Moundville, Missouri 1860: 1910

Moundville, Missouri

1860 – 1910

By

Lyndon Irwin

Original illustrations and artwork by

Barbara Jean Marlow Irwin

2012 Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2005

Lyndon N. Irwin, PhD

3902 N State Highway UU

Bois D’Arc, MO 65612

www.lyndonirwin.com

The fully annotated softbound edition (including figures omitted here) is available in print through Gregath Company, Incorporated.

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 - Moundville in the 1860’s

Chapter 2 - 1870 Moundville

Chapter 3 - Moundville in the 1880’s

Chapter 4 - Moundville the 1890’s

Chapter 5 - Moundville in a New Century 1900 – 1910

Moundville Cemetery

Harvey Karnes – Founder of Moundville

Cooper College

Professor Miles

Moundville Methodist Churches

Lutheran Church

Index – not available in this Smashwords Edition: Use search function instead.

Prologue

Many may wonder why someone who did not grow up in Moundville would endeavor to write a book about this town. Moundville is an important part of my personal history. When three sets of my great grandparents moved to Missouri, they settled at Moundville. These were my Irwin, Rodgers and Saathoff lines. They participated in early Moundville activities at the Methodist church, the Lutheran church, at Moore School, at Moundville School and at Cooper College. So even though I grew up about seven miles south of Moundville, I have always had a great interest in Moundville and considered it home also. Also, youth group at the Moundville Methodist Church was an important part of my teenage years.

What is the purpose of this book? Many towns are fortunate to have had a newspaper for which microfilm records today allow researchers to easily locate information. Moundville has had a few newspapers over the years, but due to fires and other reasons, almost no back issues of those newspapers are found today.

How did I do the research for the book? I have spent about five years in research libraries reading page after page of newspapers, not from Moundville, but from Nevada and Liberal. Nevada is unique in that at some times, there were three Nevada newspapers and it was difficult to know which one might have Moundville items, so it was necessary to read all of them page by page on microfilm readers mainly in Springfield and Columbia.

Other information has come from individuals who had items in their family’s collections. There were also visits to libraries and court houses in places that held Moundville collections. This included trips as far away as Indianapolis to look at material.

Many of you are also aware that I have maintained a Moundville history web site for several years. Information was also shared for this book from gracious visitors to the web site.

In the preparation of this book, I have avoided using information from early historians, Leona Landon Donaldson and Cleora Butterfield Ashbaugh. These two ladies had wonderful memories and have often been quoted in newspapers and books. They told great stories of Old Moundville. My intent was to go back to original sources and then write what I found from those early sources. I have attempted to carefully document this book with footnotes so that researchers can locate the source of a particular statement.

I chose to limit the book to the first fifty years of Moundville’s history, covering 1860 – 1910. Perhaps, many years from now, someone will decide to write a later history of Moundville.

There will undoubtedly be names misspelled in this book. Unless I knew that a name was obviously spelled wrong, I spelled it for this book as it had been in the original document. Realize also, that sometimes spellings changed – for example, Haverstick became Haverstic, Harkreader became Harkrader and Rogers became Rodgers. Then there are some names such as Beckmon/Beckman for which we will never be quite sure.

A book such as this can only be as accurate as the original source. There will be a web page added to accompany this book and there I will be adding comments, corrections, or hopefully even additions that readers want to share. Just go to www.lyndonirwin.com if you want to look for additional information. The Moundville pages there also include many photographs that could not be included in this book.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to my mother, Evelyn Saathoff Irwin.

Although she grew up at Bronaugh, the Moundville Lutheran Church was her family’s church home.

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Acknowledgements

This book is possible, thanks to the cooperation of many folks.

First, I must mention my good friend, Lindell Haverstic. I consider Lindell to be a real Moundville expert. He has collected Moundville information and memorabilia for many years. I invited Lindell to co-author this book, but he has a young family and did not have time to take on such a commitment and that was an admirable choice for him to make. He has still been most helpful and whenever I hit a dead-end, Lindell often could give me a clue to get me going again. He generously gave me access to his entire collection.

