Westville, laid out by Dr. West, in 1854, in Clark township. Elk Spring, laid out in 1859, by Dr. Murray, in Yellow Creek township.

CHRISTIAN COUNTY.

This county is situated in the southeastern portion of the State, bounded on the east by Taney and Webster, west by Lawrence and Stone, north by Greene, and south by Stone and Taney Counties.

This is a new county-having been organized March 8, 1859. In 1860 it contained 5549 inhabitants. The face of the country is undulating some portions approximating to what may be called broken. Generally heavily timbered, with excellent soil in the valleys and upon some of the uplands. (See description of Greene County, from which it was formed.)

Land under cultivation can be had for about $9; uncultivated, from $2 to $4. The soil and climate both adapt this county to fruit culture or stock growing.

Minerals. Extensive deposits of iron ore have been found in this county, and small quantities of lead and copper, with indications of rich openings.

When completed, the Southwest Branch of the Pacific Railroad will afford a cheap and speedy transit to market.

OZARK, the county-seat, is situated on Finley Creek, fifteen miles from Springfield, Greene County; contains a high school, two churches, Methodist and Christian, flouring and grist mill, two distilleries, four saw-mills, and a fair representation of stores, mechanics, etc. Kenton is five miles from Ozark; has a population of about 100one church and school and several business houses.

The county contains a population of 6000.

CLARKE COUNTY.

This county forms the extreme northeast corner of the State, is well watered by the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers, (which form its eastern and northeastern boundary,) and by the Fox and Waconda Rivers, and their tributaries. These streams are all skirted by groves of timber, while the "divides" between them are prairie. It was first settled in 1830, and now, 1860, contains a population of 9794.

This county is very advantageously situated-divided only by the Des Moines from the largest commercial city above St. Louis, on the Mississippi, and being located at the mouth of one of the richest valleys in the great and fertile West. If the north line of this county was continued due east until it reached the Mississippi River, making Clarke a square county, it would give her about a dozen towns in Iowa, including the cities of Keokuk and Fort Madison, all of which she now has for a local market if desirable.

The soil of this county is rolling and fertile, well calculated for farming purposes. The timber (of which there is a good supply) consists of oak, hickory, elm, etc. There are several banks of good stone coal in the county, and some excellent cannel coal. Uncultivated land is worth from $7 to $10, and cultivated from $15 to $25. Farmers and mechanics of all kinds will find in this county good business locations.

Industrial Pursuits.-There are in the county 2 banks, 1 news paper, 13 lawyers, 25 physicians, 50 merchants, 5 grocers, 4 druggists, 1 silversmith, 3 tinners, 25 blacksmiths, 10 wagon-makers, 1 saddler, 5 tailors, 15 shoemakers, 5 cabinetmakers, 40 carpenters, 10 coopers, 15 saw-mills, 5 flouring-mills, (steam and water power.)

Churches, Schools, etc.-There are two academies and forty-eight district school-houses in the county, and in 1838 there were 4332 children between five and twenty years of age. There were $1836 60 raised in 1858 to repair and build school-houses. Of churches, the Presbyterian, M. Protestant, M. Episcopal, Christian, Catholic, and Baptist, have each organizations and pastors. The Freemasons, Odd Fellows, and Sons of Temperance have each organizations.

WATERLOO, the county-seat, has a population of 250; Alexandria, 1200; St. Francisville, 700; Athens, 600; Winchester, 350; Fairmount, 350; Luray, 200; and Cahokia, 200.

CLAY COUNTY.

This county is situated in the west-northwest part of the State, bounded on the north by Clinton, south by the Missouri River, separating it from Jackson, on the east by Ray, and west by Platte Counties. The first settlements were made in the fall of 1822. When the State was admitted into the Union, in 1821, the territory now embraced by the boundaries of Clay County had not a single white inhabitant; yet the census shows Clay in a very short time to have increased so rapidly that it was the most populous county west of Franklin. Its population in 1860 was 13,161.

Physical Features.-The face of the country is somewhat broken, and generally well timbered, with small prairies in various portions of the county. The soil is remarkably fertile, and the county well watered.

Soil and Productions.-This county is noted for its fine farms, and wealthy and intelligent farmers and stock growers. The following product of a small farm of 320 acres will give an idea of the fertility of the soil, and the class of farmers who cultivate it: 15 tons of hemp, at $90 per ton; 5000 pounds bacon, at 8 cents per pound; 3 yoke of cattle, at $60 each; amounting to the sum of $1930. At the time this estimate was taken there were 75 acres of wheat, at 70 cents, and 30 of corn, at 25, growing, which would swell that year's product to $3730. This was but an average crop, and was the product of 1853, since which time many improvements have been made, and prices of many articles advanced. We have returns from farms that have produced per acre, of hemp, 1400 pounds; tobacco, 1100 pounds; corn, 100 bushels; wheat, 38 bushels; rye, 30; oats, 50; potatoes, 400; onions, 400; beets, 350; carrots, 300; turnips, 300; timothy, 2 tons; Hungarian grass, 4 tons, etc. The county is very well adapted to stock raising, which is an important feature in the products of the county. According to the statistics of the census of 1850, Clay was one of the most productive agricultural counties in the State; notwithstanding which, there were then 142,661 acres of unimproved land in the county. The Platte County Railroad, which is being built, will furnish an outlet to the western portion of the county, while the southern borders upon the Missouri River will afford cheap transit to the superior markets of either Kansas City or St. Louis.

