First settlements: Diamond Springs township, at the commencement of the Santa Fe Trail trade; Council Grove township, about 1847, S. M. Hays; Clark's Creek township, 1856, John Warnecke; Parker township, 1858, William Black. - First church buildings: Council Grove, 1868, Methodist; same place, 1871, Congregational. - First school houses: Council Grove, 1860, by district No. 2; Parker township, Parkerville City, 1871, district No. 9; Rolling Prairie township, White City, 1873, district No. 27, same township, Skiddy, 1873, district No. 12. - First business established: Council Grove, general store, 1847, by S. M. Hays; Parker township,
general store, 1870, Eastman & Thomas; Skiddy, general store, 1870, College & McDaniels; White City, hotel, 1871, Thomas Eldridge. - First birth: Lucy Columbia was the first white child born in the county, in 1852. - First post office: Council Grove, date not given, T. S. Huffaker, postmaster. - The town of Council Grove was incorporated by the Legislature in 1858; T. S. Huffaker, Christopher Columbia, S. M. Hays and Hiram Northrop, incorporators. The first white woman who resided in the county was Mrs. Mitchell, the wife of the Government blacksmith among the Kansas Indians. The first county officers were Charles Columbia, Treasurer; S. N. Wood, County Attorney; A. J. Collier, Sheriff; Richard Utt, Assessor; A. C. Stewart, Coroner; M. Conn, County Clerk; W. B. Harold, Jas. H. Ritchie and John Hammond, County Commissioners.
Morris county was organized in 1858.
Population in 1860, 770; in 1870, 2,225; increase in ten years, 1,455; population in 1875, 4,597; increase in five years, 2,372; population in 1878, 5,656; increase in eighteen years, 4,886. Rural population, 4,242; city or town population, 1,414; per cent. of rural to city or town population, 75.
| TOWNSHIPS AND CITIES. | Pop. | TOWNSHIPS AND CITIES. | Pop. | TOWNSHIPS AND CITIES. | Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Grove | 1,107 | Clark's Creek | 152 | Daimond Valley | 223 |
| Elm Creek | 646 | Highland | 338 | Neosho | 636 |
| Ohio | 368 | Parker | 693 | Rolling Prairie | 492 |
| Valley | 1,001 | ----- | ----- | ----- | ---- |
Face of the Country. - Bottom land, 15 per cent.; upland, 85 per cent.; forest (Government survey), 5 per cent.; prairie, 95 per cent. Average width of bottoms, one mile, well defined water sheds, having an east and west direction; general surface of the country, undulating; there are, however, valuable limestone bluffs and fine bottom lands.
Timber. - Average width of timber belts, one-quarter mile. Varieties: walnut, oak, cottonwood, hackberry, elm and sycamore.
Principal Streams. - The Neosho river rises in the northwest and flows through the county in a southeasterly direction; Munkres, Little John, Big John, Sands, Slough and Rock creeks are its tributaries from the north; and Elm, Four-Mile and Kahola creeks from the south. Clark's creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill, rises in the west and flows ten miles through the county in a northerly direction; and Diamond creek rises in the southwest and flows through it in a southerly direction. The county has many very fine springs, among them the famous Diamond Springs and Hill Springs; good well water obtained at a depth of from 10 to 40 feet.
Coal. - None has been developed.
Building Stone, etc. - Fine magnesian limestone is found on nearly every quarter section. Red ochre in abundance is found in several localities in the county; it has been tested, and is said to be excellent. Fire and pottery clay said to be found in quantities, but it has not been tested; gypsum found in several bowlders in limited quantities, but not pure.
Railroad Connections. - The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad traverses the county from northwest to southeast. Principal stations: Skiddy, Parkerville and Council Grove.
Agricultural Statistics. - Acres in the county, 448,000; taxable acres, 284,630; under cultivation, 48,640.13; cultivated to taxable acres, 17.09 per cent.; increase of cultivated acres during the year, 8,467.89.
