Ruth McPherson Brown, a native of Ohio; her father died November 9, 1868; and her mother is still living, in Grundy county. When Mr. Wright was quite young his parents moved to Virginia, and when he was sixteen they came to Ohio. Shortly after his marriage he enlisted in company E, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth regiment of National Guards, served five months; then became a member of company E, Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry and served till the close of the war; he was taken prisoner near Cynthiana, Kentucky, and kept for some time and then paroled by Gen. John Morgan. After the close of the war he returned to Ohio and farmed till 1869, then came to Missouri, and after spending one year in Caldwell county, located permanently in Grundy county. Mr. and Mrs. Wright became the parents of ten children; namely, Arthur J., born October 15, 1865; Annie E.,.born January 5, 1867; Charles and William (twins), born November 2, 1869; and Jessie, born, June 14, 1876; Albert M., born June 26, 1868, died February 2, 1869; Emma and Edward (twins), born January 15, 1873, Edward died July 11, 1873, and Emma October 10, 1874; Anna and Alfred (twins), born February 9, 1875, Alfred died August 14, 1875, and Anna, August 21, 1875.

Mr. Wright was the eldest son of five children, four of whom are living: William H., a brother, who died August 12, 1870, was a man of far more than ordinary ability and stood among our leading educators; his chosen profession was that of teaching, and he was continually striving to reach a higher standard of excellence in his labors; he was a Union soldier in the Forty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and in the Tenth Ohio cavalry, and served his country four years; was twice wounded and twice captured, but by his bravery managed to escape and was soon again with his command, able and ready for duty; yet, in the prime of life, while in the good work of educating, the great destroyer, Death, conquered him and he was called to his reward, deeply mourned by relatives and friends.

Mr. Wright, the subject of our sketch, has been a very useful man in the county, having been postmaster at Buttsville for a number of years, justice of the peace for seven years, and filled other township offices.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Protestant Methodist Church, and highly esteemed members of society.

CHAPTER XXX.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

How Situated-Area in Acres-When Organized-Its Metes and Bounds-Early Settlers -Fancy Sketch-First Election, 1837-Pioneer Incidents-Schools and School-houses -The Cost of the First School-house-Pioneer Transportation-Climate, Soil and Prosperity-Township Officers, 1881-Biographies.

The township of Jefferson is situated and constitutes the southwest corner of Grundy county, and contains an area of about 22,720 acres. It is known for its extensive bodies of timber, excellent water and fertile land. Within its borders live many of the more enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of the county.

Jefferson was a township before Grundy became a county, and was one of the original eleven townships upon the organization of the county in 1841. The following taken from the records of the Livingston county court, for the February term, 1839, shows its

FIRST BOUNDARY.

"Ordered that a township be made in the county of Livingston, commencing where townships 60 and 61 cross Grand River; thence west to the intersection of said line with Daviess county; thence south with said line to the road leading from Jerry Bannon's to Robert McGain's thence with said road to Black's mills. Said township to be called Jefferson. Running from McGains' so far as to include James Black in Jefferson township; thence to N. R. Hobbs', so as to include Hobbs in Jefferson township; thence running with Bear Creek to the north; thence with the river to the beginning."

The present boundary lines of Jefferson township are Madison township on the north, Grand River separating it from Jackson on the east, Livingston county on the south, and Daviess county on the west. It is the fourth township in the county in regard to population, having within its limits, according to the census of 1880, one thousand, one hundred and eighty-nine inhabitants, or a net gain of three hundred and fifteen in ten years. The township is watered by the Grand River on its eastern border, and Hickory Creek which traverses the township diagonally from the northwest corner, to the Grand River.

EARLY ARRIVALS.

Jefferson was among the most thickly settled townships of the county in 1841, when the organization went into effect. In 1836 the families of Jesse Harris, Cornelius Darnaby and William Davies opened the way to the rich lands of Jefferson, and staked their claims to build up homes in the wilder

ness of the Grand River Valley. Jesse Harris came from Garrard county, Kentucky, and located on section No. 28; Cornelius Darnaby was also from the famed "blue-grass region," Hopkins county, and his claim was staked in section No. 32; from the same State came William Davies, from the county of Christian, and his cabin was erected on section No. 33. These were the three first white settlers in the township, but they were soon followed by a host of others who came to stay. There were Greenbery Harris, D. H. Dunkerson, Dr. James Livingston, J. W. Moore, M. Hornback, Richard Chenoweth, W. W. Bond, Joshua Bond, John Harshu, John Gee, Henry Gee, Nathaniel Gee, L. D. Thompson, Edward Smith, J. M. Nichols, Nathaniel Maxey, George Trout, A. G. Taylor, George Embry, Isaac Embry, Elijah Embry, Basil Tinsley, Dock Brown, W. F. Brown, James Turner, Thomas Turner, James D. Nordyke, James Blackburn, Pulligan Sandridge, William Woolridge, Matthew Greene, Presley Boone, William Ashbrook, Zela Conkling, Benjamin S. Ashby, and B. G. Gibbs, all came to make their homes in the wild and rugged West, and Jefferson was the township selected. Some came with their families growing up around them, others were young men just starting in life and eager to battle with the hardships of the western frontier. "They came, they saw and they conquered" the wilderness, and where once only the wild flower and wild grasses grew luxuriantly, there sprang up the necessaries of life. Broad acres over which the plow had made its furrow took the place of trackless prairies, and rude, but cosy cabin homes sprang up where once was only a dusky forest dell. The deer and wild turkey that had wandered the silent woods alone, only now and then disturbed by the stealthy tread of the Indian hunter and the crack of his unerring rifle, now were startled by the ringing echo of the pioneer's ax, and scampered away from his impetuous presence, to be followed by the whirring rifle ball that speedily put an end to their roving career.

