In June, 1867, Mr. Riecke emigrated to America, landing at New York, but soon afterwards settling in Philadelphia, where he remained until the spring of 1870, when he moved to Missouri, settling at Sedalia, where he engaged in the meat business until the spring of 1880, when he moved to the southern part of the county, where he bought a fine farm, engaging in farming and the stock business. Mr. Riecke was married May 18, 1875, to Miss Charlotte Knaak, a daughter of August Knaak, a native of Germany. Mrs. Riecke is also a native of Germany. From this union there were four children, three of whom are yet living, viz: Amanda, Olga and Ella. Mr. Riecke owns a beautiful farm of 540 acres, well improved and well adapted for the purposes of farming and grazing.

JOSEPH UPTON.

Among the worthy citizens of Washington Township we find the subject of this sketch, Joseph Upton, an Englishman by birth, and educated in the schools of his native country. He was born December 1, 1841, and is the fourth child in a family of eight children, all of whom are living in the United States. Mr. Upton emigrated to this country in April, 1872, landing at New York, where he remained but a short time, then started for the great west, where he expected to make his home. He settled in Pettis County, buying land in the southwestern part of the county, where he has since resided. Mr. Upton was married first in his native country to Miss Sarah A. Upton. From this union there are four children, all of whom are living, viz: William J., Joseph, Albert J. and Sarah A. Mrs. Upton dying, he was again married Sept. 11, 1877, to Miss Margaret R. Ridenour, daughter of William Ridenour, of Pettis County. From this marriage there are no children. Since Mr. Upton's residence in Pettis County he has been engaged in farming, and by his own industry and frugality he is becoming wealthy. He is already the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-eight acres, on which farm Mr. Upton raises as fine crops as there are in Pettis County.

WILLIAM WARREN.

The subject of 1826, and is the

Is the son of Thomas Warren, a native of Kentucky. this sketch was born in Clark County, Ky., April 21, third child in a family of seven children. He received a liberal education from the schools of his native county. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Warren emigrated to Missouri, settling in the southwestern part of Pettis County, where he has since resided. He was married May 8, 1849, to Miss Malinda J. Tribble, daughter of John Tribble, a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Warren is also a native of Kentucky. From this union there were eight children, seven of whom are now living, viz: James T., William F., John C., Geo. W., Langdon, Almeta and Annie D. During the earlier years

of Mr. Warren's residence in Pettis County he was engaged in teaching in the public schools. After which he embarked in the mercantile business, continuing in this until the spring of 1882. He has also been engaged in farming. He owns a fine farm of two hundred acres, where he resides; also a small tract of land in Benton County.

SAMUEL J. WILSON.

Is the son of Wm. Wilson, who was a native of Indiana. The grandfather, James Wilson, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and also a soldier in the war of 1812. Samuel was born in Hancock County, Ind., Sept. 19, 1839, and is the eldest child in a family of five children. His advantages for an education were limited. In the fall of 1847 Mr. Wilson moved to Illinois, settling in Bond County of that State, where he remained until 1867, when he moved to Missouri, settling in Pettis County, where he has since resided. He was married first to Miss Rachel Boyd, a native of Illinois, Dec. 4, 1856. From this union there were four children, only two of whom are now living, viz: Lorinda and Delia. Mrs. Wilson dying, Mr. Wilson was again married Feb. 20, 1878, to Mrs. Martha Wright, a native of Missouri. From this union there are two children, viz: Minnie and Arthur. Since he has been a resident of Pettis County he has been engaged in farming and the raising of stock. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres, well improved and under a good state of cultivation. In religion, Mr. Wilson and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

CHAPTER XXV.-FLAT CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Introduction-Name-Celebrity of Name-Organization-Physical Features-Streams of Water-Railroad - Early Settlers--Early Schools and Meetings-AgricultureChurches--Schools-Incidents-Biographical.

From the beauties and grandeurs of nature to the curiosities and wonders of art, we see everywhere that the tooth of time has torn away some fragment of what some one has once admired. Many a splint from a curious noted tree that stands no longer is preserved in some cabinet. The wild grasses that once supplied the deer, buffalo, antelope and elk, as they fed and wandered over nature's unmolested pasture have changed, and perhaps never more take the form of its wild nature. The animals that once grazed on these boundless prairies have given place to those of a domestic nature. Where once the tall grass grew and the fiery flames annually visited, now is the dense grove of beautiful slim saplings whose bark shines like silver. The sturdy pioneers who first set their tent stake here, silently sleep where their sons and daughters breathe

above them a different atmosphere. A change in politics, religion and the government of the home circle now pervades their homes. Perhaps there are but few who have lived half a century, but can note great changes; and often the spirit of the age advances with the individual. To keep pace with progress requires considerable diligence.

In the following sketch of this township we shall endeavor as best we can to present facts rather than formulated theories. In the physical features of the township we shall endeavor to present a fair synopsis of what nature has here done. In statistics and population we will present such facts of changes as we deem most important and interesting to the community for which this sketch is more specially written. Under the head of "old settlers" we shall give all that is accessible and pertinent, and justly due those who have stood the trials and turmoils of a pioneer home. Those who have made history deserve a name in this volume, that generations hence may know who they were who first tilled the soil and opened up the way for they prosperity they enjoy. Such historical events and dates. as are preserved, will be given on roads and post-offices, and an elaborate notice of the churches and schools, from the pioneer days down to the present. Agriculture, stock raising, and the future outlook of the township will be carefully noticed. In giving what we have diligently procured, to the public, we are aware that there are yet historic facts that are not within our reach. Enough, however, is given to preserve in the memory of those yet to live the noble founders of this township.

