tioned in the "Arabian Tales," and its magnificent churches and public buildings, gave the name Dresden to this little Missouri town, and by such it has since been known.

ORGANIZATION.-Dresden Township is one of the organizations of 1873. Until 1844 it had been part of Blackwater Township, but in that year when the lines were changed its territory was divided between Elk Fork and Mount Sterling. In the organization of 1873 it was laid out and given the name of Dresden, and the following boundaries describe its limits, including all of township forty-six, range twenty-two, bounded as follows: commencing at the northeast corner of said township forty-six, range twentytwo, running thence west on township line to the northwest corner of same township; thence running south on range line to the southwest corner of same township; running thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of same township; running thence north on range line to the place of beginning. Its area comprises an exact congressional township. It is bounded on the north by Houstonia Township, on the east by Cedar and Sedalia townships, on the south by Prairie Township, and on the west by Lamonte township. It has 23,040 square acres, nearly all tillable land and well improved.

CONFIGURATION OF LAND.-The town is situated principally on the divide between the two creeks, Big and Little Muddy, flowing respectively across its southern and northern portions. Along this divide is situated some of the most beautiful farming country in the county. It is high, rolling prairie, traversed nearly through its center by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and contains some as desirable farms as there are to be found in Central Missouri. The southern portion of the township is crossed by the Muddy Creek and is, in consequence, more or less broken. Along this creek grows some of the finest timber in the county and its variety is varied, giving an abundant supply for all demands and uses. Also among the hills are valuable quarries of limestone and rock, which are worked for building purposes, and also in one or two places for the manufacture of lime. The Little Muddy finds its headwaters in the northwestern part of the township and joins its larger branch in Cedar Township. These two streams afford water sufficient for stock in the dryest seasons, and gives good drainage to the land. In no place is it low or flat, but everywhere the prairie presents that beautiful rolling aspect, indicating the choice land and desirable position so much sought after by the thrifty farmer of to-day.

EARLY SETTLERS.-As the present township was one of the latest formed in the county, and as it was part of three or four other townships before its own bounds were given, it is almost impossible to arrive at a correct list of its early settlers. Some of those given as settlers of Black

water, Cedar and Houstonia were in the borders of this township, and the amalgamation which the townships went through from the year 1844 to 1873, render the obtaining of a detailed and correct list of the early settlers impossible. However, as the early history of this is so closely connected with its neighboring townships, its early history so closely identified, and its growth so nearly like theirs that this is really immaterial. A few of its early settlers are, Mr. Benton Rees, who came to the township in 1840, and is a native of Missouri and still lives in the township; James H. Combs came from Kentucky in 1845; Jefferson DeJarnett is a native of Missouri, and is perhaps the oldest settler in the township, coming to it over fifty years ago; Peter Courtney came with his father in 1839 from Kentucky, and is at present living in the town of Dresden, conducting his farm near the town.

RESIDENCE OF JOSHUA GENTRY, DRESDEN, MO.

AGRICULTURE AND STOCK-RAISING.-For the pursuit of farming, few parts of the State surpass the central. It has every advantage that could be wished, and that is sought after by the enlightened husbandman of the nineteenth century. In no part of the State can be found a more favorable spot than Pettis County, and in no part of the county is there better advantages than in Dresden Township. Penetrated nearly through its center by one of the finest lines of railroad in the west, its advantages for shipping its surplus products are all that could be wished. Among the prominent farmers and stock-raisers is Joshua Gentry, owning a splendid farm just east of the town. On this farm he has a flock of 560 finely graded Merino and Southdown sheep. G. W. Ewers, in the southwest

ern part of the township, has 300 fine Merino sheep on his farm. Peter Courtney keeps a flock of seventy-five of the finest blood Merinos, and there are greater or less numbers of sheep kept by nearly all the farmers. Henry Elliott has a splendid farm in the western part of the township; J. A. Persinger and Mentor Thomson and Joel B. Gentry, in the northern part, each have splendid estates and fine stock. Mr. Gentry has on his farm the celebrated Denmark saddle and harness horses, and Short-horn and Rose of Sharon cattle. His stallions comprise Denmark Chief, Denmark, Jr., and Kennett Chief, a two-year-old. Denmark Chief is one of the most celebrated horses in the State. He was formerly owned by N. Longworth, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was purchased at a cost of $5,000. He is a dark bay, fifteen hands and three inches high. His pedigree runs back to some of the finest strains of horses in the old world. He has been exhibited in the rings of the States of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, and has never left the ring without a ribbon, He was awarded the first premium in 1874, at the St. Louis Exposition, in a ring open to the world. Denmark, Jr., was sired by Denmark Chief, and is almost his complete counterpart. His pedigree by his dam runs to Messenger, and he is one of the fastest saddle horses in any gait in the State. He is seven years old, and when two years old he took first premium at the St. Louis Exposition, in a ring where there were thirty-two colts shown. Kennett Chief is a two-year-old full brother to Denmark, Jr. The herd of twenty-five full blood cattle kept on this farm is headed by Burnheart, a two-year-old bull, of the Rose of Sharon breeds, purchased of the Messrs. Leonards, of Saline County, at a cost of $500.

TOWN OF DRESDEN.

