following farming, marrying Judith Cresse in 1824, in Goshen, Cape May County, N. J. The Rev. James Fletcher Morell was born in Yorkshire, England, April 1, 1817, and at the age of fourteen emigrated with his parents to America, aud was educated in Philadelphia. Mr. Tomlin is a thorough business man, an ardent advocate of free schools, public roads, stock law, land and wire fences, very independent in the expression of his opinions, thereby exciting the enmity of some opponents.

JOSEPH D. WADLEIGH.

The subject of this sketch, Joseph D. Wadleigh, was born in Rockingham County, N. H., in Exeter, the county seat, May 10, 1818, and lived in his native county for fifty years. He worked at the shoemaker's trade for fifteen years. He was afterwards a dealer in lumber, and still later making brick in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. He was married May 24, 1843, to Miss Francis E. Prescott, a native of the same town and State. They have had three children: Geo. H., Carrie R., who died at Exeter, N. H., Aug. 13, 1866, and John B. who died at Point Burnsides, Ky., in 1864, from a congestive chill brought on by a wound in the hand. He held the rank of sergeant in the Ninth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, Burnside's command, and was wounded at Antietam. He was present at the surrender of Vicksburg, June 2, 1868. Mr. Wadleigh came to Missouri and located on his present farm in Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, Mo. His wife died Sept. 10, 1877. She was a member of the Congregational Church, having previously united with the Baptist Church, however, in the east. Mr. Wadleigh's farm comprises 160 acres, and has an orchard of 1,700 apple trees, 600 peach trees, and several other varieties of fruit. He is a jolly, good humored, contented, and much respected old gentleman.

CHAS. E. WADLEIGH.

This prominent farmer of Green Ridge Township was born in Kensington, N. H., in 1843, where he also was raised to farming pursuits until his 13th year. He then went to La Salle County, Ill., where he lived until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted in the United States army under Gen. Curtis. He belonged to the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, Company B., which was organized at Bloomington, Ill., Aug. 20, 1861. He participated in the campaign through the Hatchie River country, in the engagements at the siege of Vicksburg, and below Vicksburg; was at Grand Gulf and Jackson, the principal battles fought in Louisiana and during the opening of the coast of Texas, and in the last engagements against Mobile at the close of the war. His company was transferred to the Thirteenth Army Corps in 1863, and to the Sixteenth in 1864, and was mustered out Dec. 6, 1865, at Camp Butler, Ill. Mr.

Wadleigh then returned to Illinois. In 1871 he came to Missouri, and selected the farm on which he now lives, in Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, for his future home. Shortly after he went back to Illinois, and was married May 29, 1871, to Miss Hannah M. Brewster, a native of Grundy County, Illinois, where the ceremony took place. Through this marriage they have five children: David E., Walter L., Nettie F., Frederick A. and Fannie L. Mr. Wadleigh has a large, well improved farm. His horses are of the Morgan class, and he has one thoroughbred, Justine Morgan.

CHAPTER XXIV.-WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

Introduction-Name-Organization-Configuration-Early Settlers-Churches-Schools, past and present-Early Teachers--The First Voting Place--The First Post-office-· Incidents--Biographical.

Much of the history of this township belongs to and has been given in connection with the early history of the county and also the separate townships, therefore it would be tiresome to the reader to repeat it in this chapter. Its experience is that of other townships, and the laws in obedience to which it has developed are the same as obtained elsewhere. The interests of the community have been carefully cared for all these years past, and that care has shown itself in advancing the moral and educational standing of the township.

The influx of population through the years from the time in which the township was settled until the close of the war was very slow. It would doubtless be a matter of extreme interest to trace the emotions and thoughts of the early residents, were such a thing possible. They came from the older and more populous east; left behind them all the advantages of a high civilization, the comforts of pleasant homes, friends and associations, made doubly dear by long and constant intercourse. They came to hardships and toil, but for these they cared little. There were hopes to be realized, plans to be developed, farms to make and homes to build. Whatever of romance we may wish to attach to their lives, there was but little in reality. Their coming, it must be remembered, was not always a matter of election. They did not always come to a land, then a wilderness, altogether from choice, but because stern necessity made it imperative. They came, and opened the doors of a new world, and the print of their footsteps is imbedded in the sands of time, too soon to be entirely covered by the ever-changing tide of life. They came and found that long ages anterior to their occupation of the land, there had lived and thrived another race-men who, in the far off times, had left their marks all over the face of our fair land. They found the red man in possession, but from

whence came he? Suppose he was the lineal descendant of the mound builder-what then? We have only moved the difficulty another step back, and still man was. They have left their works in some parts of this county-none that we know of in this township-but tell us more than habits and distribution, they do not.

NAME. Since the day in which this township was christened in honor of the great patriot and statesman, the immortal George Washington, time has been at work. The wheels of progress have turned westward, and by skill and industry the intelligent sons of toil have developed the natural resources which the liberal hand of the Omnipotent has so freely distributed among them. The township, as we have said, derives its name from the illustrious father of his country, and thus shows with what reverence and respect the pioneers regarded the great man by whose heroic efforts we are permitted to-day to enjoy the blessings of a free land, a free government, a free church and school. Could too much honor be given him? Name towns, cities, townships, counties, State and children after him, and then we shall fail to give him enough veneration. Honor to those loyal citizens who, in their patriotism, gave the name they did to this township.