NAME.-There are but few places that have no historic connection with their names. Through a search of means at our disposal we have been unable to find record of the person who gave the name to this township. It perhaps derives its name from the principal stream flowing on its northern borders and across the northwest corner through two sections. How the creek from which it takes its name came to be called Flat Creek is hard to tell, unless from its flat, gravely smooth bottom. There is nothing more about it that would suggest the name of "flat." Its banks are in many places high and mostly covered with a luxuriant growth of timber and all along with brush.

ORGANIZATION.-Flat Creek was organized into a municipal township, with the rest of Pettis County, when the question of organization was voted on in 1872. It has been increased from the congressional township of thirty-six square miles, to something over forty-four, by the taking off of the southern part of Sedalia Township, and making the creek the dividing line between the two townships. The first township board

was:

J. C. Hatton, W. M. Devole, and M. Parish. O. P. Hatton was the first township trustee, and Jacob A. Yankee was clerk. The

present voting precinct in the township is at Walnut school house, district No. one, section eleven.

CONFIGURATION.-The form of the township is almost a parallelogram. The northern end being bounded by the creek is irregular. The township contains forty-eight full sections, and a number of fractions, bringing the whole up to nearly or quite fifty sections of land. In the west, south and east part of the township the land is high rolling prairie. The north is more broken, being near the creek and is well supplied with timber; still the farming land is as beautiful as can be found anywhere in the county.

The land in the township is as we have said principally high rolling prairie, and nearly every acre is elegant farming land. The streams are all timbered along their banks, thus affording plenty of fuel. There are no coal mines in the township, and but little rock is quarried, and that is of the limestone and cottonwood varieties. The principal streams of water running through the township are the one from which it takes its name, through the northwestern corner, Spring Fork through the center, and Walnut Branch in the east. The last two empty into Flat Creek, the former in the northern part of the township, and the latter in section thirty of Lake Creek Township. These creeks are for the most part fed by springs, and even during the dry seasons afford water sufficient for stock. In their course they are each, as we have said, followed by belts of timber.

EARLY SETTLERS.-The early settlers of the township have mostly passed away. But very few remain to tell the interesting story of their early experiences to interested listeners. They were mostly from Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina, and the blood of some of the best families of those States still courses through the veins of their lineal descendants. They were always modest, pleasant in argument, noble and wise in decision, strong in firmness, valorous in deeds of kindness, affectionate to wives and families, and mostly consistent and scrupulous christians.

The early times were famous for their grand hunts and whenever these pioneers wished to lay in a stock of choice meat, all they had to do was to shoulder their trusty rifles and spend half a day in the unbroken wilds and return laden with the choicest of venison. The want of mills and other modern innovations were not felt severely then. When meal was wanted, if it were impossible to get to mill, corn could be beaten in a mortar, or the good old-fashioned lye hominy, made in a short time by the frugal house wife. Some of the pioneers of this township were: George Cathay who settled here in 1827. He came from North Carolina, and for years made his home in this section. Joseph DeFord came from Kentucky in 1829. John McFatrick, came in 1830 from Kentucky. All

three have long ago past to their final rest David Holmes came in 1833, from South Carolina, and remained in the township a number of years, but with the breaking out of the California fever he, like many others thought he could better his condition by removing from Missouri to the golden shores of the Pacific, and is now in Oregon. John Brow came in in 1833 from the same State, as did also George Marshall in the same year, and from the same State. They are now dead. Jolly Parish moved to this township in 1833, from Kentucky. Also in the same year came Benjamin Randall, from the same State, and in 1835, Pemberton Casin, and in 1839, Elias Hale. All of these were from Kentucky, and are now dead. In 1835, Jacob Yankee came to this township from the "Blue Grass State," and still resides in this township. Col. John E. Crawford came to this township in 1838, and still resides on section four, township forty-four, range twenty-one. He is eighty years old, and is probably the oldest person living in the township. He came with his family when there were only seven or eight houses in the township, and those were on the south side of the creek, and were all made of logs with sticks and clay chimneys. Mathias Ray came into the county and settled in this township in the year of 1840, from Kentucky. He still resides in this township, a respected citizen. Abram McCormick came in 1833 from Kentucky. James McCormick came from Kentucky in 1833. William R. Anderson came to the township in 1833, from Virginia. Thomas Gibbs came in 1830 from Kentucky. Joseph Deusman came in 1833 from Kentucky. William Mosbey settled in this township in 1833. He came from Kentucky. Michael Goodnight came in 1835, and George May came in 1836, both from Kentucky, and all the last named are now dead.

Flat Creek Township was sectionized in 1832, the Government Surveyor being Mr. Shields. The first school was taught by R. A. McFarland, on his own farm. The first marriage in the township was Henry Small to Nancy Mosby in the year 1836, and the first death was that of Samuel Marshall in the year 1836. The first administrator's sale was in the year 1836. The first minister was Rev. Millice, who held services at Abram McCormick's and W. R. Anderson's houses. The first church was erected at what is called Brown's Springs, and the first Sunday School was held on Col. J. E. Crawford's farm. Judge Yankee was the superintendent. The first school house erected in the township was on Col. Crawford's farm; this was after school districts were organized. This was a rude structure built of logs, and had the uncovered ground for a floor. After a while another was erected and for years these were the only two school houses in the township and were also used for church worship. The first physician to locate in the township was Dr. Brown. The first post-office was called Spring Fork, and J. E. Crawford was