Schools. The citizens of Clay have taken a deep interest in the cause of education. This was the first county in the State to organize teachers' institutes, and now a majority of the counties throughout the State are reaping the advantages of these associations. The State Superintendent's Report shows the amount of money raised to build school-houses, and also the average monthly wages paid teachers, to be higher than of any other county, except St. Louis. William Jewell College, (situated at Liberty,) Rev. Wm. Thompson, President, was organized in 1857, and last year had 125 pupils in regular attendance. This institution is under the auspices of the Baptist denomination. The Clay Female Seminary, also situated in the county-seat, is in a very flourishing condition. Professor James Love is well known as an accomplished and successful teacher. Liberty Female College has just been organized, with fair prospects of success. Lewis Institute, at Greenville, is under the control of Professor Lewis, of the M. E. Church South, and is well patronized. This county is one of the first in the State as to the number and character of educational institutions.

Natural Advantages.-Farmers, mechanics, manufacturers, and business men of all classes will here find fertile soil, a healthy climate, abundance of timber and building materials, good prices and a ready market for all products either agricultural or mechanical, and an intelligent, industrious, and hospitable people.

LIBERTY, the county-seat, contains 1132 inhabitants, and is situated fifteen miles from Kansas City. Of business houses, there are in this town, 3 bankers, 1 newspaper, 5 lawyers, 12 physicians, 10 merchants, 3 grocers, 20 carpenters, 2 druggists, 4 silversmiths, 7 tinners, 17 blacksmiths, 6 wagon-makers, 2 coopers, 1 flouring-mill, (steam.)

Missouri City is situated directly on the river, and is the shipping point for the county; was formerly Richfield and St. Bernard, which were consolidated under the name of Missouri City, and the new town incorporated March 14, 1859. Besides a full representation of the different business houses, there are here one grist and two saw mills, and a very extensive flouring-mill. Population about 700.

Of other towns in the county, there are Smithville, population 200; Greenville, 300; and Claysville, (changed to Prospect Hill, February 5, 1859,) 300.

CLINTON COUNTY.

This county is situated in the northwestern part of the State, bounded on the west by Buchanan and Platte, which separate it from the Missouri River-the western State line. Population in 1850, 3786; and in 1860, 7853.

Physical Features.-Probably two-thirds of the area of this county is undulating prairie land, fertile and easily tilled; the remaining onethird is timber land, confined principally to the water-courses and valleys. Blue and gray limestone and sandstone are abundant in some portions of the county, and there are indications of coal in several locations, but no thorough investigations have been made, as fuel is yet plenty. Several of the streams are rapid and have unimproved mill-seats upon them. Except in the larger prairies, springs are quite numerous.

Soil and Productions.-The soil is fertile, and will produce any kind of grass, grain, fruit, or vegetables grown in this latitude. An average crop is about as follows: Hemp, 800 pounds to the acre; tobacco, same; corn, 100 to 125 bushels; wheat, 25 to 30; rye, same; barley and oats, each 40 bushels; timothy and clover, about 2 tons. Hungarian grass has not given satisfaction here, owing proba. bly to unfavorable seasons since its introduction. The farmers are going largely into fruit culture, and are introducing every variety of fruit grown in this climate. This county is well adapted to stock raising, having an abundance of native and cultivated grasses and stock water. Unimproved lands are worth from $8 to $10 per acre, and improved from $15 to $25.

Churches and Schools.-There are sixteen church organizations in the county: 2 N. S. Presbyterian, 5 Methodist, 5 Baptist, 5 Reformed Churches. Of other denominations we have no particulars. Of schools, there are 41 common school districts, in which schools are supported by the public fund a portion of the year. The amount raised to build and repair school-houses in 1857, was $2826. The amount of school money apportioned to this county for 1859, is $1711 89. There is one college established at the county-seat, under the auspices of the M. E. Church South.

Industrial Pursuits.-There are in the county 9 hotels, 1 newspaper, 6 lawyers, 9 physicians, 13 merchants, 4 druggists, 2 silversmiths, 2 tinners, 9 blacksmiths, 6 wagon-makers, 3 saddlers, 3 tailors,