Auxvasse Township was one of the two original townships when the county was divided originally Feb. 12, 1821. The township lines were" Beginning on the Missouri River at the mouth of the Big River Auxvasse;thence up said river to a point at which the range line, dividing eight and nine, crosses said river Auxvasse; thence north with said range line, to the north line of the county. All that section lying east of said river and linen in said county, to be known and designated by the name of Auxvasse Township. Early settlers in Auxvasse township included the Agee families, Benson, Blackburn, Callaway, Chick, Coats, Day, Garrett, Ferrier,Gilbert,Gilman,Jackson, Kitchen, McCall, Pratt, Steele, Tate,[2] and Watson.
Towns, villages and communities in Auxvasse Township included:
Portland, which was laid out in September of 1831 by John Yates and Eden Benson in Township 65,, Range 7, fractional section 33.
The first merchant was Mr. Debo, who, soon after opening his store, was sold out by the sheriff for debt. In 1880 there was a population of a little over 200 people.
Reform occupied the north half of the northeast quarter of Section 14, Township 46 Range 89, but no plat of the town was ever filed. It is located about twelve miles southeast of Fulton and was first settled in 1830.