school building, according to circumstances and convenience, until about the year 1850 when the "Old Union Meeting House" was built, and the name of the First Baptist Church of Westport" was assumed.

In August, 1861, the present edifice was completed, at a cost of $3,250, and dedicated by E. S. Dulin. The new pastor, Rev. G. L. Black, had entered upon his work, and all looked fair; but alas! "Man proposes, God disposes." Here follows the sad story of the war, with its dark days. We need not particularize. Suffice it to say, preaching ceased, the pastor left, the membership scattered, and the candlestick seemed removed.

PART SECOND.

To introduce part second, we will give the following brief extract from a letter from Hon. J. B. Wornall, to the Western Recorder, dated June 6, 1864:

"Brother Machett's position severing his connection from the Presbyterian church, he united with us on Saturday, before the first Sunday in May, and was baptized by our venerable brother, James E. Welch. Our church called a council May 8th, and after a satisfactory examination, proceeded to the solemn rite of ordination.

"We had not met, previously, for more than two years. The evils arising from the war, in which our country has been involved, had so disorganized our church that we had become scattered, and were as sheep without a shepherd.' Brother M. has been preaching regularly ever since to a large and attentive congregation.

"At our church meeting, last Saturday, we received five additions; on Sunday, two more."

In the following October, 1864, a gracious revival followed, in which many, many backsliders were reclaimed, thirty-seven souls were hopefully converted, and the numerical strength of the church doubled.

At that time, of the Baptist churches in Jackson county, before the war, none remained except Kansas City and Westport, and these were indebted to the timely aid obtained from the Home Mission Society.

Since the war the following men have been pastors of the church: Revs. X. X. Buckner, J. L. Tichenor, G. W. Wheatley, and Alex. Machett, under whose preaching the church was divided, January, 1875, on the communion question, he taking part of the members, and organizing what was called an open Communion Baptist Church, which continued as such for about four years, he being their pastor. They then disbanded, and Mr. Machett, with some of the members, came back to the old church. After the division, Rev. A. C. Rafferty was chosen pastor, who was succeeded by Prof. A. J. Emerson, and he by Rev. W. T. Camp. bell, its present pastor. The present membership is 120.

The church has regular services every Sabbath, prayer meeting Tuesday evening, business meetings Saturday before the first Sabbath in each month; Sabbathschool numbering 65, A. D. Budle, superintendent.

Washington Township Organized February 9, 1836-The Orders of Court fixing the Boundaries-

First Election held at the house of Anson McCrackin-The Lost Townships-Physical Features

-Old Settlers-Hickman's Mills-New Santa Fe-Laying out the Town-Notes from New Santa Fe-Union Point- Washington Township saw much of the Border and Civil WarsA story of Border Warfare.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

When this township was organized from Blue and Kaw, February 9, 1836, it included much more territory than it does at the present time. The southern and western boundaries were then about the same as now, but the eastern boundary ran north and south near the present site of Lee's Summit, and the northern boundary ran east and was through the junction of Cedar Fork with Little Blue. The order of court defined the original boundaries as follows: "Commencing at Cummins Mill on Big Blue so as to include said Mill, thence running due west to the boundary line, thence south with said boundary to corner of Van Buren county (now Cass), thence east with said county line to a point opposite the head of Little Cedar Fork of Little Blue, thence down said Cedar Fork until it intersects the main fork of Little Blue, thence in a straight direction to the beginning. All which territory lying within the limits of the above described boundary, shall compose the township of Washington."

The present boundaries are: north by Westport and Brooking townships, east by Prairie township, south by Cass county, and west by Kansas State line.

The principal stream of water is the Big Blue, which rises in the State of Kansas, flows in a northeasterly direction till it intersects with the Missouri River, six miles below Kansas City. Big Blue is a historic stream and the largest in Jackson county. Hickman's Mills and New Santa Fe are the only post towns in Washington township.

The township includes land in four different congressional townships, all of the land in Tp. 47, R. 33, and a portion of the northwest corner of Tp. 47, R. 32, also a portion of Tp. 48, R. 32 and 33. The land is generally undulating, but not seriously broken.

Washington township was reduced in size June 4, 1860, when Prairie township was organized, and again, August 13, 1872, when Brooking township was organized.

The first election in the Township of Washington was held at the house of Anson McCrackin, March 6, 1836. This election was for the purpose of electing two Justices of the Peace; and the Judges of the election were John Batleson, John Fitzhugh and Abraham Chrisman.

