COUNTIES OF MISSOURI. 61 
underlaid with lime stone rock suitable for building purposes. 
The soil, which is exceedingly fertile, and the climate, are well 
adapted to all agricultural purposes. This county was first 
settled by Kentuckians, and was formed from Lafayette (then Lil- 
lard) County in 1827. 
Jasper County—Is situated in the southwestern part of the State 
on the eastern border of Kansas, and is drained by Spring River, 
Center Creek and Dry Wood Fork and their tributaries. 
CaRTHAGE, the county seat, population in 1870, including town- 
ship, 3,964, is beautifully located on Spring River. It is 21 miles 
north of Neosho, Newton County, which is astation on the Atlantic 
& Pacific Railway 314 miles southwest from St. Louis. Carthage 
was laid out in 1842. It was greatly injured during the late rebel- 
lion, but is now a flourishing village. 
The surface of the country is gently rolling, with one-third tim- 
ber land and the remainder prairie. The soil of the prairies and 
bottom lands is exceedingly fertile, and well adapted to all agricul- 
tural purposes. Stock raising is profitably followed. The principal 
exports are wheat, wool and pork. There is excellent unimproved 
water power. Lead and coal are found, the former in large quan- 
tities and of excellent quality. 
This county was first settled about 1834, and is mainly filled up 
by a good class of farmers from Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and other 
northern States, with but few foreigners. Its area is 637 square 
miles or 407,680 acres. 
Jefferson County—Is situated in the east central part of the 
State on the western border of Illinois, from which it is separated 
by the Mississippi River, which, together with the Maramec and 
Big Rivers, Platin, Sandy and Joaquim Creeks, affords its principal 
drainage. 
HILLSBOROUGH, the county seat, population in 1870, including 
township, 1,789, was first settled in 1828, and is located on the 
high land between the Mississippi and Big Rivers 6 miles north of 
De Soto, and 4% miles northwest from Victoria, stations on the 
St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railway, respectively 43 and 40 miles 
southwest from St. Louis. 
The southern and western portions of the county are generally 
hilly and sterile, but the northern and eastern portions are undula- 
ting and fertile, and adapted to agriculture, especially to fruits, 
including peaches and grapes. The leading staples are corn, wheat 
and cattle. Immense quantities of lead ore, and extensive depos- 
its of iron ore, and white sand for glass, exist in the county. Its 
area is 654 square miles or 418,560 acres. 
Johnson County—Is located in the western part of the State, 
separated on the north from the Missouri River by Lafayette 
County, and is drained by Black Water and Clear Fork Creeks 
and their tributaries. 
WARRENSBURG, the county seat, population in 1870, 2,945, is 
pleasantly located in a fine farming district. It is a station on the 
Pacific Railroad of Missouri, 64 miles southeast of Kansas City, 
93 miles west from Jefferson City, and 218 miles from St. Louis. 
This city affords good educational advantages. It was incorpora- 
ted November 23d, 1855. 
Holden, population in 1870, 1,576, is a thriving place on the 
Pacific Railroad of Missouri, and the present eastern terminus of 
the Osage Division of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. 
It is 14 miles west from the county seat, 54 miles east of Paola, 
Kansas, 50 miles southeast of Kansas City, and 232 miles west from 
St. Louis. 
Knob Noster, population in 1870, 914, derives its name from 
a prominent isolated mound near it. It is 10 miles east of the 
county seat, 74 miles southeast of Kansas City, and 208 miles west 
from St. Louis, 
The surface of the country is largely fertile prairie, level and 
slightly undulating, with excellent timber along the streams. 
Immense beds of coal, some plumbago, and several varieties of 
limestone exist. 
Knox County—Is located in the northeastern part of the 
State, is separated from the Mississippi River on the east by Lewis 
County, and from the Iowa State line by Scotland County. It is 
drained by North, Middle and South Fabius Rivers and tributaries. 
Eprna, the county seat, population in 1870, 807, was incorpora- 
ted February 16th, 1857, and lies nearthe center of the county on 
South Fabius River, 54 miles northwest, air line, from Hannibal, 
Marion County, and 22 miles east of Kirksville, Adair County, 
which is a station on the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern Rail- 
way, 203 miles northwest from St. Louis. 
Newark, population in 1870, 354, is situated 18 miles southeast 
of the county seat, and 44 miles northwest from Hannibal. It was 
first located in 1835, and a post office established in 1841. 
The face of the country is undulating, with a desirable division 
of prairie and timber land, and is well adapted for agricultural 
purposes. It contains 504 square miles or 322,560 acres. 
Laclede County—lIs situated in the south central part of the 
State, and is drained by tributaries of the Gasconade and Osage 
Rivers. 
LEBANON, the county seat, population in 1870, 1,090, has a fine 
location upon a table land surrounded by an excellent farming 
country. It isa station on the Atlantic & Pacific Railway 56 miles 
northeast of Springfield, Greene County, and 185 miles southwest 
of St. Louis. 
The county lies upon the high table lands of the Ozark range, 
and has a great variety of surface, from level prairie to rugged hills. 
The soil of the uplands is adapted for fruit, including grapes, and 
of the bottom lands for cereals. Good water power and abun- 
dance of timber, and iron and lead in paying quantities, are 
‘inducements to the immigrant. 
This county was formed from Pulaski County, February 28th, 
1849, and was‘named in honor of PiERRE LACLEDE LiGuEstT, the 
founder of St. Louis. 
Lafayette County (formerly LitLarp)—Lies upon the south bank 
of the Missouri River, in the western part of the State. Its inte- 
rior is drained by Big Sniabar, Big Toba, Davis and other Creeks. 
LexincTon, the county seat, population in 1870, 4,373, hasa 
high, beautiful and healthy site upon the river, and is a station on 
the Lexington Branch of the Pacific Railroad, 55 miles northwest 
from Sedalia, 86 by river from Kansas City, and 243 miles from St. 
