<---This is the 1875 Tarkio Twp. Plat) Tarkio is the second from the west, as well as second from the north line of the county. It is now described as congressional township No. 69, range 38, but formerly took in nearly the west half of the county. Every- thing considered, in the light of agriculture, horticulture and stock-raising, this is looked upon as one of the finest portions of Pag-e county. Its domain, fertile and rolling and watered by the East, Middle and West Tarkio rivers. Along the two former named there is considerable native timber. As one passes through this goodly land and views its fine farms, with large, well painted farm houses and outbuildings, he is at once struck with the thrift and success attained by the early settlers who, with but a few exceptions, come to the country poor men. [REF:#1] 1. EARLY SETTLEMENT. [REF:#1] As early as the autumn of 1852 Isaac Miller settled on a claim on which Tarkio City was afterward platted. B. Harrill came at about the same time and settled on section 25. He died a few years ago in Missouri. Prior to these was a man named William Jefferson Phillips, [b. 1813, NC.] who came to Tarkio in 1850, settling on section 22. He soon sold and went to Kansas, where he died. Samuel Peters settled in 1850-51 on section 35 but remained only a short time. [Not in 1850 Census. ..prs] P. A. Griffy came from Platte county, Missouri, April 7, 1852, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 26. [ In 1852 came Isaac Miller & William Miller also came and settled on section 20, on West Tarkio river, Elijah Miller, who also came, after ward became county surveyor and school superintendent. He also platted Tarkio City. The following came to the township prior to the Civil war�1861:     Dan Cheshire,     William Floyd,     P. A. Griffy,     B. Harrill     David Loy,     Isaac Loy     C. C. McDonald,     the McDonald family,     H. N. McElfish,     E. Miller,     George Miller,     Isaac Miller,     William Miller,     Samuel Peters,     W. Jefferson Phillips,     Stephen Reasoner,     David Smith,     N. Snodderly,     Henry Snodderly,     John Stewart,     Thomas Weaver 2. Patrons of Page Co., Andreas Plat Book - 1875 [REF:#2] LName FName P.O. Sec. Acres Occupation Came to IA. From Sta.  BAKER ,  Samuel H. TARKIO 29 80.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1858   ANDERSON CO. TN  CHESHIRE ,  Daniel TARKIO 34 264.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1856   CLARK CO. OH  GARNETT ,  T.J. TARKIO 14 220.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1858   ROSS CO. OH  HARRELL ,  B. TARKIO 35 440.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1862   RUTHERFORD CO. PA  IRVIN ,  James TARKIO 32 80.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1852   ANDERSON CO. TN  LUNDON ,  D.S. TARKIO 33 162.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1867   JUNIATA CO. PA  LUNDON ,  J.M. TARKIO 33 194.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1869   JUNIATA CO. PA  MARKEL ,  Solomon TARKIO 25 160.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1868   YORK CO. PA.  RICH ,  George TARKIO 27 165.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1865   RANDOLPH CO. NC  RICH ,  George Mrs. TARKIO 28 80.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1865   RANDOLPH CO. NC  SIMPSON ,  William TARKIO 26 195.