ORGANIZATION.-This is among the townships organized at the second arrangement of townships in 1844. Up to that year it was a part of Elk Fork and Flat Creek Townships. In 1844, by a petition of the settlers then in the southwestern part of the county, these two townships were divided, and the township of Washington created, embracing what is now Green Ridge and Washington Townships. In this arrangement it stood until 1873, when the county adopted township organization, and Washington Township was made the western half. As it now stands it is bordered on the north by Prairie Township, on the east by Flat Creek Township and Benton County, and on the west by Green Ridge Township. Its bounds as described by the County Court are as follows: To include all of congressional township forty-four, range twenty-two, and all of that portion of township forty-three, range twenty-two, that belongs to Pettis County, bound as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of township forty-four, range twenty-two, running thence west on the township line to the northwest corner of same township, thence south on the range line to the southwest corner of section seven, township forty-three, range twenty-two, running thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of section two, same township and range, thence north on the range line to place of beginning. The population of the township as given in 1880 is 890, including the little village of Ionia.

CONFIGURATION.--The surface of the township is more broken than its neighbors on the east or north. Flat Creek runs nearly diagonally across

the township, and is the principal stream of water in its bounds. The other small streams all tributary to the one mentioned above are South Fork and Basin Fork. The surface of the land is beautiful, rolling prairies on the uplands and heavy timber along the bottoms. Some very desirable agricultural lands lie in the divides between the streams, while the bottom lands are rich and produce inmense crops. The timber is of that class common to the rest of the county. Of its neighbor, Flat Creek Township, on the east, there has been given an extended physical review and the characteristics of this is much the same as that.

EARLY SETTLERS.-In early years from the time of the settlement of ⚫ the county, where the early settlers' history properly commences, until the organization of the county, where it properly ends, we find little trace of settlement in Washington Township. The few early men who ventured here prior to 1830 found, as everywhere, an unbroken plain and forest, inhabited only by the Indian, deer, elk, buffalo and wolf. These held sway over the territory that under the hand of skilled labor is now yielding an abundance of fruitage. Among the earliest settlers of the township was I. Elliott, who came from Woodford County, Ky., in 1836. When he settled in the township there was but one family between him and the headwaters of Flat Creek, that of Wm. Miller. W. Anderson, of Flat Creek Township, came at the same time as Mr. Elliott. Wm. Brown came in 1834. There were also living in the surrounding country Wm. Davis, who resides on Bason Fork; Pittman on Camp Branch, and one or two others. John Elliott, who still resides in the township, came with his father in 1836. When these families settled here the land was not subject to entry, but was settled under what was known as the settlers' rights. The early men laid out what farms they thought they could manage, and these cost them from twelve and one-half cents to $1.25 per acre. Now, in less than two decades, the values have increased to from $20 to $35 per acre, and the wonderful change that has been wrought makes those who were here at an early day almost long for the free and joyous early times again. Among these early settlers are some who exerted a powerful influence in directing the course of events in the county. They were men sterling and true, whose contact with men and things made them self reliant and energetic. Nothing so much as pioneer life serves to develop real manhood; nothing so much leads to self-independence, nothing is so effective for discipline.

FIRST VOTING PLACE.--The first place in the bounds of the township where the voters exercised their right as American citizens was at the house of Ira Durrell. Mr. Durrell died in 1852, and is buried in Flat Creek Township. The voting place of the township is now at the little town of Ionia.

CHURCHES.-There is but one church in the township, that of the Flat Creek Protestant Methodist denomination, situated in the southwest part of the township, on section four, township forty-three, range twentytwo. It is a frame structure, erected by the members of the congregation in 1882, at a cost of $850.00. It was dedicated in the fall of 1882, by Rev. J. T. Shepherd. The building is comfortably furnished, and is twenty-four by thirty-six in size, and twelve foot ceiling. The pastors who have been in charge of the congregation are T. J. Shepherd, J. W. Baldwin, assisted by Mrs. Baldwin, D. T. Forduy, A. T. Johnson, M. W. Wells and John D. Cruse. The original members of the congregation were James M. Purcell, Lucinda J. Purcell, A. McNett, Lewis Tompkins, and wife, Cyrus Furguson, John Martin and wife, and others. The present membership is forty. The congregation keep up a Sunday-school of fifty scholars, of which J. F. Howe is superintendent, and Mrs. M. J. Leffler is secretary. The society from its organization has been very prosperous, holding its prayer meetings once and twice a week and has never had to hold church sociables or any other kind of entertainment in order to support itself. Its growth has been healthy and it is now on a firm foundation and is each month increasing in strength and moral influ

ence.

The first school in Washington Township was a subscription one, in 1852 or '53. The district school system was organized in 1854, and the first one was taught by B. T. Matthews. He afterwards taught several terms of school in the township. The first school building used was the same that John Elliott first went to housekeeping in. There are at present six school districts in the township, all have commodious houses and all supplied with the best appurtenances. Nearly all support subscription schools in the summer months. A Mr. Baker was one of the early teachers in the township, but when the gold fever of Pike's Peak was at its height he went to the "far west."

FIRST POST-OFFICE.-Spring Fork was the first post-office in the township; it was discontinued and the office at Ionia established.

IONIA. This little villiage in the southern part of the township is the only town within its borders. It has two stores, a blacksmith shop or two, and the post-office, and this comprises its business. It was at an early day called Peel Tree.

INCIDENTS.-John Godfray was taken out in the fall of 1861, when excitement ran high, by the home guards, and shot. This is the only murder that has been committed in the bounds of said township. In an early day, after the settlement of the township had become quite extended, the Indians frequently made hunting expeditions into the territory of the township, but never did any damage to the settlers' stock.