I must also thank the Kelly family of Indiana for giving me access to their family records, photos and other Moundville items. As descendants of Professor C. H. Miles, they have maintained a wonderful collection of Cooper College and Moundville items that they generously let me go through and scan.

The primary research library that I have used is the Springfield, Greene County main branch. Sharol Neeley, Michael Glenn and John Rutherford were most cooperative in helping to bring in the interlibrary loan items that I needed. They also have made my microfilm time a bit more tolerable with their friendliness and senses of humor.

I have also used the Missouri State Historical Library in Columbia, the Western Manuscripts Archives in Columbia, the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City, the County Clerk’s Office in Nevada, the Nevada Library and the Neosho Library and want to acknowledge each.

Nancy and JaWan Thompson have been helpful sources of information for this project. Nancy is such a thorough researcher.

Others from Vernon County such as Hazel Shaw Garton Wise, Joe Yokley, Joe Welborn, Norman Noel, Preston and Karin Haverstic and Vic and Sharon Hinds have shared information and photos.

The good people of the Moundville Methodist Church have been generous to share information about the early history of the church. Thanks also to Tony Weber and Vic Hinds for sharing the Moundville Lutheran Church records with me.

Some nice folks that I met through my web site who have been helpful include Donna Pearson Price, Amanda Baldwin, Joy Keister, Lisa Nelson and Mary Woodfill Park.

Thanks to my proofreaders - mom Evelyn Saathoff Irwin, Lindell Haverstic and Donna Pearson Price.

Thanks as always to my wife Barbara Jean. She has put up with my history and genealogy addictions over the year and through this, my fifth book. She carries more than her share of family duties as I am trekking through cemeteries, spending hours in front of microfilm readers or chasing after the latest elusive clue. And on top of all this, her illustrations make the book more enjoyable.

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Chapter 1

Moundville in the 1860’s

Prior to 1850, the area that later became southwestern Vernon County was part of a very large Bates County, Missouri. In 1855, when the new county of Vernon was formed, roughly the southwestern quarter became Harrison Township. The area was only sparsely settled with pioneer residents trying to tame the vast prairie. The grass was tall on the rolling landscape, the soil was fertile and underneath it was unimagined wealth in the form of coal.

Figure 1. The fertile prairie attracted early settlers to southwest Vernon County.

The prairie was gently rolling but in the northern part of Harrison Township, there was a mound. Living near that mound was Harvey Karnes, a Virginia native. Harvey saw the mound as the perfect location for a new town. Harvey had lived in the area for only a short time, but he was eager to participate in civic events that would lead to the development of Vernon County. In fact, in 1859, a petition that a Vernon County Agricultural and Mechanical Association be formed was presented to the County Court in June 1859. Ninety citizens had signed a petition for its incorporation and Harvey soon became a leader in that organization.

Harvey4 Karnes’ idea of a town on the mound was proceeding and he had the town of Moundville surveyed in March of 1860. The village remained small for many years. In fact, when Moundville was platted in 1860, there was not even a Moundville township. The village was in the very northwestern part of Harrison Township.

Figure 2. Plat deed for Moundville, 1860

It is difficult to identify precisely each of the early settlers of Moundville village because although Karnes had had the town platted in the early 1860’s, there really was not much development until after the Civil War. The best estimate of Moundville before the Civil War comes from the 1860 Federal Census for Harrison Township. Several prominent Moundville names can be identified in that census. So it can be assumed that they and their neighbors were the earliest Moundville residents.

It is known that Harvey Karnes had homesteaded just a short distance west of the mound that became Moundville. Harvey, age 26, and his wife, Mary M., age 28, were living there when the census was taken in 1860. Their three children were: Leonidas, age 6; Vernesa J., age 4; and Joseph M., age 2. Also living with them was James Stricklin, age 21. James was listed as a farm laborer and had been born in Missouri. It is assumed that he was a brother to Mary (whose maiden name was Stricklin). Harvey Karnes reported real estate valued at $5,900 which was second highest in Harrison Township.