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1869   INDIANA CO. PA  WHITE ,  Harvy TARKIO 27 235.00  FARMER & STOCK RAISER 1867   HENRY CO. IN 3.a TOWNS AND VILLAGES VILLAGE of TARKIO CITY (DEFUNCT) According to the county plat books a village was platted by Robert Miller on sections 34 and 35, August 26, 1859. The name appears on the first plat as Tarkio City. It was located eight miles west and one mile south of Clarinda. In July, 1860, it contained five buildings, one schoolhouse, one church and three dwellings. The plat was laid out with two squares, one for business purposes and the other for a church square. Notwithstanding the fine farm section environing this place, it did not bloom into anywhere near the airy hopes of its projectors and when the real object for which it was started had failed, the location of the county seat, it fell into a dream-less sleep and is now only known in the record book and in the memory of a few pioneers. It has gone back to the native elements, or, as has been said by another, It has quit!" 3.b VILLAGE of TARKIO P.O. (DEFUNCT) Created 1854, abanded in 1882 was in Section 27, (SW 1/4, SE 1/4) 3.c VILLAGE OF NORWICH. Norwich was platted in November, 1852, on Section 29. It is a station on the Humeston & Shenandoah Railway. The first to embark in trade at this point was J. H. Neeley in the fall of 1882. He had been similarly en-gaged at Tarkio Village and at once moved his frame store building to the plat and added thereto. The same still serves him as both store and residence. In the spring of 1888 came C. P. Hale, who opened a small stock of groceries, which business he still follows. The postoffice was established at Norwich in 1882, removed from Tarkio Village and renamed. J. L. Maxwell held the office at Tarkio Village and also at first at Norwich. In 1885 J. H. Neeley succeeded him under President Cleveland's administration but when that ended so did Postmaster Neeley's duties as postmaster. In 1889 C. P. Hale was commissioned postmaster. The business interest of the place in 1890 are the General Store of Mr. Neeley, C.P. Hall's Grocery Store, the Postoffice, a small grain business of Gwynn Brothers and W.S. Lillie's Blacksmith Shop.   WITHFRAWL OF RAILS WAS NORWICH DOOM [PFP-V-4,Pg14]  Norwich was formerly a thriving village of two stores, two churches 25 houses and a prosperous grain elevator. When the railroad was taken out a short time ago, it meant the decline of the elevator. At present [Jun 1980] there are approximately 12 occupied houses, one church, a combination oil station and grocery store and a garage. INDEX OF TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS - Norwich, IA. - 1896 Source: "Third Annual Directory of Page and Fremont Counties , Iowa. - December 1, 1896  LName,  FName  Occupation  # Family  ANDERSON,  Hugh,  Laborer  7  BLAIR  J.B.  Laborer  10  BAILEY  Warden  Laborer  2  GWYNN  T.J.  Grain Dealer  3  HALEY  D.J.  Blacksmith  3  LEGRAND  Mrs.  Seamsteess  7  MATHESS  Marion  Section Hand  6  NEELEY  J.H.  Merchantr  9  PONTIOUS  J.H.  Section Hand  5  STONEBAKER  Joe  Section Hand  3  SANDERS  A.E.  Laborer  5  TEMPEST  Wm.  Laborer  1  WALFRIP  Beatrice  Station Agent  1 4. FIRST EVENTS. The first death now recalled by old settlers was that of Matt. Branham in 1853-54. The first birth was William Griffy, born in December, 1852 The first marriage was that of Elijah Miller to Miss Aletha Loy in 1852 The first school was the one held at Tarkio village. It was taught by D(avid) Miller in a log house built in 1856. The first religious services were held at the log schoolhouse at Tarkio village by Rev. Samuel Farlow, the pioneer Methodist minister. The first frame house erected in the township was that built in 1859 by Peter A. GRIFFY It was of hard native lumber, sawed at a mill on the Tarkio River. The first postoffice-was at Tarkio, kept by Isaac Miller. Mail came over the route from Hawleyville to Sidney. "Jim" Hawley was among the favorite and young mail carriers. 5. SCHOOLS.   As before mentioned, the first school was held at Tarkio in a log cabin with D. Miller as instructor. As the township settled and developed great attention was paid to school matters and there is now a high standard of public schools in nine districts. Name of School Dist.