The population of Richmond, per tenth United States census, is 1,424; but as this only includes those living within the corporate limits, which are quite narrow, it is much less than the population of the town properwhich is certainly not less than twenty-five hundred. Its population in 1870 was 1,218.

TAITSVILLE.

In 1833, a settlement was made where Taitsville now stands. In that year Alfred Williams built the first house erected in what afterward became the corporate limits of Taitsville. His house stood a short distance southwest of lot No. 1, and was burned the year after it was built. Williams died in 1868.

About the same time that Alfred Williams settled at Taitsville, his brother, Thomas Williams, also settled there and built a house on the southeast part of the area now forming the limits of the town.

In 1858, one J. P. Morrison built a small steam mill in Taitsville. The mill was provided with but one run of burrs, and the flour was bolted by hand. The engine first used is still in use. After several changes in ownership the mill became, and is now, the property of John Tait, who has repaired and improved it very much. The mill was burned down in 1875, but was immediately re-built. It now has two run of burrs.

In the spring of 1869, McGlothlin & Bailes built on lot number one, the first store house in Taitsville. They occupied the building as a store house, but it is now occupied by W. G. Tait & Bro. In 1873, T. B. Hatfield & Brother established the second store in Taitsville.

There are, also, two drug stores in the town; two blacksmith and two wagon shops.

Taitsville is situated in the south part of section seventeen, township fifty-four, range twenty-seven, on the west side of the west fork of Crooked river. It is not on any railroad, but is pleasantly situated in a very good farming country. Timber of superior quality and in considerable variety abounds in the neighborhood. The town was made a post office May 24, 1872, and J. H. Hatfield was appointed postmaster. It has mail to and from Richmond, sixteen miles distant, two times per week.

Taitsville was incorporated November 16, 1878, with James Tait, John Tait, William C. Syler, T. B. Hatfield and G. W. Cones, as trustees, appointed by the county court. The same persons were elected members of the town board, the first Tuesday in April, 1880. The population of Taitsville, per census of 1880, is one hundred and eight.

KNOXVILLE.

Knoxville is fourteen miles north and inland from Richmond, situated in Knoxville township, in center of section thirty-five, congressional township fifty-four, range twenty-eight; has a population, according to the

tenth U. S. census, of eighty-eight, four stores carrying stocks of general merchandise, two drug stores, two wagon shops, one saddle and harness shop, two blacksmith shops, a hotel and a post office, with daily mail.

The town is unincorporated, and as its limits can not be sharply defined, eighty-eight is, of course, only the approximate population. We have received one statement estimating the population at two hundred, which is probably more nearly correct than the other.

It has a justice of the peace, a constable, and two physicians. There is, also, a Masonic lodge, and a church building in the town. Services are held in the latter by two denominations.

In the spring of 1834 a Mr. Hatfield occupied a small house, near the present site of Knoxville, which took the name of "Buncombe." The first store-house was erected in the summer of 1834, by one Jacob Stollins. He carried a small stock of general merchandise. At that time there were only two or three houses in the place.

There is now a very good school-house in the village, and school is kept open from six to eight months in the year.

About three and a half miles southwest of Knoxville, on the west fork of Crooked river, is situated the saw and grist mill of J. B. Belch er Esq.

While this mill is operated exclusively in Ray county, it is not stationary, but is moved from one locality to another, in order that it may be kept convenient to suitable timber. When the timber of one locality has been used, the mill is removed; and our apology for giving an account of it in connection with the history of Knoxville, is that the writer is informed it is now located nearer that village than any other.

Mr. Belcher operates this mill with no other assistance than that afforded by members of his family, thereby practicing a very laudable economy, as well as having his work done in a prompt and satisfactory manner. Mr. Belcher displays a judgment worthy of emulation, in so thoroughly utilizing the force represented by his own family.

The engine is a twenty-four horse-power, and, with good saws, in perfect order, does excellent work.

There is considerable walnut timber, of good quality, in the neighborhood of Mr. B.'s present location. This he saws for other parties, and it finds its way to distant markets.

The mill is also provided with a good pair of burrs for grinding corn.

MILLVILLE.

Millville, a bright and thriving little village of about two hundred souls, ten miles northeast of Richmond, in the north part of section fifteen, township fifty-three, range twenty-seven, is pleasantly situated at the base of some beautiful wooded hills, in the midst of a rich, partially timbered and partially prairie country, highly improved and exceedingly productive

The land upon which Millville is located, was entered by one Leighton Ewell, who sold it to Robert Mitchell.

In 1837, the latter gentleman erected, on the present site of Millville, a water power grist mill, for grinding corn, only.

The same year Robert Mitchell, and one "Buck" McGaugh, laid out the town into lots, streets and alleys.

In 1837, C. W. Stillwell built the first blacksmith shop in Millville. The first store was opened about the year 1842, by Milton and S. L. McCuistion.

This was the only store in Millville till 1845, when George A. Mason engaged in the mercantile business in that town. Since that time various persons have been engaged in merchandizing in Millville, among whom we mention the following: T. B. Fowler, R. C. Wild, J. Y. Coppage, Everett, Brice, Steele, I. Mansur, Graham & Craven, and J. P. Grimes & Co.

There is a good steam flouring mill in the town, and also, a church building, a school house and Masonic lodge.

