Mexico Missouri message., 1910-02-03
AUDRAIN COUNTY HISTORY.
ReminisCes Of Prairie Township
First 4th Of July Celebra-
ton.
CHAPTER II.

er preachers became known in the
community and joined the company
of Rev. Allen Gallaher-Revs.
Collett, yet living, now Of Fulton,
Mo, Naneyery, an English Meth
odist, and Hill, of the congrega-
tiouists. In the year named a
subscription paper was gotten up
TO build a house for church az d
school purposes. 1t resulted in
the building of Upper Lick school
house, in later times called the
Asher school house. The house
was built in 1860. Miss Sue Shell,
now Mrs. Milt Hurley of near Per
ny, a daughter of the late Judge
JamesShell OF Mexico. taught a term
of school here. Ed. w IL. Hook,
of the Christian church, was one
of the preachers later on.
The first school taught in this
district was a subscription school.
taught 10y l.. A. Hudson, g mile
east of the present Oak Grove
school house, the same shack that
was used for preaching. He
taught afterwards in the new shool
house, where DR.. VIM. Girtin
started the first literary society,
which helped to elevate the morals
of the people. From this society
have come some who have filled
important stations on life's busy
stage; modesty forbids us to name
them.
The first public road thru this
part was from the Rails county
line to Martinsburg. Martin
Leicester who lived at a place on
Salt River, Cincinnati, had 4OO
acres, near the present site of Lad
donia, which he sold. afterwards tc
w. T. Cook. The people of Au-
drain asked the County Court tC
locate this road. The Court ap
pointed Abner Smith to open anC
mark the road. He was ordered
to 60 to John Strahan's, a Justic,
OF the Peace, on the west line o.
the township, and get his allot
ment of hands. The Justice said
S.Mr. SmitI, what township dc
you live iu?" Live on Licl
Creek" If You can't tell wha
township, cau't do any thing TO
you." On his way home he callet
at the cabin of w. II. Beal. Says
Can you tell what township thi
isl" Prairie, well l went l:
miles TO Squire Strahan's, to ge
allotment of hands to open tina
road. If | lad knowed that littl
word it would have saved me
long "a miles ride. II miles ther
and - back " John Thomas an,
ii. Beal wer- sent with a yoke o
oxen and pillow to mark the rout
as far as Cuiv,p. This they di
by every few roIs tearing up ii rot
aud placing 1t on mound on th
way The people on Lower Lie
Greek soon made the way plain b.
driving stock to Mariinsburg t
ship on the North Missouri Il.
to St. Louis.
About the year 1859 John b
Henderson, United States Senator
whose residence was in Louisiana
Nc, got charter to build a raj
road from the Mississippi to tn
north of tie Kaw on I'll e Mo. river
The first prospectors crossed Lie
Creek miles north of where th
town of Laddona now stands ju,
north of the present residence {
E. C.. Smith. They were to repol
when they arrived at Mexico
Here is the report, a copy in sui
stance; I'VE, your committee be
leave to report that we find Il
country from Bowling Green, ii
county seat of Pike, TO Mexico ii
county seat Of Audraiu, uninbabi
ed and uninhabitable" No mo
was heard of this road for t,
years. The c. & A. got the cha
ter aud located the line we no
Lnnu as "The Only MAn,I IL