# Sec. Includes Sec. Part of Land See Map Sch Dist 1 01 2 1,2,11,12 SE 1/4,SE 1/4 C.J. PETERSON 1902-01.JPG Sch Dist 2 02 3 3,4,9,10 SW 1/4,SE 1/4 A. PETERSON 1902-02.JPG Sch Dist 3 03 8 5,6,7,8 NW 1/4,NW 1/4 C.O. PETERSON 1902-03.JPG Sch Dist 4 04 17 17,18,19,20 SW 1/4,SW 1/4 O.H. BREWER 1902-04.JPG CENTER 05 15 15,16,21,22 SW 1/4,SW 1/4 JOHN B. KING 1902-05.JPG Sch Dist 6 06 14 13,14,23,24 SE 1/4,SE 1/4 A. APPLE 1902-06.JPG Sch Dist 7 07 36 25,26,35,36 NW 1/4,NW 1/4 J.E. MEIER 1902-07.JPG TARKIO 08 27 27,28,33,34 TARKIO VILLAGE N/A 1902-08.JPG Sch Dist 8 08 33 27,28,33,34 NE 1/4,NE 1/4 JAMES A. KING 1902-08.JPG NORWICH 09 30 29,30,31,32 SE 1/4,SE 1/4 W. MILLER 1902-09.JPG 6. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. The Churches are the Methodist and Presbyterian, both having good buildings. The Presbyterian society was organized in 1882 with fourteen members by Rev. William McKee. The church edifice was built at a cost of twenty- one hundred dollars. Reed & Taylor, contractors at Shenandoah, built it. It is thirty-two by forty-four feet and seats two hundred and twenty-five people. The Methodist Episcopal church was formed at Tarkio village away back in the 1850's A church was built by the society in 1888, at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. It stands in a commanding place at Norwich. A good Sunday School is sustained. Mrs. Isaac LOY is the present Supertntendent. George H. Ferris is the class leader. Early meetings were held at the old log School House. TARKIO RIVER The smallest and most westerly of the five southern Iowa rivers is the Tarkio River. The East, Middle, and West forks of this stream rise in Central Montgomery County. Flowing southward through Page County they make a common junction at Tarkio in Atchison County, Missouri. The various branches which drain the Turkio Valley pursue a southerly course between the Nishnabotna and the Nodaway Valleys. About five miles above the Kansas-Nebraska line the main stream empties into the Missouri River. Parts of Montgomery and Page counties in Iowa, and Atchison and Holt counties in Missouri are drained by the numerous rivulets that belong to the Tarkio system. Only 290 square miles of its total basin of 721 square miles lie within Iowa. When Lewis and dark went up the Missouri in 1804 they noticed a small stream which the Indians called Tarkio, meaning walnut or "a stream where walnuts grow". I went on shore above this Creek, Clark wrote, "and walked up parallel with the river at about half a mile distant, the bottom I found low and subject to overflow, still further out, the under groth and vines wer so thick that I could not get thro with ease", (this is the way his spelling was) Captain Lewis reported that "Tarkio Creek" was about 23 yards wide at the mouth and "navigable for perogues a short distance". The, Tarkio, he was told, "heads with the Nadiway and passes through a tolerable country of plains and woodland". Both Floyd and Ordway mentioned the "Tarcio" in their journals. Brackenridge noted the stream in 1811. Clark's map of 1810 and Arrowsmith's map of 1814 also show the Tarkio. Elliott Coues characterized the river as a "sloughy stream, whose waters have leaked into the Missouri in places at least 20 miles apart." From - Iowa: The Rivers of Her Valleys, by Wm. J. Petersen, c1941. [Source: PFP-V-2, Pg 17] 7. Patrons of Page Co., Northwest Plat Book - 1902 [REF:#7] LName FName Township Sec. Occupation P.O. ALMQUIST , John Tarkio 9 FARMER CLARINDA ALMQUIST , John Tarkio 10 FARMER ESSEX AMQUIST , Frank Tarkio 5 FARMER SHENANDOAH ANDERSON , Chas. & Maria Tarkio 1 FARMER CLARINDA ANDERSON , John Tarkio 7 FARMER SHENANDOAH ANDERSON , Sophia Tarkio 1 FARMER CLARINDA APPLE , Charles Tarkio 14 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN BECK , C.J. Tarkio 11 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN BEEZLEY , David Tarkio 13 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN BEEZNER , Estate Tarkio 9 FARMER CLARINDA BEZNER , L.H. Tarkio 15 FARMER & STOCK RAISER