The town was originally called "Buck Snort," probably on account of "Buck" McGaugh, who helped to lay it out into town lots.

MORTON.

A hamlet of about one hundred inhabitants, is situated in the heart of the most beautiful and fertile agricultural region in northwest Missouri, is in Crooked River township, near the center of section eighteen, congressional township fifty-two, of range twenty-six.

The town is situated on a very eligible site, commanding a fine prospect of the surrounding country.

W. P. Shaw, Esq., built the first house in the place, and T. J. Porter owned the first store.

The school-house was built in the year 1856. It is a frame, and cost three hundred dollars. Miss Sarah Bohannon was the first teacher. She had about twenty pupils, and received as a salary twenty dollars per month.

The first marriage solemnized in Morton is said to have been that of George Ewing to Miss Lyda Tisdale, but we have been unable to ascertain.

The first regular practicing physician was Doctor W. F. Yates, who is living in Morton. He is a native of Scott county, Kentucky.

A postoffice was established in Morton in 1874, with R. V. Wall as postmaster.

Two dry goods stores, a saddle and harness shop, two blacksmith shops and one drug store constitute the business establishments of the town. There is also a very handsome union church in the place.

Like every town in Ray county, Morton is surrounded by a hospitable, intelligent and enterprising people, and is supported by inexhaustible

natural sources.

HARDIN.

Hardin was laid out in 1868, and incorporated in October, 1870. James Darby was the first mayor; John D. Reyburn built the first house, and Fountain Roselle was the owner of the first store in Hardin. The first school-house in the town was built in 1870, at a cost of seven hundred dollars.

C. W. Clampitt taught the first school. He had seventy-five pupils, and his compensation was seventy dollars per month.

The first death that occuored in Hardin was that of William Hunt, who died in 1870. His remains were interred at Knoxville, Ray county, Missouri.

Dr. A. H. Buchanan, who came from Kentucky, was the first regular physician. He is now dead.

Reverend F. Bone, of the M. E. Church South, was the first minister in Hardin. Religious services were held at the Union church, described elsewhere in this volume. The town has a handsome cemetery, threefourths of a mile to the southeast.

The present officers of Hardin are as follows: B. B. Babcock, mayor; L. H. Noble, marshal; W. J. Roach, secretary; C. W. Dawson, J. J. Moore, S. B. Chase, and R. L. Reyburn, councilmen.

Hardin is a progressive, enterprising little village, situated in sections thirty-two and thirty-three, congressional township fifty-two, range twenty-six, and in sections four and five, township fifty-one, range twentysix, on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific railway, six miles east of R. & L. Junction. It has twelve business houses, one church, owned and used by several denominations, a good school-house, one hotel, and an elevator, and is in as fine. a farming country as there is in Missouri. The town enjoys a large trade, comparatively speaking, and as a shipping point for grain and live stock, is one of the most important in the county. The Telegraph steam flouring mills are located here, and no similar mills in a town of equal size will suffer disparagement by comparison with them. Old Hardin is situated one-half mile southeast. It contains a Union church, and several old and decaying houses.

The population of Hardin was not separately reported by the enumerator, who, in June, 1880, took the census of Crooked River township, in which it is located; hence, the number of its inhabitants cannot be definitely stated; it is safe to say, however, that it is from two hundred and fifty to three hundred.

The town stands at the head of the famous sugar tree bottom of Carroll county. The greater portion of the surrounding country is prairie, inter

spersed with groves of excellent timber. To the eastward, below the "bluffs," are the Kilgore and Heisinger lakes, and the land is low and marshy.

CAMDEN.

Camden is situated on the north bank of the Missouri river, on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway, five miles west of Richmond and Lexington Junction, and six miles southwest of Richmond; was incorporated in May, 1838.

It is a town of some importance, in a part of the county most admirably adapted to the culture of grain and fruit, as well as inexhaustibly rich in mining resources.

The coal mines in the vicinity are a source of considerable wealth to the town, and afford employment to one hundred and fifty to two hundred

men.

It has eight stores, two hotels, two school houses, one church, owned and used by all denominations, and one large flouring mill.

Wood, coal and water being convenient and abundant, Camden presents decided advantages for manufacturing. Population, according to United States census of 1880, five hundred and nine.

The bluffs in the rear, and on either side of Camden, rise to considerable height, and present a grand and picturesque appearance.

ORRICK.

Orrick, situated in east half of section twenty-three, township fifty-one, range twenty-nine, on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific railroad, (formerly North Missouri railroad,) was laid out in March, 1869, by the North Missouri railroad company, and named in honor of W. W. Orrick, Esq., of St. Charles, Missouri.

The village was incorporated in 1872, with John G. Hearn as its first mayor. A postoffice was established in Orrick in 1873, and Arthur W. Stickle appointed postmaster.

John G. Brown built the first house in the town, and owned the first

store.

In 1873 a good substantial school house was built, at a cost of eight hundred and fifty dollars. It is a two-story frame building; the second story, which is owned by a joint stock company, being used as a public hall.

W. D. Ward was principal of the first school taught in Orrick. Twenty-five pupils attended his school, and he received for his services. as teacher, forty dollars per month.

The first marriage ceremony pronounced in the town was that uniting as man and wife, Peter Gerry and Sarah Stewart.

March 26, 1870, occurred the first birth. It was that of a daughter, born to Frank and Melvina Warner.