STATEMENT showing the Acreage of Field Crops named from 1872 to 1878, inclusive.
| CROPS. | 1872. | 1873. | 1874. | 1875. | 1876. | 1877. | 1878. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Wheat | 1,721.00 | 1,721.00 | 3,156.00 | 8,947.50 | 8,689.00 | 3,959.00 | 7,747.00 |
| Rye | 200.00 | 200.00 | 260.00 | 1,698.75 | 1,832.00 | 1,541.00 | 1,216.00 |
| Spring Wheat | 1,482.00 | 3,041.00 | 3,644.00 | 3,039.25 | 3,647.00 | 3,660.00 | 9,304.00 |
| Corn | 5,610.00 | 5,651.00 | 6,270.00 | 11,248.25 | 7,883.00 | 15,999.00 | 14,396.00 |
| Barley | 151.00 | 163.00 | 91.00 | 712.00 | 894.00 | 2,544.00 | 923.00 |
| Oats | 1,994.00 | 2,033.00 | 1,574.00 | 3,718.75 | 4,641.00 | 5,639.00 | 4,708.00 |
| Buckwheat | 115.00 | 38.00 | 6.00 | 16.00 | 6.50 | 13.00 | 21.25 |
| Irish Potatoes | 250.00 | 365.00 | 238.00 | 210.36 | 342.50 | 404.00 | 459.00 |
| Sweet Potatoes | 4.00 | 3.00 | 6.00 | 8.00 | 65.50 | 7.50 | 9.25 |
| Sorghum | 119.00 | 107.00 | 137.00 | 168.75 | 102.00 | 167.00 | 182.12 |
| Castor Beans | ----- | ----- | 4.00 | 126.75 | 13.50 | 2.00 | 15.00 |
| Cotton | ----- | 1.25 | 0.75 | 5.25 | ----- | 0.12 | ----- |
| Flax | ----- | ----- | 0.50 | 109.00 | 11.50 | 45.00 | 102.00 |
| Hemp | ----- | ----- | 10.00 | ----- | 9.30 | 27.00 | 0.50 |
| Tobacco | 0.25 | 0.50 | 3.00 | 2.12 | 5.75 | 9.62 | 2.38 |
| Broom Corn | ----- | ----- | 266.00 | 617.00 | 406.25 | 228.00 | 100.00 |
| Millet and Hungarian | 870.00 | 995.00 | 802.00 | 1,301.25 | 2,010.75 | 2,749.00 | 1,648.00 |
| Timothy Meadow | 5.00 | 15.00 | 16.00 | 53.00 | 15.00 | 34.00 | 43.00 |
| Clover Meadow | ----- | 25.00 | 13.00 | 4.00 | 1.50 | 25.00 | 14.63 |
| Prairie Meadow | 4,884.00 | 9,397.00 | 1,852.00 | 8,627.00 | 491.00 | 362.00 | 1,681.00 |
| Timothy Pasture | ----- | ----- | ----- | 5.00 | 3.12 | 3.00 | 7.50 |
| Clover Pasture | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 2.00 | ----- | 4.00 | 2.00 |
| Blue-Grass Pasture | 4.00 | 4.00 | 3.00 | 2.00 | 17.50 | 14.00 | 12.50 |
| Prairie Pasture | 1,134.00 | 981.00 | 764.00 | 19,493.00 | 3,389.00 | 2,736.00 | 6,046.00 |
| Total | 18,544.25 | 24,741.75 | 19,117.25 | 60,114.98 | 34,476.67 | 40,172.24 | 48,640.13 |
Increase in six years, 162+ per cent.
Average increase per annum, 27+ per cent.
RANK of Morris County in the Crops named below, as to Acreage, and in Cultivated Acreage for the years mentioned in the foregoing table.