In Washington township there are several churches, representing the different denominations. The Christian church at Hickman's Mills, the Bensonia Baptist church, the Christian church at New Santa Fe, and the New Baptist church, are among the places of worship. Meetings are also held at school houses.

There is a cemetery at Blue Ridge, the New Baptist church, and in J. S. Muir's neighborhood.

Considerable of the land in this township was embraced in what was termed "The Lost Townships."

"The Lost Townships," as some of the land in the southern portion of the county was termed, were not surveyed and sectionalized in the original survey. The surveyor reported to his superior officer that "it was mostly prairie, and he did not think it would pay to bring it into market; " and further, "that in attempting to run some lines through these townships, the presence of some powerful magnet so influenced the compass as to make the survey impossible."

The real reason for not reporting the survey was that the surveyor had lost his field notes. In those days a Hard Shell Baptist run a still up on the Sni, and when the surveyor, who liked the genial influence of the "spirits," happened along one evening, the Hard Shell Baptist treated him till he lost his hat and field notes, a hungry sow having found them, and being ashamed to return without the notes or a good excuse, he framed the one above given. In consequence of this delay, it was fifteen or twenty years before the land was placed in market.

The bed of the Big Blue is very deep and the banks steep. Limestone rock is found in vast quantities all along its course and also where small streams enter it from the high prairie. Stone walls are numerous; fences neat and substantially built of this material are seen along the roads for miles. In the eastern States the presence of stone walls would indicate undesirable lands, too stony to be cultivated; but here in Washington township the soil, of a rich loam, covers the rock from a depth of a few feet to that of more than twenty. The stone for fencing is taken from quarries a little below the surface and laid wherever needed in a neat and workmanlike wall from four to six feet in height.

Some of the old and prominent settlers of Washington township were John Self, John R. Whitsett, Solomon Young, Martin Hackler, Alvin Adams, Burgess Wyatt, Solomon Wyatt, Isaac Bryant, John Smith, Thos. Taylor, Sidney Barnes, J. H. Kemper, William Gray, Edward Gray, Joseph Lipscomb, Benjamin Robinson, Samuel Gregg, Thomas Rule, Geo. Harper, John Bartleson, Edward McPherson, John Wilson, Abraham Chrisman, John Fitzhugh, Stephen Davenport, William Muir, John S. Muir, Edward T. Noland, Noah Hatton, Dr. Thos. Lee, Thomas Poindexter, Wm. Shank, Dr. M. Pendleton, James Chiles, Zion Flanory, James Flanory, John Flannagan, Joseph Talley, Stephen Absalom, Richard Kirbey, Enoch Oldham, E. A. Hickman, Dr. D. A. Bryant, J. H. J. Harris, William Irwin, O. H. P. Rippetoe, John Wells, Josiah Vaughn, Reuben Vaughn, John R. Moore, John A. Moore, Stubbens Watts, William Stewart, Christopher Mann.

Most of these early settlers came from Kentucky, though a goodly number

came from North Carolina, Tennessee and other eastern States. They were a hardy and thrifty class of people who were undaunted by hardships and dangers. They came to subdue the western wilds for their future homes. They brought with them their families and all their property. When they came, the vast prairies east of the Big Blue had no fence, and for miles not a tree could be seen. They were plain honest farmers, upon whose minds the suspicious frauds of modern business had not left its baneful effect.

John Self lived near the Big Blue, north of Indian Creek, but is now an old white-headed man of eighty; and lives on his old homestead.

John R. Whitsett came from Kentucky, and still lives on his farm, one mile northeast of Hickman's Mills.

Solomon Young came from Kentucky and settled two miles south of Hickman's Mills. He still lives there.

Martin Hackler came from North Carolina and settled one-half mile southwest of Hickman's Mills. He still lives on the homestead.

Alvin Adams came from Kentucky and settled one mile southwest of Hickman's Mills. He moved to the northern portion of the State.

Burgess Wyatt came from North Carolina and settled three miles south of Hickman's Mills. He died about three years ago.

Isaac Bryant settled two miles southwest of Hickman's Mills. He came from Kentucky and now lives at Hickman's Milis.

John Smith came from Kentucky and settled two miles southwest of Hickman's Mills. He died before the civil war.

Thomas Taylor settled one-half mile west of Hickman's Mills, and died many years ago.