Dresden was laid out in the spring of 1863, by Agee and Thos. J. Lester. It comprises an eighty-acre lot, and was evenly divided between the two gentlemen, each taking forty acres. It is situated on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section twenty-one, and the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section twenty-two, township number forty-six, range twenty-two. Mr. Agee came from Kentucky and Mr. Lester from Virginia. The former now lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the latter still resides in the village which he founded. The town is situated on the main line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and has considerable importance as a shipping and trading point. In the midst of a fertile agricultural and stock-raising region, it has 'but one drawback, that of being so near Sedalia, whose overshadowing business influence reaches into the country that should be tributary to this village, and draws the greater portion of the trade to herself. While Dresden was the terminus of the railroad it was a business point of considerable importance, but when the railroad was extended, its business push and enterprise went

with it to a large extent. The Missouri Pacific Railway was finished to the town in 1863, and it remained the terminus for nearly a year. In its young days it enjoyed the reputation of being one of the largest shipping points on the road, but since it has been left behind by the larger towns around it, it has lost its prestige, and now ranks only third or fourth in point of shipping and trade in the county, and from a village of five hundred inhabitants, it has dwindled to 300. But at this it steadily holds its own. It is losing nothing, and as the country grows richer around it its business cannot fail to improve. At the time of its best days, some of the strongest firms that have done business in the county were interested here. Among them were Nussburg, Clony & Crawford, Sanfelter, and others. Bard & Miller also built a business house hcre, but did not move their stock, displaying their good judgment in putting their trust in Sedalia.

The town was incorporated about 1866, and the first Board of Trustees were Dr. T. P. McCluney, D. D. Armes, now of Sedalia, and Wm. Barrett, also a resident of Sedalia at this time. The city government was run about two years, when some parties resisted the taxes. A law-suit was the result, and the town government was, in consequence, abandoned. The following is a copy of a receipt for poll tax given under the government as it was organized:

"TOWN OF DRESDEN:

This is to certify that T. P. McCluney has paid in cash road-tax in the town of Dresden, Mo., for the year 1868, and is entitled to a credit in poll tax, $1.50, this day of February 11, 1868. D. D. ARMES, Town Supervisor."

SCHOOLS.-It is a proud feature of the village of Dresden that it has a good school and able teachers. It can be made far more effective by an enthusiastic working together of both Board of Education and teachers. Either, without the co-operation of the other, will always be ineffective, and to secure the best results neither labor nor money should be spared.

The first school building was a frame one, and was erected by John and W. Agee, about 1860, before any town of Dresden had been located. The same building is now used for school purposes, but it has been enlarged to accommodate the increasing demands made upon it. William Warren was an able teacher of the place, and he now resides at Iona, in this county. James M. Bigby, a Mr. Summers and wife were also among the early teachers. The building now used is a one-story house with two departments. Some of the recent teachers were Prof. A. A. Neal and wife. Prof. Neal was formerly principal of the Georgetown Academy, and now resides on his farm at Lincoln, Benton County. Also, of late years, there have been employed Mr. Ross, Mrs. T. P. McCluney and Mrs. J. M. Lee. The last year (1881-2) the school has been under the supervision of Miss Olive Wharton, of Sedalia, and Mrs. J. H. Cook, of Dresden.

There are in all five schools in the township, all in a flourishing condition, paying from thirty-five to forty-five dollars per month wages, and holding school from four to seven months in the year. The school houses are frame and comfortably furnished.

CHURCHES.-In the township there are six church organizations. Of these, perhaps the oldest organized one is that of the Christian denomination, which has had a continuous organization for thirty-three years. The Christian Church of Dresden was organized in 1849, by Elder John De Jarnett, about three miles southeast of the place where Dresden now stands. After the late war the church was moved to the town of Dresden, and for a number of years the congregation held worship in the school house. In 1880 they erected a commodious frame house of worship on the corner of Agee and Third streets, at a cost of $1,000. In 1881 it was dediacted by S. K. Hallam, of Windsor, Missouri. The building is twenty-five by forty feet, with fifteen foot ceiling, and has seats so arranged as to comfortably contain about 400 persons. The aisles and pulpit are carpeted. The pastors who have had charge of the congregation are, Elders John De Jarnett, George W. Longan, Thomas Handcock, O. Spencer, J. B. Wright, Banjamin Stephens, W. J. Frost, S. K. Hallam, E. M. Berry and George Plattenburg. The original members were, A. Haggard and wife, A. Shobe and wife, J. C. Donahue and wife, H. P. Gray and wife, A. J. Courtney and wife, Henry Anderson and wife, Thos. Parks and wife, Mrs. Combs, Peter Courtney and wife, B. McVoy and wife, Mrs. S. B. Hass, Wm. Agee and wife, Wm. Dodson and wife and Mrs. Carrington. The present membership is seventy-five, and they support a flourishing Sunday School, of which Peter Courtney is Superintendent and Miss Mollie B. Oppertt is Secretary. There have been large additions to the church since it was first organized, many, however, going into new organizations as the country settled up.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Dresden was organized in January, 1866, by William R. McKee, and in 1869 the congregation had grown sufficiently strong to erect a house of worship in connection with the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. The building was dedicated by L. M. Vernon. In this building the congregation continued to worship until 1879, when it was partially destroyed by a storm, and was taken down, the Presbyterians taking their share of the material and the Methodists theirs, the latter purchasing the former's interest in the lot, and proceeded to erect thereon their present commodious church, which was finished in 1879, and dedicated on November 9th of that year by Benjamin St. James Fry, D. D., Editor of the Central Christian Advocate, at St. Louis. Rev. L. M. Vernon, who dedicated the first building, is now Superintendent of Missions at Rome, Italy. The present house of worship