Transcribed from History of Jewell County, Kansas, with a Full Account of the Early Settlements and Indian Atrocities Committed Within Its Borders; Its final Settlement, Organization and Progress, Its Present Society, Churches and Schools, Its Towns, Streams; Topography; Soil and Products, Its Population; Township Organization and Officers, Its Industries; Business, Resources, Etc. by M. Winsor and James A. Scarbrough, Jewell City, Kansas, Diamond Printing Office, 1878. Transcribed by Carolyn Ward, 2001.

1878 History of Jewell County, Kansas

Montana Township

was originally a portion of Big timber. It is rather high and rolling, but the north half, sloping gracefully towards the Republican river, contains some beautiful bottom land. A tributary of White Rock creek drains the south half of the township, on which there is also some splendid land. It is all rich and productive, even the upland being very desirable. It is thickly settled by an industrious and intelligent class of citizens, and the society is good.

The First Settlers

Adam Rosenberg, the Indian fighter of former chapters of this little book, was the first settler of Montana. Ed. Davis, Frank Wilson and McCracken are 1870 settlers, but the great rush of immigration to this township was in 1871. Wm. O. Ebersole, Geo. Lowe, Taylor Davis and Joseph Blair were among the early settlers of this township. February 12, 1874, the township was organized, and

The First Township Officers

were M.D. Ross, trustee; A.G. Nunally, clerk; John Lane, treasurer; S.M. Wright, justice of the peace, and John Gatewood and John Blair, constables.

Schools and Churches

Montana township contains three school districts, all of which have good comfortable school houses, in which regular terms of school are taught. We have no report of churches.

The Present Township Officers,

elected November 6, 1877, are D.C. Wilson, trustee; W.L. Ross, treasurer; J. K. Pratt, clerk; H.C. Boder and W.H. Haskinson, justices of the peace, and F.W. Brocaw and S.T. McBride, constables.

Harrison Township

lays on the divide between the Republican river and White Rock creek. The surface of the country is rolling, sloping to the north and south. It is well watered by Ash, Oak, Augur and Crooked creeks, running north, and Hoag, Knob, Norway and Taylor creeks, running south, on nearly all of which there is considerable timber. The township is thickly settled by a good class of citizens and the society is excellent.

The First Settlers

were George Harrison, James Marion, Isaac Donahoo, John McClure, Geo. S. Hill, Morris Morrison and Martin Morrison, the first two coming in February and the remainder in April, 1871. The township was originally one-half in White Rock and the other half in Big Timber. It was organized an an independent township April 13, 1874.

The First Township Officers

were Peter Van Ornam, trustee; G.M. Jacobs, treasurer and A.O. Bacon, clerk.

Schools and Churches

There are six school districts, in five of which there are school houses, in which regular terms of school are taught. There are three church organizations -- the Bible Christians, Methodists and German Methodists, all of whom have regular preaching. There are three Union Sunday Schools, all in a flourishing condition.

The Present Township Officers,

elected November 6, 1877, are J.M. Armagost, trustee; James Essex, clerk, H.B. Forrey, treasurer; J.C. Armagost and D.S. Kenney, justices of the peace, and D.A. Rogers and A. Buttler, constables.

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