EARLY ELECTIONS.

The first election held in what is now Jefferson township, took place two years before the township became known by its present name. An election was held at the house of D. H. Dunkerson in 1837, and the said Dunkerson was elected a county judge of Livingston county. He was afterward reelected. In August of 1839, after the organization of the township, an election was held at the home of Judge Dunkerson for the election of a justice of the peace for the new township, and at the same place, on the 19th day of October, the same year, the citizens voted for an assessor for the county of Livingston. On the 20th of March, 1841, after the organization of Grundy county, an election was ordered for a justice of the peace for the township of Jefferson. James D. Nordyke was elected, and held the office until his death which occurred a year later, and on the 21st of June, 1842, Michael Hornback was appointed his successor. The next election to

be found of record, took place in the summer of 1852, when Greenbery Harris, B. G. Gibbs and Joshua Bond were elected justices of the peace, within and for the township of Jefferson. Other early elections were held, but no record was kept of who were elected.

The first sale of school lands in the township occurred on the 3d day of February, 1840, on which date the Livingston County Court ordered section 16, township 60, of range 25, to be sold for school purposes.

PIONEER INCIDENTS.

The first couple to seek the joys of connubial life, were Benjamin S. Ashby and Miss Elizabeth Harris, and the marriage took place at the home of the bride's father on the 28th of March, 1838. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. James McMahan, a Methodist minister. It was one of the happy events that relieved the monotony of the early days of toil, and the couple received congratulations that were hearty and possessed that quality which makes them appreciated-they were meant, every word of them.

James P. Harris was the first person born within the present limits of Jefferson township. He first saw the light on the 28th day of July, 1839, on the old homestead on section No. 28, the son of Jesse and Mary Harris. The first young lady to greet the morning of life in the same township, was Miss Margaret Smith, the winsome daughter of Edward H. and Sarah Smith, whose birth occurred not long after the first mentioned.

Death, that grim visitant that leaves only sorrow in its path, first sought the realms of Jefferson on the 9th of March, 1838, when little Mary, daughter of Jesse and Mary Harris, was gently wafted to her last home in the world beyond. She was buried in Livingston county.

Dr. James Livingston was the first practicing physician. He came from the State of Ohio, and died in the township. He was one of the early settlers.

The first minister was Rev. Elijah Murrell. He was a native of Maryland, and preached in Jefferson as early as 1836 or 1837. He was a Baptist, and conducted services at the homes of the pioneers. The Rev. James McMahan, a Methodist divine, was one of the pioneer preachers, and came to the township not long after Rev. Mr. Murrell. He, too, held services at the cabins of the settlers. Rev. Mr. Murrell afterwards went to Nebraska, where he died.

SCHOOL AND SCHOOL-HOUSE.

The first school taught in Jefferson township was in the year 1842, in the kitchen of Jesse Harris. They were not particular as to the location of a school in those days, and if they had only a few months schooling per year, they were satisfied until they could do better, and took advantage of what was vouchsafed them. This first of schools had about fifteen pupils,

and for instilling into their minds the rudiments of education the sum of $10 was paid per month, and it was considered a fair compensation, for money was scarce and it wasn't absolutely necessary to have a very large amount to live comfortably, as things went in those days. Mr. Spencer Brown was the first schoolmaster. He afterward moved to Andrew county, Missouri, became a physician, and practiced medicine in his new home.

The first school-house was erected in the fall of 1844. The building was put up on section number twenty-nine, and built by George W. Trout, of hewn logs, and after the style of school-houses of those days, with mud and stick chimney, wide fire-place, split-log seats with no backs to them. This first structure dedicated to learning in the township of Jefferson cost the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars-whether in money or coon-skin currency, is not known.

MISCELLANEOUS.

From Brunswick, in Chariton county, and Glasgow, in Howard county, the settlers procured their supplies, and the great difficulty of traveling by wagon was overcome by going horseback, sometimes taking pack-horses. Like the housewives of other settlements, the good wife in Jefferson township had to manufacture the clothing for the family while the husband tilled the field. The first domestic work of this kind was performed by Mrs. Mary Harris, in 1836 or 1837. Weaving and spinning wasn't a pleasant task by any means, especially when such raw materials as flax and hemp were used, with some wool and a little cotton.

Jefferson township grew and prospered. Her soil was rich, timber plenty, and a hardy, energetic class of citizens composed her population. She ranks fourth in that respect, the census of 1880 giving 1,189 as the population of the township. In 1870 the number was 874, an increase of thirtythree and one-third per cent. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad passes through the township in rather a southeasterly course, and this township furnishes a large number of ties for the road. The political complexion of Jefferson township is Republican, and its township officers are of that faith, but politics has little to do with local affairs. The present township officers are named as follows: Trustee, Gilbert Evans; collector, Samuel H. Laird; clerk, John Roberts; constable, J. S. McCracken; justice of the peace, J. B. Embry.