HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY

is traditional that one Addison Pratt, a pioneer of this locality and rela-
tive of Orson Pratt, who joined the Mormons, afterwards, became very
prominent in the affairs and conduct of that church at Salt Lake City.
	The western central part of the county was colonized largely by
southern Ohioans—the Donhams, Rectors, Reeces, Wests, Hicksons,
J effers, John Crossley, William Herron, Ezekiel Pitts, William Huff,
Samuel Jackson, Robert Bennett and others. The first entry of land in
this section of the county was made by Minerva Bundy, in 1822. John
D. Christie used to locate the lands for all new-comers in this territory.
The first white female child born within the present territory of Perry
township was Sarah Jane Donham, daughter of George and Sarah Don-
ham, who, later in life became Mrs. S. J. Bannon.
	In the eastern central part of the county the primitive population
became the more numerous, comparatively, because of this territory lying
the more immediately adjacent to the locality selected for the public build-
ings. Many entries of land were made in this territory at a very early
day, a number of such tracts, however, not being occupied and improved
by the original purchasers. As to who made the first entry there is
disagreement. But whether by Cummings and White, on the i8th day
of August, 1818, or by Parks and Puett, on the 5th day of December of
the same year (as claimed), the transaction took place seven years before
the organization of the county. This land lay in the bend of Eel river,
along the Jordan, including the ground, at least in part, on which the
town of Bowling Green stands. Among the early settlers of Washington
township were the Rizleys, Walkers, Cromwells, Zenors, Thomases,
Wheelers, Elkins, Jesse McIntyre, James Crafton, Henry Moss, Abner
Hill, Lee Bybie, Jesse J. Burton, Samuel Miles, John Williams and others.
The first birth in the county succeeding the date of organization was that
of Absalom B. Wheeler, on the 30th day of April, 1825, in Washington
township, near Bowling Green.
	Although surveyed and the lands made subject to entry as early as
1816, the congressional township at a later date organized by the civil
authorities and named Jackson was not settled and occupied until about
1828 or 1830. Among those who occupied this territory at about this
time were James Green, John Sturdyvant, John Tucker, Thomas Wheeler,
Arthur Helton, Esau Presnell, George B. Zenor, George Lucas, Levi
Cromwell, Amos Hedge, Samuel Stigler, Henry Tilley, Jacob Gibbons,
the Moores, the Bolins, the Lowdermilks, the Slacks and others. At the.
expiration of a quarter of a century from the time of the white man s
coming into this territory the lands were all taken, the last entry having
been made in 1853. The first death was that of a child in the family
of Levi Cromwell, in 1834, which was buried on the ground afterward
known as the Zenor cemetery, the original spot dedicated to the burial of
the dead in the township. The first orchard planted on this territory
was set out by John Tucker. Amos Hedge, William Slack and Samuel
Stigler started their orchards at about the same time. Stephen Lowder-
milk was the pioneer justice of the peace in- this township.
	In the extreme southwest part of the county, west side of Eel river,
within what is now Lewis township, early settlements were made by
Robert Baber (in 1822), George Hooker, John J. Lanning. Nicholas
Crist, John Stewart, James Buckallew, Daniel Goble, Sr., Henderson
Curry, J. W. McGrew, James Maloy, John Sarverce, Joseph Whiles.
Edward Braden, Samuel Chambers, Joseph T. Liston, the Starks, the