Chalk Level Township
History of St. Clair County, Missouri, 1883:
Chalk Level Township was originally part of Monegaw Township, when that township
and Weaubleau composed the divisions of St. Clair, while under the jurisdiction
of Rives County. When it became St. Clair, in fact, it was still Monegaw, and
remained so until November 4, 1869, when Chalk Level became one of the municipal
divisions of the county. Just why such a name was given is hard to say. It is
level enough in its northern part, but there is precious little level ground in
the southern part of the township. The people, however, are “pretty level
headed”, which will be a solution of the question, satisfactory to the general
reader, and they “can chalk it” down. As above referred to, Chalk Level was not
organized until 1869, and remained as such until 1872, when its described
boundaries were placed upon the records with its sister townships. The early
settlers of what is now Chalk Level Township settled mostly in the southern
portion of it. Among those who settled previous and during the year 1838 was
John I. Wood, from Virginia, who settled on fractional section 31, in the
southwest corner of the township, on the Osage River in 1837. In the latter part
of 1838 or early in 1839 John Bedell “was awakening the people of Huffman’s
Prairie with the ring of his anvil”.
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History of Henry and St. Clair Counties,
Missouri, 1883:
Early Settlers of Chalk Level Township
The early settlers of the county much preferred the broken in the southern
rather than the rolling prairies of the north, and the first settlers of what is
now Chalk Level Township settled mostly in the southern portion of it.
Those who settled previous to and during the year 1838 were John I. Wood, from
Virginia, who settled on fractional section 31 in the southwest corner of the
township, on the Osage River, in 1837; Robert Anderson lived north him, the same
year, at Monegaw Springs; Simeon C. Bruce settled on section 4, township 38,
range 26; John C. Looney, section 27, same township and range; Paris Sims on
section 21, same township and range; Alexander Hoover on section 7, same
township and range; M.C. David on section 5, township 39, range 26, and Noah
Winston on section 32, township 39, range 26. These were all early settlers.
The Alexander Hoover above mentioned was the son of Alexander Hoover, of Taber
Township. Theoderic Snuffer, from Montgomery County, Virginia, settled on the
south half of southeast quarter of section 32 and south half of southwest
quarter of section 33 in 1838, and Owen Snuffer, his son, came with him, then
some twelve years of age, and now a prominent citizen of the county. Elisha
Thomas, another son of the "Old Dominion", came in 1840 and located on the west
half of southeast quarter of section 33. Then Martin McFerran, a brave and
gallant soldier of the war of 1812, also from Virginia, found a home on the
southwest quarter of southwest quarter and northwest quarter of northwest
quarter of sections 28 and 33. He came in 1838. Then John Bedell came the same
year, or very early in 1839, and purchased the east half of northeast quarter of
section 32 for the erection of a cabin, but in the latter part of that year or
in the spring of 1840 John Bedell was awakening the people of Huffman's Ferry
with the ring of his anvil.
There were a few settlers, well known, that came a few years later. There was
Elder John F. Thompson, of Virginia, came in 1843, took the California fever in
1849, left for the golden land in 1850, having run a tannery some six years, and
was known on that account, far and wide. He arrived safely and was successful,
for he sent his wife $1,800, but that was the last his family or friends ever
heard from him. He probably has passed to the golden shore.
Lowry Jones came in 1844, and Finis Anderson in 1848, and the northern portion
of the township gathered in its settlers mostly between 1840 and 1850.
The township could not be called progressive, and it was that portion of Monegaw
which seemed to settle slowly.
As above referred, Chalk Level was not organized until 1869, and remained as
such until 1872, when its described boundaries were placed upon the records with
its sister townships. It was as follows:
Established and bounded as follows, to wit: Commencing at the center of the main
channel of the Osage River, where the section line between sections twenty-six
and twenty-seven, in township thirty-eight, range twenty-six, crosses said
river, thence north along said section line to the northern boundary line of the
county, thence west along said boundary line to the northwest corner of township
thirty-nine, range twenty-six, thence south along the township line to the
center of the main channel of the Osage River, thence along said main channel to
a point where the township line between township thirty-seven, range twenty-six,
and township thirty-eight, range twenty-six, crosses said river, thence east
along said township line to the center of the main channel of said river, thence
along said main channel to the place of beginning.
And the above is its present boundary.
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St. Clair County Courier, 7 October 1976:
Roscoe Gun Battle -Younger Brothers vs. Pinkerton Detectives
The main road that went from Roscoe north past the Negro settlement and on to
Chalk Level was known as the Chalk Road. The road to Monegaw Springs branched
off to the west. This was known as the "Forks".
Just north of the Negro settlement on the Chalk Road lived a white family named
Davis. John Davis knew the Youngers well, as they traveled by his house
regularly and stopped on occasion to pass the time of day.
On the same section that the McFerrin cabin sat, lived the Theodrick Snuffers
and Benton Green families.
Osceola Sun, 17 July 1879:
Rev. Wood, Seventh-Day Adventist, continues holding evening services at Copperas
Springs, near Chalk Level. He has a tent capable of seating 500 persons, which
is full every night. The meetings will last this week, and services will be held
Sunday morning and evening; whether longer is undecided.