The Emmons families lived next to the Karnes family. J. K. Emmons was age 67 and like Harvey Karnes had been born in Virginia. Living with him were Sarah Griffee, age 18; Mary Griffee, age 11; and Jane Kindell, age 10.

Next to J. K.’s family was David Emmons, age 33, who had been born in Tennessee. His family included his wife Mary, age 23; Mary J., age 5, L. A., age 3; and John, age 1. The children, like their mother, were born in Missouri. Also living with the David Emmons family was John Griffee, age 16, a farm laborer.

Next to the Emmons families was another Virginia family. Mary Cerker, age 55, assumed to be a widow, owned property where she lived with her five children. They included Daniel, age 22; P. A., (female), age 19; Vianna, age 18; Sallie, age 16; Jackson E., age 13; and Elizabeth, age 8. The three older children were born in Virginia and the younger two in Missouri. Living with them was a farm laborer, Marvin Hanson, age 60, and V. C. Hunter (female), age 2.

Also listed next to the Karnes family was the James K. Crocket family. James was age 28, and like the rest of his family, was born in Missouri. His wife was Milly A., age 24. They had three children, Martha, age 6; S. K. (male), age 4; and James, age 1.

Nearby was S. N. Anderson, age 25 and his wife M. N., age 21. A twelve-year-old boy, C. C. Pope, was living with them. All were from Illinois.

Two Davenport families also lived nearby. Hyram Davenport, age 28, and his wife, Elisabeth, age 23, were from New York. Wilson Davenport, age 29, and his wife Margarett, age 29, had two children. They were Harriett, age 9; and Benjamin, age 4. All in the Wilson Davenport family were born in New York, including young Benjamin. This of course, indicates that the family had not been in Missouri very long. Living with them was Hiram Wilcox, a 45 year old carpenter from Vermont.

The James Jones family was known to live just a very short distance south of the Moundville site. James was a Kentucky native and was age 35. His wife was Margarett, age 32, who had been born in Illinois. They had three sons and two daughters. Andrew was age 12; Henry, age 11; Melvina, age 7; Lafayett, age 5; Monah, age 3; and Thomas was three months old. The first three children had been born in Kentucky. Monah, interestingly, had been born in California, making one wonder if James might have taken his family west to try the gold fields. Baby Thomas had been born in Missouri, again indicating that the family had not been in Missouri long. Jones reported $4,640 in real estate holdings.

Next to the Jones family was that of William Hinton who was a 56 year old native of Virginia. His wife, Fieba, age 40, was a native of Kentucky. Their five children were John P., age 22, R. M. (female), age 15; M. M., age 10 (female); Martha F., age 7; H. A. (female), age 5. The first two children were born in Kentucky and the last three in Missouri indicating that the Hinton family had been in Missouri at least ten years.

Based on the 1860 census records, except for the Davenports, most of the residents around Moundville hailed from the south. With the increasing tensions that would lead to the Civil War, there would be many changes in the Moundville population in the next few years.

There was also a mortality census taken in 1860. It listed people who died during the year that ended June 1, 1860. John P. Reams, age 25, had died in September 1859. He was a native of Kentucky and was a farmer. A census footnote tells that Reams was sitting on his wagon and wanted to jump off. His foot got tied up in the lines to the horses. When he fell, he could not get away from the wagon and it ran over him. This scared the horses and they ran some distance. He was so badly mangled that he died a few hours later.

Other Harrison Township deaths listed in the 1860 Mortality census were:

Format – Name; age; sex; birthplace; month; cause of death

Townsy Brown; 6/12 mo; F’ Missouri; Oct; Fever

Rebecca McCullough; 52; F; Tennessee; Sept; Congestive Chill

Albert McCullough; 28; M; Tennessee; Dec; Fever

Charles Hagerty; 2; M; Tennessee; Aug; Fever

Mary Hagerty/ 11/12 mo; F; Missouri; Nov: Croup

May Worthy; 7; F ; Missouri; Sept; Congestive Chill

William Casey; 28; M; Missouri; Jan; Winter Fever

George Casey; 1; M; Kansas; Dec; Not Known

Aluvis ? Comer; 11/12; F; Missouri; Sept; Teething

Moundville was laid out in May 1861. Harvey Karnes built a store and Daniel Arnold built the first hotel.