CLARINDA BOHRER , Henry M. Tarkio 33 FARMER & STOCK RAISER NORWICH BOLEN , Frank J. Tarkio 7 FARMER SHENANDOAH BRIDGER , John Tarkio 4 FARMER CLARINDA BRIDGER , T. Tarkio 8 FARMER ESSEX BRIDGER , Tilda Tarkio 4 FARMER CLARINDA BROWN , Alfred Tarkio 4 FARMER CLARINDA BROWN , Alfred Tarkio 9 FARMER CLARINDA BURTON , T.E. Tarkio 34 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN CARLSON , C.J. Tarkio 1 FARMER CLARINDA COPELAND , E.C. Tarkio 36 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN DANIELSON , C.A. Tarkio 6 FARMER SHENANDOAH DANIELSON , C.A. Tarkio 7 FARMER SHENANDOAH DUKE , Issac Tarkio 10 FARMER & STOCK RAISER ESSEX EAIASSON , Ida C. Tarkio 1 FARMER CLARINDA EDWARDS , Wm. J. Tarkio 8 FARMER ESSEX ENGSTER , Alfred J. Tarkio 2 FARMER CLARINDA ENGSTRAM , Gust. A. Tarkio 1 FARMER CLARINDA ERICKSON , Erick Tarkio 14 FARMER & STOCK RAISER CLARINDA FREEMAN , C. Tarkio 8 FARMER ESSEX GALE , H.R. Tarkio 11 FARMER YORKTOWN GALE , Henry r. Tarkio 9 FARMER CLARINDA GEER , B.G. Tarkio 27 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN GILLESPIE , Charles Tarkio 4 FARMER CLARINDA GILLESPIE , S.D. Tarkio 3 FARMER CLARINDA GLAD , A.F. Tarkio 6 FARMER SHENANDOAH GLEASON , John Tarkio 6 FARMER SHENANDOAH GRIFFEY , H.L. Tarkio 26 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN GUSTAFSON , Hannah Tarkio 1 FARMER CLARINDA GUYNN , T.J. Tarkio 29 DEALER IN GRAIN & COAL NORWICH HART , Alfred Tarkio 11 FARMER YORKTOWN HISER , William Tarkio 16 FARMER & STOCK RAISER ESSEX HULTINE , C.A. Tarkio 8 FARMER & STOCK RAISER ESSEX JOHNSON , A.E. Tarkio 11 FARMER YORKTOWN JOHNSON , And E. Tarkio 11 FARMER YORKTOWN JOHNSON , Frank Tarkio 5 FARMER SHENANDOAH JOHNSON , J.M. & Co. Tarkio 29 GENERAL STORE - OWNER NORWICH JOHNSON , Malcolm L. Tarkio 7 FARMER SHENANDOAH JOHNSON , P. Tarkio 6 FARMER SHENANDOAH KING , James K. Tarkio 33 TARKIO VALLEY STOCK FARM - OWN NORWICH LANCASTER , W.P. Tarkio 39 CONTRACTOR BUILDER NORWICH LAVINE , C.W. Tarkio 12 FARMER YORKTOWN LAWSON , John R. Tarkio 25 PAGE Co. STOCK FARM - OWNER YORKTOWN LEVIN , Chas. A. Tarkio 8 FARMER ESSEX LEVIN , J.A. Tarkio 9 FARMER CLARINDA LEVIN , J.A. Tarkio 8 FARMER ESSEX LINDELL , Jno. A. Tarkio 12 FARMER YORKTOWN LINQUIST , C.A. Tarkio 2 FARMER CLARINDA LUNDGREN , Chas. J. Tarkio 12 FARMER YORKTOWN MAINE , J.W. Tarkio 26 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN MALMBERG , C.J. Tarkio 3 FARMER CLARINDA MALMBERG , C.J. Tarkio 4 FARMER CLARINDA MALMBERG , C.J. Tarkio 5 FARMER SHENANDOAH MALMBERG , C.J. Tarkio 6 FARMER SHENANDOAH MAXWELL , William Tarkio 11 FARMER YORKTOWN MILLER , M.H. Tarkio 35 FARMER & ASSESSOR YORKTOWN MILLER , M.H. Tarkio 11 FARMER YORKTOWN MILLER , W.B. Tarkio 32 FARMER - Twp CLERK NORWICH MONSON , Chas. V. Tarkio 2 FARMER CLARINDA NELSON , And F. Tarkio 12 FARMER YORKTOWN NELSON , Andrew F. Tarkio 14 FARMER - CHAIRMAN BOARD OF TRU YORKTOWN NEWMAN , Ida Tarkio 6 FARMER SHENANDOAH PETERSON , A. Tarkio 10 FARMER ESSEX PETERSON , C.J. Tarkio 2 FARMER CLARINDA PETERSON , C.J. Tarkio 12 FARMER YORKTOWN PETERSON , C.O. Tarkio 5 FARMER SHENANDOAH PETERSON , C.O. Tarkio 8 FARMER ESSEX PETERSON , Christ M. Tarkio 2 FARMER CLARINDA PETERSON , G.W. Tarkio 6 FARMER SHENANDOAH PETERSON , J. & J. Tarkio 10 FARMER ESSEX PETERSON , John Tarkio 10 FARMER ESSEX RHOADES , D.L. Tarkio 19 FARMER & STOCK RAISER SHENANDOAH SKELEBERY , Alfred Tarkio 3 FARMER CLARINDA SKELEBERY , Alfred Tarkio 4 FARMER CLARINDA SMITH , F.E. Tarkio 7 FARMER SHENANDOAH SNODDERLY , John Tarkio 23 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN SNODDERLY , S.M. Tarkio 23 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN SNYDER , Henry Tarkio 36 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN SNYDER , Thomas Tarkio 30 FARMER & STOCK RAISER NORWICH STROM , Ang. S. Tarkio 5 FARMER SHENANDOAH STROM , Peter Tarkio 5 FARMER SHENANDOAH SUNQUIST , J.E. Tarkio 12 FARMER & STOCK