Jefferson Township, Daviess County, MO
NOTE: Map made using U.S. Census
Bureau's Tiger Mapping Service (TMS). This map can be
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Quickfacts about Jefferson Township:
Population: 331 (1990 census)
Area: 36 square miles
Present-day towns: None.
Former towns: 4
(Brownsdale, section 2; Alta
Vista, section 19; Altamont Junction, section
25; Victoria, section 32)
Cemeteries: 4
(Cope, section 18; Alta
Vista, section 19; Reid, section 29; Mt.
Ayr, section 36; )
Early Meetingplaces: 11
Schools: 6
(Section 8; section 11; Fairview, section 16; Alta Vista,section 19; section 26; Victoria, section 32; and section 36)
Churches: 4
(Fairview Presbyterian, section 9; Advent, Section 13; Alta Vista, section 19; New Salem Baptist, section 32)
Community: Jefferson Township Town Hall, section 22
Former railroads: Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific
A Brief History of Jefferson
Twp from the 1876 Plat Book
Anderson Smith came to this Township in 1833 and settled on
Section 17. He was soon followed by Mr. Henderson and Mr. Owings.
George Smith, now forty years of age, is the oldest resident born
in the Township. In 1839 occurred the first death, James Camel
being thrown from his horse and killed near Alto Vista [sic]. The
first school was taught near Victoria; the first church
organization was Baptist.
There is but one church building in the township, that of New
Salem, at Victoria, though there are of Baptists 150 members and
three ministers; Seventh Day Advents, 65 members and one
minister; Church of God, 35 members and three ministers. There is
a small society of Dunkards, and also a number of Methodists,
Presbyterians and Disciples. There are six frame school-houses,
one saw and flour mill, two physicians, three blacksmiths, four
carpenters, two stone-masons, and one each of wagon-makers,
shoemakers, and printers.
Jefferson is well improved and nearly equally divided into timber
and prairie landss; the western part being timber. It is supplied
with stock water by Grindstone, Dog, and Big Creeks.