Although the Civil War years are not well documented for Moundville per se, it is safe to say that the Moundville community was just as devastated as most of the rest of Vernon County. The Civil War in western Missouri saw neighbor fighting neighbor with numerous intrusions from Jayhawkers and Bushwhackers.

There were no known skirmishes in Moundville or Moundville Township during the war years. The 1887 Vernon County history tells of the deaths of Alexander Morgan, William Kuhfuss, and a Federal Soldier in what became Moundville Township. Each incident involved either Bushwhackers or Jayhawkers.

The county history provides what is perhaps the best evidence of the devastation of the area during the war. It tells that at the close of the Civil War, the house of Wilson Davenport near Moundville was the only building left standing between Ft. Scott and Drywood.

Life Near Moundville – An Early Account

Mrs. Addie Jones Richmond wrote one of the earliest accounts of life near Moundville in her 1930 memoirs. She told that her father, Louis Carroll Jones, was born in Tennessee on December 5, 1815. His parents and brothers moved to Carroll County, Missouri and before long, the three brothers married and the father died, leaving Louis to care for his mother. When Louis was thirty, he married seventeen-year-old Salome Miles, who had been born in Alabama on January 14, 1828. The marriage took place on March 12, 1845 and Louis took over the old homestead in Carroll County. They lived there for several years and their first four children were born there, Alfred Persie, Robert Bruce, Oliver Miles and Huldah. When Alfred had been a year old, grandfather Miles gave Salome a little colored girl, named Eliza who was six years old. This was Salome’s share of his estate. Eliza grew up in the Jones family and stayed with them for quite a number of years.

In 1855, Louis Jones went to Vernon County and bought a small farm with a log cabin and an orchard on it. He then moved his family there, hauling their belongings in wagons drawn by oxen. The farm was located on Little Drywood Creek east of what became Moundville. It was there that young Oliver Jones died on September 21, 1855. Oliver’s death was probably one of the earliest in that area. Addie was born later that year on December 12. Brother Phil was born in the same cabin on April 8, 1858.

Eventually Lewis Jones bought more land, accumulating more than 600 acres. He improved one of the prairie farms west of Bethel and it was there that Ed and John Jones were born.

Soon however, the Civil War began and the Jones family was burned out. They suffered such losses that Lewis moved the family back to Carroll County where people were not having as much trouble as there was in Vernon County. They loaded two ox wagons with their goods and Salome drove a team of horses hitched to a spring wagon. Addie rode with her mother to care for baby Ed.

They had to travel slow but they had one particular concern. Salome Miles Jones had a naturally dark complexion and while traveling, the sun and wind caused her to get even darker. It became increasingly difficult to convince folks that she did not have a taint of negro blood in her veins. The family was also fearful for the older sons. Alfred escaped the draft by climbing a tree and hiding.

After the war, the Jones family moved back to their home in Vernon County. They had to rebuild and Addie wrote that her father worked hard to improve the place. In working to recover from the losses from the war, Addie wrote that her father overtaxed his strength, fell victim of pneumonia and died. Alfred and Robert planned to finish the work needed on the farm but that winter, five more family members got pneumonia. Robert died the next February at the age of twenty-three. So Alfred took over as head of the family.

Many years later, Addie wrote various poems. A portion of one gave memories of she and younger brother Phil living on Little Drywood:

In Memory of My Brother

I am sitting sadly musing

On the many days gone by,

When we roamed the fields together,

Just Brother Phil and I,

How we’d pick the first spring flowers,

And wade the rippling brooks,

Or catch the frisky minnows

On our little fishing hooks.

We’d take a lunch to father

Through the dark and lonely wood;

We’d climb the trees and saplings,

I am sitting sadly musing

On the many days gone by,

When we roamed the fields together,

Just Brother Phil and I,

How we’d pick the first spring flowers,

And wade the rippling brooks,

Or catch the frisky minnows

On our little fishing hooks.