| CROPS. | 1872. | 1873. | 1874. | 1875. | 1876. | 1877. | 1878. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 36 | 34 | 42 | 25 | 31 | 44 | 37 |
| Corn | 49 | 51 | 55 | 52 | 57 | 54 | 56 |
| Total Acreage in all Crops | 46 | 43 | 54 | 37 | 53 | 55 | 56 |
| CROPS. | ACRES IN 1878. |
INCREASE OR DECREASE FROM 1877. |
PRODUCT IN 1878. |
INCREASE OR DECREASE FROM 1877. |
VALUE OF PRODUCT IN 1878. |
INCREASE OR DECREASE FROM 1877. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Wheat - bu. | 7,747.00 | 3,788.00 in. | 162,687.00 | 131,015.00 in. | $102,492.81 | $72,404.41 in. |
| Rye - bu. | 1,216.00 | 325.00 de. | 21,888.00 | 2,768.00 de. | 6,566.40 | 2,063.20 de. |
| Spring Wheat - bu. | 9,304.00 | 5,644.00 in. | 83,736.00 | 25,176.00 in. | 41,030.64 | 5,817.36 de. |
| Corn - bu. | 14,396.00 | 1,603.00 de. | 604,632.00 | 83,325,00 de. | 96,741.12 | 27,091.14 de. |
| Barley - bu. | 923.00 | 1,621.00 de. | 18,460.00 | 40,052.00 de. | 5,907.20 | 11,646.40 de. |
| Oats - bu. | 4,708.00 | 931.00 de. | 155,364.00 | 36,362.00 de. | 24,858.24 | 3,900.66 de. |
| Buckwheat - bu. | 21.25 | 8.25 in. | 425.00 | 295.00 in. | 340.00 | 236.00 in. |
| Irish Potatoes - bu. | 459.00 | 55.00 in. | 45,900.00 | 21,660.00 in. | 13,797.00 | 1,986.00 de. |
| Sweet Potatoes - bu. | 9.25 | 1.75 in. | 925.00 | 175.00 in. | ----- | 1,947.00 de. |
| Sorghum - gall. | 182.12 | 15.12 in. | 20,943.80 | 1,738.80 in. | 10,471.90 | 869.40 in. |
| Castor Beans - bu. | 15.00 | 13.00 in. | 135.00 | 111.00 in. | 168.75 | 144.75 in. |
| Cotton - lbs. | ----- | .12 de. | ----- | 20.40 de. | ----- | 2.04 de. |
| Flax - bu. | 102.00 | 57.00 in. | 816.00 | 366.00 in. | 816.00 | 343.50 in. |
| Hemp - lbs. | 0.50 | 26.50 de. | 460.00 | 24,380.00 de. | 27.60 | 1,462.80 de. |
| Tobacco - lbs. | 2.38 | 7.24 de. | 1,761.20 | 5,357.60 de. | 176.12 | 535.76 de. |
| Broom Corn - lbs. | 100.00 | 128.00 de. | 80,000.00 | 102,400.00 de. | 3,000.00 | 3,840.00 de. |
| Millet and Hungarian - tons | 1,648.00 | 1,101.00 de. | 4,944.00 | 1,928.50 de. | 19,776.00 | 7,714.00 de. |
| Timothy Meadow - tons | 43.00 | 9.00 in. | 64.50 | 13.50 in. | 322.50 | 67.50 in. |
| Clover Meadow - tons | 14.63 | 10.37 de. | 29.26 | 20.74 de. | 146.30 | 103.70 de. |
| Prairie Meadow - tons | 1,681.00 | 1,319.00 in. | 2,353.00 | 1,846.20 in. | 7,059.00 | 5,538.60 in. |
| Timothy Pasture acres | 7.50 | 4.50 in. | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
| Clover Pasture - acres | 2.00 | 2.00 de. | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
| Blue-Grass Pasture - acres | 12.50 | 1.50 de. | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
| Prairie Pasture - acres | 6,046.00 | 3,310.00 in. | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
| Total | 48,640.13 | 8,467.89 in. | $334,595.58 | $13,466.10 in. |
A LARGE YIELD. - Statements by H. S. Day, of Parkerville:
Winter Wheat. - W. D. Kohl, whose post office is Council Grove, living on Section 20, Township 15, Range 8 east, planted 10 acres with Red May wheat on the 10th of September, he harvested it on the 10th of June. The crop averaged 41 1/4 bushels to the acre. It was raised on Neosho river bottom land, and was drilled in with a horse drill on corn ground. The cost per acre was $3.75. |
ANOTHER LARGE YIELD:
Winter Wheat. - Norman Parker, living on Section 14, Township 14, Range 7 east, planted one acre to Odessa wheat on the 19th of September, harvesting it on the 12th of June, and getting 45 bushels. The ground was upland prairie, and two bushels of seed were planted, being double-shoveled in corn ground. The cost was $4 per acre. This acre was sown with this new variety of wheat as an experiment. |
Value of Garden Produce, Poultry and Eggs Sold during the Year. - Garden produce, $751; poultry and eggs, $1,661.
Old Corn on Hand. - Old corn on hand March 1st, 1878, 200,361 bushels, or an average of 177 bushels to each family.
Dairy Products. - Cheese manufactured in 1875, 6,006 lbs.; in 1878, - lbs.; decrease, 6,006 lbs. Butter manufactured in 1875, 68,040 lbs.; in 1878, 121,274 lbs.; increase, 53,234 lbs.
Farm Animals. - Number of horses, in 1877, 2,371; in 1878, 2,650; increase, 279. Mules and asses, in 1877, 271; in 1878, 275; increase, 4. Milch cows, in 1877, 2,750; in 1878, 2,899; increase, 149. Other cattle, in 1877, 6,761; in 1878, 6,212; decrease, 549. Sheep, in 1877, 2,511; in 1878, 3,303; increase, 792. Swine, in 1877, 4,436; in 1878, 9,784; increase, 5,348.