RAISER YORKTOWN SUNQUIST , Urick Tarkio 12 FARMER YORKTOWN SWENSON , P.A. Tarkio 2 FARMER CLARINDA TEMPEST , William Tarkio 29 FARMER & STOCK RAISER NORWICH TILLMAN , C.A. Tarkio 3 FARMER & STOCK RAISER CLARINDA TILLMAN , C.A.T. Tarkio 10 FARMER ESSEX TILLMAN , John Tarkio 3 FARMER CLARINDA VARLEY , H.W. Tarkio 7 FARMER SHENANDOAH VICKRES , Evan & Henry Tarkio 18 FARMER SHENANDOAH WARREN , L.R. Tarkio 7 FARMER & STOCK RAISER SHENANDOAH WHITE , S.P. Tarkio 10 FARMER ESSEX YOUNGBERG , S.A. Tarkio 3 FARMER CLARINDA   TARKIO TWP. by Milson Knollenberg [PFP-IV-4,Pg1] <--- [REF:#6]  1895  The following were methods of the threshing of grain In this township: horse-power, steam engine power in 1895; small tractor and threshing machine in 1926; combine and small tractor an 1936; self-propelled combines in 1948.  1900's There were 3 telephone exchanges in Tarkio Township: Yorktown, Norwich, and Essex. They were started in the early 1900;s Yorktown and Norwich served the southern half of the township. They discontinued operation in 1956 when Farmer's Mutual (now General Telephone) in Clarinda bought them. The people on Norwich were taken over by the Northwestern Bell in Shenandoah. Essex, has their own company. [Note: Essex is in Pierce Twp., & Yorktown is in W. Nodaway Twp. Norwich is the only town in Tarkio Twp. ..prs]  1908 Lumber mills on the Tarkio Creek included: Fidler Mill in_1908-12; Knollenber & Holmes Mill in 1924-25; Fidler Mill in 1932 Weaver Mill in 1951; Knollenberg Mill in 1961-75  1964 Tarkio Township had two major tornados, One on June 01, 1949 where several homesteads were destroyed or severly damaged. The other was April 13, 1964, when the eastern-part was badly damaged. There were no deaths in Tarkio Township. One death in Yorktown. [W. Nodaway Twp.]  1965 Part of the Erosion Farm (20 acres) was made into a public park in 1965 and called Pioneer Park. It is for campers, picnic, and fishing.  1974 The Iowa State College bought 200 acres of land and made'an Experimental farm. It measured wind'velocity, amount of rain fall/erosion of land, effect of herbicides, etc. on the crops and land; The college discontinued the experimental work and sold the land in 1974.   TARKIO TWP. - SOURCE NOTES & REFERENCE  [1.  BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY, IOWA - 1890, by W. L. Kershaw, 1st. Published in 1890, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 854 pages.  [2.]   ANDREAS'S ATLAS and BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES - 1875, Published by Mr. Andreas in 1875.  [3.]   EARLY LAND ABSTRACTS - Council Bluffs Early land records from 1853 to 1858.  [4.]   IOWA - PUBLIC LAND DISPOSAL, by Roscoe L. Lokken; Published in 1942 by The State Historical Society of Iowa.  [5.]   THE UNITED STATES AT LARGE, Vol. 10, pp. 26, 714, 715. The western boundary of the Chariton District was moved two ranges west in 1855 ...prs  [6.]  PAGES FROM THE PAST Page Co., Quarterly, Published from 1976 to 1982. Qrt. IV, Vol 4, Pg 3 Tarkio Twp. History, by Milton Knollenberg  [7.]   Plat Book of Page Co., IA. 1902 Published by Northwest Publishing Company, 1902. Engraved by Ballet & Volk, 27 S. 6th Street, Phila., PA.

These records are part of the "Genealogy Computer Package" *** PC-PROFILE *** Volume - II. DUNCAN & Related Families© Compiled and self Published in Oct. 14, 1993 by Paul R. Sarrett, Jr. with the assistance of my late mother Mrs. M. Lucille (WILSON) SARRETT. (1917-1987, age age 70yrs) & My Grandmother: Mrs. Vera B. (DUNCAN) WILSON (1896-1988, age 92yrs) The "Work-Books" were compiled by listing the various families, born, married, died, and a history of that family branch. In 1996 I started "Up-Loading" this material on the now called Friends of Page Co., site...prs

Would like any corrections of additions on thes Families!

E-Mail: Paul R. Sarrett, Jr., Auburn, CA.  Friends of Page County, President