We’d take a lunch to father

Through the dark and lonely wood;

We’d climb the trees and saplings,

Through the days of our childhood.

The first that I remember

Of doing for Brother Phil

Was rocking in his cradle,

Rocking him at my will.

Then as he much older grew,

I followed him all day.

‘Twas Phil and I who fed the sheep

And gave the colts the hay.

Often times we’d disagree

As many children do,

But still I loved my brother Phil,

As yes, he loved me too.

In memory I see him

When our dear father died;

His heart was almost breaking

As he stood by father’s side.

Watching the last breath ebbing

He was faint, could stand no more,

So loving hands led him away

Till the last sad task was o’er.

Post Civil War Development of Moundville

Between 1866 and 1869, the area around Moundville recovered rather quickly from the war and was re-settled. The Vernon County Deed Records help to identify the very first Moundville town residents. During 1866 Karnes sold lots in his new village. Below are some of those early sales.

Book D, Page 454

To Wilson Davenport for $90. For lot 7 of the NE functional ¼, of section 2, township 34, range 32. Feb 11, 1860, but recorded Jan 22, 1866.

Book E, Page 62

To Muta Kelly. For $87.25 for lots 3 and 4 in block 12 and lot 4 in block 11 and the south half lot four in block 8 and lot two block 6 as laid down in the official plat of Moundville, County of Vernon. July 7, 1866.

Book E, page 68

To A. A. Pitcherfor $43.25 for lots one and three block two and lot three block 8 and south half of lot one block eleven in Moundville. July 11, 1866

Book E, Page 65

To Peter Brown for $10.00. Lot 3 of block eleven in Moundville. July 10, 1866

Book E, Page53

To John Brown for $32.00. Lot 4, Block 2 and lot 2, block 11 in Moundville. July 10, 1866.

Book E, Page 153

To James P. Strickland for $5.00. Lots 3 and 4 in block 6 in Moundville, July 7, 1866.

Book E, page 154

To Wilson Davenport for $18.00. Lot 4 of Block 7, July 7, 1866.

Book E, page 295

To Horace Wightman for $27.00. Lot one, block 8 in Moundville. July 7, 1866.

Book E, Page 191

To Michael K. Strickland for $5.00. Lots 1 and 2 in block 7 in Moundville. July 7, 1866.

Book E, Page 455

To A. W. Johnson for $160. West half of lot 6 of NE ¼ section 1, township 34, Range 33 containing 40 acres. December 3, 1866.

Book G, page 25.

To Abraham J. Jenkins for $180.00. West half of lot number 8 of the NE functional quarter of Section 1, township 34, range 3 containing 40 acres June 11, 1907. Verified by Wilson Davenport, JP.

Book G., page 28

To Francis M. Veatch, for $1,000. Lot No 9 of the NE functional ¼ of section no. 5 of township 34, range 32 containing 97 ½ acres. June 7, 1867.

Book G., page 434

To Jesse Stiff for $100. SW ¼ of the north half of lot 1 of the SE quarter of Section 31, township 35, range 31 containing 10 acres. May 29, 1868.

Book H, page 253

To Charles O. Graves for $12.00. Lot 1 of block 6 in Moundville. July 7, 1866, but not recorded until November 5, 1867.

Book I, page 226

From Harvey and Mary M. Karnes and John and Malinda Brown to Silas N. Howard for $160. W half of lot 2, of NE ¼ of section 3 of township 34, range 32. 40 acres. June 22, 1868

Book I, page 248

To James T. Grace for $23. For Lots 1 and 2 in Block 12 of Moundville. July 7, 1866 and recorded June 20, 1868.

Book J, page 68

To William M. Jones for $200. For North half of lot 1 for the NW ¼ of section 31, township 35, range 31. 40 acres. October 22, 1868.

Book J, Page 607

To John M. Ashbaugh for $270. For East half and NE ¼ of the North half of lot 1 of the SW ¼ of section 31, township 35, range 31. July 7, 1869.

Book L, page 1

Recorded the Harvey Karnes addition to Moundville.