Sheep Killed by Dogs. - Number of sheep killed by dogs, 11; value of sheep killed by dogs, $33.
Wool. - Clip of 1877, 8,449.25 pounds.
Value of Animals Slaughtered. - Value of animals slaughtered and sold for slaughter during the year, $45,439.48.
Horticulture. - Number of acres nurseries, 134.88, number of trees in bearing: apple, 3,133; pear, 149; peach, 41,053, plum, 1,620; cherry, 2,479. Number of trees not in bearing: apple, 24,177; pear, 1,135; peach, 25,323; plum, 2,979; cherry, 5,183.
Herd Law. - The herd law was put in force throughout this county in September, 1875. One writer says: "The effect is good," and he anticipates large benefits from it. Another writer says: "The people had become accustomed to the township herd law, and it seemed to work well; but I do not think the county herd law will do well at present."
Fences. - Stone, 14,293 rods, cost, $28,586. Rail, 58,987 rods, cost, $82,581.80. Board, 20,618 rods; cost, $29,688.48. Wire, 14,593 rods, cost, $10,662.89. Hedge, 58,243 rods; cost, $34,945.80. Total rods of fence, 166,734, total cost, $186,464.97.
Apiaculture. - Number of stands of bees, 100, pounds of honey, 375; wax, 20.
Value of Agricultural Implements. - Amount invested in agricultural implements, $16,677.
Manufactures. - Council Grove township: water power saw and grist mill; steam and water grist mill, capital, $10,000, steam grist mill, capital, $9,000. Parker township: steam saw and grist mill. Valley township: steam saw mill, capital, $1,000.
Valuation and Indebtedness. - Assessed valuation of personal property, $209,610; railroad property, $164,272.53, total assessed valuation of all property, $1,505,742.53; true valuation of all property, $2,509,570.88. Total indebtedness of county, township, city and school districts, $156,556.90; per cent. of indebtedness to assessed valuation, 10+.
Newspaper History. - The first newspaper published in Morris county, was established by S. N. Wood, in 1859, and was called the Kansas Press, A. J. Baker purchased the paper and published it a short time in 1861, having changed the name to the Council Grove Press. The publication was then suspended until 1863, when the Press was resuscitated by S. N. Wood, who continued it until 1865, when it passed into the hands of Rev. J. E. Bryan.
In 1865, E. F. Campbell purchased the Press establishment, and with the material started the Council Grove Democrat, and conducted it about one year, when the publication was suspended.
In March, 1869, W. H. Johnson established the Council Grove Advertiser, which continued for about eighteen months. It was Radical Republican in politics.
The Council Grove Democrat was re-established in 1870, by S. M. Hays. He sold it in 1871 to Maloy & Dyer, the latter only remaining on the paper one year. John Maloy was the sole proprietor until January 1, 1876, when F. W. Dunn became half owner. January 1, 1877, Dunn became sole owner, and in October of the same year it was consolidated with the Republican under the name of Republican and Democrat, and so continues. Moriarty & Dunn are the editors and proprietors, and the consolidated paper is Republican in politics.
The Chronicle, Republican, was started in 1871, by H. R. Gregory. It survived about one year.
The Morris County Republican was established in 1872, by J. T. Bradley, who was succeeded by P. Moriarty. After Mr. Moriarty's death, in 1875, the paper was taken charge of by F. A. Moriarty, by whom it was continued until consolidated with the Democrat, as stated above.
The Morris County Enterprise was started at Parkerville, about January 1, 1878, by McCray & Clark. In July, following, they were succeeded by V. C. Welch, who is the present editor and proprietor.
Schools. - Number of organized districts, 51, school population, 2,243; average salary of teachers, per month, males, $31.97, females, $28.21. School houses built during 1878: frame, 2. Total number of school houses, 45; log, 1; frame, 87; brick, 1; stone, 6. Value of all school property, $40,564. To a limited extent school grounds are artificially ornamented with shade trees.
Churches. - Baptist: organizations, 2; membership, 75. Congregational: organizations, 4; membership, 135; church edifices, 1; value of church property, $4,000. Methodist Episcopal: organizations, 10; membership, 167; value of church property, $400. Presbyterian: organizations, 3; membership, 60. Roman Catholic: organizations, 3; membership, 500; church edifices, 2; value of church property, $500. United Presbyterian: organizations, 1; membership, 20.