Sidney Barnes came from Kentucky and settled at Hickman's Mills. now lives in Colorado.

He

J. H. Kemper came from Kentucky and settled three miles northeast of Hickman's Mills, where he now lives.

William Gray lives four miles west of Hickman's Mills.

Edward Gray lived two and a half miles northwest of Hickman's Mills, where he died.

Joseph Lipscomb came froin Kentucky and settled one mile north of New Santa Fe, where he still lives.

Samuel Gregg settled one mile south of Hickman's Mill. He came from Kentucky.

Benjamin Robinson came from Jessamine county, Kentucky, in the year 1851, and settled one mile west of Hickman's Mills, where he now lives.

Thomas Rule came from Kentucky and settled three miles south of Hickman's Mills. He removed to Colorado at the breaking out of the civil war. George Harper lived three miles south of Hickman's Mills. He came from Kentucky, and died in Westport five years ago.

John Bartleson lived on the Big Blue, six miles southwest of Hickman's Mills.

Edward McPherson came from Kentucky and settled one half mile south of New Santa Fe.

John Wilson settled on the High Grove Farm, four miles south of Hickman's Mills. He came from Kentucky.

Abraham Chrisman settled in the east part of what is now Washington township, near little Blue Creek.

Stephen Davenport came from Kentucky and settled in the northeast of the township. He still lives in the neighborhood.

William Muir came from Kentucky; now lives at Union Point, five miles northeast of Hickman's Mills, where he first settled.

Edward Noland came from Kentucky and settled half a mile east of Hickman's Mills. He died during the civil war down south. Noah Hatton lived two miles east of Hickman's Mills. tucky, and now lives about five miles from Independence.

He came from Ken

Dr. Thomas Lee came from Virginia and settled one mile northeast of Hickman's Mills. He removed to Texas, where he died.

Thomas Poindexter came from Kentucky and settled one and a half miles west of Hickman's Mills, where he died long before the civil war.

James Chiles came from Kentucky and settled at Union Point. He moved to Texas about the year 1860.

William Shank came from Kentucky and settled north of Hickman's Mills three miles, where he died in 1858.

Dr. M. Pendleton came from Kentucky.

He settled northeast of Hickman's

Mills about two miles. He died about the year 1877.

Zion Flannery settled at Union Point. He was killed in Lafayette county, in the war.

James Flannery still lives on the waters of Little Blue, northeast of Hickman's Mills.

John Flannaghan came from Ireland and settled about six miles northeast of Hickman's Mills.

died.

Joseph Talley came and settled in the north part of the township, where he

Stephen Absolom settled two miles southwest of Hickman's Mills. He died at Independence in 1858 or 1859.

Richard Kirbey lives two miles east of New Santa Fe, where he first settled. Enoch Oldham came from Kentucky and settled a short distance south of Hickman's Mills. He died in the year 1879.

E. A. Hickman came from Kentucky and settled at Hickman's Mills, from whom it derived its name. He now lives at Independence.

Dr. D. A. Bryant came from Kentucky and settled about three miles north of Hickman's Mills. He now lives just west of Hickman's Mills.

J. H. J. Harris came from Kentucky and settled about two miles west of Hickman's Mills. He now lives in Kansas City.

William Irwin came from Kentucky and settled near Big Blue, two and a half miles west of Hickman's Mills.

O. H. P. Rippetoe came from Tennessee in 1845.

Job and John Crabtree were among the first settlers of the neigborhood in the northeastern portion of the township. Both came from Virginia in the year 1833, and became farmers.

Among the first marriages in the township was that of Robert Pierson, which occurred in 1838, and among the first births in that neighborhood was Thomas Flannery, son of John and Rebecca Flannery, in 1837-February 11th. James Savage, a missionary Baptist, was the first minister, and preached at the homes of the settlers. The first school was taught in a house built on John Flannery's farm. It was taught by Isaac Crabtree, who died some time after on his way to Oregon. The first school house was built by the neighbors in Washington township, in

1840.

At that time each housewife did her own spinning and weaving. There were no public roads, and no wagons in the whole neighborhood, and all supplies were obtained from Independence ten or twelve miles away.

This is a land of exceeding loveliness stretching out to the view on all sides. The different agricultural products are raised here in great abundance, and many of the farmers of the township are raising and growing stock.

The first post-office in the township was at High Blue, southwest of Hickman's Mills, and Isaac Bryant was postmaster. This office was discontinued before the