Included 13 50 ft lots on the north side of town on Mechanics Street. This twenty-acre addition was made in 1870.

In early 1867, Harvey Karnes appeared before the Vernon County Court. He presented a petition signed by sundry citizens that requested that a new municipal township be formed. The petition requested that Harrison Township be split basically running south from a line starting at the main channel of Big Drywood. The new township was called Moundville Township and it was ordered that it would constitute a new election precinct. Election judges appointed were John Brown, Wilson Davenport and W. T. Powell. The polling place was Harvey Karnes’ store. At the same time, the resignation of Harvey Karnes as Road Commissioner was accepted.

Moundville Township was organized later in 1867. Parts of Harrison, Drywood and Deerfield Townships were taken to form the new township. Those who settled closest to Moundville village were Harvey Karnes, W. T. Powell, O. J. Sullivan, Daniel Arnold, and J. T. Jones. Of these, only Karnes and Jones had been listed in the 1860 census. Harvey Karnes’ new store soon became the center for community events. An election was held there to elect the first judges for the township. They were John Brown, Wilson Davenport, and W. T. Powell. Davenport then became the Justice of the Peace.

At the April 1867 County Court, the Sheriff of Vernon County was authorized to sell some land to Harvey Karnes. The property was the NE ¼ of the NW ¼ of section 31. The land was described as swamp land and sold for $2.50 per acre.

After Moundville Township was founded, it was time to select officials. Wilson Davenport was appointed by the County Court to be the first Justice of the Peace.

Road building to Moundville peaked in 1868. Petitions and legal notices were presented for four new roads. Peter Shanholtzer submitted two petitions, one for a road from the Nevada/Ft. Scott Road to Moundville and one from the SE corner of Section 22, T. 34 R. 32 to Moundville. T. H. Hawkins submitted a petition for a road from the Nevada/Ft. Scott Road at the end of Balltown Road to Moundville. Harvey Karnes’s petition was for a road from the SE corner section 32, T. 34 R. 32 to Moundville. The commissioner of highways was ordered to view and survey these roads.

Elections in 1868 were again held at the Karnes store. Election judges appointed were Harvey Karnes, J. T. Jones and O. J. Sullivan.

A. W. Johnson was before the County Court in the late 1860s with a petition for a new road. It was proposed to run from Soapstone Crossing on Big Drywood to intersect with the road running south from Moundville at the SE corner of Lot 8, NE ¼, of Section 5, T. 34, R. 32.

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Chapter 2

1870 Moundville

By the time that the census was taken in July 1870, there were quite a number of residents in the township. However, the population of the village itself was very small. In fact, the census did not yet even identify Moundville as a village. However, if one takes the Harvey Karnes residence as being nearest Moundville, it is possible to piece together a rough list of the village residents.

This assumption is correct if one assumes that the census taker went door to door. If on the other hand, residents were required to go to a central location, such as Karnes Store, then the census still told who the residents were, but not necessarily by whom they lived. It is known that the 1870 census takers often required folks to come to them rather than the census taker going door to door but there is no way of knowing how it was done in Moundville because no census regulations are listed.

Harvey Karnes reported that he owned $6,600 worth of real estate and listed his occupation as, Real Estate Agent. Living with Harvey and Mary in addition to their sons, Leonidas, age 16; Joseph, age 12; and Thomas, age 5, were John Kirkpatrick, age 16, and Jane Kirkpatrick, age 13. They had been born in Missouri, but are not known to be related to the Karnes family.

Next door was Orlando J. Sullivan, age 34, who was the village blacksmith. His wife, Susan O. (Arnold), was age 22. They were the first couple married in Moundville and they had been married on January 22, 1868. By 1870, they had had two children. John T. was age one, and a two-month-old male child was not yet named.

The Moundville grocer in 1870 was Milton Chisem. He was age 24 and from Indiana. His wife Angeline was age 22, and they had a son, Charles, age 3; and a daughter, Mary, age 1.

