more
than one third OF the land of this county
is in cultivation, which, in crop times.
is covered with luxuriant fields OF corn,
wheat. oats. rye. barley. hemp. buck
wheat, tobacco. sorghum, &c. Grasses
such as timothy, red-top, red clover,
hungarian, blue grass, also thrive vig-
orousy. Apples. peaches, pears, april
cots. plums. cherries. grapes, and all
varieties OF small fruit generally, yield
abundantly; one hundred thousand dol. |
lars being the estimated value OF this |
product annually. Premiums are an
nually awarded her citizens for the lar
gsst and best varieties Of fruit. by hor-
ticultural and agricultural fairs.
Since the organization ot the county.
more than two-thirds OF the original in
k,.h .,s \
farther West-many having gone 10 the
Pacific Coast--but their places have
been supplied more than ten-iold. This
change Of population. and the improve |
ments In the county, are the only chan |,
ges since the primeval DAYS.
The county is well watered. The
Missouri river washes its southwestern
line, Nodaway river forming the wes-
tern boundary, which forms q junction |
with the Missouri short distance above