Moundville had a physician by this time. T. L. (Theophilus Lambert) Ashbaugh was 26 years old and had been born in Ohio. He had recently served in the Civil War as a Volunteer in Company K of the 102nd Illinois Infantry. Considering his age and his service in the Civil War, it appears that he had not had time for a great deal of medical training. However, he had graduated from Rush Medical College. He had come to Moundville in 1868. His wife, Jenny, was age 24, and was a native of Illinois. Jenny was a nickname; her given name was Pauline (Hardy). Living with them was Mr. Ashbaugh’s brother, John J., age 20, who had also been born in Illinois. However, John was also listed with his father near Moundville. Therefore, it is difficult to prove whether there were two young John Ashbaughs or whether he was enumerated twice.

P. Franks was a 46-year-old farmer who had been born in Pennsylvania. He owned $1,800 worth of real estate. His wife, Nancy, age 44, was also a Pennsylvania native. Their children included, Mary A, age 19; George B., age 15; and Charles S, age 12. They had all been born in Ohio. A fourth child was Cora B., age 2, who had been born in Pennsylvania. One might wonder whether she was a child or grandchild. Also living with them was Abram Franks, age 23, who already owned $1,200 worth of real estate, and Jessie Hoover, age 24, their farm hand.

Also living nearby was J. Lamberson, age 24, and his wife, Emeline, age 25. They owned $600 worth of real estate and had both been born in New York.

Next to the Ashbaugh’s was the farm of Byron Sprig. Byron was age 35, born in Ohio. His wife, Lucinda, age 33, was also an Ohio native. Their two children were, Jane, age 13, and Moses, age 8. Jane had been born in Ohio, and Moses in Illinois. William Sprig, age 19, was also residing with the family. He was from Wisconsin. Andrew Jones was also living with the Sprig family. He owned $1,600 worth of real estate.

F. M. Veach was a 31-year-old farmer who owned a farm valued at $2,000. His wife, Amanda, was 24. He was a native of Illinois, she a native of Kentucky.

The Daniel Arnold family lived in the same neighborhood. Daniel was a 48-year-old farmer who owned $1,600 in real estate. His wife, Phebe, was age 43. Their children were Mercy J., age 21; and Robert B., age 15. All were from New York.

Ira Powell was an Illinois native farming near Moundville. He was 32 and claimed $900 worth of real estate. His wife Sarah L., was age 26, and from Kentucky. This family had only recently arrived at Moundville in 1870, as all of their children, including a one year old child, had been born in Illinois. Their daughters were, Ida May, age 9; Sarah E., age 7, Georganna, age 4; and Mary E., age 1.

The W. T. Powell family lived next to the Ira Powell family. W. T. was a native of Virginia who was 42 years old. He owned $1,800 worth of real estate. W. T. later became one of the leaders in Moundville’s Oddfellows lodge. His wife, Ann, was age 36 and was a Canadian by birth. Their five children were, Josephine, age 17; George, age 14; Charles, age 6; Henry, age 3; and Ora, who had been born in March, 1870. The three older children were born in Illinois and the two younger ones in Missouri. This indicates that the family must have migrated to Missouri shortly after the close of the Civil War.

Wilson Davenport was one of the few residents who had owned land in the Moundville area before the Civil War and who still owned it in 1870. He was 43 years old and reported $2,000 worth of real estate. Wilson and Margaret had six children. The first three, Harriet, age 18; Mary, age 16; and Benjamin, age 14, had been born in New York like their parents. Three more children had been born since the family had moved to Missouri. These children were, Wilson, age 9; Jane, age 5;and Nora, age 2. Young Wilson was the first child born at Moundville.

The John Ashbaugh family lived near the Davenports. Mr. Ashbaugh reported owning $4,800 worth of real estate, making him one of the wealthier residents. He was age 52, and had been born in Ohio. His wife, Mary C. (Artz), was age 49, and a native of Virginia. Their two older children who were still at home were Marilla Josephine, age 24; and Lewis, age 22. They had been born in Ohio. Their six younger children had all been born in Illinois. They were John, age 21; Abram (Abraham), age 18; Sarah, age 15; Varian, age 14; Olive, age 10; and Blanche, age 5.